HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980 Aug 23 - Sketch of Moved Tank on Tank Maintenance BrochurePump your septic tank every 2 - 4 years
Solids could be overflowing to the leaching facility
right now, causing damage that will require
expensive repairs.
Investigate signs of failure immediately
• Slow draining of toilets and sinks
• Foul odor, patches of green grass, ponded
water, or melting snow near the leaching
system
Minimize water use in the home
The less water used, the longer the retention
period in the tank and the more solids the bacteria
can decompose.
Do not dispose of the following wastes
• Garbage. Use of disposals adds massive
amounts of solids to the tank.
• Sanitary napkins, colored toilet paper,
disposable diapers and tissues do not
decompose.
• Cooking oil, fat and grease can pass through
the septic tank and clog the leaching facility.
• Pesticides, disinfectants, acids, medicine,
paint thinners, etc. will kill the helpful
bacteria in the tank and contaminate the
groundwater.
DO NOT USE CESSPOOL CLEANERS
There are no known chemicals, yeasts, bacteria,
enzymes or other substances capable of
eliminating or reducing the sludge and scum so
that periodic cleaning is unnecessary. Many of
these cleaners contain highly concentrated
organic solvents that are rated toxic and
suspected to be cancer-causing by the EPA and
National Cancer Institute. The are not
bio -degradable and pose a serious potential threat
to private and public water supply wells. The use
of such products is not necessary for the proper
functioning of a septic system.
tE
Sketch house, septic tank, leaching facility and
show distances from septic tank cover to nearest
house corners.
TANK SERVICE RECORD
If you have problems, contact your local board of
health or health agent.
MAINTENANCE
Approximately 90% of Cape Cod's population
disposes of its wastewater: through individual
on-site sewage. disposal systems. If properly
operated, and maintained, an on-site system can
provide many years of trouble free service. If
neglected, however, the system is likely to fail,
creating public health hazards and expensive
repairs for the homeowner. This pamphlet
describes the principles of ' septic system
operation and explains the maintenance pro -
A$ f
cedurs necessary to insure long life for the
system. -A homeowner's maintenance record is
provided on the backer
Prepared by;
Cape Cod Planning & Economic Development
Commission
1st District Court House
Barnstable, MA 02630
Tel. 362-2511 Ext. 477
HOUSEHOLD SEWAGE THE SEPTIC SYSTEM, LEACHING FACILITY
Household sewage is a combination of wastewater
from several sources including sinks, toilets,
showers, washing machines, garbage grinders &
dishwashers. The approximate composition of
household sewage is shown below. Organic
matter comes mostly from toilets and garbage
grinders, while sinks, showers and washing
machines contribute large amounts of wastewater
containing only small amounts of soap and dirt.
These flows will average a total of 75 gallons per
person per day.
Household Sewage
CESSPOOLS
Cesspools are not allowed in new construction.
This description is included because many older
cesspools are still in use on Cape Cod today. A
cesspool is a large pit with an earth bottom and
sidewalls constructed of concrete blocks. Sewage
flows directly into the cesspool. The heavier solids
settle to the bottom, the lighter solids and grease
float, and the liquid seeps through the openings of
the sidewall. A cesspool has a limited life span.
The soil pores surrounding the cesspool gradually
become clogged with organic solids and the
system overflows. When a cesspool does fail, it .is
often equipped with an overflow pipe to a new
leaching facility. The original cesspool should
then be treated as a septic tank and be pumped
periodically (every 2 - 3 yrs.) to prevent solids
from overflowing to the new leaching facility. It is
preferable to replace failed cesspools with proper
sentic tank svctemc_
With the July 1, 1977 enactment of Title 5, rigid
specifications requiring two-part septic tank
systems were issued. In a septic system, the
separation of sludge and scum takes place in the
septic tank and the seepage of the wastewater into
the soil takes place in a separate leaching facility.
THE SEPTIC TANK
Household sewage flows directly into the septic
tank, a rectangular water -tight structure (shown
below). Inlet and outlet "tees" slow the incoming
wastewater and keeps solids from escaping.
Larger solids settle to the bottom and lighter
particles rise to the surface, forming respective
layers of sludge and scum. Bacteria present in the
tank decompose the suspended organic solids
found in the wastewater as well as the sludge and
scum layers. The sludge and scum gradually
accumulate, however, and must be pumped out
periodically (every 2 - 4 yrs.) to insure that solids
will not overflow to the leaching facility.
Biological activity in the tank is not upset by
pumping. Incoming sewage contains all the
necessary bacteria.
iNLE7 PIPE
ACCESS
SLUDGE
The liquid waste flows from the septic tank to the
leaching system, where it is discharged into the
soil. The most common leaching system in use on
Cape Cod today is the precast concrete leaching
pit set in a stone -lined pit (shown below). In areas
with a high water table or problem soils, several
types of shallow precast leaching systems can be
installed. Leaching trenches or fields, consisting
of a series of perforated pipes set in stone -filled
trenches, can also be used.
THE NEED FOR MAINTENANCE
The leaching facility is not designed to receive
solids. If solids overflow from the septic tank to
the leaching facility, it gradually becomes clogged
and will fail (similar to a cesspool). Once this has
occurred,, the facility can only be renovated by its
abandonment for at least six months or its
complete replacement. Costs for the replacement
of a leaching facility range from $500.00 to
$1,500.00. The proper maintenance of a septic
system, as described in this pamphlet, can,
therefore, save the homeowner considerable