Septic Tank Maint.

SPIKER · Mar 3, 2006

if you have a septic tank you need either a leach field or a cesspool the cess pool is above ground and the water runs out of the septic tank and into the pool for draining, evaporation & seaping into the groudn these have been outlawed in many locations, the leachfield is below ground and has a bunch of perferated pipes which lets the water seep into the ground and is usually constructed with a large bed of gravel for it to seep into/through and this cleans the remanants of water waste and into the ground. it looses some through evaporation too but not much. there is a 3rd system which uses a large pile of sand and sprinkler heads to basically spray it up onto and the sand then cleans it and it evaporates too which is what a lot of NEW homes are required to go to. most of the systems also require a certain amount of airation, some systems depend soley on this and let it go from there but usually are some form of combination of the above.

now the waste still usually has to have a septic tank in pretty much all but the "out house" designs. the tank gets the solid wastes first and this is where it bio-degrades and eventually becomes solid and sinks to the bottom and is much smaller in size but will still fill up eventually... anyhow pumping for 2 people is not as big as deal, a 5 yr schedual is usually more than enough when no garbage disposal and the NON degradable stuff is kept out of it, it is hard to pass a toy dump truck through the system with out it building up /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif lol

also I had to laugh when my old boss who lives at his parrents house and has kids had his pumped and it (the septic pump) clogged up with condoms. he had to clean it out needless to say he wondered HOW these condoms got in there lol teenage kids and all I was rolling practacally... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif anyhow talk about some embearesed kids when he called em out to ask HOW this happened roflmao...

anyhow it was a treat to be witness to this guy was a real hot head anyhwo but when his teen age (I think 14/15 at the time) daughter turned bright red I had to walk away from fear of falling over from laughing...

anyhow I just had to share that to let other know how fun it is having kids.

mark M

Wood_Butcher_Dav · Mar 4, 2006

Well I'm going to disagree. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ( if you have a septic tank you need either a leach field or a cesspool ) . The household waste systems that have been installed around my area are aerator types. They basically have 4 chambers connected together, first one has a motor with shaft to aerate the sewage, next two separate and let mother nature do it's thing and the last chamber has a sump pump. The discharge usually goes into a french drain, or open ditch. Mine discharges into 100ft. 4in. black plastic drain pipe with the end running towards road ditch. This was/is the only permit and inspection that is required by county for new building outside any city or town limits. The aerator motor has a timer. When they perked my land this was my only option. Other than the electric usage I have no complaints.

Dave

Mike_Lipke · Mar 4, 2006

3 years, 4 years, 5 years...no matter what the interval, the trick is remembering to do it. I am bad at that.
My installer gave me a great hint. He said that it should be pumped every 3 - 4 years so the solids don't end up in the leach fields.
So, he told me every time there is a national election, have it pumped. That is easy for me to do, because with all the B S being slung around, it reminds me to have my tank pumped. In this area, it is about $60. Works out to $15/year.
My pump is sitting on a 16" block to prevent it from pumping out solids. At four years, the solids are about 6-8" deep. 4 years is good timing.
Next election is is 2008, the B S is starting already, but I'll wait til summer of '08 to have it pumped again.

PILOON · Mar 4, 2006

Interesting subject--POOP!
LOL.

In Quebec law says every 2 years for permanant home and 4 yrs for seasonal dwellings.

I have one that is seasonal whereby I cast my own tank complete with baffles etc and a cedar cover, this all as per available government approuved plans. It uses a 'dry well' vs leach field due to the terrain.
Afetr 22 years I decided to pump 'just in case' and found that it was totally normal , little sludge and a healthy top float of about 6" of solids. The pumper marked on the invoice 'callback in 20 yrs'.

The 'secrets' were shower vs bath tub, very low flush commode (we used a trailer unit) never any bleaches as they kill off the enzimes/bacteria that chomp the solids and convert to what they call 'grey water'.

Also one should never add the miracle additives as nature will provide the necessary bacteria due to the nature of the contents.

Some other facts that were presented to us by government specialists.
White TP will disinergrate faster than colored TP.
Use only low phosphate dishwasher detergants.
Unbleached TP is best.
Avoid garberators.
Low flush commodes and shower usage prolong life of system.
Never route sump pumps into system or eavestroughs.(commonly done by city contractors).Same would go for garage drains and basement drains as well.

If you ignore all the above then 2 year pumping would be necessary for sure.

My 2 cents.

LBrown59 · Mar 4, 2006

Next election is is 2008,
the B S is starting already ,
but I'll wait til summer of '08 to have it pumped again.

 Do you suppose there is any way you could have that pumped now so we don't have to listen to it for the next 2 years?

SnoFalls · Mar 4, 2006

each politician would need 3-4 trucks cause they are all so "full of ...."

LBrown59 · Mar 4, 2006

( each politician would need 3-4 trucks cause they are all so "full of ...." )

LOL a Goddy

Mike_Lipke · Mar 4, 2006

"Do you suppose there is any way you could have that pumped now so we don't have to listen to it for the next 2 years? "

You know, if that would work, I'd pay to have it pumped once a month!

midlf · Mar 4, 2006

In WI the pumping mandate is local. It can be county, town or village mandated. In my county it is not mandated by the county. It is mandated by some of the townships in the county. My township does not mandate any pumping schedule. The only state mandate is a pump and inspect before property is sold. Seller has to make any repairs or improvements.