Septic Pet Peeve

[downsizingnow48]

When we lived on the Chesapeake coast in Virginia the county passed a requirement for inspection and pumping every 5 years if you were right on the water. I thought that was ok but two years does seem excessive.

 

[dmccarty]

NC does not require a pump out but they do require inspections for non conventional systems. The home owner can go to a class and become certified to perform the inspection or at least they could the last time I read the regulations. The NC Extension Office has documents about taking care of sepic systems and they had a recommended pump out schedule. Based on reading the regulations and the Extension Office documents, I figured pumping every four years was something we should do. Having said, that each pump out they guy asks why we are pumping out since everything looks good. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Our soil just barely supported a conventional septic system so I figure paying less than $100 per year to pump out is cheap insurance to make sure we don't mess up the septic field. I think the last pump out was $300 or so. Our water and sewer bill in the city was often over $100 per month but that was over a decade ago and the bill would much higher now.

Later,
Dan

 

[roadhunter]

If I ever build a house I am going to put in a grey water system for the showers and sinks so I can reuse the water and just put the toilets on the septic. Without all the bath/shower/dishwasher/washing machine/etc that should take all the strain off the system.

 

[dmccarty]

If I ever build a house I am going to put in a grey water system for the showers and sinks so I can reuse the water and just put the toilets on the septic. Without all the bath/shower/dishwasher/washing machine/etc that should take all the strain off the system.

One of the questions/concerns I have is are we USING enough water to put into the septic system. Our clothes and dishwasher use about 10 gallons a load, the toilets are the new low gallon per flush, and our shower heads use less than one GPM. With the exception of someone taking a occasional bath, we just don't use that much water. Even the bath is really not that much water but it still bothers me that they take a bath and not a shower! Everything seems to eventually flush into the septic tank, at least I thinks so, since we have not had any backups. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Even with the occasional bath, I do not think we use more the 200 GPD for the four of us. I suspect most of that usage is from the clothes washer since that seems to run all danged long. :shocked::laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[roadhunter]

I do not think there is an issue with not putting enough water for a system to work. You leach field would dry out but that is a good thing.

I agree on the clothes washer but that soap, detergent, bleach, is bad for the system as well.

 

[Pettrix]

That's all fine except here , by municipal law we MUST pump every 2 years.
The municipality has an environment dept, staff is now up to 3 and growing. They keep records and you get nasty reminders plus the fines are heavy. It is all about preserving the environment.

Yeah, I heard and read that Canada is pretty strict with tree cutting and environmental laws.

Out here NO pumping is mandated. It's up to the homeowner when and if they should pump their septic. The ONLY time they mandate it is when you sell the home to a new buyer. You have to show a receipt/proof that it was pumped out.

Some people on this forum claimed they have gone decades without pumping. That is hard to fathom but maybe it's true. Unless they have aerobic setups, going over 5+ years without pumping does not seem wise, as they can create a ton of problems with a backed-up system.

 

[teejk]

Yeah, I heard and read that Canada is pretty strict with tree cutting and environmental laws.

Out here NO pumping is mandated. It's up to the homeowner when and if they should pump their septic. The ONLY time they mandate it is when you sell the home to a new buyer. You have to show a receipt/proof that it was pumped out.

Some people on this forum claimed they have gone decades without pumping. That is hard to fathom but maybe it's true. Unless they have aerobic setups, going over 5+ years without pumping does not seem wise, as they can create a ton of problems with a backed-up system.

When it comes to septic tanks, "deferred maintenance" rarely comes out well. Perhaps our overly strict regulation here has had the benefit of creating a larger field of septic professionals that in addition to pumping can also assess the condition of the systems...if there is a problem anywhere I rather know about it before it shows itself on the basement floor. I think we pay $150 every 3 years...I pay $100 for a steak dinner for two (tip and cocktails included).

 

[Wagtail]

... Some people on this forum claimed they have gone decades without pumping. That is hard to fathom but maybe it's true. Unless they have aerobic setups, going over 5+ years without pumping does not seem wise, as they can create a ton of problems with a backed-up system.

Mate, I haven't claimed anything; I stated a personal fact. No maybe about it.

I did state that I have a separate grey-water field, so the only thing that goes into my septic tank is human waste and bumwad.

 

[PILOON]

Yeah, I heard and read that Canada is pretty strict with tree cutting and environmental laws.

Out here NO pumping is mandated. It's up to the homeowner when and if they should pump their septic. The ONLY time they mandate it is when you sell the home to a new buyer. You have to show a receipt/proof that it was pumped out.

Some people on this forum claimed they have gone decades without pumping. That is hard to fathom but maybe it's true. Unless they have aerobic setups, going over 5+ years without pumping does not seem wise, as they can create a ton of problems with a backed-up system.

Heck (I'm Canadian) and B4 the 2/4 year mandatory bylaw my self dug/poured concrete septic system went 22 years B4 the 1st pumping.
The pumper operator stated that it had performed equivalent to about a normal 3/4 year system.
That was based on the sludge and or solids that he evacuated.
OK, we only had 1 shower and used a RV toilet as low flush units did not exist when we installed the system. I must say that we had very active environmental group that did a great job of informing us on the subject.
In fact the provincial gov't even provided a set of plans as to how to build your system with all sorts of options depending on the terrain.
I recall that there were some 6-7 options that were in conformity. (still have those plans).

I did advise one home owner that he should get a notarized affidavit to certify that the septic had not been used in the mandatory period.
Never heard back. (Should have worked IMHO)

 

[Wagtail]

Just had a thought regarding the longevity of my septic system... the quality of the water.

I'm not on 'town water' or a well/bore. My house is plumbed to a 24,000 litre poly rainwater tank. Lord knows what 'treated', softened or mineral ground water does when it interacts with the microbes diligently working away in a septic tank.

 

[CalG]

Mate, I haven't claimed anything; I stated a personal fact. No maybe about it.

I did state that I have a separate grey-water field, so the only thing that goes into my septic tank is human waste and bumwad.

One thing you do have going for you, by the looks of the vegetation, you are located in a year round warm region. Anaerobic systems love it when it's warm!

And I'm not "claiming" anything either, just stating fact.

And for those praising the aerobic systems.

In this area, they are not approved, and take "special consideration and engineering".
Plus, the word is they can be extremely fragile. That is the bacterium need a constant supply of "food", and the colony can collapse with a disruption such as a guest sending something "different" down the pipes. I'm not sure of the recovery process, I'm sure it is case by case, but I've "heard" it can take weeks to recolonize an aerobic system. That and a multi day power outage can do in the entire bio-system. It seems that the aerobic systems have pitfalls that make the possibility of smelling methane trivial.

The "SludgeHammer" appears to be marketed as a remediation adjunct. Not as a 20 year solution. Perhaps additional reading of the sponsor page is warranted.

 

[Pettrix]

And for those praising the aerobic systems.

You are wrong. We will have to agree to disagree. Aerobic systems are found in ALL water treatment plants. It's the only way to properly and quickly treat millions of gallons of waste.

It also does NOT take weeks to establish aerobic bacteria.

You also miss the fact and point that aerobic systems also create turbulence and break down toilet paper and waste through the turbulence. That doesn't take place in anaerobic systems. Everything sits there and decays very slowly. Methane as a by-product also destroys concrete septic tanks over time.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

In this area, they are not approved, and take "special consideration and engineering".

Anything new-fangled takes time to gain acceptance, and that will not happen uniformly.

Around here, they are mandatory in a few places, highly encouraged in others. Maryland has an official program to encourage their use because of the Chesapeake watershed issues.

 

[CalG]

You are wrong. We will have to agree to disagree. Aerobic systems are found in ALL water treatment plants. It's the only way to properly and quickly treat millions of gallons of waste.

It also does NOT take weeks to establish aerobic bacteria.

You also miss the fact and point that aerobic systems also create turbulence and break down toilet paper and waste through the turbulence. That doesn't take place in anaerobic systems. Everything sits there and decays very slowly. Methane as a by-product also destroys concrete septic tanks over time.

Municipal plants have a steady supply of "food stock", and full time operators keeping tabs on just about every aspect. If your up for a full time position, Go for it. Just don't be disappointed when the bugs give out on you while on vacation.
Besides, What is the hurry? I have no desire to see the waste water again at any time.

I do feel aerobic systems are a very useful tool when final ground filtration is not an option. My self, I would go for a conventional anaerobic separation tank with aerobic spray/ trickle system filtering effluent though "engineered medium" in place of the anerobic leach lines. There are some interesting designs out of Canada, some making use of what other wise would be waste plastics ;-) I do hope such systems gain acceptance here in the States.

Turbulence does not "break down" cellulose fibers. "Disperse" (break up?) may be the term you are looking for.
One should try not confuse the mechanism, Biological action is common to "break down" cellulose. (read: liquify or gassify). What you describe as "decay".
Chemical action and pyrolysis are not well suited to the task in discussion here.
Turbulence does speed things up however. (Exposed surface) The paper I use hardly holds together to perform it's assigned task. ;-) It doesn't stay intact thought the flushing cycle, that I am sure of! ;-) Perhaps there is an avenue for overall domestic improvement through conscientious selection of tissue.

As to methane destroying concrete tanks over time. How much TIME?
Let's just say there are various qualities of concrete.

I sense that you are quite invested in your position regarding the aerobic systems. Good for you, Such a noble subject to be committed to. I also note that there is nothing in my post to be "wrong" about. Unless one can err by saying "can", "the word is" and "I've heard" . tisk tisk.

 

[roadhunter]

Talking SH-- about sh--. LOL

 

[TomSeller]

From a quick google search I am gathering Cottonelle is about the worst and Scott about the best toilet paper in regards to septic tank breakdown. Comments?

 

[rtimgray]

When we moved out to our farm in the mid 90s, we were not required to install a septic system or have an inspection or anything of the like. This was due to a farm exemption, which at the time was anything over 10 acres. At the time, we were (and largely still are) poor, so I installed a system myself consisting of a 500 gallon concrete tank and about 200' of lateral lines in gravel covered with dirt. We lived there for 11 years and never had any issues (this was a family of four).

When we built a new house on the same farm, our state ordinances had changed in that prior to have electricity connected to a new house, you had to present proof of a septic system inspection. So we had a new system installed - a 1200 gallon tank and about 300' of lateral lines. That was about 10 years ago and we haven't had any problems.

I've got no problems with ordinances regarding septic systems, but I do find some of them hilarious. Our septic system field is in a portion of our property that is also cattle pasture. I would guess that on any given day, one of our cattle expels more waste directly on top of the ground than the whole family does. I know that we don't need to have an open pipe running into a ditch as a system, but at the same time, I see exactly that from the cattle and all the wildlife in the area.

Good luck and take care.

 

[coldsteelva]

How about those Adult wet wipes? They break down, right?

 

[Pettrix]

How about those Adult wet wipes? They break down, right?

Not really. Any of those products creates most of the solids inside of a septic tank. Any cellulose product is hard on the system.

 

[CalG]

Well, Wouldn't you know, The Ultimate solution!

WORMS!

Worms for Leaching Fields (Septic Drain Fields) - All About Worms

And I read that Australia is leading the way is this advanced technology.

It's no wonder I haven't had waste water problems, The drain lines are under a flower garden that is just thick with night crawlers. ;-)