A septic system is a way to dispose of household water in a sanitary fashion. Heavy sewage particles settle out and collect at the bottom of the tank as sludge. While bacteria consume most of this matter, some of it is not biodegradable and must be pumped out when the tank is full.
Inside the outlet tee is a filter approximately 4”x16” long, constructed of strong plastic. Solids filtered out of the effluent stream attach to the vertical cylinder wall and drip to the bottom of the tank when the tank is in a resting state. This keeps sludge from entering into the drainfield, thereby causing clogging. It is easily cleaned at the time of pumping.
Warning Signals
- Sluggishness when flushing toilet
- Any plumbing back-ups
- Gurgling sounds in the plumbing
- Grass in the yard growing faster and greener in one particular area
- Ground mush underfoot
- Obnoxious odors inside or outside
- Low spots beginning to appear in the yard
DO’S
- Know the location and capacity of your septic tank system.
- Have a qualified person inspect the tank every three years.
- Have the tank pumped when the combined depth of the sludge and scum equals 1/3 of the tank liquid volume.
- Install the system so that rainfall and surface water will flow away from the drainfield. Water from a roof should not discharge onto the drainfield.
- Grow grass or small plants above the system.
- Install water conservation fixtures or devices to reduce the total volume of water entering the system.
- Keep plumbing fixtures such as toilets and faucets in good repair to prevent leakage/wasting of water.
DON’TS
- Never flush paper towels, newspapers, wipes, feminine products, wrapping paper, rags or sticks into the system.
- Never allow large, irregular, intermittent or constant volumes of clear water into the system, as with a leaking toilet or faucet.
- Never overuse ordinary household cleaning chemicals that will be flushed into the system.
- Never pour out or empty hobby or home-industry chemicals into the system.
- Never allow waste from water softeners to enter the system.
- Never allow grease or other bulky waste to enter the system.
- Never flush toxic materials such as pesticides or medications into the system.
- Never plant trees or shrubbery in the drainfield.
- Never allow vehicles (cars, trucks, etc.) to drive across or park on the drainfield. (Protect it from being crushed.)
- Never waste water.
- Never run back-to-back laundry cycles.