If you're a homeowner living far from a public sewage system, you probably have a drain field and a septic tank to handle your wastewater. Meaning, all your household wastewater flows into a single wastewater treatment system; then your septic tank cleans it up before introducing it back to the environment. It is thus essential to address the common misconceptions that you may have about cleaning your septic tank to avoid future misunderstandings.
Pumping out the septic tank when it gets full
If your household is running normally, then your septic tank is always full. If you pump it out completely, it will fill up in just a few days of usage. A full septic tank discharges a liquid effluent to the soak away. This doesn't mean you have to clean out the septic tank right away. It is normal for a septic tank to fill up with wastewater.
You only need a septic tank pump out when the floating scam and the settled sludge layer becomes too thick such that it occupies a larger volume than that of the free liquid. When this happens, then you become aware of the effluent retention time. However, it is not possible for you to see into a septic tank, that's why you will need to hire a sewer and septic contractor to measure the depth of your solid waste levels and solid sludge in your tank. It is recommended that you schedule a septic tank pumping every 3 to 5 years.
Additives and chemicals extend the life of the septic system.
This is a common misconception among many homeowners. All septic tanks irrespective of design require periodic pumping or cleaning out. Additives and chemicals will not extend the lifespan of your septic tank. However, the frequency of a required septic clean out varies with a number of things. They include the wastewater volume that your household produces, the system design and the size of your septic tank. Failing to clean out your septic tank could lead to an early septic system failure.
Discharging excess septic effluent from the septic tank to the surface
It is not acceptable to discharge excess septic effluent to the surface, or a stream, or even to a ditch near your house. The rest of the wastewater is released into the soil untreated. Discharging excess wastewater out of the treatment system contaminates the environment.
Such a practice is only allowed for highly treated wastewater that is produced by a very advanced septic system design. Such a design should be able to treat effluent to a level that exceeds or is equal to the sanitary nature of ordinary water. For more information, contact companies like Econocycle.
