The Septic Tank

If you have your own private septic system, the first stop for the wastewater leaving you home is (and should be) the septic tank.  The goal of the septic tank is to provide an area for your waste to begin its breakdown/disposal process.  This chamber is usually constructed of concrete or plastic (really old tanks are metal) and its goal is to separate the waste into three layers: scum, effluent, and solids/sludge.

A typical septic tank is an anaerobic area, meaning there is a lack of oxygen so that the natural bacteria can “digest”/breakdown the waste in the tank.  These microorganisms are quite important in the function of the system and are working to breakdown the material so that the wastewater leaving the tank (the effluent layer) is cleaner than when it entered the tank; this creates less work for the leach field/effluent disposal area.  This does not mean that a septic tank should go without regular maintenance (which on average is every two to three years), it just means that there are natural processes going on inside the chamber in between pumpings/cleanings.

The septic tank looks unthreatening but accidental falls into septic tanks are sadly more common than one might think.  After listening to a heartbreaking Podcast called “Septic” (find it here: Septic Podcast), we feel it’s important to bring awareness to understanding the dangers the septic tank presents.  The only people entering a septic tank should be confined space certified professionals who know what actions to take (not to mention what equipment to use/wear) while inside the tank… so when an unprepared human (adult or child) falls into a tank, the risk of fatality is high.

Understanding where your septic tank is and what the accesses are (meaning, are the lids to the surface or buried) are important first steps.  When you’re ready to schedule a tank cleaning, don’t remove the cover–leave that to the professionals! The septic tank cover should not be easy to remove and the majority of the incidents of people falling into tanks are due to a broken, unsecured, or easy to remove cover. If you find that your septic tank, tank covers, or area around the tank seems to be unsafe, barricade the area and contact your local professional immediately for a remedy–it could safe a life.

“Do Your Part, Be Septic Smart!”

It’s our favorite time of year again: EPA’s SepticSmart week!  As a homeowner it can be easy to forget about the septic system and how much it can impact the environment–the “out of sight, out of mind” idea.  The goal each year is to promote awareness of what it means to have a septic system and to educate communities on how to best treat and maintain their systems.

For articles, overviews, guides, statistics, tips, and really anything you may want to know about your septic system, visit the EPA’s resource page: https://www.epa.gov/septic

Should You Flush It?

We just received the March-April 2019 News Brief from the Granite State Designers & Installers and wanted to share this infographic on what you should flush.

 

Medications in Your Septic System

Image result for flushing medications

image provided by: RegionalSan

When we talk about what to flush and what not to flush, it’s easy to forget about what is flushed through our waste that we can’t control.  With nearly half of Americans taking prescription medication regularly, it’s not often considered what happens to those medications as they make their way through our bodies and how much of that medication is exiting without being fully broken down/metabolized.

An article posted by Pumper Magazine titled “The Problem With Medications and Septic Systems” details how medications (especially chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics, and other potent prescriptions) can damage the good bacteria that needs to live in the septic system.  The good bacteria that is formed around our waste helps break down the solids in the septic tank and without this bacteria, the solids can build up much quicker and may require more maintenance to keep the system in good health & functioning properly.

Here are some recommended tips that are provided from this article:

  1. NEVER flush unused medications.  If you have medication that you are no longer using, there are many “takeback” programs through local law enforcement, pharmacies, and hospitals that will happily dispose of your unused prescriptions.
  2. Minimize the usage of goods that can kill bacteria (things like antibacterial soap, bleach, drain cleaners, etc.)
  3. If you have started a new program involving potent prescription medications, have your system evaluated to determine how it is operating with the change in your waste.
  4. Your septic tank may need to be pumped more frequently to remove the level of solids/sludge accumulating in the tank due to the loss of healthy bacteria–this is something that can be determined during an evaluation of the system by a licensed professional.

If you would like more information on this, refer to the article above or give us a call!  We are always willing to help and have multiple associates who love talking about septic systems and what goes on once you flush.

Locating A Professional in NH

We love being a resource for homeowners and business owners in our area. Frequently we receive calls from people inquiring about where to get a septic design–we are licensed to evaluate septic systems and licensed to install septic systems, but at this time do not have a licensed designer on staff.

 

Some great resources/websites that we use:

 

  • The Granite State Designers & Installers web search: Professional Locator. We are not sure how often the website is updated, but it can be a great place to start when looking for a licensed professional (it is worth noting that this website does not have the current list of NH licensed evaluators… if you’re looking for that, here is the current list: NH Licensed Septic Evaluators).

 

  • The Department of Environmental Services portal: DES QUERY (Click ‘Designer And Installer Query’ and on the next page, choose your county & the license type you’re looking for and then click ‘Execute Query’ at the top left of the page for a list).

 

Water Softeners & Garbage Disposals

The septic system’s longevity and overall health is top-priority for us, so when we perform a septic evaluation and we find there is a garbage disposal and/or water softener draining into the septic tank, we are quick to recommend another solution.

Most septic systems are not designed for garbage disposals; by current NH law, you must have a much bigger septic tank (1.5 times the size) to allow for the amount of solids that you are putting down the drain and this is not usually part of a “normal” septic design. Also, food waste is different than human waste in its decomposition rate and have a harder time breaking down in a system not designed for that type of waste.

When discharged into the system, water softeners can also create problems given the amount of salt they are discharging. This can do a number of things (especially if there are concrete components to your system) including corroding the septic tank and/or distribution box and disrupting the natural chemicals in the soil of the leach bed. We aren’t saying don’t have a water softener, just plumb it into its own disposal location!

To read more about this, check out a new article from Pumper Magazine: Troubleshooting: Water Softener Use and Garbage Disposals

“The Gross Truth Behind ‘Fatbergs'”

The toilet is not a “liquid trash removal service” and it’s important for any household or business with a toilet to think about what they are putting down the drains. Flushing or dumping anything that isn’t human waste or toilet paper down the sewer/septic lines can create costly problems for not just homeowners but for municipalities.

So, what exactly is a “fatberg”? Well, when grease is dumped down the drain and congeals, it clumps together and starts making one solid mass that can create a huge blockage in the sewer line.

To read more about the issues happening in Burlington, VT, check out this article from WCAX: Flushed: The Gross Truth About What’s Lurking in The Sewer

2017 EPA’s SepticSmart Week!

Just like one week every fall, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is focusing on educating homeowners and communities about proper maintenance and care for septic systems! “Do your part to be ‘SepticSmart'”! If you’re a homeowner, check out this link for helpful tips and information about your system: SepticSmart Homeowners