Septic Systems

The DeSoto County Department of Health’s Environmental Health Division issues permits for new, replacement and additions to septic systems. We also evaluate existing systems for compliance with all local and state laws and ordinances, as needed.

Sewage Disposal Programs

There are 3 types of sewage disposal programs currently available in DeSoto County.

1. Onsite Waste (Basic Septic) Systems
2. Department of Environmental Protection Package Plants
3. City and County Utilities

Services for onsite waste systems are conducted at the Environmental Health Office located at 34 South Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, Florida. This office receives and processes applications for new, repair, and modification of Onsite Waste (Basic Septic) Systems.

Environmental Specialists design new systems, repair current systems and review septic tank permit applications, which have been prepared by registered engineers and septic tank contractors to ensure that systems, as proposed, will meet the requirements of the State of Florida and DeSoto County. All septic tank installations in DeSoto County are inspected by qualified Environmental Health staff.

In areas zoned for industrial or manufacturing activities, the public health department

evaluates the potential for each new business to introduce toxic chemicals into their septic system and determines that proper handling and disposal procedures are in place prior to the business being granted a Certificate of Occupancy or an Occupational License by the County Building or Zoning Departments.

Baseline "Basic" Septic Tank Operation

Basic Septic Tank Systems are a viable alternative for waste water processing. Like any other device, septic tanks must be properly installed, maintained, and repaired. Literature verifies that the average life of a septic tank with acidic water conditions, as we often find in DeSoto County is between 25 to 30 years due to the action of Hydrogen Sulfide Gas on the concrete surface.

Basic septic tanks systems consist of the tank, a distribution box, and the drain field. Older tanks are one chambered, while newer ones have two chambers. The waste water from the home enters the tank through the inlet pipe. The waste water is allowed to settle, with a desired retention time of at least two days. During this period the heavier material settles to a layer called sludge, while the lighter materials including oils and grease, form an upper layer called the scum layer.

Anaerobic Bacteria (oxygen hating) work on the sludge breaking down the material so that most of it will eventually wind up in solution and be able to move out the outlet pipe into the distribution box and then the drain field. The tank has to be properly sized according to the occupant load and the computed resultant daily flow. The proper sizing will allow the required retention time for the biological processing.

The drain field is designed to gradually percolate the waste water through the properly placed soil type that allows mineral and bacterial processing prior to the effluent reaching the ground water table. The drain field is sized to match the estimated daily flow from the tank.

The build up of scum and sludge in the tank is dependent on the daily flow and the composition of the waste. The five year inspection and pump out program takes into account nation wide data that was compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency, and incorporated in technical transmissions to State Governments and the publishing of the “ A Homeowner’s Guide to Septic Systems.

Home owners can help maintain their septic systems by ensuring that they never put any of the following items down any drain leading to the septic tank: 

• Disposable Diapers
• Chemicals such as photo chemicals, paints, thinners, oils, varnishes, pesticides, used motor oil, cooking oils.
• Cigarette butts and Coffee Grounds.
• Any type of soil or dirt.
• Drugs and Medicines.
• Kitty Litter.
• Condoms, gloves paper towels, panty liners, sanitary napkins and tampons.
• Trash and scraps.
• Water in large quantities can overload the system. Monitor roof gutters and surface runoff.
• Hair and washing machine lint can also build up in the system.
• Dish wash machines and clothes washers can also overload a system if extra guests are visiting.

The periodic inspection and pump out of a septic tank can help save the homeowner from expensive repairs to the drain field. That program will also ensure that present and future generations have clean usable potable and recreational waters.

Septic System Dilemmas

 

This is an example of a complete failure.   The drain field is not accepting effluent, which results in surface spill and backup into the home. Tank inspections are very important since we typically cannot see what’s happening underground on a daily basis.

Corrosion and the effects of Hydrogen Sulfide Gas can be seen below:

Drain Field Failures are hazardous to our own health and the environmental around us. This is a prime example of a drain field failure, as evidenced by visible sewage on the lawn.