Septic Effluent Pump FAQs

Q&A on sewage or septic effluent pumps

Septic System Effluent Pump Failure FAQs

Can we keep using water and flushing toilets if the aerobic septic pumping chamber is flooded?

My aerobic septic pump chamber flooded and my high level and low air alarms came on.

I overnighted a new pump, before it arrived the high level alarm turned off. My pump outlet was damaged and I had to run the new pump off of my exterior power.

Unfortunately, I ran the pump for 24 hours before realizing it needed to be turned off intermittently. Now, the high level alarm is back on.

No one can come look at it for weeks. Should we continue to use water here or should we wait for the tech? On 2022-01-18 by Jen

by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - No; effluent pump failure risks sewage backup

@Jen,

Watch out: If the effluent pump fails, the aerobic system stops disposing of effluent from the system and may back up into the building, risking a nasty and costly sewage spill indoors.

I'm doubtful that you can or will live in the home for weeks without running water and flushing toilets.

But if you're unable to dispose of effluent that's what you'd need to do.

The concern is that if you keep running plumbing fixtures in the house and your aerobic system clogs or backs up, you risk a sewage backup into the home.

You need help from a trained septic service contractor who can inspect and replace your effluent pump control float and switch and also the pump or pump motor if necessary. - Daniel F

NuWater Aerobic Septic System was disconnected, turned on, now pump keeps failing - no warranty help!

We moved in our new home in Oct 2019, and didn't know the Nu Water aerobic septic system was not connected to the quick disconnect box until January 2020 when we received inspection. The system failed in March and the pump had to be replaced and again in May. We had the system pumped out in June.

Our maintenance provider no longer wanted to service us so we lost the 2yr warranty. The new provider had to replace the pump in July and again in August.

I decided to keep the last 2 pumps and upon closer examination I noticed pinholes in the stainless steel at the bottom of the pump on both.

I understand the supplier said he could not honor the warranty on the next pump. I have been to the county (Ft Bend ), the state (Texas ) and no one can tell us what the problem is or where to get answers. I have also noticed the alarm on the control panel is very low and you can barely hear it. I would appreciate any help or advice you could give us. On 2020-10-27 by Tennie

by (mod) - here's where to get help with your NuWater septic system

Tennie

What you describe sounds very odd to me, too. It is simply not reasonable to expect to have to replace septic pumps so frequently, so there is almost certainly something wrong.

Start your investigation with the pump manufacturer - identify the pump brand and model, call the manufacturer, and ask

1. are we using the proper pump type and model for our application? And how can we know that the pump is properly or improperly installed? What SNAFUs should we look for?

2. If so, have you seen this problem before and can you offer an explanation and cure?

DO please let me know what you're told as that may permit further suggestions from us too.

Beyond that let's look at the electrical system and pump wiring and grounding:

- the pump wiring and the electrical system grounding; an improper electrical ground ANYWHERE In the electrical system might cause a current leak (very dangerous, can shock or kill someone) and that in turn can also cause surprising corrosion or pinholing; I've seen that in HVAC systems, ground water source heat pumps, and other piping installations

The electrical concern will be particularly true if/when you confirm to me that the pump body where the pinholes are developing is metal rather than plastic

• Contact NuWater Sewage Treatment Systems Company [Website] NuWater Systems (Pty) Ltd 87 Capricorn Dr, Muizenberg, Cape Town, 7945 Tel: l us: +27 21 788 3125 Email us: info@nuwater.com
• In the U.S. Contact: ENVIROFLO, 235 Flowood Dr 235 Flowood Dr, Flowood, MS 39232 USA Tel: 601-939-2948

Aerobic septic effluent pump won't run: bad float switch; concern for unsanitary yard surface

We have an aerobic sewer system on our home. Our home was completed and we moved in in December. Immediately had issues with the float switch not signaling the system to kick on and then not signaling the system to kick off. The next issue was the smell.

For MONTHS I informed the company that installed the system that the smell was awful and getting worse. The smell was absolutely putrid - just like raw sewage. Finally, 5 months later, a technician discovered that the aerator pump was never put on the system.

The aerator pump was put on, it’s been a month, and now for the last 2 weeks, the sprinkler heads (spray ideation system) have not been functioning - not spraying and very little water coming out. Of the water that is coming out, the smell is still awful. I am at my wits end with this system.

My question is - due to operating without an aerator pump for 5 months, was the effluence water coming out of the system sanitary? The smell alone leads me to believe it wasn’t. On 2020-06-05 by Leigh - I

Answer by (mod) -

Leigh

Those aerobic septic system malfunctions sound really aggravating and disappointing at best. I worry that you simply haven't had installation, or repair service, by someone with enough expertise on your particular septic system.

Take a look at the brand and model information on your system, its controls, and on any bills or invoices; identify the manufacturer, give them a call, and ask for help.

Finally: there is no aerobic septic system that is designed to operate without its air pump (thus no aerobic or aeration) for months. The result is likely to be clogged distribution piping and spray heads. And of course the effluent being dispersed was not treated.

by Leigh

Thanks so much for your reply. Will have to try and get information about the system from the company that installed it, again, to dig further into it.

So as far as the effluent not be treated - what does that mean for the ground where the water was spraying for 5 months. Should that area be remediated?

by (mod) - You may not want children playing on such an area nor would you plant root crops or low-growing vegetables thereon.

Leigh

No, "remediation" of under-treated-effluent-wet soils outdoors is not something I've found anyone doing nor recommending other than allowing time - months or longer - for soil bacteria to break down pathogens.

You may not want children playing on such an area nor would you plant root crops or low-growing vegetables thereon.

Septic Effluent Pump Failure and Bad Service.

We had a problem with the pump that pumps out the water from our septic tank. It was noted in Dec. 2018. Left until now Aug. 2019. We had called a few times, got no response.

Finally, we got the owners wife who blew a gasket at me saying they have over 1000 customers but yeah they'll move us to the head of the line.

She was rude and uncaring. I was going to report them for neglecting my system when we had called 2x and emailed a few times. When you call all you ever get is a machine. Since they knew about this and our High water alarm went off is it not their responsibility to have gotten this fixed long before Aug 2019. It cost us $475.

His wife wanted the money in a snap. We have been their customer for 13 years and built a trust and asked to pay it in 2 payments and she refused.

So I said to my husband she will bloody well have to wait. Should this system have been fixed back in Dec. 2018 when he knew it was not working up to par ...as to avoid spillage? On 2019-08-16 by MMCM -

by (mod) - effluent pump problems

MM

Sounds as if you might want to find a different service contractor.

Septic System Effluent Pump Cycle-On Frequency FAQs

Aerobic pump keeps cycling on every half-hour

The aerobic septic pump comes on every 30 to 40 minutes and sprays for 10 minutes. (Apr 24, 2016) Anonymous

Reply:

Anonymous:

Aerobic treatment units may use both an aerator pump (that is normally always on though some run by a timer), and an effluent dispersion pump that may be used to operate sprinklers that dispose of the effluent on to the ground (depending on your ATU system design and type).

I'm guessing that you're asking about the effluent dispersion pump, since the aerator pump normally runs all the time, 24/76.

If you are NOT running wastewater into the system and the effluent dispersion pump keeps cycling on I would ask for inspection and repair by your aerobic system service company. I suspect groundwater leaking into your system. But check first for a running toilet.

Why is our aerobic septic sprinkler pump short-cycling every 10 seconds?

Our aerobic system sprinkler heads are turning off and on every 10 to 15 seconds instead of staying on in the allotted time. What could be the issue? On 2019-07-11 by Vicki

Reply by (mod) -

Causes of short-cycling of an aerobic septic pump might be

- a bad float control switch

- a blocked pump inlet or outlet opening

- a leak of groundwater or other water source into the pumping chamber (example: an unusual inflow of wastewater from the building because of water left running continuously into the drain system)

Aerobic system for a cottage that runs on a timer but not running often enough or long enough

I have an aerobic system for a cottage that runs on a timer.

The aerator runs for 20 hours, shuts off for 3 hours to let everything settle and then for 1 hr the clear effluent is pumped to the discharge area. What I have discovered is the 1 hr of discharge time is not long enough to keep up with the volume of water added to the tank each day.

I often find myself manually running the pump for several hours to get the water level in the tank to drop. The majority of the time, there are just 2 adults and 1 child in the cottage. The effluent pump was replaced this past summer and I believe it's 3/4 hp.

I know for sure it has more hp than the previous pump.

My question is could I add a second float that will trigger the effluent pump to run at the same time as the aerator or will that somehow compromise the system.

I need to figure out a way to keep the water level in the tank at a level where the high water alarm isn't constantly triggering. Thank you in advance for your response. On 2019-02-17 by Stephen

Answer by (mod) -

Your ideas may br workable and is interesting but...

It should be possible to adjust the timer to run the pump longer, but It sounds so me as if your system is not operating at its design point and needs review or adjustment by a designer or engineer - as a step more reliable than adding components and controls.

by Stephen

Thank you for your response. I will contact the manufacturer and see if I can arrange for a service call/inspection in the spring

Septic Effluent Pump Not Working Q&A

OK to run the effluent pump if the aerator pump is not working?

Is it ok to run my nayadic pump when the air system not working? On 2016-05-16 by Debbie

by (mod) - No; if your septic aerator is not working you're not treating the wastewater and risk clogging failures

Watch out: If your aerator is not working on your aerobic septic system then the system is in self-destruct mode and needs a prompt repair. Pumping untreated septic effluent risks clogging spray heads or other effluent distribution system comonents or the soil itself in the effluent absorbtion field.

Septic Pump Never Turns Off FAQs

Our eptic system pump motor runs constantaly

Should my motor constantly be running and never shut off? (Feb 2, 2014) Bria n

Reply: aerator pumps run continuously; effluent pumps do not.

Brian, I'm not sure what to answer, as we don't know what equipment you have installed.

Let's distinguish these different pumps found on septic systems:

Septic effluent pumps -

move liuquid effluent out of a septic tank on to a disposal field or drainfield; normally these pumps run either on a timer or more often under control of a float switch that turns the pump on when the liquid level in the septic tank reaches a high-enough level.

Septic grinder pumps or sewage ejector pumps -

move raw sewage, including solid waste such as feces and toilet paper, out from a building to a septic tank or to a public sewer. These pumps are usually switched on and off by a float control in the chamber or pump pit that receives the waste.

Watch out: If either of the two pump types above is running non-stop then something's wrong: a running toilet, groundwater leaking into a septic tank, a blocked line, a failed septic system, etc.

See SEWAGE PUMP DAMAGE & REPAIR 

Aerobic Septic Treatment Unit Aerator Pumps -

these systems use a "bubbler" or aerator pump that is intended to run constantly in order to provide oxygen to bacteria in the aerobic treatment unit tank.

So it's perfectly normal for the aerator pump to run 24/7 and in fact if it's not, then something's wrong and repair is needed. See AEROBIC ATU SEPTIC PROBLEMS