Septic tank maintenance

March 31st, 2013:

Drain field odor control

This article will cover drain field odor control. Health these days is treated like a trophy or a medal that should be flaunted and talked about. This is because it is understood that when you’re healthy, you get to do more, be more, and live more. But one should put an effort into maintaining health. There is always the option of quitting vices and changing into a healthy lifestyle wherein eight hours of sleep and daily exercise should be included. Diet should also be changed. More vegetables and fruits should be eaten instead of meats and sweets.

Good health is also brought about by the type of environment you live in. As much as possible, cleanliness should be practiced. This means that the livable spaces should not be contaminated by filth or fould odors. If your household has a septic system, then it is divided into the septic tank division and the drain field division. The septic tank area is where the wastewater is collected and contained as its treatment starts with the help of the aerobic bacteria. If the pre-treatment is concluded, then the pre-treated effluent will flow into the drain field. The drain field is where the final stage of wastewater treatment happens. The aerobic bacteria and the biomat are the two valuable players here The biomat (regulated by the aerobic bacteria) is responsible for filtering off the pathogens before they leave and get distributed to the surrounding environment. The aerobic bacteria are those that break down any small particle of waste that’s left in the effluent. To make sure that the anaerobic and aerobic bacteria are always preset to do their jobs, the septic system should be treated right.

The drain field is said to be the most crucial area of the treatment because it receives the outcome of either good or bad septic tank maintenance. If the system is not treated or maintained properly, drain field odors could be one f the most dreaded consequences. One may think that drain field odors are just unpleasant smells. But read on and find out what drain field odors have that you should be worried about:

  1. Hydrogen sulfide In humans, low dosages of hydrogen sulfide in the toxic drain field odors result to nausea, allergies, dizziness, burning sensation in the eyes, and coughs. This chemical compound smells like rotten eggs. If the exposure is to high, you will be left unconscious and if it’s prolonged exposure, you could even die.
  2. Methane gas isn’t toxic in low levels. But when there is high level of exposure to this gas, asphyxiation can occur because it decreases the oxygen content in the air that you breathe. It then causes dizziness, headaches, and unconsciousness. Death could follow without any signs at all. Methane is also flammable and any buildup is extremely detrimental.
  3. Carbon monoxide. This is a waste product of methane. It’s completely tasteless, non-irritating, and odorless. Above all else, it’s deadly. Thousands become sick by simply inhaling carbon monoxide. If anyone survives from exposure to this gas, long-term neurological problems will be acquired. Symptoms are usually depression, migraine, chronic fatigue, or flu. If you are exposed more severely, you will experience unconsciousness, convulsions, hallucinations, and confusion. It would be best to have a carbon monoxide detector near your septic area.

Drain field odor control should be performed with the help of your septic expert. It isn’t ideal to reside in an environment that threatens your health and even your life. How can you have a healthy, happy existence if the air you breathe is full of drain field odors? Health is the most important reason why drain field odor control should be administered. And nothing’s more ideal than bacteria. Bacteria-based additives should be applied onto the drain field area so that any solid waste materials or unpleasant odors would be eliminated. Regular treatment with bacteria will also rid the problem of blockages and backups without polluting the environment.