Leesport, PA Septic Tank Overview

Content on this page courtesy of Ecological Laboratories, Inc.

What Are Septic Tanks?

Your septic tank is a key component of your water treatment and recycling system. It serves as a settling basin where solids accumulate and gradually get broken down by bacterial action.

Some of the organic waste is actually liquefied by this "natural bacterial decomposition"; however the rest of the waste accumulates in the bottom as a layer of sludge. Additionally, a small percentage of this waste (mostly fats and oils) may float to the top of the tank to form a layer of semi-solid scum.

How Do Septic Tanks Work?

The population living in metropolitan areas (who have never had the pleasure of maintaining a septic system, or who have never experienced waddling in their leach field, or even had the experience of pumping out their systems) simply flush their toilets and "away go troubles down the drain". However, most of these people pay a quarterly sewer bill, usually between $75 to $180, for this service.

Those of us living in more rural areas have been forced to learn about the maintenance and working of the sewerage treatment facility attached to our home, "the septic system". Usually a septic tank is connected to a drainage field or seepage pit of some kind. If properly maintained, a well-designed system can last almost indefinitely. However, if it is neglected for too long a time, it can back up and clog the drainage field. This neglect can result in an expensive excavation and even a replacement of the drainpipes that could cost thousands of dollars.

Design of the Septic Tank

Although designs vary, most septic tanks consist of a watertight, below ground tank that has one or two manhole covers (buried a few inches below the ground) to provide access for pumping, cleaning and inspection. Effluent from the house flows into the tank through an inlet pipe near the top on one side. It flows out through a discharge or overflow pipe at the other side. The pipe may end in a large tee-fitting or into a baffle (wall) preventing the effluent or scum from flowing straight across from one pipe to the other.

The incoming effluent will be diverted downward with a minimum of splashing, allowing the solids to sink to the bottom.

Outgoing effluent is drawn from the several feet below the top layer of the floating waste (grease, oil, scum) so that only liquid waste or solids that have been liquefied by the BACTERIAL ACTION going on at the bottom of the septic tank are discharged out into the drainage field. In the drainage field, further decomposition of the soluble organics will occur releasing the basic building blocks back to the environment.

Many new tanks installed today have two compartments built in to the unit side-by-side. Having the tank divided into discrete units is done for several reasons. One is to minimize the potential for solids carryover to the drainage field. The majority of the solids are allowed to accumulate and digest in the first section of the tank. The potential for solids to accumulate in the bottom of the second compartment and to be carried over to the leach field is significantly reduced.

In some newer aerated systems, which accelerate the digestion of solids and breakdown of organics (BOD) from the sewage through introduction of air to keep the first chamber aerobic, the second compartment can be used as a settling chamber and also to oxidize nitrogenous components of the sewage once the organics are removed.

Components of Sewage Treatment Systems

A typical household sewage treatment system consists of a house sewer, septic tank, distribution box and absorption field or seepage pit.

House Sewer - The pipeline connecting the house and drain and the septic tank.

Septic Tank - Untreated liquid household wastes (sewage) will quickly clog your absorption field if not properly treated. The septic tank provides this needed treatment. When sewage enters the septic tank, the heavy solids settle to the bottom of the tank; the light solids, fats and greases partially decompose and rise to the surface and form a layer of scum. The solids that have settled to the bottom are attacked by bacteria. Some are solubilized; some form sludge. Septic tanks do not remove bacteria or viruses and, therefore, what is discharged cannot be considered safe.

Distribution Box - Serves to distribute the flow from the septic tank evenly to the absorption field or seepage pits. It is important that each trench or pit receive an equal amount of flow. This prevents overloading of one part of the system.

Absorption Field - A system of narrow trenches partially filled with a bed of washed gravel or crushed stone into which perforated or open joint pipe is placed. The discharge from the septic tank is distributed through these pipes into trenches and surrounding soil. The water filters through the soil, usually to groundwater or to recharge a receiving stream. In the process the water is further purified biologically and bacteria are filtered out providing clean water to the aquifer or stream. The subsurface absorption field must be properly sized and constructed. While seepage pits normally require less land area to install, they should be used only where absorption fields are not suitable and well-water supplies are not endangered.

Cesspools - Work in a similar manner to septic systems. Sewage water usually seeps through the open bottom and portholes in the sides of the walls. These can also clog up with overuse and the introduction of detergents and other material which slow down the bacterial action.

When the sewage backup occurs, homeowners usually have the system pumped out. Pumping out will only relieve the system temporarily. The clogged pores in the ground remain and eventually the system will have to be pumped again and again.

Maintenance of Sewage Tanks

Since solids will continue to build up at the bottom of the tank, it is imperative that the "septic tank be pumped out periodically". Remember, the inorganic fraction of the sludge is not biodegradable, if it's not pumped out; sludge will accumulate until it overflows where it can cause problems in the absorption field.

The frequency of pumping out will depend primarily on the amount of wastewater and solids that go through the system each day. The frequency also depends on how careful you are about not throwing excess fats, rinds, and other similar garbage down the drains. The more solid waste thrown in the system, the quicker the tank will fill up. If a garbage disposal is used, pumping more often is advised to remove the solids. Heavy flows of water also tend to make the tank fill up more quickly and why water should not be left running indiscriminately in sinks and toilets.

Treatment of Sewage Tanks

It is important to get the septic tank cleaned before the sludge level gets high enough so that any of the solid material at the bottom or the semi-solid scum at the top can flow out into the drainage field. This will quickly clog the drainage pipes and the soil into which they drain. If this happens the only cure would be to dig up and replace the entire drainage field. Another option would be to treat the drain field with the bacteria found only in PRO-PUMP by Ecological Labs, Inc., which can be provided by Heckman technicians. These special microbes have been proven effective for over 20 years to remediate perculation problems in soil with organic build-up (if the soil is plugged up with inorganic solids biological additives will not work). Please remember that Pro-pump is a natural product and needs some time to work. Unlike chemicals that are harmful to the environment, the natural and safe bacteria in Pro-pump multiply over time.

Make certain there are live bacteria in your system at all times. The bacteria's job is to digest all organic waste matter in the system. If there is no bacteria in your system it will simply act as a holding tank for your waste. If becomes full, and natural digestion will not occur. That is when the system backs up.

Bacteria are killed off or inhibited because of:

• Excessive quantities of detergents, laundry waste, bleach, household chemicals, and caustic drain openers.
• Garbage disposal grinds which substantially increase the accumulation of solids. Even though they are mostly organic, they break down slowly and can cause problems before they completely breakdown.
• Disposal of items not biodegradable in the system (plastics, etc.)
• Disposal of excessive amounts of grease and fats, which are biodegradable but need particular types of bacteria to digest them efficiently. Biological additives containing oil and grease degrading bacteria can help with this.
• Disposal of cigarette butts, sanitary napkins which are also biodegradable but are not readily decomposable.
• Too many people using a smaller/inadequate or failing system.

Regulations

As communities grow more crowded and awareness of the impact of one home upon another, regulatory authorities have begun to pay more attention to proper maintenance of each individual property.

One factor under scrutiny is the septic system. Rather than leave it up to the home owner to decide how often to clean and pump a system, a growing number of municipalities are imposing requirements. Nationwide about 25% of all homes rely on a septic system. With so many systems in constant use and most of them older models of inferior design, fear has been mounting that improperly maintained systems will pollute ground-water supplies or that the health of ones own family is jeopardized.

The Best Way to Avoid Major Repairs or replacement, or to avoid being fined for operating a substandard system is to call C.F. Heckman your septic professional.

• We can coach you on all local laws and regulations
• We can check out your system
• We can coach you on the proper maintenance of your system
• We can supply you with commercial strength Pro-pump and confirm the dosage rates needed to maintain your individual system.
• We can save you money by pumping out your system before it fails

Please Note…

Your septic system does have potential health concerns for you and your family. Accidents due to noxious gases have occurred.

Other than the routine maintenance that is described to you by your septic professional, all your additional septic system needs should be discussed with a C.F. Heckman Technician before you attempt to perform them yourself.