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SoilFacts 20,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $ 2,767 or $ 0.14 each. © 2004 North Carolina State University Published by NORTH CAROLINA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION 03/ 04– 20M– BS ( Revised March 2004) AG- 439- 13 E04- 43962 solids to your tank. Garbage disposals usually double the amount of solids added to the tank. Do not pour cooking greases, oils, and fats down the drain. Grease hard-ens in the septic tank and accumulates until it clogs the inlet or outlet. Grease poured down the drain with hot water may flow through the septic tank, but then it can clog soil pores completely and ruin the drainfield. Pesticides, paints, paint thinners, solvents, disinfectants, poisons, and other household chemicals should not be dumped down the drain into a septic system because they may kill beneficial bacteria in the septic tank and soil microorganisms that help purify the sewage. Also, some organic chemicals will flow untreated through the septic tank and the soil, thus con-taminating the underlying groundwa-ter. If your home has a water treatment system, such as a water softener, the discharge pipe from the backwash should not be connected to the waste plumbing system or septic tank. Are Septic- Tank Additives Necessary? No. These products include biologi-cally based materials ( bacteria, en-zymes, and yeast), inorganic chemicals ( acids and bases), or or-ganic chemicals ( including solvents). Research conducted to date on three of these types of bacterial additives has not shown any reduction in the rate of solids buildup nor increases in bacterial activity in the septic tank. Therefore, they do not seem to reduce the need for regular pumping of the septic tank. Some additive products contain organic chemicals and may even damage the drainfield or con-taminate the groundwater and nearby wells. Is Special Care Needed for the Drainfield? Yes. The drainfield does not have an unlimited capacity. The more water your family uses, the greater the like-lihood of problems with the septic system. Water conservation practices can help reduce the amount of wastewater generated in the home. Periodically check your plumbing for leaky fau-cets and toilets. Uncorrected leaks can more than double the amount of water you use. Many soils can absorb the 200 to 250 gallons of sewage usually produced each day by a family of four, but these soils would become waterlogged if an extra 250 gallons were added. For more information on this subject, see North Carolina Coop-erative Extension Service publications WQWM- 75/ HE- 250, Focus on Resi-dential Water Conservation and WQWM- 76/ HE- 213, Water Manage-ment Checklist for the Home. These publications can be viewed and printed online at www. bae. ncsu. edu/ programs/ extension/ publicat/ wqwm/ usewtr. html. Be sure that foundation drains, roof waters, gutter waters, and surface waters from driveways and other paved areas do not flow over the septic tank or the drainfield. Careful landscaping can help direct excess surface waters away from the system. Summary The septic system is an efficient, inexpensive, and convenient method for treating and disposing of house-hold wastewater. Because not all soils are suited for conventional systems, comprehensive soil and site investiga-tions must be performed before you purchase any land. Septic systems will adequately absorb and purify wastewater if they are properly maintained. Contrary to popular belief, septic systems are not maintenance free. Money that is saved by not paying a monthly sewer bill should be set aside for regular inspections and mainte-nance. A few precautions can save you anguish and money. Reducing water use, avoiding grease, cleaning the effluent filter, pumping the tank periodically, and properly landscaping the yard to keep surface water away from the tank and drainfield are inex-pensive precautions that can help assure your system a long life. The North Carolina Cooperative Exten-sion publication AG- 439- 22, Septic System Owner’s Guide, summarizes some important day- to- day manage-ment and periodic maintenance activi-ties to improve your system’s longevity. When properly located and maintained, your system should pro-vide years of trouble- free, low- cost service. Reference Mancl, K. M. 1984. Journal of Environmental Engineering, Vol. 110( 1): 283- 285. Prepared by Michael T. Hoover, Extension Soil Science Specialist, Department of Soil Science, North Carolina State University Tom Konsler, Environmental Health Super-visor, Orange County Health Department Appreciation is extended to Mitch Woodward, Grace Lawrence, and Deanna Osmond for their assistance in review of this publication and to Janet Young for graphic design, layout, and editing.
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Title | Septic systems and their maintenance - Page 6 |
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Full Text | SoilFacts 20,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $ 2,767 or $ 0.14 each. © 2004 North Carolina State University Published by NORTH CAROLINA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION 03/ 04– 20M– BS ( Revised March 2004) AG- 439- 13 E04- 43962 solids to your tank. Garbage disposals usually double the amount of solids added to the tank. Do not pour cooking greases, oils, and fats down the drain. Grease hard-ens in the septic tank and accumulates until it clogs the inlet or outlet. Grease poured down the drain with hot water may flow through the septic tank, but then it can clog soil pores completely and ruin the drainfield. Pesticides, paints, paint thinners, solvents, disinfectants, poisons, and other household chemicals should not be dumped down the drain into a septic system because they may kill beneficial bacteria in the septic tank and soil microorganisms that help purify the sewage. Also, some organic chemicals will flow untreated through the septic tank and the soil, thus con-taminating the underlying groundwa-ter. If your home has a water treatment system, such as a water softener, the discharge pipe from the backwash should not be connected to the waste plumbing system or septic tank. Are Septic- Tank Additives Necessary? No. These products include biologi-cally based materials ( bacteria, en-zymes, and yeast), inorganic chemicals ( acids and bases), or or-ganic chemicals ( including solvents). Research conducted to date on three of these types of bacterial additives has not shown any reduction in the rate of solids buildup nor increases in bacterial activity in the septic tank. Therefore, they do not seem to reduce the need for regular pumping of the septic tank. Some additive products contain organic chemicals and may even damage the drainfield or con-taminate the groundwater and nearby wells. Is Special Care Needed for the Drainfield? Yes. The drainfield does not have an unlimited capacity. The more water your family uses, the greater the like-lihood of problems with the septic system. Water conservation practices can help reduce the amount of wastewater generated in the home. Periodically check your plumbing for leaky fau-cets and toilets. Uncorrected leaks can more than double the amount of water you use. Many soils can absorb the 200 to 250 gallons of sewage usually produced each day by a family of four, but these soils would become waterlogged if an extra 250 gallons were added. For more information on this subject, see North Carolina Coop-erative Extension Service publications WQWM- 75/ HE- 250, Focus on Resi-dential Water Conservation and WQWM- 76/ HE- 213, Water Manage-ment Checklist for the Home. These publications can be viewed and printed online at www. bae. ncsu. edu/ programs/ extension/ publicat/ wqwm/ usewtr. html. Be sure that foundation drains, roof waters, gutter waters, and surface waters from driveways and other paved areas do not flow over the septic tank or the drainfield. Careful landscaping can help direct excess surface waters away from the system. Summary The septic system is an efficient, inexpensive, and convenient method for treating and disposing of house-hold wastewater. Because not all soils are suited for conventional systems, comprehensive soil and site investiga-tions must be performed before you purchase any land. Septic systems will adequately absorb and purify wastewater if they are properly maintained. Contrary to popular belief, septic systems are not maintenance free. Money that is saved by not paying a monthly sewer bill should be set aside for regular inspections and mainte-nance. A few precautions can save you anguish and money. Reducing water use, avoiding grease, cleaning the effluent filter, pumping the tank periodically, and properly landscaping the yard to keep surface water away from the tank and drainfield are inex-pensive precautions that can help assure your system a long life. The North Carolina Cooperative Exten-sion publication AG- 439- 22, Septic System Owner’s Guide, summarizes some important day- to- day manage-ment and periodic maintenance activi-ties to improve your system’s longevity. When properly located and maintained, your system should pro-vide years of trouble- free, low- cost service. Reference Mancl, K. M. 1984. Journal of Environmental Engineering, Vol. 110( 1): 283- 285. Prepared by Michael T. Hoover, Extension Soil Science Specialist, Department of Soil Science, North Carolina State University Tom Konsler, Environmental Health Super-visor, Orange County Health Department Appreciation is extended to Mitch Woodward, Grace Lawrence, and Deanna Osmond for their assistance in review of this publication and to Janet Young for graphic design, layout, and editing. |