Darrin Elsom, the owner and principal engineer of Kaaterskill Associates, specializes in septic systems and storm water management. After years of experience designing and fixing septic systems he has written down the best management practices to care for your septic system.
As with most rural areas, the large majority of homes in the Catskill region are served by onsite septic systems. If an onsite system is properly designed, constructed and maintained, it can be an effective long-term method of disposing of household sewage. Proper design and construction of a septic system is usually up to the engineer, technician, or contractor who installs the system. Proper use and maintenance of the system, however, is the ongoing responsibility of the homeowner and is important to both the life and the performance of the system.
A septic system usually has two major components – the septic tank and the disposal field (leach field, bed, or seepage pit). The septic tank serves two basic purposes. First, microorganisms in the tank break down the wastes into gases and water. Second, the tank retains some solids, preventing them from flowing into the disposal system where they may clog the soil, causing a backup. The disposal system allows the liquid from the septic tank to infiltrate into the soil. The water is further treated in the soil before it eventually reaches groundwater.
It is very important to have the septic tank pumped at regular intervals. If the tank is not pumped regularly, excess solids may build up in the tank and eventually pass through the tank, causing a premature (and most likely expensive) failure of the disposal system. The obvious question, of course, is how often does the tank need to be pumped? This can vary greatly from house to house depending on many things: the number of people living in the house; whether or not the kitchen sink has a garbage disposal (this can greatly increase the amount of solids in the septic tank, and homes with garbage disposals should have the tanks pumped more frequently); and general lifestyle issues (the use of a lot of grease in cooking, for example). Many septic tank pumpers will recommend that a tank be pumped every two to three years. On the other hand, a recent long-term study of the septic tanks in an Oregon community suggests that regular intervals of ten to fifteen years may be more appropriate. So which is right? I would recommend pumping at regular intervals of three to five years, although this may vary from house to house. If you can’t remember the last time you had your septic tank pumped, it is probably time.
It is also important to be careful what you flush or wash into your septic system. Items which are slow to degrade can cause excessive solids buildup in the tank. Common items are cigarette butts, coffee grounds, sanitary napkins, grease, or latex or plastic products. Other materials may inhibit the biological action in the septic tank, and should also be avoided. These include paint or paint thinner, gasoline or similar products, pesticides, and photographic chemicals. Excessive amounts of bleach or household cleansers chemicals can have a similar affect, so the use of these materials should be minimized where possible. There is also research that suggests that high sodium levels can negatively affect the ability of the soil of the disposal field to accept the wastewater, and points to some high-sodium laundry detergents as one of the main sources.
A number of additives are available on the market which claim to improve septic system performance. Although I cannot claim to be an expert on the chemistry and biology of each of these products, the overwhelming amount of studies and literature in the wastewater industry suggests two things. First, there is little scientific basis to show that these products help the performance of a septic system. Second, some of these products may actually be harmful to a septic system. (For example, a product may claim to reduce grease and solids in a septic tank. This may be true, but the product may be dissolving the grease and solids and allowing them to pass into the disposal system. This could cause premature failure of the disposal system, and basically defeats the purpose of the septic tank). These additives are unnecessary – there is enough biological activity in the septic tank without these additives.
Finally, it is important to remember the effects of day-to-day living on your septic system. For example, it is better to spread laundry out over the week instead of doing all of the wash on a single day. If you are planning a large get-together at your house, it may be wise to have the septic tank pumped before the relatives arrive. With a little care and regular maintenance, your septic system can last for a long time.
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