Septic tank maintenance

How calcium can cause clogging in a sand mound system

Feb 6th, 2013
by Service.
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This article will cover how calcium can cause clogging in a sand mound system. Every property is unique. Some homeowners end up with soil with normal percolation rates. These properties required conventional septic systems that are installed underneath the ground. Other property owners have a more unique disposition because their properties have percolation rates that are either too fast or too slow. Their properties could only accommodate the sand mound system. The sand mound system is literally a mound. It is elevated. It is actually seen above ground. Because of this, the sand mound is included in the overall landscape design. Like the conventional septic system, the sand mound collects and treats your wastewater. Both greywater (wastewater from the dishwasher, washing machine, drains, and showers) and blackwater (wastewater from the toilet) are transformed into their safe forms before they are returned to the surrounding environment. The sand mound system is elevated to make room for additional filters needed to treat your wastewater. It also has anaerobic bacteria to break down the solid waste materials. With these microorganisms, the effluent could safely flow into the surrounding soil absorption system, where it will be purified before it is returned to the surrounding environment.

The sand mound system is a specialized septic system that is more exposed to the elements. It needs special attention such as changing the construction fabric that lines it. The construction fabric makes sure that heat is retained in the system. You should always see to it  that  the fabric is changed before cold weather begins because if it is damaged, you can be sure to experience septic problems during winter. Ice and snow will enter the sand mound system and it will surely freeze over. Another priority for the sand mound is to prevent clogging. Clogging is a common problem with sand mounds. Many factors cause clogging. Below are some of them:

  • Invasive roots of higher plants. Invasive root systems constantly look for water and nutrients that are closest to them. If you have higher plants in your property, your sand mound system is their instant source of sustenance.
  • Excess water load. Excessive amounts of water that enter the sand mound cause the solid waste particles to be disturbed. Their break down is delayed. They are pushed into the soil absorption system, clogging the process or wastewater treatment.
  • Soil compaction. When your sand mound area is made into a parking lot, storage facility, or driveway, the heavy weight compressed the soil. As a result, the sand mound components are crushed. Leaks result from the damage. Because of these leaks, the flow of the wastewater backs up and floods the property with untreated effluent. Sediments and rainwater also enter the system through the cracks produced by the crushed components.
  • Calcium sulfoaluminate or ettringite formation. The formation starts with the anaerobic digestion of the thiocillus bacteria. The process produces hydrogen sulfide gas that accumulates in the headspace over the waterline. Here, the gas interacts with oxygen, producing sulfuric acid. The acid forms white ettringite, which deteriorates the concrete reinforcement  of the system. When the concrete layer is destroyed, the metal components are exposed to the elements. The damage then allows excess water and debris inside the sand mound. These clog the wastewater treatment process.

The sand mound system is severely deteriorated if you see ettringite formation on the concrete layer. If you are lucky enough to decide which brand to use on your sand mound, choose the one that resists sulfuric acid. If you don’t have an idea what kind of concrete was used on your sand mound, it would be best to make your sand mound system an aerobic one. The oxygen will prevent the formation of sulfuric acid. The thiocillus bacteria will continue to produce the hydrogen sulfide gas but it won’t be able to occupy the headspace anymore. If you want to have a long lasting sand mound system, you have to know how calcium can cause clogging in a sand mound system.

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Septic system preventive maintenance

Feb 6th, 2013
by Service.
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This article will discuss the benefit of septic system preventive maintenance and how it can be practiced in every aspect of your life. Your preventive maintenance of leading a healthy lifestyle, taking supplements, and undergoing regular checkups give you a disease-free body. Reading and participating in discussions help you prevent your mind’s stagnation. Cooking a lot prevents your taste buds from being dull. Keeping your house clean and cared for prevents it from deteriorating especially during harsh weather. The same goes with your septic system. It needs preventive maintenance so that you will have a healthy and safe home for decades or even generations to come.

Since it is your own personal wastewater treatment facility, you have the responsibility of maintaining it so as to prevent malfunctions and failures. It is not a self-caring system. It needs you to make sure that it functions smoothly. Part of being a responsible homeowner is making sure that every component of the house works harmoniously with one another. If you fail to do this, then you would have to spend thousands of dollars in repair or replacement especially when you refer to the septic system.

Septic system preventive maintenance for your septic system should include the following practices of both you and your septic expert:

1. As much as possible, you should only dump biodegradable tissue paper and household wastewater into your septic system. You should keep away cigarette butts, car grease, kitchen grease, and feminine products from your system. Non-biodegradable materials are not broken down by the resident bacteria. They just stay in the septic tank to clog the system. This will eventually result to septic failure if not corrected immediately.

2. You should make sure that the fixtures are always inspected. Any leaks should be repaired immediately. Unrepaired leaks in the plumbing and septic system could cause backups in the system.  

3. You should not place heavy vehicles over your septic system. These cause soil compaction and physical damage to the septic components. You should know the exact location of your septic system so that you may not accidentally run it over or perhaps build any form of construction over the area. 

4. Be familiar with the exact location of your septic system so that you may have easy access to it during inspection and pump out treatments. You could ask the help of the department that issued the permit for your septic system’s construction and installation. But it would be faster if you trace the soggy or the dry grass on your lawn. These will let you know where the drain field and the septic tank are. Coordinating with your septic expert is also highly recommended to be sure but be ready for additional charges.

5. Have a septic expert perform the necessary steps before cleaning and pumping out:

a) A proper inspection will be conducted to see if there are hardwood plants over or around the septic system; if there are septic odors, pooling sewage water, and wet soil; if the sludge level is normal; and if there are damaged parts such as baffles.

6. Oxygen bleach (color safe) should be the only one used in the home and in washing laundry. 

7.  Maintain a schedule for your septic system preventive maintenance.

8. Have your septic expert apply septic treatments:

a) Porosity restorer to restore tanks, dry wells, and drain fields

b) Activator to restore the normal number of bacteria

c) Septic maintainer to protect drains, improve the function of the septic tank, control septic odors, and to quickly digest paper and detergents

d) Regular pump out treatments depending on the number of household members

Your septic system should have the need for septic system preventive maintenance on a regular basis so that it could reach its maximum lifespan. This way, you could also save a lot because you won’t have to buy another septic system or have your old one heavily restored.  Remember that your septic system could only function optimally with your diligence as a homeowner. Never rely on additives to do your responsibilities for you.

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How much does it cost to have a sand mound pumped?

Feb 5th, 2013
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In this article we are going to discuss how much does it cost to have a sand mound pumped? If the homeowner suddenly finds out that the septic system to be installed underneath their property is a sand mound system. This is installed for a household that is established on a property with a high water table and a soil type that could only accommodate a sand mound system. The sand mound is known to be a very sensitive system that needs extra care. It is more exposed to the elements especially during the cold season. This is where the construction fabric enters the scene. This is a special fabric that needs to be placed on top of the sand mound system before the topsoil. The construction fabric retains the heat inside the sand mound, produced by the metabolism of the bacterial population.

You have to replace the fabric before the cold season to make sure that the system doesn’t freeze up and fail. Since the sand mound is a type of septic system, you should always remember that it doesn’t veer that far from how you maintain the conventional septic system. It should also receive the basic pump out treatment. But since the sand mound is seen as extra-special, there are homeowners who think that pumping out their sand mounds is actually very expensive. But how much does it cost to have a sand mound pumped?

The cost of pumping out a sand mound doesn’t stray from the cost that it takes for a regular septic system to undergo the same treatment. You just have to tell your septic expert about the situation in your home as to how many members your household has. If you have two people in there, you much have your sand mound pumped out every 3 years. If there are up to 5 people, then it should be pumped out every 2 years. For a household that has 6 or more people, an annual pump out is recommended. An amount of 75-200 USD should be prepared for each pump out schedule. The costs in some areas go up depending on the services attached to the pump out service. To make your pump out schedules hassle or worry-free, you should learn how to set aside a budget every year or every month. Pumping out your sand mound should not be a very stressful task to do.

But before the actual pump out is done, there should be a very thorough inspection done by a true and credible professional. You could get referrals from the local health department because there are some pumpers that just suck the sludge and go when they get paid. The soil absorption system should be checked for heavy vehicle tracks or footprints because these may have already caused damage to the system. The contents of the sand mound’s tank should also be checked to see what is inside and if the bacterial population has been affected by the amount of chemicals present in there.

The right septic professional should be hired to make the pump out successful. After the pump out session done on your sand mound, the expert should make a report that contains the recommendations that tell you what improvements you should do to prevent malfunctions and failures in the future. It is sand to admit that not all “septic experts” are not experts at all. Some just go to your house and set the hose, suck the sludge, and leave right after you give them their pay. Homeowners who hire such people often end up with a malfunctioning sand mound again after just a few months.

Pumping out your sand mound is very inexpensive. It should be a routine that you should have in your household to ensure a long lasting system to treat your wastewater. It is really much cheaper to set aside a few dollars monthly, a few hundred dollars yearly or every few years than to spend at most 30,000 USD for a brand new sand mound. We hope that we answered the age old question of how much does it cost to have a sand mound pumped?

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Will hydrogen peroxide harm raised mounds?

Feb 4th, 2013
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I read it all the time on internet message boards. People are asking the same question. Will hydrogen peroxide harm raised mounds? You held your breath the moment you knew that you had a raised mound for your septic system. Well, the raised mound is known to be extra sensitive because it is an unconventional type of septic system. It is elevated or raised. It is a mound for a septic system. It is mandatory to be installed in a property that had a high water table. Not every homeowner is crazy about it but who are you to complain when your water table is high? You just have to deal with it.

Like the conventional septic system, you have to maintain and care for the raised mound. It is not like the usual septic system that is under the surface of the soil and could contain all that heat from the bacterial metabolism that goes on in there. For the raised mound, you have to regulate the heat with the help of a construction fabric. This special fabric should be checked before the cold season comes because if it is deteriorated when snow falls, the system will freeze over and fail. You wouldn’t want to wade in wastewater in your heated home, right? It is also necessary for you to have your raised mound treated and cleaned. It is not a secret that raised mounds are subjected to wastes and that harmful pathogens accumulate in there as well.

Among the many raised mound cleaning products that are out in the market, only a few are formulated to really give instant results at a low price. If you want an economical, fast-acting, raised mound friendly additive, then you have to consider hydrogen peroxide. Will hydrogen peroxide harm raised mounds? In knowledgeable and skilled hands… NO. So make sure that you coordinate well with your septic expert so that hydrogen peroxide could be safely used on your raised mound.

This chemical compound is usually overlooked and is actually part of everyday life. Many women never leave without this in their bags when their periods come. With hydrogen peroxide, blood stains could be easily and instantly removed. Large industries use pure hydrogen peroxide to disinfect their equipment and vicinities because it is low-priced and could easily be stored in bulk. H2O2 can also be purchases at 3% in 97% water. With such a weak concentration, this could be safely used inside the home. But there are others stores that have 30-35% hydrogen peroxide as well. Hydrogen peroxide can be purchased in large amounts and stored in your home just makes sure that the storage area is away from pets or children. The following are some other uses of hydrogen peroxide that you may already be familiar with: 

  1. Remove stains or spots with hydrogen peroxide. You could also soak your whites to improve the level of whiteness.
  2. Kitchen areas and components could be thoroughly sanitized after washing with hydrogen peroxide. Pathogens like Salmonella will definitely be eradicated.
  3. Lighten your hair color gradually with hydrogen peroxide.
  4. Remove toxic mold from your home with this chemical compound.
  5. Disinfect and clean any surface by wiping or spraying hydrogen peroxide on them.
  6. Bathroom areas and components could also be disinfected without harming the leach fields. Just dilute the chemical compound with equal amounts of water.
  7. Use 3% hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash for ten minutes everyday to eliminate bacteria and whiten teeth. But do not prolong this habit because it will result to cell damage of the oral cavity and degradation of the surface of your teeth.
  8. You could also soak your vegetables and meat in hydrogen peroxide to get rid of chemical residues, dirt, and bacteria before you cook them. 

People are asking, will hydrogen peroxide harm raised mounds? Hydrogen peroxide is safe to use on your leach fields just as long as you have your septic expert use it in proper concentrations so that it may only target the harmful bacteria and not the resident bacteria. In the process, the disarming leach field odors could be eliminated as well.

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Casino grease removal

Feb 3rd, 2013
by Service.
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This article will cover casino grease removal. The thrill of not knowing what will happen just keeps Americans believe that they will finally get what they have always wanted all their lives. It cannot be denied that money is a big factor in this part of the American dream and in the fast-paced lifestyle that they have, it’s only to be expected that they would want to have a large sum of money in an instant. Gambling is an easy way to achieve a large winning. It may just be a simple scratch of a lottery ticket or a single run of the slot machine. Somehow, hope and luck coincide in trying to get to the pinnacle of financial freedom.

To own a home on American soil used to be the American dream. But these days, it’s owning a home and having everything else that you have always wanted. It may be a lot to digest but it is what most Americans want. This is the driving force whenever they bet money and in doing so, they have to go to casinos. There are many casinos in the US but Las Vegas is the known kingdom. It’s one of the reasons for its namesake “Sin City” or the “Land Where Dreams Come True”. Winning in a casino is what people hope and pray for. And when more people dream of winning, more people frequent casinos.

Casinos these days are more than places of luck and good fortune. They have been turned into resorts or vacation hotspots that have everything you could possibly need or want. It is usually an ironic thing not to teach kids about gambling when their parents bring them to casino resorts for a vacation. Nevertheless, both parents and children get to do what they want and everybody’s happy. Food establishments are never excluded in a casino. Restaurateurs take advantage of the tourism and the sheer attraction to casinos. Nowadays, there are myriads of restaurants and food centers in casinos just to make sure that the customers never leave the area when they have fun. These restaurants may be themed or may be smorgasbords of various cuisines from all over the world. Their goal is to satisfy every palate and craving from appetizers to desserts.

The flourishing food establishments are the main source of concern with regard to the worsening FOG (fats, oils, grease) crisis in the country. The huge quantity of food produces a lot of FOG that it practically tales over the wastewater treatment system. The US government has created the grease ordinance to require the casino owners to have grease traps installed in their areas of operation. The maintenance of the said grease traps should be handled as well. Maintenance starts off with the regular pump outs performed with the help of the local grease trap expert. A fixed schedule for this should be kept to prevent FOG overflow. If there is neglect in maintenance, the FOG will spill into the raw effluent and flow through the sewer lines. Then the FOG will adhere to the inner pipe walls and harden like concrete until a blockage is formed. When this happens, the effluent won’t be able to reach the wastewater treatment plant anymore. it will then backup into the casino facilities and cause health and sanitation issues. The effluent flooding could also cause electrocution accidents that could result to severe to fatal injuries.

Casino grease removal should be done first by performing proper grease disposal. This could be accomplished by the kitchen personnel. They could collect the grease materials and place them in leak-proof bins that could be sealed upon disposal. Drains should be fitted with meshes to catch the grease particles to prevent them from entering the grease trap. Together with bacteria as additives, casino grease removal will be a successful endeavor. Bacteria are organic FOG digesters that leave the grease trap odor-free. If bacteria are always administered into the grease trap, then FOG overflows will then be non-existent.

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Will hydrogen peroxide clean cesspools?

Jan 28th, 2013
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This article will briefly touch base on the use of hydrogen peroxide and will hydrogen peroxide clean cesspools? The mystery of cesspools has always captured your imagination. Since you were a child, your grandparents and parents have oriented you about the purpose of this personalized wastewater treatment facility. Since your home is far away from the city or town’s sewage treatment system, it was more practical for your home and other homes in the area to have their own cesspools to take care of the wastewater produced. The cesspool has active bacterial populations that break down the solid waste materials that flow in together with the wastewater.

Since the cesspool is a receptacle of the wastes from your home, it should be expected that regular cleaning be done to it. This valuable component of your house is much like your living room or bedroom. It needs to have its walls cleaned and even sanitized to a point so that it would not house pathogenic bacteria that deliver diseases once you get in contact with them. In cleaning the cesspool, you should avail of products that are safe and economical. In the market these days, you could purchase one such chemical compound that is effective, versatile, and safe to use as well—hydrogen peroxide. But will hydrogen peroxide clean cesspools?

Hydrogen peroxide is also known as agua oxinada. Because it is commonly used in wound cleaning, it is known to be an essential item in first aid kits. The chemical compound is also effective as an antiseptic and as a disinfectant as well. Cesspools could really benefit from hydrogen peroxide. In normal amounts, hydrogen peroxide is safe to use in cleaning cesspools without affecting the resident bacteria that do the major work of breaking down the solid wastes. But aside from cleaning the cesspool, hydrogen peroxide could also be used in various cleaning tasks as well: 

  1. You could use hydrogen peroxide for disinfecting toothbrushes. Just use  three percent hydrogen peroxide and soak your toothbrushes in it to get rid of the bacteria that accumulate in them. This is also used to make sure that your toothbrushes do not transfer bacteria to other toothbrushes in the rack.
  2. Dentures could be soaked overnight or for thirty minutes in three percent hydrogen peroxide then rinsed before usage.
  3. Three percent hydrogen peroxide could be mixed with the same amount of water to clean your bathroom glass doors, bathroom mirrors, sinks, floors, and shower area.
  4. Hydrogen peroxide is also effective in removing wine and blood stains through spot application.
  5. With three percent hydrogen peroxide, you could also clean and disinfect cutting boards, trash cans, dishwasher, refrigerator, kitchen floor, kitchen counter, kitchen sink, and meats before you cook them.
  6. If you mix a pint of this chemical compound with 1 gallon of water, you could effectively clean and disinfect blinds, windows, walls, and humidifiers.
  7. Spot application could be done on carpet stains.
  8. Hydrogen peroxide could also be used in bleaching or lightening your hair, cleansing your face, and rinsing your mouth.

You could question the real safety that hydrogen peroxide has for the bacteria that does all the work in the cesspool. You don’t have to worry about that. It is only used to kill off the pathogens or the disease-causing microorganisms that really pose as health threats. You certainly cannot avoid the accumulation of these kinds of bacteria in your cesspool. If these are not controlled, your household and the surrounding environment could really perish.

What is hydrogen peroxide and will hydrogen peroxide clean cesspools?  Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound that efficiently eliminates septic odors. It could also be used in preventing disease-causing bacteria from proliferating heavily as it gets rid of the stains in the cesspool. This is a very low-priced cleaning compound so you could buy loads of it and safely store them in your home.

When you use hydrogen peroxide, you can be sure that the environment and the organisms in it are safe. Just always remember to wear precautionary clothing, follow proper instructions, and use hydrogen peroxide in normal amounts to make sure that you could achieve its optimal benefits.

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How calcium can clog an aerobic system

Jan 28th, 2013
by Service.
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This article will cover how calcium can clog an aerobic system. A house that is always occupied should always be maintained. It is understood that that a budget and a certain amount of effort should be given to make the home’s components are always in tiptop condition. To care for your walls and roof, you have to keep them coated with good paint and clean them regularly. You could also hire professionals to do a more efficient job for you. The same goes for your septic system. Normally, septic systems are underground systems that are run by anaerobic bacteria. These microorganisms are primitive and tenacious. They break down organic solid waste materials that are in the wastewater produced by your household on a daily basis. An anaerobic system like this can be improved by transforming it into an aerobic system. This is a more efficient way to handle wastewater. The oxygen provided by the aeration system increases the number of aerobic bacteria in the drain field. More aerobic bacteria means the wastewater will be purer and the biomat will be more regulated. Unregulated biomat results to clogging.

Because of several factors, an aerobic system could still be clogged. Here are some of them:

  • Use of harsh chemicals

When you use harsh chemicals in cleaning, the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria are all killed off. Without these bacteria, the wastewater treatment process will never push through. When aerobic bacteria die off, the biomat proliferate uncontrollably. This clogs the system. You should opt for more organic and environment friendly products to make sure that you get the job done while keeping your system safe.

  • Improper waste disposal.

Non-biodegradable materials are usually dumped into drains and toilets. These substances cannot be degraded by bacteria anymore. They just stay in the system to clog the process. Place them in proper waste bins or recycle them. Even if you use your garbage disposal units before you dump them in the septic system, they are still non-biodegradable. They stay the same.

  • Calcium sulfoaluminate formation or ettringite formation

This is caused by the production of hydrogen sulfide by the anaerobic digestion of the thiocillus bacteria. The hydrogen sulfide gas accumulates in the headspace above the water line. Then the gas combines with oxygen. This makes way for sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid then forms ettringite. The ettringite corrodes the cement reinforcement of the septic system. When this happens, the metal components corrode. They are then subjected to sediments, which clog the flow of wastewater.

You should know how calcium can clog an aerobic system. Even with oxygen being produced, ettringite could still form. This could happen if the cement used to make your septic system is highly sensitive to the sulfuric acid that is formed by the anaerobic digestion. Yes, it is true that aerobic systems mostly prevent the interaction of oxygen and hydrogen sulfide to produce sulfuric acid but generally, a small amount of sulfuric acid is still produced. This still corrodes the septic system’s cement reinforcement especially if the cement is not tolerant to the acid at all.

Another reason why an aerobic system could be clogged by ettringite is if the aeration system is not regularly checked and maintained. You should set a schedule with your septic expert so that the septic system can always stay in optimal condition. With regular inspection, the aerobic septic system will not experience clogging or damage that could lead to huge repair and replacement expenses. If the aerobic septic is always maintained, there will be no problems in calcium clogging.

If you are a lucky homeowner who gets to monitor the installation of the septic system, make sure that the cement reinforcement used for your system is highly tolerant of sulfuric acid at any level. It should be able to endure the corrosive acid as it does its job. It may cost a bit more but you can be sure of the results on a long-term basis.

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Correctional facility grease trap enzymes

Jan 23rd, 2013
by Service.
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This is another article that will cover correctional facility grease trap enzymes. Decades ago, there were deficiencies in prisons. Because of the lack of space, separation among prisoners was not implemented. Hardened criminals were confined with the children and women. It was expected for the correctional facilities back then to be very unsanitary and crowded. As years progressed, the prison and jail conditions have improved. There is already a classification system for inmates and a more organized system of management. But it seems that the internal improvements are not enough for today’s correctional facilities.

With the increasing number of convictions, it may seem that crimes rates continue to overwhelm the United States. It’s a very saddening and scary thought to live in a country where anyone is likely to commit a crime. More inmates mean a higher need for jail space. In the US, there are about 1.7 M people in jails and prisons.  The government’s correctional facilities are not enough to house the inmates anymore. If there is needed construction of new facilities, it would take about 5 to 6 years before it’s completed under government supervision and budget. This is where private companies take the task of building more correctional facilities under their umbrella.

The faster construction of correctional facilities is due to the private companies that have more efficient resources. They could get people to build for them, materials to use, and a contract time to finish the project. The government takes a lot of time to make a facility for inmates because of the delays that political entities usually initiate. There may be politicians that aim to stop the construction because of their agendas. With the private companies taking the floor, the correctional facilities under their eye are much better than their public counterparts.

Included in the improvement scheme of correctional facilities is the compliance to the grease trap ordinance established by the government. Correctional facilities have inmates and employees that need to be fed and their cafeterias work overtime just to make sure that they are, every single day. The large amounts of meals prepared everyday produce a lot of FOG (fats, oils, grease). The FOG that comes from correctional facilities contributes a lot to the ongoing FOG crisis being dealt with by the United States. The grease ordinance requires every correctional facility—public or private—to have grease traps or grease interceptors professionally installed within their premises. The traps should have permits. The owners or managers should make sure that they are regularly maintained and inspected.

Correctional facility grease traps should be cared for on a regular basis so that the FOG level could be monitored and kept from going over the set limit. Preventing the FOG overflow to take place in correctional facility grease traps needs more effort in implementing improved grease disposal practices. There should be meshes or strainers fitted into the drains of the kitchen sinks to filter off the grease and food bits before they enter the trap. The greasy leftovers should be scraped off manually into leak-proof bins. These containers should then be sealed before they are disposed of properly.

The use of correctional facility grease trap enzymes and chemicals should not be encouraged. These products merely emulsify the FOG, making it easier to mix with the untreated effluent. Just like a typical FOG overflow, the FOG then cools off once it’s in the sewer pipes. It sticks to the inner pipe walls and accumulate there until it completely blocks the normal flow of the wastewater towards the treatment plant. The effluent backs up into the correctional facility, contaminating the area and the surrounding living systems. Even the clean water supply is gravely affected.

Bacteria based additives are the ones that should be used on correctional facility grease traps. Bacteria are living organisms that consume and digest the FOG and solid wastes in the grease trap. They leave the grease trap odorless and the environment pollution-free. There is no need to go back to the medieval times in managing correctional facilities. With the help of bacteria, sanitation will be no problem at all.

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What causes septic tank failure?

Jan 20th, 2013
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In this article we will cover what causes septic tank failure? A septic system may be the least regarded component in entire property. There are still households who think that just leaving the septic system alone with a block of yeast is enough for it to last forever. This is a misconception because the septic is technically, a living organism that depends on the homeowner as the primary caregiver. Care and maintenance should be regularly given to the entire septic system so that the overall flow of the wastewater treatment will not be interrupted.

The septic system is comprised of the septic tank and the drain field. The septic tank is where the first stage of wastewater treatment occurs. The raw wastewater is collected and then separated into three distinct layers—the scum, the effluent, and the sludge. The scum is made up of lightweight solid wastes that float on top. The effluent is the middle part that’s clear liquid. The sludge is made up of the heavy solid waste that the anaerobic bacteria digest. If this process of pre-treatment happens successfully, then there will be no problems at all.

What causes septic tank failure?

Basically, the septic tank could fail because of neglect, which can be manifested in a lot of ways. The following are the most common reasons why a septic tank fails:

  1. The trees and other higher species of plants that are planted on and near the septic tank have root systems that penetrate deep into the septic system. When they reach the septic tank, the roots tap into a very rich supply of effluent that they need to survive. The roots thrive and occupy the space in the septic tank that’s needed to perform the wastewater treatment. The roots should be removed manually and the plants should be relocated to a place that’s far away from the septic tank area. If the situation is not corrected, then the septic tank will fail.
  2. It’s mandatory to pump out the septic tank so that the sludge level is kept very low. There is a high risk that the sludge will take over the septic tank and prevent the incoming raw wastewater from entering it and starting treatment. There will be wastewater backup, overflow, flooding and failure if the septic tank is left to fill up with sludge. Pump out schedules should be discussed with your septic expert because it depends on how many are residing in your home. For large households or six or more people, the septic tank should be pumped out every year. If you have up to five people in your home, then you should have the septic tank pumped out every two years. When there are only two people at most in your home, then every three years would be an ideal schedule for a pump out.
  3. Soil compaction is caused by heavy vehicles and structures that are placed over the septic tank. The soil gets too compressed that the physical components of the septic tank are crushed. The resulting damage will cause effluent to leak, backup, overflow, and flood. The vehicles and structures should be removed immediately. The septic expert should immediately check for the damages and make the necessary repairs and replacements. If this is not attended to, the septic tank will inevitably fail.
  4. Dumping harsh chemicals into the septic tank is a big negative. These compounds kill off the bacteria in the septic tank. Without bacteria, there is no septic system. The raw wastewater and solid waste will just stay in the tank until it gets full. There will be effluent leaking, flooding, and backup. This will be aggravated if you continue to dump non-biodegradable materials, grease, and paint into the system because they cannot be decomposed by bacteria. They will just fill up the tank as well.Feel free to consult your septic expert for more methods on how you should take care of your septic tank. There is nothing like being able to care for your septic and your home at the same time.

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How plastics and nylons from laundry water can cause clogging in a seepage pit.

Jan 16th, 2013
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This article will cover how plastics and nylons from laundry water can cause clogging in a seepage pit. As a homeowner, you are aware of certain components that help you maintain your entire property’s health and sanitation. You may have a cesspit or a septic tank but the main idea here is that they treat the wastewater that your household produces on a daily basis. Your wastewater is composed of greywater and blackwater. Greywater is the wastewater that comes from your dishwasher, drains, showers, and washing machines. If you do not have a greywater system or a drywell system, your greywater goes straight into your septic system. This increases your septic’s water load and adds in more solid waste materials—both biodegradable and non-biodegradable ones. Biodegradable waste materials are broken down by the anaerobic bacteria in your septic tank. The non-biodegradable waste materials cannot be degraded anymore so they just stay in the system and clog the process. Plastic is a synthetic material that can have organic substances. Though experts are trying their best to make plastics more biodegradable, they are still not completely decomposed. What’s more, when biodegradable plastics are decomposed, methane is produced. As you know, methane is toxic at high levels and is very flammable. You should know how plastics and nylons from laundry water can cause clogging in a seepage pit. The knowledge can help you prevent seepage pit and septic system failure.

Many people think of seepage pits as cesspools. Others think of cesspools as seepage pits. These two systems are very different from one another. A seepage pit system is much like a cesspool when you refer to its construction. It is actually a large pit made of masonry block or lined with hard concrete rings. It is also surrounded by gravel. Once the wastewater has already gone through the septic tank or cesspool tank, the first stage of treatment is already finished. The effluent is temporarily stored in the seepage pit and slowly seeps out into the surrounding soil absorption area. The seepage pit’s bottom is home to the biomat that is regulated by the aerobic bacteria. Since aerobic bacteria cannot survive in the pit, the biomat tends to accumulate and clog the system. The seepage pit is essentially a helper to your septic system or cesspool. Even if it is just a helper, it should also be well taken care of especially if your laundry water contains plastics and nylons.

If you don’t have a greywater or drywell system, the seepage pit also receives laundry water. Various fabrics are washed in your washing machine on a daily basis. This enables the plastic fibers to enter both the septic and the seepage pit systems. The seepage pit is a helper to your septic system because it helps absorb and purify the pretreated effluent before it is released into the surrounding soil absorption system. It only receives liquids and not solid particles because the septic tank has already dealt with that.  However, when plastics and nylons make it o your septic tank, these cannot be broken down by the anaerobic bacteria anymore. So, they enter the seepage pit as well. The seepage pit then experiences heavy clogging and eventual failure.

An efficient seepage pit effectively collects pre-treated effluent, which is free of solid waste materials. If  your laundry water has plastics and nylons, your seepage pit will surely get clogged and this could cost you your entire septic system. Additional filters should be installed in the inflow and outflow pipes of your septic tank so that plastic and nylon fibers won’t enter the seepage pit anymore. Remember that the seepage pit is not supposed to treat our wastewater anymore. It is only a purifying, quality control station where the pretreated effluent passes.

The seepage pit has a tendency to release harmful contaminants into the surrounding soil so you should make sure that it always functions efficiently. Ask your septic expert about it so that you will be able to maintain it properly.

 

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