Transcript Module 3, Lesson 3 - University of Nevada Cooperative Extension

Septic Systems
Out of sight and out of
mind…until you smell them!
Developed by:
Susan Donaldson
University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
What we’ll cover
 Sources of household wastewater
 Components of a septic system
Living n
 Maintaining your septic system
 Causes of septic system failure
 Additives, bleach, and more
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Which of the following can
lawfully be used to dispose of
household wastes?
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 A cesspool
 A pipe to the local ditch
 A pond
 A pipe to the storm drain system
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DNRC, Mont.
How much water do YOU use per day?
Misc.
1.5 gallons
Faucets
11 gallons
Showers
12.6 gallons
Leaks
10 gallons
Baths
1.2 gallons
Clothes
Washers
15 gallons
Toilets
20 gallons
Dishwashers
1 gallon
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Components of a septic system
Baffles
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Avoid products with the following
warnings on the labels:
 “Harmful if swallowed”
 “Avoid contact with the skin”
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 “Do not get in open cuts or sores”
 “If product comes in contact with
eyes, call a physician immediately”
Always read the product label!
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Where
does the
liquid
effluent
go?
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The soil helps
filter the effluent
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Mike Williams, Ever Green Septic Systems
Engineered leach fields
 Used when the site does not allow an
in-ground leach field due to:
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 Soils that drain too slowly or too quickly
 Areas with a high water table
 Areas with shallow soils over bedrock
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UNCE, Reno,
Nev.
WSU Extension
Do you know???
 Where your tank is?
 How big it is?
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 When it was last
pumped?
 The location of your
leach field?
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DNRC, Montana
Maintaining your septic system
Living n
 PUMP
YOUR
TANK!
 Keep your
bacteria
healthy and
happy
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UNCE, Reno, Nev.
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Risers
WSU Extension
You can
retrofit a
riser by
yourself, or
hire a
professional
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Suggested pumping interval
(years)
Tank Size
(gallons)
1
2
3
4
5
6
Number of people in your household
1000
12
6
4
3
2
2
1250
16
8
5
3
3
2
1500
19
9
6
4
3
3
To pump... or not to pump
Living n
 Pumping
costs about
$350 for the
average 1250gallon tank,
every three
years or so
 A new leach field
costs from
$5,000+ for an inground system to
as much as
$25,000 for an
engineered field
Which would you choose?
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 Spongy ground
 Sewage at land
surface
 Sewage backing
up into house
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www.vdh.state.va.us
Causes of system failure
 Pipe between house and tank is
blocked or broken
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 Inlet/outlet tees blocked or broken
 Plugged line between tank and leach
field
 Pump failure (for those systems with
pumps)
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Causes of system failure
 Tank is blocked with solids, or has
collapsed, or leaks
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 Drainfield is flooded
 Drainfield is clogged with solids or
roots
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What can I plant on or near
my leach field?
OK to plant:
Avoid planting:
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 Grasses
 All trees
 Perennial and
annual flowers
 Large shrubs
 Many
perennial
groundcovers
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Other causes of septic
failure
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 Overloading. Use water
sparingly. Do only full loads of
wash at off-peak times, if
possible, and try to limit the
number of loads daily.
 Placement in poorly draining
area
 Water leaks
 Driving over the drainfield
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Other causes of septic
failure
 Pouring kitchen grease into
drains
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 Failure to install according to
septic codes
 Flushing cigarette butts,
sanitary napkins or other
inorganic materials down the
toilet
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Other causes of septic
failure
 Extensive use of garbage disposals
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 Tree roots clogging pipes - contact a septic
contractor for repairs
 Use of salts and chemicals from water
softeners and washing machines
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What about additives?
 Enough bacteria are present in the
tank from normal bodily wastes
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 Additives cost $$$ and may actually
increase the solid material in the tank
by producing inert ingredients
 There is no substitute for pumping!
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What about bleach?
Living n
 Normal use of recommended amounts
of bleach in washing machines
occasionally should not harm your
system
 Avoid flushing large quantities of
bleach (1 gallon+) into the tank
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What about water softeners?
 Will salt brine harm septic tank
bacteria?
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 Does the regeneration cycle flow rate
cause solids to be carried over into the
leach field?
 Will the sodium in the brine affect soil
structure and water percolation?
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Tips to keep your septic
system working well
 Don’t water the leach field
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 Don’t flood the system with
excessive water use
 Keep excess solids out of the system
and avoid flushing toxic chemicals
down the drain
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Tips to keep your septic
system working well
Living n
 Avoid using your garbage disposal
to process large quantities of
wastes
 Regularly pump out the septic tank
and inspect the physical
components of the system
 Don’t park or drive over the leach
field
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These tips will keep your system
working properly for
generations.
Homework
 Map the location of your septic system.
 Assess your risk of problems or septic
system failure.
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 Pump the system, if needed.
 Inspect the leach field area.
 Check for household water leaks.
 Read labels on household hazardous
products to determine if they are suitable
for use with septic systems.
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