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 Mobile ViewSEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR AEROBIC SEPTIC SYSTEMS ALTERNATING BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS BACKUP PREVENTION, SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION, SEWER LINE BACKWATER VALVES, SEWER LINE BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS BOOKS, RECOMMENDED SEPTIC BOOKSTORE, SEPTIC SYSTEMS CESSPOOLS CESSPOOL SAFETY WARNINGS CHECK VALVES, WATER SUPPLY CHEMICALS & TREATMENTS for SEPTICS CHLORINE IN DRINKING WATER CISTERNS CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR D BOX TROUBLESHOOTING DEFINITIONS OF SEPTIC SYSTEM TERMS DIFFICULT SEPTIC SITES DISTRIBUTION-BOX INSPECTION, SEPTIC DRAINFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS DRIVING or PARKING OVER SEPTIC COMPONENTS? DRYWELL DESIGN & USES EFFLUENT RETENTION TIME FILTERS SEPTIC & GREYWATER FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOODED SEPTIC SYSTEMS, REPAIR GARBAGE DISPOSAL vs SEPTICS GRAVELLESS SEPTIC SYSTEMS GRAVITY/SIPHON DOSING SYSTEMS GREYWATER SYSTEMS HOME BUYERS GUIDE to SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME SELLERS GUIDE TO SEPTIC INSPECT HOW SEPTIC SYSTEMS WORK LAGOON SEPTIC SYSTEMS LEACHFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS MEDIA FILTER SEPTIC SYSTEMS MOUND SEPTIC SYSTEMS NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST ODORLESS CHEMICALS / GASES: CHECK FOR? ODORS, PLUMBING SYSTEM ODORS, SEPTIC or SEWER ODORS, SULPHUR SMELL SOURCES OUTHOUSES & LATRINES PLANTS & TREES OVER SEPTIC SYSTEMS PRESSURE DOSING SEPTIC SYSTEMS RAISED BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS SAND BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS SEEPAGE PITS SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEPTIC AUTHORITIES, DESIGN REGS SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION SEPTIC BACKUP REPAIR SEPTIC BOOK, FREE ONLINE SEPTIC BOOKSTORE SEPTIC BIOMATS SEPTIC CARE INSTRUCTIONS SEPTIC CLEARANCE DISTANCES SEPTIC CODES & REFERENCES SEPTIC CONSULTANTS SEPTIC D-BOX INSPECTION SEPTIC DRAINFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS SEPTIC DRAINFIELD INSPECTION & TEST SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LIFE SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LOCATION SEPTIC DRAINFIELD RESTORERS? SEPTIC DRAWINGS SEPTIC DYE TEST PROCEDURE SEPTIC FAILURE LAWSUIT SEPTIC FAILURE SIGNS SEPTIC FIELD INSPECTION SEPTIC FILTERS SEPTIC FLOOD RESPONSE Critical Post-Flood Advice What to Do After Flooding Find Info on Your Septic WHEN to CLEAN THE SEPTIC TANK Wastewater from a business Expert Suggestions SEPTIC HOLDING TANKS SEPTIC INSPECTION & TEST GUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION LEVELS SEPTIC LIFE EXPECTANCY SEPTIC LIFE MAXIMIZING STEPS SEPTIC METHANE GAS SEPTIC ODORS Septic or Sewer Connection? SEPTIC PUMPS SEPTIC PUMPING REPAIR SEPTIC REFERENCES SEPTIC / CESSPOOL SAFETY SEPTIC SUPPLIES & PARTS SEPTIC SYSTEM DEFINITIONS SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN ALTERNATIVES SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS SEPTIC SYSTEM, HOME BUYERS GUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION & TEST GUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION CLASS SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION LEVELS SEPTIC SYSTEM ODORS SEPTIC SYSTEM PUMPS SEPTIC SYSTEM SAFETY WARNINGS SEPTIC SYSTEM TYPES, MASTER LIST SEPTIC TANKS SEPTIC TANK BAFFLES SEPTIC TANK COVERS SEPTIC TANK, HOW TO FIND SEPTIC TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE SEPTIC TANK LEAKS SEPTIC TANK LEVELS of SEWAGE SEPTIC TANK PUMPING PROCEDURE SEPTIC TANK PUMPING REASONS SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE SEPTIC TANK SAFETY SEPTIC TANK SIZE SEPTIC TANK TEES SEPTIC TESTS: DYE & LOADING TESTS SEPTIC TEST VOLUMES & DYE AMOUNTS SEPTIC TREATMENTS & CHEMICALS SEPTIC VIDEOS SEWAGE & SEPTIC CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE BACKUP, WHAT TO DO SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP SEWAGE BACKUP PREVENTION SEWAGE CONTAMINATION in buildings SEWAGE CONTAMINANTS in FRUIT / VEGETABLES SEWAGE GRINDER PUMPS SEWAGE LEVELS in SEPTIC TANKS SEWAGE NITROGEN CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE PATHOGENS in SEPTIC SLUDGE SEWAGE PUMPS SEWAGE PUMP CLOG DAMAGE SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION SEWER GAS ODORS SEWER GAS ODORS in COLD WEATHER SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT SINKHOLES, WARNING SIGNS SOAKAWAY BED FAILURE DIAGNOSIS SUMP PUMPS TOILETS, INSPECT, INSTALL, REPAIR TOILET ALTERNATIVES TOILET FLUSHOMETER VALVES TOILET INSTALLATION PROCEDURE TOILET OVERFLOW EMERGENCY TOILET PLUGS, SEWER BACKUP TOILET REPAIR GUIDE TOILET TYPES Toilet Types, Flush Methods TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST TRAPS on PLUMBING FIXTURES VIDEO GUIDES: Septic Videos WASHING MACHINES & SEPTIC SYSTEMS WASTEWATER TREATMENT BASICS WATER, WELLS, WATER TANKS: TESTING GUIDE WATER PURIFIERS WATER QUALITY TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT WATER QUANTITY USAGE GUIDE WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING WETLAND SEPTIC SYSTEMS WINTERIZE A BUILDING More Information |
Flooded septic tanks and drainfields - advice: if your septic system has been exposed to flooding, this document gives immediate safety and health advice and includes other advice from the U.S. EPA and other septic system experts. We set priorities: safety, health, maintenance, and repair for septic systems after flooding. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.The photo above shows red septic dye which appeared at the property surface when we tested a recently flooded and still saturated, failed septic system close to a stream. Citation of this article by reference to this website and brief quotation for the sole purpose of review are permitted. Use of this information at other websites, in books or pamphlets for sale is reserved to the author. Technical review by industry experts has been performed and is ongoing - reviewers welcomed and are listed at "References." This article is part of our series: Inspecting, Testing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems an online book on septic systems. © Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Critical Post-Flood Septic System AdviceThe following text is not part of the original US EPA document but has been added by this website author. Immediate Serious Safety Hazards: Property owners whose septic system has been flooded should be concerned first for immediate safety hazards such as the increased risk of a dangerous collapse of a site-built septic tank, drywell, or cesspool. A site-built system, such as a cesspool made of dry-laid stone or concrete blocks, may have been weakened by floodwaters. Rope off and prevent access to the area where such systems are installed until you have made certain that there is no danger of collapse. Someone walking over a weakened septic tank cover or cesspool or drywell could fall in - a possible fatal event. Never leave the cover off of a septic tank, cesspool, or manhole. Someone can fall-in. Electrical Hazards: if your septic system includes electrical components such as pumps, be sure that electrical power has been turned off before attempting to examine the equipment. Health Hazards: the EPA advice on this topic (below) refers to the high risk of sewage backup into homes during flooding. Sewage backup into a home leaves a variety of pathogens and creates a serious risk of hidden mold in buildings. Both of these can create health hazards, particularly for people who are at extra risk: infants, the elderly, people who are immune-impaired, people with asthma, etc. Further investigation, testing, and cleaning are likely to be in order. A simple "pumpout" of a flooded basement, for example, may leave wet building materials and insulation if the basement walls were finished with drywall or paneling. In these cases the wet materials should be removed promptly, the area dried, cleaned if needed, and inspected for evidence of contamination before rebuilding. Major Structural or System Damage: do not enter a flooded structure if there is evidence that the building may be unstable or in danger of collapse. A building which has shifted off of its foundations, evidence of subsidence (depressions in the soil) over or near a septic system (or anywhere else), or buckled foundation walls are examples of dangerous conditions that merit professional inspection and advice. Manholes and Tank Covers may have shifted or may even have been lost during flooding. Falling into an open septic tank or sewer is likely to be fatal. Watch for open, shifted, damaged, or otherwise unsafe covers or openings to these systems. Property owners whose septic systems have been flooded should read the following articles as well as the advice offered from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and re-printed below.
The information below is provided by the U.S. EPA. Additional comments or suggestions, where provided by the web author, will be flagged as added text (such as the paragraphs preceding this section. I have re-ordered some of the original EPA text to put the obvious and most important information first. [DJF] What do I do with my septic system after the flood?Once floodwaters have receded, there are several things homeowners should remember:
Remember: Whenever the water table is high or your sewage system is threatened by flooding there is a risk that sewage will back up into your home. The only way to prevent this backup is to relieve pressure on the system by using it less. Where can I find information on my septic system?Please contact your local health department for additional advice and assistance. For more information on onsite/decentralized wastewater systems, call the National Environmental Services Center at (800) 624-8301 or visit their website at www.nesc.wvu.edu.Exit EPA Disclaimer How to Find The Septic Tank - (added by web author)
Do I pump my tank during flooded or saturated drainfield conditions?No! At best, pumping the tank is only a temporary solution. Under worst conditions, pumping it out could cause the tank to try to float out of the ground and may damage the inlet and outlet pipes. The best solution is to plug all drains in the basement and drastically reduce water use in the house. [DF NOTE: As the EPA says above, however, pump and inspect the septic system (including the piping) as soon as possible after the flood, just not so soon that there is risk of floating the septic tank. If a septic system is not going to be used for months and wet weather or high ground water conditions are expected to continue, I would not pump a fiberglass or plastic septic tank as there is risk that the tank will float up out of the ground. This is not much of a risk with concrete septic tanks. Be sure to pump both the tank and lift station. Further inspection for safety as well as the overall condition of the system is needed.] When to Pump a Septic Tank - (added by web author)
What if my septic system has been used to dispose wastewater from my business (either a home-based or small business)?In addition to raw sewage, small businesses may use their septic system to dispose of wastewater containing chemicals. If your septic system that receives chemicals backs up into a basement or drain field take extra precautions to prevent skin, eye and inhalation contact. The proper clean-up depends of what chemicals are found in the wastewater. Contact your State or EPA for specific clean-up information. What are some suggestions offered by experts for homeowners with flooded septic systems?
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