AAA Septic and Drain

Grease trap & septic pumping, repair and installation

AAA Septic and Drain logo
(970) 323-8703
(970) 874-2904
124 West 4th St Delta, CO 81416

Septic Tank Lids v.s. Septic Tank Inspection Ports

By

Is it standard practice to pump a septic tank through the inspection port?

Every so often I get jolted back to reality. This happened recently when I received an email with the question: Is it standard practice to pump a septic tank through the inspection port? Now, I know that I have addressed this issue before in this column, but apparently the message hasn’t been getting through to everyone.

I have always viewed this as an issue that doesn’t need review because “everyone knows and uses these standard practices.” But I am proven wrong again, and at the risk of “preaching to the choir,” I will spend some time and space on this issue again.

The simple and straightforward answer to the question is that it is not a recognized standard practice and should not be done! In fact, it can be a detrimental practice and result in harm to the tank and the system as whole.

ONCE A HOT TOPIC

It was particularly distressing to me to learn, upon further discussion with the individual posing the question, that it is a practice seen continually and often. It is a question that I thought had been put to rest 25 to 30 years ago and that we as an industry had moved well beyond this activity.

When I started working in the industry — and in discussion with pumpers and service providers — this question was a topic where there was disagreement. One set of pumpers said in no way is it a good practice because the tank does not actually get cleaned, while another group swore up and down that they could clean a tank through the 4-inch to 10-inch PVC inspection ports by backflushing. Not a problem, they argued. Fortunately, I worked with some university colleagues and pumpers that recognized the disagreement and sought to learn what really happens when you pump through an inspection port.

We rode along with pumpers going to jobs and observed the tank pumping. In the cases where pumpers used the inspection ports and said the tank was clean, we gained access through a manhole and found the tanks were not cleaned of solids. What pumping through the inspection port accomplished was primarily the removal of water, leaving behind the majority of scum and sludge.

As we shared this information nationally at conferences and trade shows, we found our experience was not unique, and others around the country were making the same observations. This led to most state wastewater associations adopting practice standards that called for tanks to be pumped only through the manhole access for each tank, or in the case of multiple-compartment tanks, each compartment.

In a number of those states (mine included), this standard was adopted as part of the state rules and regulations. Any technician who pumps the tank through the inspection port is violating state regulations and is subject to a fine and/or the loss of their license to pump.

DON’T HASTEN DRAINFIELD FAILURE

However, violating the rule is not the reason why the practice should stop. The reason is that not adequately cleaning the tank puts the rest of the treatment system at risk — particularly the most expensive part of the system, the soil treatment unit. As solids build up in the tank, they can be moved out of the tank into the soil treatment and dispersal area, reducing the ability of soil to accept the effluent leaving the tank. This results in failure of the soil treatment area and surfacing of effluent or backing up into the residence. Both present significant health and environmental risks. In addition, fixing or replacing a failed drainfield or mound system is expensive for the homeowner.

The pictures were taken by AAA Septic and Drain. The article is from Jim Anderson U of Minnesota who is an expert in the field of wastewater management.

We constantly try to steer away people from wanting to have their septic tank pumped through the PVC ports. If you have these fixed on the openings of your septic tank we can fit appropriate risers and lids to your tank.

What’s in there???

By

When looking into the septic tank the first things you’ll see are all the things that won’t be leaving until a vacuum truck pumps them out. The picture above is years of hair that has gone into the septic tank. The picture shows the hair from one septic tank and cigarettes that was discharged from the vacuum truck onto a screen at the wastewater treatment plant. Hair, garbage, cigarette butts, and wipes never break down and will eventually become a $$$$ issue for you. The answer………..don’t put garbage in your septic tank and have your tank pumped out regularly.

Our Friends in Arrowhead

By

AAA Septic and Drain takes pride that we are the #1 provider of septic pumping and NAWT Certified Inspections for Title Transfers in Arrowhead. We have created this blog entry especially for you. This blog will address systems in Arrowhead but the basic knowledge can be applied to systems outside of Arrowhead also.

Do you really understand your septic system? What takes place in the tank? Do I really need to pump it? Why does the county want an inspection when it’s never given us a problem? I hope that this blog will help answer those questions.

I’d like to introduce myself to you if we’ve never met before. My name is Ken Johnson and I manage and was a founder of AAA Septic and Drain. I am originally from the Chicago area where I was in Law Enforcement for over 2 decades. I currently live in Delta with my family. I began my 2nd career in wastewater removal 11 years ago and have taken every opportunity to become educated and certified in every available facet in the septic system industry. I currently hold national certifications in System Inspections, Systems Installer and Operation and Maintenance Technician as well as registrations with several counties on the western slope of Colorado.

AAA Septic and Drain currently has 5 employees and all are Certified Septic System Installers. We also have one other Certified Septic Inspector, Robert Cockerham. We have 2 pumper trucks, 1 drain truck, a commercial hydro jetter and 3 excavators. Our work areas includes Mesa, Delta, Montrose, Ouray, Gunnison and San Miguel counties.

Your septic system in Arrowhead is based on the same principles and functions as any other system in Colorado but because of the location we have to understand it’s differences and maintain them a little different.

How the septic system works. I’ll give you a quick rundown on the basics. First of all think of the septic system being “alive” because it is. The system is based on bacterial activity. All the wastewater from your home (or cabin or RV) goes into the system. The wastewater enters the septic tank and begins the settling out phase. The wastewater coming into the tank contains organic solids, inorganic solids, water and fats, oil and grease. The septic tank holds the wastewater, separation occurs, treatment begins and effluent water is released into the soil treatment area (leach field/absorption field). A lot of the solids in the tank remain until they are removed by a septic pumper truck. The solids that are organic are broken down by the bacteria but all of the other stuff pretty much remains and keeps getting thicker until they are removed by pumping. There is no magical powder or liquid that help break things down, so don’t waste your money on these gimmicks and watch what you put down the drains. Once the water leaves the septic tank and goes into the soil treatment area bacteria continues organic breakdown and the water flows downward into the soil below where it is further treated by removal of disease pathogens, heavy contaminants and metals. Then the water continues until it reaches the ground water or surface water.

Introduce the “Arrowhead Factor”. Most of Arrowhead is utilized intermittently, seasonally or stay vacant for years. When not used as designed on a day to day basis things change as compared to a system that is used every day. I often hear “there’s only 2 of us” or “we only used it twice last year”. This limited or no use can have the very opposite effect that most people think it has. Without the constant adding of bacteria and additional food to the septic tank the existing bacteria become dormant and begin to die inside the tank. Many of them can become suspended solids in the water level of the tank. This effect when we begin to use the system again after it’s non use creates a very unhealthy environment for the bacteria and we see what we call a “DEAD TANK”. It’s at this time you can do a great deal of harm to your system especially in the soil treatment area. What does this mean to you? Pumping the septic tank as if under normal use (every 2 – 3 years) is a good idea. Sending suspended solids that are meant to stay into the tank will lead to early soil treatment area failure. That means contaminated ground or surface waters and a huge $$$ unexpected repair bill.

So is the limited use the only thing that makes my Arrowhead home different? For some yes but for many NO. A large majority of systems in Arrowhead have what’s called an “Arrowhead System”. As many us imagine when we think of the soil treatment area or leach field we think of pipes in gravel running under the ground in the yard where there is always green grass in a big area after the septic tank. The long lines have perforated holes in the piping that slowly releases water to the soil below. Some have a total of 200′ or more of pipe. In an Arrowhead System that perforated pipe only goes around the septic tank and that’s it. So it is quite a bit smaller in size for sure. So while you would have a much larger area for water to go in a usual system, in an Arrowhead System you do not. Many of the problems we see with Arrowhead Systems involve tree roots. A small amount of tree roots can totally stop a system from working. Another is the normal build up of biomat in the pipes and treatment area. It will not take as much of those to stop an Arrowhead System from working as it will take much more with others.

How can you make sure your system gives you a long time of service? First, remember this phrase……If you didn’t eat it or drink it, or wouldn’t eat it or drink it, it doesn’t go down the drain or toilet. Pump your septic tank out on a scheduled basis. Have your system periodically inspected. Have the pipe in the treatment area if possible hydro jetted periodically. Outfit your septic tank with an effluent filter.

If you have any questions you can call our office at 970-323-8703 or contact me if you see me up in Arrowhead.

What Should I Add To My Septic Tank?

By

We hear this question a lot! Our customers who ask this question are asking because of the “wives tales” they’ve heard, the commercial on tv or magazine advertisement. The answer is NOTHING!! Do not add anything into your septic system in addition to what is supposed to be going down the drains or toilets. There is no proven additive for septic systems. Truth is that when additives are used they have created problems or accelerated the need to pump sooner.

Here is your Rule of Thumb…. “If you didn’t eat it or drink it, or wouldn’t eat it or drink it, it doesn’t go down the drain or toilet”. What about soaps, shampoo, conditioners, laundry stuff, etc?? Well, that is the stuff we use in everyday living that gets retained in the septic tank building up into what we call FOG. The buildup of FOG (fats, oils and grease) is what is supposed to stay in the tank and it gets removed every 2 years by a septic pump out. All that FOG keeps building up daily from our use and will never go away until pumped out. Remember the more it builds up the more it cuts off valuable oxygen needed by the bacteria below when they are breaking down the organic material that came from us into the tank.

If you have a disposal in your kitchen sink you should limit its use to only remnants left in the sink after washing dishes. Any food products put straight into the septic system take far too long to breakdown and become a layer blocking vital oxygen getting to the systems bacteria.

Why a Certified Septic Inspection?

By

When you’re selling or buying a home a certified septic inspection is one of the most important steps you can make in the process. The inspection will let you know if the septic system is in a condition as designed and operates at an acceptable level under the guidelines set forth in the industry standards.

At AAA Septic and Drain we have 2 NAWT Certified Inspectors. We conduct inspections almost on a daily basis and have a strong working relationship with local realtors and environmental health departments in the Western Slope counties we service.

When it comes to your home, the septic system is the highest costing and “need it fixed or replaced now” component that you have. Installing a new conventional septic system ranges from $13,000 to $30,000. We maintain some systems that have a price tag of $130,000! If your selling your home it’s a must for protection in the future that you sold a home where the septic system was in proper condition and operation when you sold it. If you’re buying a home you want to know you are moving into a home where the septic system works for your family’s needs. Here is a good article about inspections.

AAA Septic and Drain provides each customer with a multiple page detailed report as well as photos and video.

And remember that the home inspection you have done when buying a home is NOT also a septic inspection.

Ken Johnson – NAWT Inspector #12099ITC