This article will discuss how calcium can clog a sand mound system. Everyone l0oks at the sand mound as something complicated to add to a property. Well, it cannot be avoided if the soil you have percolates too quickly or too slowly. It would be the only wastewater treatment system that your property’s soil type could accommodate. The sand mound system is a mound because it has to be raised above the ground to provide space for the additional filters. The filters help the soil treat the wastewater that your household produces every day. Like the ordinary septic system, the sand mound has a tank that collects and pre-treats the raw wastewater. The effluent then passes through the filters before it is dispersed into the surrounding soil absorption area. It needs more attention because it is more exposed to the elements. The construction fabric that the sand mound is lined with should always be checked because it protects the system from the rain and cold. Before winter, you should make sure that the fabric is replaced and free from any deterioration. If you fail to inspect it, the sand mound will freeze over and you will be left with a grave septic system.
Blockage or clogging is the most common dilemma that homeowners face with their sand mounds. Clogging can be caused by improper waste disposal. Many people have their garbage disposal units as their ultimate excuse for dumping non-biodegradable materials into the drain. They think that grease and plastic are broken down to the point where they could be easily broken down by the anaerobic bacteria. This is not so. Non-biodegradable materials stay non-biodegradable so they just stay in the tank and clog the sand mound. It would be best to avoid dumping such materials into your drains and toilets. Another cause of sand mound clogging is the use of harsh chemicals. Harsh chemicals such as strong acids and bases kill off the resident bacteria that break down the solid organic waste materials. Without bacteria, wastewater treatment is not possible. The solid particulates will not be degraded anymore. They would just stay in the tank to clog everything. The particulates will just be pushed into the filters and soil absorption system. They will cause the treatment to be halted and blocked.
Excess water load is also a cause for clogs in the sand mound. When too much water enters the sand mound tank, the solid waste materials are disturbed. The bacteria will not be able to do their job properly when this happens. As a result, the solid waste materials will just stay in the tank. They will then be pushed into the surrounding soil absorption area and clog the system. Heavy rains, using the dishwasher and the washing machine too much, and bathing in tubs almost every day bring too much water into the sand mound system. You should have a greywater system installed to help with the water load that the sand mound receives or handles. Tree roots also cause clogging in sand mounds.
You should also consider how calcium can clog a sand mound system. Calcium sulfoaluminate or ettringite is the ultimate sign of sand mound deterioration. Ettringite formation starts with the anaerobic digestion of the thiocillus bacteria. They produce hydrogen sulfide that reacts with oxygen in the headspace above the waterline. The reaction produces sulfuric acid that forms the ettringite. Talk to your septic expert to install an aeration system to eliminate the high levels of sulfuric acid. Once sulfuric acid levels are cut down, ettringite formation is hindered. The thiocillus bacteria will still produce hydrogen sulfide but with more oxygen entering the system, calcium sulfoaluminate is not formed that much anymore.
Once you have an aeration system installed, have it inspected regularly so that it won’t stop producing oxygen. With an aeration system, you can be sure that your sand mound system will last for decades to come. It will definitely be worth the money you have invested.