Onsite Sewage Disposal System Maintenance

A Reference Guide to Your Onsite Wastewater Disposal System

What is an Onsite System?

Onsite systems are used to treat and dispose of wastes generated by residences, churches, offices and other commercial establishments when public sewer is not available. These systems used to be thought of as a temporary solution to wastewater disposal until public sewer became available. However, due to the high cost of extending public sewer lines further and further, most onsite systems today are designed and installed with permanent wastewater disposal in mind. More and more, onsite systems are becoming the preferred method of disposal over public sewer.

Sound science and years of experience go into the design and installation of each onsite system. Unfortunately, only recently has the industry started to focus on the maintenance component of these systems to ensure long term performance and permanent wastewater disposal. From a simple septic tank drainfield system to complex alternative systems, routine maintenance is the key to long term performance. The onsite system that serves you, is probably the most expensive mechanical system you own. The design and installation cost was likely more than the plumbing, electrical or HVAC system that serves your house. Proper regular maintnenance of these systems should be as routine as changing the oil in your car. So, be sure to maintain your onsite system to protect the investment in your property and ensure a safe, clean environment.

There are many types of onsite systems in use today. Each is designed to treat and dispose of the wastewater generated by your house or facility. While each onsite system is specifically designed to match site conditions, all have the common elements of a treatment system and a means of disposal.

Click on one of these links to jump to a particular section:

• Why Maintain Your System?
• A Traditional Onsite Wastewater Disposal System (Septic System):
• The Septic Tank
• The Drainfield
• What Are Some Advantages to Having an Onsite System?
• How To Know If Your System Is Failing
• How Should You Maintain Your Septic System?
• Myths and Folklore
• Safe and Unsafe Things to Use in Your System
• Do's and Don't's to Remember
• A Glossary of Terms Related to Onsite Wastewater Disposal Systems
• A Short Description of Our Septic System Services
• Septic Maintenance Record
• Wells and Groundwater

Why Maintain Your System

Maintenance of onsite systems should be as routine as regular car maintenance. Proper maintenance can prolong the life of your system exponentially. Just as you should have the oil changed in your car on a regular basis, you should have your septic tank pumped every 2-5 years. Just as you should have your car inspected every 1-2 years, you should also have your onsite system inspected every 1-2 years.

If you do not properly maintain your onsite system, it will eventually fail, resulting in two major problems. First, if the failure is left undetected, it can cause serious health and environmental problems for you, your family, and your community. When a system fails, it can release untreated wastewater into the ground, or on the surface. This untreated wastewater can leach into the groundwater, contaminating nearby wells and other water sources, allowing sewage to become mixed in with drinking water. Not only is the thought of this mixture nauseating, the mixture itself can prove fatally toxic.

Second, repair of a failing onsite system can be very expensive. Repairing or replacing your onsite system can cost more than the original system. The repair process can cost anywhere between $500 and $25,000, if it is even possible to repair or replace the system. In order to replace a system, your old system must first be properly abandoned. A new system must be designed, permitted, and installed. Also, any contamination caused by the old system must be remedied.

All of this work, health risks, and these expenditures can be avoided by following a simnple routine maintenance schedule. Have your system inspected every 1-2 years, and have your tank pumped every 2-3 years, or as recommended by an onsite professional. If you do, your system should last for a very long time. If you do not, then your system could fail at any time, and you might not even know.

Return to top

A Traditional Onsite Wastewater Disposal System (Septic System):

A septic system consists of two main components. This is the septic tank and the drainfield. A sewer pipe connects the septic tank to the house or business, and a series of pipes connect the septic tank to distribution boxes and other parts of the soil absorption system.

The Septic Tank:

The main function of the septic tank is to collect household wastewater, which includes water from the toilet (traditionally known as blackwater), and water from the bathtub, showers, sinks, and laundry (collectively known as greywater). The septic tank acts as a holding chamber where biological processes separate waste into three layers. This separation process is known as primary treatment. The first layer is made up of heavy solids and the waste of anaerobic bacteria, known as sludge, which rests at the bottom of the tank. The second layer is the effluent itself. The third layer is made up of lighter materials, known as scum, and floats to the top of the tank. Once the wastewater has separated itself from the heavy sludge and the lighter scum, it flows into a distribution box. The leftover sludge and scum remain in the tank where they accumulate. Every 2-3 years, or as needed, a licensed professional sewage handler should remove the accumulated waste.

The Drainfield:

The first part of the drainfield is the distribution box. Once the wastewater reaches the distribution box, it is separated to flow evenly into the drainfield trenches.

A standard drainfield is a series of trenches. These trenches are actually lines of gravel or coarse sand, buried a few feet below the ground surface. Pipes running from the distribution box into each one of these trenches are perforated to allow the wastewater to drain into the gravel. This effluent trickles slowly from the pipes into the gravel, and then percolates into the subsurface soil.

The gravel and soil provide a great environment for aerobic bacteria to thrive. These bacteria use the wastewater as a food source and remove nutrients, solids and other viruses from the waste stream. The renovated wastewater continues to percolate into the fround until it reaches groundwater or another conduit to surface waters. This process is a form of natural secondary treatment.

You must properly maintain your system. If any of these components cease to function properly, it can cause many problems. The soil can become clogged, which limits the secondary treatment process. The pipes may break, allowing wastewater to seep into the ground before the secondary treatment process is complete. If the septic tank becomes too full, it could allow the sludge and scum to escape into your system, clogging the pipes, causing sewage backups into your house. This can also seal the soil surface, slowing or stopping infiltration.

Return to top

What Are Some Advantages to Having an Onsite System?

• Simple and effective wastewater treatment.
• Less disruptive to the environment to install and maintain.
• Less expensive to operate than centralized treatment facilities.
• Provide wastewater treatment in areas where it would not be available otherwise.
• When functioning properly, they help replenish groundwater.

Return to top

How To Know If Your System Is Failing?

Did you know that when you moved into your house, you became the proud owner and operator of a sewage treatment and disposal system? Well, you did, and unless your system is required to have an operations and maintenance contract with a licensed wastewater operator, you are pretty much on your own. Installation contractors' warranties are typically only 1 year and some extend to 2 years. These warranties are limited to the quality of the materials and workmanship, but rarely guarantee performance.

It is a good idea to have your system inspected every year to assess its performance and to look for warning signs. YOur onsite inspector cannot be there every day, but there are things that you can do regularly to assess and protect your system. Here are some warning signs that may indicate your onsite system is struggling and in need of service:

• Slowly draining sinks, toilets, and other drains
• Gurgling sounds in the plumbing
• Sewage backups in the house
• Sewage odors in the house or yard.
• Ground wet or mushy underfoot, sewage or standing water surfacing over the drainfield (especially after storms)
• Lush green growth over the drainfield, grass growing faster or greener in one particular area of the yard.
• Tests showing the presence of bacteria in well water.

Return to top

How Should You Maintain Your System?

The best way to maintain your system is to have it inspected every 1-2 years, have your tank pumped every 2-3 years, and learn as much as you can about septic systems in general, and about your individual system. Here is some information that should help you properly maintain your system.

Myths and Folklore:

There are a lot of myths about the best ways to startup a new septic system and to maintain an existing one. Some people believe that you should "seed" your septic tank to help start the bacteria growth. Some of the ideas on how to seed your tank have included flushing a pound of yeast into the system, seeding your tank with manure, and even placing a dead cat inside the septic tank.

These measures might create bacteria growth within your tank, but are completely unnecessary. Yeast, manure, and even dead cats will breed bacteria within your tank, but they will not do it any faster than the sewage you generate within your house or business. The wastewater created within your own house or business will provide all of the necessary bacteria to help your system function properly.

Another myth is that placing additives in your system can help renew your system's life span. Some of these additives even claim that they eliminate the need to pump out your tank. These products usually contain yeast, bacteria, or enzymes. On the surface, these products seem like they might work. After all, adding yeast, bacteria, or enzymes seems like it would help breakdown everything in the tank by increasing the number of things inside your tank that are decomposing the solids.

However, these products do not actually work, for a couple of reasons. First, there are some materials inside your tank which cannot be broken down by any bacteria or enzymes. Some of these materials are organic, while others are inorganic solids such as bits of plastic, sand, and grit.

Secondly, the habitat within your septic tank is a very specialized one, that is only fit for certain types of bacteria that have adapted specially to live in that environment. Any external bacteria that are introduced to your septic tank are more likely to be eaten than they are to eat. Enzymes, unlike bacteria, are not living organisms, and cannot reproduce. The number of enzymes you add to your tank is the number of enzymes that will remain in your tank. They will never increase in number. Because septic tanks are usually very large in volume, it would be very difficult to add enough enzymes to make a difference.

Safe and Unsafe Things to Use in Your System:

As you may be aware, there are some types of toilet paper that should not be used with septic systems. However, there are also many types of toilet paper that are perfectly safe. You need not sacrifice personal comfort in this area. The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) has tested many different types of toilet paper, and found that thickness, cushion, and color do not necessarily affect its biodegradability. All of the brands that passed the NSF testing carry the NSF mark. In addition, there are many other brands that are perfectly safe, that have not been tested by the NSF. Our suggestion is to simply use your judgment when choosing toilet papers.

Other things that you might need to be weary of are harsh chemicals and other nondegradables. Many products carry messages that say they are safe for septic systems, but are indeed harmful. Products to be careful of are drain cleaners, harsh household cleansers, etc. If you must use these products, use them very conservatively, and be sure to follow the instructions on the bottles. Also, you should never dump the following nondegradables and poisons down any drains or in your toilets:

• Nondegradables:
• Grease
• Disposable Diapers
• Plastics
• Condoms
• Sanitary Napkins (Tampons, Maxi pads)
• Etc.
• Poisons:
• Gasoline
• Oil
• Paint
• Paint Thinner
• Pesticides
• Antifreeze
• Any Petroleum Products
• Etc.

Do's and Don't's To Remember:

• Do learn the location of your septic tank, distribution box, and drainfield. If your system has a flow diversion valve (FDV), learn its location and turn it once a year. Flow diverters can add years to the life of your system. Keep a sketch of your entire system handy with your maintenance record, so that you may provide it to the licensed septic contractor that you hire to inspect and pump your tank.
• Do have your septic system inspected regularly; preferably every 1-2 years.
• Do have your septic tank pumped regularly by a licensed professional; preferably every 2-3 years.
• Do keep your septic tank cover accessible for inspections and pumpings. Install concrete risers if necessary.
• Do call a professional whenever you experience problems with any component of your system, or if you notice any of the signs of failure that we mentioned before.
• Do keep a detailed record of repairs, pumpings, inspections, permits issued, sketches of the system, and any other things that relate to the maintenance of the system. On our website we have provided a handy form which you can print out to help keep track of maintenance visits.
• Do practice water conservation to avoid system overload. Repair any dripping faucets and leaking toilets. Run washing machines and dishwashers only when full, and try to spread your laundry out over the week, instead of doing it all at once. Avoid long showers, and use water-saving features on faucets, shower heads and toilets.
• Do divert roof drains and surface water from driveways and hillsides away from the septic system. Also, keep sump pumps and house footing drains away from the septic system.
• Do take leftover hazardous chemicals to your approved hazardous waste collection center for disposal. Use bleach, disinfectants, and drain toilet bowl cleaners sparingly and in accordance with the product labels.

• Don't go down into your septic tank for any reason. The natural processes that occur inside your tank produce toxic gases that can prove fatal within a matter of minutes. You should be extremely careful when inspecting your septic tank, even if you are just opening it up to look inside.
• Don't make or allow repairs to your septic tank without getting the proper permits from the respective authorities. Use licensed septic contractors when needed.
• Don't allow anyone to drive or park on any part of your system. The area over the drainfield should be left undisturbed.
• Don't plant anything but grass over the drainfield area. You should keep this grass well trimmed, so that it is easy to access the drainfield area. Roots from nearby trees and shrubs may clog or damage your drain lines.
• Don't pour any harmful chemicals or cleansers down the drain. Don't dispose of trash in your toilet, not even paper towels. These can clog the system, and the harsh chemicals and cleansers can kill the beneficial bacteria that live in your septic tank, and help treat your wastewater.
• Don't allow backwash from any home water softeners to enter the septic system.
• Don't use commercial septic tank additives. These products usually do not help, and sometimes can severely harm your system in the long run. At the very least, they give you a false sense of security, allowing you to lapse in your regular maintenance.

Return to top

A Glossary of Terms Related to Onsite Wastewater Disposal Systems

Baffle Tee - A series of pipes inside your septic tank that allow wastewater to come in and go out of your septic tank. It is called a tee, because it is shaped like the letter "T", turned on its side. The top section of the tee sits above the level of wastewater in your tank, and does not allow anything to flow into it. The bottom section sits in the wastewater section of your septic tank, preventing the scum and sludge from entering your drainfield.

Biological Secondary Treatment - The process that occurs in the drainfield trenches, during which the partially treated effluent coming from your septic tank is purified by the gravel and subsurface soil in those trenches.

Blackwater - Any wastewater coming from a toilet.

Cleanouts - Pipes running from your system up out of the ground, allowing clogs, etc. to be cleaned out of your system easily.

Conveyance Lines - The pipes that connect the various parts of your septic system together.

Disposal Field - A series of trenches into which the partially treated wastewater is delivered from your septic tank.

Distribution Box - A box that separates the partially treated wastewater running from your septic tank so that it can flow evenly into your drainfield. The distribution box literally distributes the wastewater equally throughout your drainfield.

Drainfield - A series of trenches located somewhere in your yard, where wastewater is treated and released back into the ground.

Drainfield Trench - A line of gravel or coarse sand buried a few feet below the ground surface where wastewater percolates into the ground to be treated by the gravel and the subsoil.

Effluent - The wastewater that is being released from your septic system.

Flow Diversion Valve (FDV) - A valve which alternates the flow from the septic tank to one portion of the absorption field while restricting flow to other portions. Allows different parts of the absorption field to be used while other portions rest and recover.

Greywater - Any wastewater coming from sinks, bathtubs, showers, and other drains.

Inlet Tee - The baffle tee that allows wastewater to come into your septic tank from your home or business.

Inspection Ports - The openings in your septic tank where a licensed contractor can pump the remaining sludge and scum out of your tank. Often, these pump out ports are located directly below concrete risers that make it easy to access your septic tank. Other times, they are simply covered by square lids, which sit directly on the top of the tank, and are buried underneath the ground.

Leachfield - Synonym for "drainfield"

Mechanical Secondary Treatment - Most secondary treatment utilizes biological processes to remove impurities from wastewater. There are more passive types of biological treatment such as the soil absorption field, itself. Other types of secondary treatment include medra filters using sand, peat moss and geo-textiles. Other forms use compressors to generate oxygen for suspended growth, wastewater renovation or sequential batch reactors.

National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) - A non-profit organization that tests various products to determine their effect on the environment and general health.

Nondegradables - Materials that cannot be broken down by the bacteria inside your septic tank, such as grease, plastics, etc.

Outlet Tee - The baffle tee that allows wastewater to flow from your septic tank into your distribution box.

Poisons - Any materials that might threaten or kill the bacteria living inside your septic tank, such as gasoline, oil, pesticides, etc.

Primary Treatment - The process that occurs inside your septic tank, during which wastewater breaks down into three different layers: heavy solids (sludge), partially treated wastewater, and lighter scum.

Pump Out Ports - Synonym for "Inspection Ports"

Scum - The lighter solids that separate from wastewater inside your septic tank and float to the top.

Septic Tank - A holding area where wastewater is collected, and put through the primary treatment process. This is also where sludge and scum are held, so that they can be digested by bacteria, and later pumped out by a licensed professional.

Sewage - Any wastewater generated within your home or business.

Sludge - The heavier solids that separate from wastewater inside your septic tank during primary treatment. They then sink to the bottom of the tank.

Soil Absorption Field - Synonym for "Drainfield"

Wastewater - Any water that enters your septic system from your toilets, sinks, showers, bathtubs, laundry, and other drains.

Return to top

A Short Description of Our Septic System Services

Return to top

Contact us:

SeptiClean
Post Office Box 570
Nokesville, VA 20182

Toll-free: 1-888-882-7474
Local: (540) 428-3986
Fax: (540) 428-3989

E-mail: info@septiclean.com

Return to top