How do I improve my septic system performance?
A properly designed and maintained septic system will provide long-term and effective treatment of your household waste water. By not correctly maintaining the system the risk of failure dramatically increases resulting in a potential health hazard and significant cost burden for replacement.
A septic system combines physical and biological treatment processes to adequately treat the incoming waste water to levels suitable for treatment by the drainage / leach field. The physical treatment occurs by settling of organic solids in the first portion of the septic tank, the biological treatment is much more complex with differing microbial species required to remove key carbon, nitrogen and phosphate based contaminants.
Below is our collection of key tips to maintain your system and potentially saved a failing system.
1. Regular Maintenance
It is important to fully understand your home septic system, keep drawings / plans of the site and know key values relating to system dimensions and tank volume. Ensuring that the system is pumped out at regular intervals (every 2-3 years) is of particularly important in reducing excessive contamination reaching the drainage field.
2. Conserve Water
Where possible consider reducing the volume of water passing through the system. This can be achieved in a number of ways – 1. Identify and repair leaky fixtures, 2. Select options on your washing machine for lower water usage, 3. Consider limiting time spent in the shower to under 5 minutes.
3. Conserve Waste
Do not use food grinders as this dramatically increases the organic load to the septic system. Where possible filter all kitchen organics in the sink and remove for disposal or composting. Do not put too much fats, oils or grease down the drain at any one time. These will act to stop the bacteria in the system from treating the waste water contaminants and physically clog pipes and lines.
4. What cleaning products should I use?
Concentrated cleaning products that enter the septic system will have a negative impact on the key bacteria that break down the waste organics. Be careful to only use biodegradable, low phosphate detergents and cleaning products.
5. What not to flush?
As a general rule anything that is not readily biodegradable should never be flushed and transported to the septic system. These materials will not sufficiently break-down and result in clogged lines or tank and will significantly increase the frequency of having the system pumped out. Some key examples of materials to keep out of your septic system include, thick paper material (napkins, paper towels etc.), tampons, diapers, cigarette ends and plastic bags.
6. Is there a technological solution?
At Clear Pod Inc. we recommend homeowners consider including the ClearPod Treatment Unit and an internal septic tank filter.
The ClearPod unit uses a combination of fixed-biofilm structures to increase the density and number of waste water treating bacteria in your system and the addition of oxygen helps to increase the relative microbial activity helping to improve the removal of contaminants from the system. By developing simultaneous aerobic and anaerobic zones in the tank we promote cycling of key Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphate based contaminants. The increased number and activity of the microbes results in cleaner water leaving the system and improvement in the leach field soil quality.
The septic tank filter will function to significantly reduce the insoluble organic contaminants from leaving the septic system and negatively affecting the drainage / leach field. These filters are mandatory in 50 U.S. counties, as well as in the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Connecticut. In Canada septic filters are mandatory in the province of Ontario.