Septic System Brochure: Operation and Maintenance
After the septic tank system is placed in service, proper operation and maintenance of the system will ensure continued efficient service and prevent sudden replacement expenses.
The septic tank and drainfield are designed and installed to handle a
maximum calculated daily sewage flow. Consistently exceeding the design
flow will eventually overload the system and cause failure. The tank may
receive new solids faster than it can treat them and the drainfield may
become saturated from excessive water use. Various
products are on the market which are said to start, accelerate or
improve the action in the septic tank. Since all necessary bacteria are
already present in the sewage entering the system, such products are not
recommended.
Maintenance of a septic tank will depend largely on
the daily sewage flow and individual household wastewater
characteristics. With ordinary use and care, a septic tank should
not require pumping out more than once every three to five years. It
should, however, be inspected to determine the depth of accumulated
sludge and grease.
Waste from kitchen garbage disposal units puts an
extra load on a septic tank system. If a disposal is used, the
capacity of the tank should be increased to handle the increased
solid wastes. The tank may also require more frequent pumping to
remove accumulated solid waste buildup.
Failure to pump out a septic tank system when
indicated will result in solids or greases overflowing into the
drainfield, which in turn may become clogged and stop functioning.
In this event, not only will the tank have to be pumped out, but the
drainfield may also have to be replaced.
Septic tanks can be cleaned by septic tank cleaning
firms permitted by the county health department. This type of work
should be done only by experienced professionals who will pump the
entire contents of the tank into a tank truck and dispose of the
contents in an approved, sanitary manner.
Septic tanks installed after January 1, 1998, are
required to have outlet filters. For information on how to
service/clean the filter, call your septic tank contractor or county
health department.
