FAQ’s
What can I do to ensure that my septic systems does the job for years to come?
Tips:
- Only discharge biodegradable wastes into system.
- Divert surface runoff water from roofs, patios, driveways, and other areas away from your drain field.
- Keep your septic tank cover accessible.
- Have your septic tank pumped regularly. It should also be inspected for leaks, cracks, and to make sure the exit baffle is in place.
- Compost your garbage or put it in the trash.
Don't:
- Use a garbage disposal. These can double the amount of solids added to the tank!
- Flush sanitary napkins, tampons, disposable diapers, condoms and other non biodegradable products into your system
- Dump solvents, oils, paints, thinners, disinfectants, pesticides or poisons down the drain which can disrupt the treatment process and contaminate the groundwater
- Dig in your drain field or build anything over it.
- Drive over your drain field or compact the soil in any way.
- Do not plant trees or shrubbery in the absorption field area. The roots can get into the lines and plug them. Grass is the only thing that should be planted on or near a drain field.
- Do not cover the absorption field with hard surfaces, such as concrete or asphalt.
Can I flush toilet paper into my system?
All septic systems are designed to properly process toilet paper. The size of the holding tank is based on the number of bedrooms in the home. Commercially manufactured toilet paper is are septic system safe. Therefore, so long as the system is not required to handle more wastewater than it was designed to handle, there should be no problem using toilet paper.
How often do I need to have my system pumped?
This answer depends on the size of the system and the number of people using the system. The standard size for septic systems in the lower mainland is 750 gallons. Keep in mind that as the system ages, more frequent cleaning is recommended.
|
Household size (number of people) |
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9+ |
| Tank Size (gallons) |
Duration (in years) Between Pumpings or Inspections |
| *750 |
9.1 |
4.2 |
2.6 |
1.8 |
1.3 |
1.0 |
0.7 |
0.6 |
0.4 |
| 1,000 |
12.4 |
5.9 |
3.7 |
2.6 |
2.0 |
1.5 |
1.2 |
1.0 |
0.8 |
| 1,250 |
15.6 |
7.5 |
4.8 |
3.4 |
2.6 |
2.0 |
1.7 |
1.4 |
1.2 |
| 1,500 |
18.9 |
9.1 |
5.9 |
4.2 |
3.3 |
2.6 |
2.1 |
1.8 |
1.5 |
| 1,750 |
22.1 |
10.7 |
6.9 |
5.0 |
3.9 |
3.1 |
2.6 |
2.2 |
1.9 |
| 2,000 |
25.4 |
12.4 |
8.1 |
5.9 |
4.5 |
3.7 |
3.1 |
2.6 |
2.2 |
| 2,250 |
28.6 |
14.0 |
9.1 |
6.7 |
5.2 |
4.2 |
3.5 |
3.0 |
2.6 |
| 2,500 |
31.9 |
15.6 |
10.2 |
7.5 |
5.9 |
4.8 |
4.0 |
3.5 |
3.0 |
Do I need to add additives to my system?
In most instances additives are unnecessary to maintain a properly funtioning septic system. However, sometimes a system will become overloaded with organic material and the enzymes and bacteria in additives can actually help. This can occur when a system is temporarily required to process more waste than it was designed to process, such as instances when their are frequent large parties or extra guests for an extended period of time. The need for these supplements is best determined by your service provider.
Septic system flooding occurs when a conventional drain field has been super-saturated by rain, or rising stream, creek, or river water. In an aerobic system flooding occurs when the aerobic tanks fill with runoff rain water and cease to function. In either case the first indication that there is a problem is usually that toilets no longer flush properly. Raw sewage may also back up into shower and bath drains first since they are usually located at the lowest gravity point in the house. Here are some common steps to take when dealing with a flooded septic system:
If possible don't use the system while the drain field or tanks are covered with water. The wastewater will not be treated and will become a source of pollution. Conserve water as much as possible while the system attempts to restore itself and the water table falls.
- If you have an aerobic septic system (with electric pumps), try to prevent silt from entering the pump chamber. When the pump chamber becomes flooded, silt has a tendency to settle in the chamber and ultimately clog the drainfield or damage the pump if it was not removed prior to flooding.
- Use caution when opening the septic tank for pumping while the soil is still saturated. Mud and silt may enter the tank and end up in the drainfield. In addition, pumping out a tank that is sitting in saturated soil may cause it to "pop out" of the ground. Newer systems are more likely to pop out than older systems because the soil may not have completely settled and compacted.
- Do not dig into the tank or drainfield area while the soil is still wet or flooded. Try to avoid using any heavy machinery near the drainfield or tanks in a saturated state, as they are especially vulnerable to damage under flooded conditions. Such activity may permanently ruin the soil's ability to conduct fluid.
- Flooding of the septic tank usually lifts the floating crust of fats and grease in the septic tank. Some of this scum may float and partially clog the outlet tee. If the septic system backs up into the house, check the tank first for outlet blockage. Clean up any floodwater in the house without dumping it into the sink or toilet and allow enough time for the water to recede. Floodwaters in a house that are subsequently passed though or pumped through the septic tank will cause higher than normal flows through the system. As a result the risk of outlet tee clogging increases dramatically.
- Avoid contact with any electric pump or equipment that may have have been submerged during the flood until the device is clean and dry.
- Aerobic systems, upflow filters, trickling filters and other media filters may have been clogged due to mud and sediment. These systems will need to be washed, raked, and cleaned prior to restarting the system.
What should I do after the flood waters recede?
-
If you also have an in ground well, do not drink the water until it has been tested by you county health department.
-
Do not use the sewage system until the water in the soil absorption field is lower than the water level at any point around the house.
-
Have your septic tank professionally inspected and serviced if you suspect damage. Signs of damage include visible settling or the ground above the tank or an inability of the system to accept additional water. Most septic systems are not damaged by flooding since they are below ground and completely covered. However, septic tanks and pump chambers can fill with silt and soil and must then be cleaned. If the soil absorption field is clogged with silt, a new system is may have to be installed as the there is no effective way to clean out the buried lines in an absorption field.
-
Have your tanks repaired or cleaned by trained specialists as the tanks may contain dangerous gases and pathogens.
-
If sewage has backed up into a basement, clean the area and disinfect the floor. Use a chlorine solution of a half cup of chlorine bleach to a gallon of water.
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