Category: Stearns Septic News

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.

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

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.

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.