Septic tank maintenance

leaking septic sand mound

Sand mound not draining properly?

Deciding which type of septic system led you and your to partner to months of debate and deliberation. Finally, both of you have decided to go with the sand mound system. Sand mound systems are said to be a fuss-free and easy to maintain system. So, since both of you are busy with work and house chores, you wanted that sand mound to take care of your household wastes water. It is a bit off in combination with your landscaping design but you might as well stick with it to take advantage of its convenience.

When you studied about the features of the sand mound system, you found out that it has six components: septic tank with outlet baffle filter; pump tank with alarm system, controls, and pump; sand filter; pump from the sand filter to the mound; the mound; and the reserve area. But even if you already have become well-versed with each of them, you were not able to fulfill your duty in making sure that your raised mound system is kept running good. As a result, there came a point when your sand mound didn’t drain properly anymore.

First, a look at the final components like the sand filter would be a nice start. This is the watertight layer that is made up of plastic or concrete that contains a filler of sand and gravel. This gravel layer supports the perforated pipes where the wastewater flows slowly onto the sand. The effluent is treated once it is exposed to air. The purified effluent then goes farther down onto the under drain. Here, the effluent goes to the mound where its final treatment is made before it is disposed into the surrounding soil. In the mound, a material for sand fill is present on top of the surface of the soil. This is where the treated effluent is pumped and distributed uniformly throughout the surrounding soil. This is to finalize the purification treatment of the effluent before it mixes with the groundwater.

The sand mound doesn’t drain properly because of the problem that starts in the most obvious place—the tank. If the bacterial population in this area is not enough to digest the solid waste materials that go in, gunk and sludge will form and this will flow into through the filters of the raised mound. Another reason is excessive water use in the household that retards the bacterial decomposition and carries the solid wastes right up to the filters. Leaks and damage to pipes somewhere in the raised mound system is another point to consider. If unnecessary substances go into the pipes, the filtering and absorption processes will not go very well. In case the mound fails because of severs clogging, you could replace it immediately. That is what the reserve area is for. It is a place designated to become a new mound installation. You should take good care of the reserve area by refraining from any excavation, grading, paving, compaction or construction in that particular area. If the reserve area is gone, then the possibility of having a new mound for your household is diminished.

It is a big problem when the sand mound does not drain properly. If the draining problem is superficial, which is only caused by a clog in the drain somewhere in the house, and then it is good for you. You will save time and money in fixing what might have been a very large problem in your mound system. However, if it truly is within the depths of the sand mound, you have to make changes when the correction has been made.

One such change is to make sure that you conserve water to ensure the best performance of the digesters in the tank. Next is to eliminate all anti-bacterial soaps and solutions or refrain from dumping them into the drain to keep the bacterial population stable. Bacterial enzymes can be added in to your system as recommended by your septic professional. Also avoid placing solid wastes like napkins, diapers, cigarette butts, and soap goo into your drains to make sure that the flow is smooth and that no clogging will ensue.