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Home septic systems and cesspools are often ignored or thought of as merely a hole in the ground for waste and dirty water. In reality, they are living, breathing, microbiological factories responsible for digesting organic waste. This waste is converted into water, which is filtered and purified before reentering potable ground water reserves, gases, and small amounts of undigested septage. This remaining material will eventually build up to a point where removal will be required. Without these living processes, septic systems would fill to capacity in a short amount of time. These simple yet effective onsite waste water treatment systems are used by over 30 million households and many businesses throughout the United States.
Proper maintenance of your septic system is important for efficient and long, trouble free operation. Improper maintenance will lead to system failure, unsanitary conditions and expensive repairs or replacement. One common misconception is, if there is not a problem, no service is required. In fact, many septic additives are sold on this basis, making claims to eliminate pumping. Although not pumping a system at recommended intervals won't lead to immediate failure, excessive amounts of organics from a full septic tank will flow out and clog the drainage area.
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ANNUAL INSPECTIONS
| • | Surfacing of septic water, soggy soil or septic odors indicating that gray water is not being absorbed by the soil. |
| • | Trees or bushes growing where their roots may create clogs or pipe damage. |
| • | Soil compaction over the drainfield possibly caused by vehicles. |
| • | Inside the tank, check for broken or missing baffles and repair if needed. |
| • | Measure the sludge depth and scum mat thickness in the tank to estimate when pumping will be needed. |
| • | Excess sludge in the D-Box means the tank needs to be pumped, baffles are broken or water usage is excessive. |
| • | A flooded D-Box indicates the field is not draining and needs cleaning, repair or root removal. |
| • | WARNING: Never enter an empty tank or lean into one without proper equipment or ventilation. Gases present may be toxic or cause suffocation. |
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PRECAUTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
| • | Establish a
system maintenance schedule. |
| • | Don't flush difficult to digest grease, excess food or garbage into the system. |
| • | Don't put non-biodegradables such as paint, petroleum products, cat litter, paper towels/napkins or disinfectants down the drain. |
| • | Limit the use of chlorine bleach or switch to an oxygen bleach alternative. (Usually color safe types) |
| • | Fix any leaky plumbing fixtures and spread laundry loads over the week to avoid drain field saturation. |
| • | Use corrosive drain openers minimally. Use mild build-up preventatives instead. |
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PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
| • | The key to maintaining a healthy and trouble free septic system is proper preventive maintenance. |
| • | Pump septic tank or cesspool at recommended intervals.
See chart. |
| • | Use
an activator immediately after pumping to restore bacterial populations. |
| • | Restore malfunctioning drain fields, cesspools, leach tanks or dry wells with
a porosity restorer. |
| • | Use
a septic maintainer to improve septic tank function, digest grease, paper, detergents, protect drainage areas and control odors. |
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"We've got to take care of our customers." That's been the Hercules creed since 1915 when founder Sam Wander opened our doors.
Contact us by phone,
e-mail, fax or good ole US mail.
Hercules Chemical Company, Inc.
111 South Street
Passaic, NJ 07055 USA
(973) 778-5000
TEL 800-221-9330
FAX 800-333-3456
EMail: Info@herchem.com
Stay
in touch, and we'll do the same.
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(c) Hercules Chemical Company 2004
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