Home Owners Guide to Septic Systems
Your Septic System is your responsibility! How does it work?
Top Four Things You Can Do to Protect Your Septic System
1. Regularly inspect your system and pump your tank as necessary.
2.
Use water efficiently.
3. Don't dispose of household hazardous wastes
in sinks or toilets.
4. Care for your drainfield.
Typical septic system:
All of your household
wastewater exits your home through a pipe to the septic tank.
Septic tank:
The septic tank is a buried,
watertight container typically made of concrete, fiberglass, or
polyethylene. It holds the wastewater long enough to allow solids to
settle out (forming sludge) and oil and grease to float to the surface
(as scum). It also allows partial decomposition of the solid materials.
Compartments and a T-shaped outlet in the septic tank prevent the sludge
and scum from leaving the tank and traveling into the drainfield area.
Screens are also recommended to keep solids from entering the drainfield.
Newer tanks generally have risers with lids at the ground surface to allow
easy location, inspection, and pumping of the tank.
Septic system aliases:
* On-lot system
* Onsite
system
* Individual sewage disposal system
* Onsite sewage disposal
system
* Onsite wastewater treatment system
Tip:
To prevent buildup, sludge and floating scum
need to be removed through periodic pumping of the septic tank. Regular
inspections and pumping are the best and cheapest way to keep your
septic
system in good working order. Typical single-compartment
septic tank with ground-level inspection risers and screen
Drainfield
The wastewater exits the septic tank and
is discharged into the drainfield for further treatment by the soil. The
partially treated wastewater is pushed along into the drainfield for
further treatment every time new wastewater enters the tank. If the
drainfield is overloaded with too much liquid, it will flood, causing
sewage to flow to the ground surface or create backups in plumbing
fixtures
and prevent treatment of all wastewater. A reserve drainfield,
required by many states, is an area on your property suitable for a new
drainfield system if your current drainfield fails. Treat this area
with the same care as your septic system.
Soil
Septic tank wastewater flows to the
drainfield, where it percolates into the soil, which provides final
treatment by removing harmful bacteria, viruses, and nutrients.
Suitable soil is necessary for successful wastewater treatment.
Alternative systems
Because many areas don?t have
soils suitable for typical septic systems, you might have or need an
alternative system. You might also have or need an alternative system if
there are too many typical septic systems in one area or the systems are
too close to groundwater or surface waters.
Finding Your System
Your septic tank, drainfield,
and reserve drainfield should be clearly designated on the "as-built"
drawing for your home. (An "as-built" drawing is a line drawing that
accurately portrays the buildings on your property and is usually filed in
your local land records.) You might also see lids or manhole covers for
your septic tank. Older tanks are often hard to find because there are
no visible parts. An inspector/pumper can help you locate your septic
system if your septic tank has no risers.
Some Septic Systems use new technology to improve treatment processes and might need special care and maintenance. Some alternative systems use sand, peat, or plastic media instead of soil to promote wastewater treatment. Other systems might use wetlands, lagoons, aerators, or disinfection devices. Float switches, pumps, and other electrical or mechanical components are often used in alternative systems. Alternative systems should be inspected annually. Check with your local health department or installer for more information on operation and maintenance needs if you have or need an alternative system.
When septic systems are properly designed, constructed, and maintained, they effectively reduce or eliminate most human health or environmental threats posed by pollutants in household wastewater. However, they require regular maintenance or they can fail. Septic systems need to be monitored to ensure that they work properly throughout their service lives.
Saving money
A key reason to maintain your septic
system is to save money! Failing septic systems are expensive to repair or
replace, and poor maintenance is often the culprit. Having your septic
system inspected regularly is a bargain when you consider the cost of
replacing the entire system. Your system will need pumping depending on
how many people live in the house and the size of the system. An unusable
septic system or one in disrepair will lower your property value and could
pose a legal liability.
Protecting health and the environment
Other good
reasons for safe treatment of sewage include preventing the spread of
infection and disease and protecting water resources. Typical pollutants
in household wastewater are nitrogen, phosphorus, and disease causing
bacteria and viruses. If a septic system is working properly, it
will effectively remove most of these pollutants.
Why should I maintain my septic system?
With
one-fourth of U.S. homes using septic systems, more than 4 billion gallons
of wastewater per day is dispersed below the ground?s
surface. Inadequately treated sewage from septic systems can be a cause
of groundwater contamination. It poses a significant threat to drinking
water and human health because it can contaminate drinking water wells and
cause diseases and infections in people and animals. Improperly treated
sewage that contaminates nearby surface waters also increases the
chance of swimmers contracting a variety of infectious diseases. These
range from eye and ear infections to acute gastrointestinal illness and
diseases like hepatitis.
Inspect and pump frequently
You should have a
typical septic system inspected at least every 3 years by a professional
and your tank pumped as recommended by the inspector (generally every 3 to
5 years). Alternative systems with electrical float switches, pumps, or
mechanical components need to be inspected more often, generally once a
year. Your service provider should inspect for leaks and look at the scum
and sludge layers in your septic tank. If the bottom of the scum layer is
within 6 inches of the bottom of the outlet tee or the top of the sludge
layer is within 12 inches of the outlet tee, your tank needs to be pumped.
Remember to note the sludge and scum levels determined by your service
provider in your operation and maintenance records. This information
will help you decide how often pumping is necessary.
How do I maintain my septic system?
What Does an Inspection
Include?
* Locating the system.
* Uncovering access
holes.
* Flushing the toilets.
* Checking for signs of back up.
* Measuring scum and sludge layers.
* Identifying any leaks.
* Inspecting mechanical components.
* Pumping the tank if necessary.
Four major factors influence the frequency of pumping:
The number of people in your household, the amount of
wastewater generated (based on the number of people in the household and
the amount of water used), the volume of solids in the wastewater (for
example, using a garbage disposal increases the amount of solids), and
septic tank size. Some makers of septic tank additives claim that their
products break down the sludge in septic tanks so the tanks never need to
be pumped. Not everyone agrees on the effectiveness of additives. In fact,
septic tanks already contain the microbes they need for effective
treatment. Periodic pumping is a much better way to ensure that septic
systems work properly and provide many years of service. Regardless, every
septic tank requires periodic pumping.
In the service report, the pumper should note any repairs completed and whether the tank is in good condition. If the pumper recommends additional repairs he or she can't perform, hire someone to make the repairs as soon as possible.
Use water efficiently
Average indoor water use in
the typical single-family home is almost 70 gallons per person per day.
Leaky toilets can waste as much as 200 gallons each day. The more water a
household conserves, the less water enters the septic system. Efficient
water use can improve the operation of the septic system and reduce the
risk of failure.
High-efficiency toilets
Toilet use accounts for 25
to 30 percent of household water use. Do you know how many gallons of
water your toilet uses to empty the bowl? Most older homes have toilets
with 3.5- to 5-gallon reservoirs, while newer high-efficiency toilets use
1.6 gallons of water or less per flush. If you have problems with your
septic system being flooded with household water, consider reducing the
volume of water in the toilet tank if you don?t have a high-efficiency
model or replacing your existing toilets with high-efficiency models.
Faucet aerators and high efficiency shower heads Faucet aerators help reduce water use and the volume of water entering your septic system. High-efficiency showerheads or shower flow restrictors also reduce water use. Water fixtures Check to make sure your toilet's reservoir isn't leaking into the bowl. Add five drops of liquid food coloring to the reservoir before bed. If the dye is in the bowl the next morning, the reservoir is leaking and repairs are needed.
A small drip from a faucet adds many gallons of unnecessary water to your system every day. To see how much a leak adds to your water usage, place a cup under the drip for 10 minutes. Multiply the amount of water in the cup by 144 (the number of minutes in 24 hours, divided by 10). This is the total amount of clean water traveling to your septic system each day from that little leak.
Use Water Efficiently!
* Install high-efficiency
shower heads
* Fill the bathtub with only as much water as you
need
* Turn off faucets while shaving or brushing your teeth
* Run
the dishwasher and clothes washer only when they?re full
* Use toilets
to flush sanitary waste only (not kitty litter,diapers, or other
trash)
* Make sure all faucets are completely turned off when not in
use
* Maintain your plumbing to eliminate leaks
* Install aerators
in the faucets in your kitchen and bathroom
* Replace old dishwashers,
toilets, and clothes washers with new, high efficiency models.
For more information on water conservation, please visit www.epa.gov/owm/water-efficiency/index.htm
Watch your drains
What goes down the drain can have
a major impact on how well your septic system works.
Waste disposal
What shouldn't you flush down your
toilet? Dental floss, feminine hygiene products, condoms, diapers, cotton
swabs, cigarette butts, coffee grounds, cat litter, paper towels, and
other kitchen and bathroom items that can clog and potentially damage
septic system components if they become trapped. Flushing household
chemicals, gasoline, oil, pesticides, antifreeze, and paint can stress or
destroy the biological treatment taking place in the system or might
contaminate surface waters and groundwater. If your septic tank pumper is
concerned about quickly accumulating scum layers, reduce the flow of
floatable materials like fats, oils, and grease into your tank or be
prepared to pay for more frequent inspections and pumping.
Washing machines
By selecting the proper load size,
you'll reduce water waste. Washing small loads of laundry on the
large-load cycle wastes precious water and energy. If you can't select
load size, run only full loads of laundry. Doing all the household laundry
in one day
might seem like a time-saver, but it could be harmful to
your septic system. Doing load after load does not allow your septic tank
time to adequately treat wastes. You could be flooding your
drainfield
without allowing sufficient recovery time. Try to spread water usage
throughout the week. A new Energy Star clothes washer uses 35 percent less
energy and 50 percent less water than a standard model.
Care for your drainfield
Your drainfield is an
important part of your septic system. Here are a few things you should do
to maintain it:
* Plant only grass over and near your septic system.
Roots from nearby trees or shrubs might clog and damage the
drainfield.
* Don?t drive or park vehicles on any part of your septic
system. Doing so can compact the soil in your drainfield or damage the
pipes, tank, or other septic system components.
* Keep roof drains,
basement sump pump drains, and other rainwater or surface water drainage
systems away from the drainfield. Flooding the drainfield with excessive
water slows down or stops treatment processes and can cause plumbing
fixtures to back up. If the amount of wastewater entering the system is
more than the system can handle, the wastewater backs up into the house or
yard and creates a health hazard.
You can suspect a system failure not only when a foul odor is emitted but also when partially treated wastewater flows up to the ground surface. By the time you can smell or see a problem, however, the damage might already be done. By limiting your water use, you can reduce the amount of wastewater your system must treat. When you have your system inspected and pumped as needed, you reduce the chance of system failure. A system installed in unsuitable soils can also fail. Other failure risks include tanks that are inaccessible for maintenance, drainfields that are paved or parked on, and tree roots or defective components that interfere with the treatment process.
What can make my system fail?
Failure
symptoms
The most obvious septic system failures are easy to spot.
Check for pooling water or muddy soil around your septic system or in your
basement. Notice whether your toilet or sink backs up when you flush or do
laundry. You might also notice strips of bright green grass over the
drainfield. Septic systems also fail when partially treated wastewater
comes into contact with groundwater. This type of failure is not easy to
detect, but it can result in the pollution of wells, nearby streams, or
other bodies of water. Check with a septic system professional and the
local health department if you suspect such a failure.
Failure causes
Household toxics
Does someone in
your house use the utility sink to clean out paint rollers or flush toxic
cleaners? Oil-based paints, solvents, and large volumes of toxic cleaners
should not enter your septic system. Even latex paint cleanup waste should
be minimized. Squeeze all excess paint and stain from brushes and
rollers on several layers of newspaper before rinsing. Leftover paints and
wood stains should be taken to your local household hazardous waste
collection center. Remember that your septic system contains a living
collection of organisms that digest and treat waste. Household cleaners
For the most part, your septic system?s bacteria should recover
quickly
after small amounts of household cleaning products have entered
the system. Of course, some cleaning products are less toxic to your
system than others. Labels can help key you into the potential
toxicity
of various products. The word "Danger" or "Poison" on a label indicates
that the product is highly hazardous. "Warning" tells you the product is
moderately hazardous. "Caution" means the
product is slightly
hazardous. ("Nontoxic" and "Septic Safe" Stop, look, and smell! are terms
created by advertisers to sell products.) Regardless of the type of
product, use it only in the amounts shown on the label instructions and
minimize the amount discharged into your septic system.
Hot tubs
Hot tubs are a great way to relax.
Unfortunately, your septic system was not designed to handle large
quantities of water from your hot tub. Emptying hot tub water into your
septic system stirs the solids in the tank and pushes them out into the
drainfield, causing it to clog and fail. Draining your hot tub into a
septic system or over the drainfield can overload the system. Instead,
drain cooled hot tub water onto turf or landscaped areas well away from
the septic tank and drainfield, and in accordance with local regulations.
Use the same caution when draining your swimming pool.
Water Purification Systems
Some freshwater
purification systems, including water softeners, unnecessarily pump water
into the septic system. This can contribute hundreds of gallons of water
to the septic tank, causing agitation of solids and excess flow to the
drainfield. Check with your licensed plumbing professional about
alternative routing for such freshwater treatment systems.
Garbage disposals
Eliminating the use of a garbage
disposal can reduce the amount of grease and solids entering the septic
tank and possibly clogging the drainfield. A garbage disposal grinds up
kitchen scraps, suspends
them in water, and sends the mixture to the
septic tank. Once in the septic tank, some of the materials are broken
down by bacterial action, but most of the grindings have to be pumped out
of
the tank. Using a garbage disposal frequently can significantly
increase the accumulation of sludge and scum in your septic tank,
resulting in the need for more frequent pumping.
Improper design or installation
Some soils provide
excellent wastewater treatment; others don?t. For this reason, the design
of the drainfield of a septic system is based on the results of soil
analysis. Homeowners and system designers sometimes underestimate the
significance of good soils or believe soils can handle any volume of
wastewater applied to them. Many failures can be attributed to having an
undersized drainfield or high seasonal groundwater table. Undersized
septic tanks?another design failure?allow solids to clog the drainfield
and result in system failure.
If a septic tank isn't watertight, water can leak into and out of the
system. Usually, water from the environment leaking into the system causes
hydraulic overloading, taxing the system beyond its capabilities and
causing inadequate treatment and sometimes sewage to flow up to the ground
surface. Water leaking out of the septic tank is a significant health
hazard because the leaking
wastewater has not yet been treated. Even
when systems are properly designed, failures due to poor installation
practices can occur. If the drainfield is not properly leveled, wastewater
can
overload the system. Heavy equipment can damage the drainfield
during installation which can lead to soil compaction and reduce the
wastewater infiltration rate. And if surface drainage isn't diverted away
from the field, it can flow into and saturate the drainfield.
Local Health Department
EPA Onsite/Decentralized
Management Homepage www.epa.gov/owm/septic
EPA developed this Web site
to provide tools for communities investigating and implementing
onsite/decentralized management programs. The Web site contains fact
sheets, program summaries, case studies, links to design and other
manuals, and a list of state health department contacts that can put you
in touch with your local health department.
National Small Flows Clearinghouse www.nesc.wvu.edu Funded by grants
from EPA, the NSFC helps America?s small communities and individuals solve
their wastewater problems. Its activities include
a Web site, online
discussion groups, a toll-free assistance line (800- 624-8301),
informative publications, and a free quarterly newsletter and
magazine.
Rural Community Assistance Program
www.rcap.org RCAP is a resource
for community leaders and others looking for technical assistance services
and training related to rural drinking water supply and wastewater
treatment needs, rural solid waste programs, housing, economic
development, comprehensive community assessment and planning, and
environmental regulations.
National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association, Inc.
www.nowra.org
NOWRA is a national professional organization to advance and promote the
onsite wastewater industry. The association promotes the need for regular
service and educates the public on the need for properly designed and
maintained septic systems. For more information 14 A Homeowner?s Guide to
Septic Systems Septic Yellow Pages www.septicyellowpages.com
The Septic
Yellow Pages provides listings by state for professional septic pumpers,
installers, inspectors, and tank manufacturers throughout the United
States. This Web site is designed to answer simple septic system questions
and put homeowners in contact with local septic system professionals.
National Association of Wastewater Transporters www.nawt.org NAWT offers a forum for the wastewater industry to exchange ideas and concerns. The NAWT Web site lists state associations and local inspectors and pumpers. EPA-832-B-02-005 December 2002 Revised March 2005
Additional copies can be obtained from: U.S. EPA Publications
Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 42419
Cincinnati, OH 45241
Telephone:
800-490-9198
Fax: 513-489-8695
Office of Water U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency
Notice
This document has been reviewed in
accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency policy and approved
for publication. Mention of profit-making organizations, trade names, or
commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for
use. Recycled/Recyclable Printed with vegetable-based ink on paper that
contains a minimum of 50% post-consumer fiber content rocessed
chlorine-free.
Septic System Dos and Don?ts (adapted from National Small Flows
Clearinghouse)
Dos
* Check with the local
regulatory agency or inspector/pumper if you have a garbage disposal
unit to make sure that your septic system can handle this additional
waste.
* Check with your local health department before using
additives. Commercial septic tank additives do not eliminate the need for
periodic pumping and can be harmful to the system.
* Use water
efficiently to avoid overloading the septic system. Be sure to repair
leaky faucets or toilets. Use high-efficiency fixtures.
* Use
commercial bathroom cleaners and laundry detergents in moderation. Many
people prefer to clean their toilets, sinks, showers, and tubs with a
mild detergent or baking soda.
* Check with your local regulatory
agency or inspector/pumper before allowing water softener backwash to
enter your septic tank.
* Keep records of repairs, pumpings,
inspections, permits issued, and other system
maintenance activities.
* Learn the location of your septic system.
Keep a sketch of it with your maintenance record for service
visits.
* Have your septic system inspected and pumped as necessary by
a licensed inspector/contractor.
* Plant only grass over and near your
septic system. Roots from nearby trees or shrubs might clog and damage
the drainfield.
Don'ts
* Your septic system is not
a trash can. Don't put dental floss, feminine hygiene
products, condoms, diapers, cotton swabs, cigarette butts, coffee
grounds, cat litter, paper towels, latex
paint, pesticides, or other
hazardous chemicals into your system.
* Don't use caustic drain openers
for a clogged drain. Instead, use boiling water or a drain snake to
open clogs.
* Don't drive or park vehicles on any part of your septic
system. Doing so can compact the soil in your drainfield or damage the
pipes, tank, or other septic system components.