Septic Pumping

Septic System Pumping

How often are septic tanks emptied, and where do the contents go?

A septic pump truck cleans the scum, sludge, and effluent from a septic tank. In modern homes, drains have a way of remaining innocuous. unless the toilet is overflowing or the bath spigot is filling the tub with blood, plumbers and exorcists aren’t usually on our minds! Thanks to the simple push of a lever, the waste remains out of sight and out of mind. About one-third of Americans have a septic system treating the waste in their homes. By design, these systems are fairly simple. All drains in the home converge to a single pipe that leads to the septic tank buried outside.

When The Wastewater From Your Toilet, Shower, Sinks, And Washing Machine Leave Your House, It’s Combined. When It Hits The Septic Tank, However, It Begins To Separate.

The Heaviest Particulate Matter In The Waste, Called Sludge, Sinks To The Bottom. At The Top Of The Tank, Fats, Oils and Proteins form The Floating Scum Layer. In The Middle Is The Comparatively Clear Liquid Layer Called Effluent Or Gray Water. Combined, These Components Are Called Septage.

Septic Systems Are Designed So That Only The Effluent Is Discharged From The Tank Into The Drain Field (Also Called The Leach Field). This Is Simply A Set Of Pipes With Holes Drilled Into Them That Release The Effluent Below Ground (But Above The Water Table).

The Effluent Is Degraded Enough To Be Well-Filtered By Good Soil. There’s Plenty Of Organic Material Left In The Effluent, Though, Which Acts As A Fertilizer. This Is Why The Drain Field Usually Boasts The Healthiest Segment Of The Yard Above It.

Simple As Their Design May Be, Septic Systems Require The Homeowner To Monitor Them Before Problems Arise. Usually, Once A Problem Becomes Obvious, It’s Too Late For Any Simple Solution.

Fixing Big Septic Problems Often Requires Thousands Of Dollars Worth Of Parts And Labor. Fortunately, A Little Maintenance Can Go A Long Way In Avoiding Problems. Read The Next Page To Find Out How Often A Septic Tank Should Be Pumped Out.

To help prevent clogging and build-up, some companies produce toilet paper that dissolves in water. It’s helpful, but you should still have your tank inspected and pumped regularly.  Even with a healthy microbial ecosystem breaking down the septage, a well-functioning septic system and good drain field, the sludge and scum layers in your tank will build up over time.

The sludge and scum should be pumped out periodically — generally when the bottom of the floating scum layer is within 6 inches (15.2 centimeters) of the outlet pipe or the top of the sunken sludge layer is within 12 inches (30.4 centimeters) of it.  Without a well-developed power of extrasensory perception, it’s impossible to tell when your waste has reached these levels!

This is why it’s recommended that people with a septic tank have their system checked every year.  Having your system inspected includes getting your sludge and scum levels measured, checking the system’s pipes and mechanisms and inspecting the drain field to make sure it’s percolating the effluent properly. The average septic tank system usually requires pumping every one to three years.

Without regular pumping of the septic tank, the system can overflow. Sometimes overflow can lead back to the house, where toilets and drains belch forth what’s supposed to be in the septic tank.

Overflow Can Also Lead To A Sudden Deluge Of Unprocessed Waste Flooding The Drain Field. When This Happens, Water Can Seep Above Ground, Which Leads To A Flooded Yard And Run-Off Into Nearby Water Bodies Like Creeks And Rivers.

Below Ground, This Flood Can Cause Further Damage, Tainting Groundwater. Together, These Intrusions Of Waste Can Contaminate The Water People Use And Drink. The Waste Introduced Into The Water Supply Can Carry Harmful Bacteria And Diseases Like Hepatitis. 

But Even After It’s Taken From Your Backyard, Your Septic Tank’s Contents Still Pose A Hazard. So What Happens To It? 

Disposing of Septage: From Yuck to Eureka! 

Wherever there’s a lot of people operating their homes’ waste systems on septic tanks, you can bet you’ll find plenty of local businesses that specialize in removing the scum and sludge that accumulate over time in the tank. This is an important service; if too much sludge builds up over time, it can lead to overflow, which is bad for everybody.

Generally, Commercial Septic Pumping Involves A Pump Truck Removing The Sludge, Effluent, And Scum In The Tank And Leaving The Tank Empty And Ready To Be Filled Again. Once The Waste Is Removed, There Are Only So Many Things That Can Be Done With It.

Prior To Federal Laws That Restrict Septic Sludge Dumping, Waste Companies Could Simply Bury It In Dump Sites. As It Became Clear That Sites Like These Were A Health Hazard, They Were Outlawed. 

These Days, Federal And State Laws Govern The Final Destination Of The Contents Of Your Septic Tank. In Some Cases, The Septic Contents Are Taken To Waste Treatment Plants And Added To The Stew Piped In From A Municipal Sewer System Or Delivered To Independent, For-Profit Companies Specializing In The Treatment Of Septage.

Septage May Be Treated In Cesspools, Which Hold The Waste While Chemical Or Biological Materials Break It Down Into The Effluent. Septage May Also Be Dumped In Approved Landfills. The Guidelines Concerning Septage Dumping Are Strict And Sites Can Be Few And Far Between, However.

Because Of The Dilemma Posed By Disposing Of Your Septic Tank’s Contents, Septage Is Often Used In Another Way: To Grow Your Food! Unless There’s A “USDA Organic” Label On It, It’s Possible The Food On Your Table Was Grown Using The Sludge That Used To Be In Your Septic Tank As Fertilizer.

This Use Of Septage Can Be A Controversial One. Proponents, Including Many Commercial Farmers, Say It’s A Win-Win Situation, Since Municipalities Don’t Have To Worry What To Do With The Waste, And Farmers Get Cheap Fertilizer For Their Crops.

If Applied Correctly To Cropland With Good Soil And A Low Water Table, The Soil Should Act As A Filter In The Same Way A Drain Field Does In The Backyard Of A Home With A Septic Tank.

There’s Another, More Cutting-Edge Way Septage Is Being Used These Days — Generating Electricity To Power Homes. It’s Long Been Known That The Methane Produced As A Waste Product In The Breakdown Of Sewage Could Be Used To Generate Electricity.

While Methane Is A Simple Fuel, It Can Also Be Broken Down And Used To Generate Electricity Using Fuel Cells Located On-Site At Treatment Plants. The Electricity Produced Doesn’t Combust, So There’s Little Or No Pollution Generated. What’s More, It Packs A Punch. One System Built Outside Seattle, Wash., In 2004 Can Produce Enough Electricity To Provide Power For 1,000 Homes. Who Knew Your Fecal Matter Could Prove So Useful?

Contact Uneek Septic Services Today to Learn More

Can you remember the last time that you had your septic tank pumped? Now it the perfect time to schedule a free initial inspection with our experienced septic contractors. Don’t let small septic issues turn into an expensive project if you don’t have to. With the help of our friendly and experienced team, you can protect your septic system and keep your plumping running smoothly. Call 719-481-6466 or contact us today for more information and be sure to ask about our tank inspection service.