Septic stink

getut · Jun 1, 2005

Trust me.. I'm eager to learn.. so don't confuse this with arguing.

I have always been taught that the bacterias job is to break down the solids and sludge into the effluent. So in effect, the solids and sludge ARE the effluent before they have been broken down to the required degree. Now around here common belief is that if a septic system is properly sized, you NEVER have to pump it. The bacteria are able to keep up and the solids never build up enough to cause problems. If the main tank were undersized, then I could see where solids would build up over time and cause problems. Based on what I see with my place (20 years), with my parents (32 years) and grandparents (almost 50 years), I tend to believe that. Besides, the tank lid is almost 4ft deep at my parents place. I don't think the installers intended on having it dug up every 5 years. We found out how deep it was one time because we thought a garbage truck crushed the thing.

Also, I can look at it this way also, if the bacteria WEREN'T turning the solids into the effluent, then the thing would clog with solids within only a few weeks. EVERYTHING that goes in there breaks down to effluent, some of it just slower than others.

ByronBob · Jun 1, 2005

Check this out

http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/wye/personel/Miller/septic.html

ByronBob · Jun 1, 2005

All I did was google the term septic systems. They all tell you to pump it at some time line. 2,5,10 years whatever. Not at all isn't a choice.

Egon · Jun 1, 2005

Not everything will be broken down by the bacteria!

Egon

Highbeam · Jun 2, 2005

Lots of stuff is digestable, some is not. At the older sewage treatment plants we empty the extra sludge out of the bottom of the reactor. There are always solids that need to be taken away from all sewage treatment plants, they wouldn't do that if the sludge would go away by itself. The sludge is thick and pretty gooey before being dried so we spread it out in sludge drying beds, newer plants use machines. The water evaporates and the sludge turns into dirt, sort of. When you look close you see lots of hair. But before you look close you have to get through the tomato bushes. Seems the tomato seeds are quite capable of making it through the bacteria. It is pretty amazing.

The incoming sewage influent stream contains about 0.5% solids or 99.5% water. The effluent, after the septic tank, should be way more than 99.5% water and the rest gets left behind for further digestion or accumulation as sludge or scum.

Bacteria won't digest everything. You figure, a turd made it through your stomach with all the acids and bacteria in your gut. Inside the tank some things take a long time to digest and some never digest.

hobbyfarm · Jun 2, 2005

( But before you look close you have to get through the tomato bushes. Seems the tomato seeds are quite capable of making it through the bacteria. )

Wow, Free maters! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Hmmm...wonder if them maters are edible? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
On second thought, consider the source /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif...forget it! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

GaryM · Jun 3, 2005

( Wow, Free maters! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Hmmm...wonder if them maters are edible? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
On second thought, consider the source /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif...forget it! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

Many areas of the world use human waste as plant food. I'll bet they are edible, and tasty too.

Highbeam · Jun 3, 2005

They sure grew well. The sludge is almost black after drying and as the water dries out there are some pretty ideal conditions. I never saw the fruit as I was only there to add a caustic soda injection system to the city water supply for pH control.

The City of Tacoma actually gets their sludge clean enough through extra processes that they mix it with sand and sawdust to produce a topsoil type stuff that they load into resident's vehicles for free. They call it Tagro and it is like a fertilizer more than a topsoil. It is so hot that you only add a layer of it on top of grass or mix it in to dilute it.

Most places, inlcuding the tomato place, just scoop it up and spread it out over the ground somewhere. Over time the heavy metals in the sludge build up and they have to go somewhere else.