managing your septic system
(continuation)
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Septic tanks may have one or two compartments. Two compartments tanks do a better job of settling solids & may be required for new systems. Tees or baffles are provided at the tank's inlet & outlet pipes. The inlet tee slows the incoming wastes & reduces disturbance settled sludge. The outlet tee keeps the solids or scum in the tank. All tanks should have accessible covers for checking the condition of the baffles & for pumping both compartments. If risers extend from the tank to or above the ground surface, they should be secure to prevent accidental entry into the tank. |
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Solids that are not decomposed remain in the septic tank. If no removed by periodic pumping, solids will accumulate until they eventually overflow into the drainfield, leading to costly repairs or replacement. Remember that retention time, or the time available for solids to settle out of wastewater, decreases as the sludge layer increases in your septic tank.
Maintenance
How
do I determine when to pump?
Should
I use any special products to enhance the operation of my
septic tank? Some can even cause solids to be carried into the drainfield, causing early clogging & repair. Some products contain organic solvents which contribute to groundwater pollution.
Where
is my tank located? |
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THE
DRAINFIELD The soil below the drainfield provides the final treatment & disposal of the septic tank effluent. After the effluent has passed into the soil, most of it percolates downward & outward, eventually entering the groundwater. A small percentage is taken up by plants through their roots, or evaporates from the soil. |
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The soil filters effluent as it passes through the pore spaces. Physical & biological processes treat the effluent before it reaches groundwater, or a restrictive layer, such as hardpan, bedrock, or clay soils. These processes work best where the soil is somewhat dry, permeable, & contains plenty of oxygen for several feet below the drainfield.
Warning Signs of a Failure
Recommendations to prolong the life of your septic system to minimize maintenance costs: Do 2) Pump tank at proper intervals (usually every three to five years). 3) Limit water entering your tank:
4) Keep soil over your system slightly mounded to help surface water run off. 5) Landscape your system properly. Dense grass cover & other shallow-rooted plants are beneficial over a drainfield. 6) Keep automobiles, all heavy vehicles & livestock off the drainfield. 7) Mark the boundaries of your drainfield as a reminder. 8) If your system is equipped w/ a diverter valve between the septic tank & soil absorption field, allow one side of your system to "rest" at one-year intervals. 9) If your system is equipped w/ a dosing chamber, be sure the submersible pump is operating & properly maintained for uniform discharge of effluent into the absorption field, followed by drainage between doses.
Don't |
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Related
Plumbing Article
connecting a garbage disposer to a septic tank
managing
your septic system
>> page 1
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courtesy:
MSU Extension Home Maintenance & Repair
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