What is a private septic system: tank, drainfield, absorption bed, soakbed?

How should I take care of the septic system and tank?

This septic system care article offers an easy-to-understand explanation of what septic systems are, how they work, and why they fail. We give basic information about how to maintain a septic tank and drainfield.

Septic care is important for health, safety, and to avoid unnecessary and large expenses that occur when a poorly-cared-for septic system fails. We include links to companion articles which provide details of septic system care such as septic tank pumping, what not to flush down a toilet, and what you can and cannot plant over a septic leach field.

FAQs on What is a Septic System & How does It Work?

These FAQs about septic system basic care and operation were posted originally at SEPTIC TANK & SYSTEM CARE BASICS - you'll be glad if you take a look at that advice.

On 2018-02-22 by (mod) - ok to cover drainfield with mulch?

I think that'd be fine if it's just a thin surface layer that doesn't block transpiration or evaporation from the drainfield. Take care to spread by hand, don't drive heavy equipment over the fields.

On 2018-02-22 by Jennifer

Is is OK to cover the surface of a conventional conventional septic drain field with shredded bark mulch, instead of turf grass?

Question: repeated sewer backups, landlord blames me

(Sept 7, 2014) Deborrah Robertson dhaldonrob@yahoo.com said:

I live in a duplex on septic. There has not been anyone living in the other unit for about 8 months. In the almost five years I've lived here the toilets, or shower, tub have backed up 4 times pouring water all over floor and carpet. Three times there
was someone living in the unit next door when the toilets, shower backed up .

I am a very neat and clean person.

The Septic was pumped out about 10 months ago. My brother lives with me and he has no children nor do I. There was NOTHING put down the two
toilets except for: pee, poop and toilet paper and maybe a few hairs that went down the drain.

The Manager is in an uproar, he says it is all my fault, he is very abusive. I don't believe it is my fault. Aren't there other things to take into consideration when plumbing is backed up on a septic tank? I am desperate for you to answer my question.

Reply:

Deborrah

From your description it sounds as if there is either a sewer line blockage or a failed septic system. It's of course less expensive to blame you than to face what might be expensive to repair. Your building manager would be wise to bring in a qualified, experienced septic engineer or plumber or contractor to make a more accurate diagnosis of the trouble.

The first steps are trivially easy: inspect the condition of the septic tank and inspect the site surfaces for evidence of drainfield failure.

Also see SEWAGE BACKUP, WHAT TO DO

Question: owner pumped the septic tank before our inspection, tanks were full = backup evident

(Jan 12, 2015) karen marrow said:

We are looking to buy a property which has a septic tank. We will be new to this. We arranged a surveyor to view the tank and give us a report on it.

The tank in question was emptied 2 days prior to survey.

The property has been left empty. The survey could not be completed thoroughly as the tanks was full and the water was backed up to the man hole cover in the garden.

What could be the causes of this. We have been told that it is a cesspool/ septic tank that has a pump to pump out the water every night. We have concerns about this and are unsure whether we need to walk away from this property. Can you please give me some advise

Reply:

Sounds like some contradictory information or strong evidence of a failed, possibly dangerous septic system.

Karen unless I've misunderstood there's already plenty of important information here.

1. if the tank was "emptied" 2 days prior to the survey then someone knew perfectly well that there was a problem and took steps to subvert your septic inspection and test - in my opinion an improper if not unethical act that is highly questionable.

2. As the tank was nonetheless "full of water" at your inspection and considering that the building is unoccupied, then the system is in total failure and the tank is back-filling with ground-water or effluent from a saturated, failed drainfield (if it's a septic tank with a drainfield) (Or someone left water running in the building for days)

3. Being told that it is a cesspool is incoherent. A septic tank is not a cesspool.

To understand what a cesspool is, how they work (or don't) and why they are not permitted in many jurisdictions and why they don't adequately treat septic effluent even if they dispose of it, see inspectapedia.com/septic/Cesspool_Guide.htm

Having to pump the water out of a septic tank or cesspool every night sounds odd to me - though there are some septic dosing system designs in which septic effluent from a water-tight tank (not from a cesspool) is indeed sent only at intervals into a drainfield. If that were the case a failed pump or a pump left off could explain what you saw.

In sum, you are being given (or at least are reporting) illogical and inconistent data but there are serious warning signs. You need first to get an accurate definition of what type of system is installed, where its components are located, how they are supposed to work, and what has been their maintenance and repair history.

After that further inspection and testing might be in order, or might be throwing good money after bad. I don't know.

On 2013-03-19 by (mod) - septic tank fills in a few days after pumping

Catt,

No when a septic tank is pumped out it is left empty. One to three days of normal use will fill it up again quickly enough.

BEWARE of septic "pumping" companies who dump stuff back into the septic tank. You are paying them for next to nothing - they empty the tank, then pump much of the waste and wastewater back into the tank, in fact in WORSE CONDITION than BEFORE because the now agitated solids flow into and destroy the drainfield.

Your water pipe leak, if it was draining into the septic system, was flooding it.

On 2013-03-19 by Catt

Hi,

I recently had my septic tank pumped out....2 weeks ago. They had to pump it out 2 times because the "initial" thought was failing leach field(s) because there was water coming out of the ground near the septic tank. Turns out I had a leak in my water pipe in my garden for 2 months causing the ground to saturate....

short story...leak fixed 2 days after the septic pumping and both leach fields drained back into the septic tank...both sides of the septic tank are full again.

Do I need to have my tank pumped out again?

Also when they pump out the tank do they fill it up again with fresh water? Thanks, Catt

On 2013-03-16 by (mod) - when to replace or rebuild a septic leachfield

Marylin,

To be clear, it's not simply "my" recommendation to stay away from septic additives, rather it's that of experts in the field as well as various government agencies.

The "fix" is usually to reconstruct new drainfields on the property - a costly proposition.

Sometimes it is possible to let a portion of a drainfield rest for several years or more and to somewhat recover.

This is accomplished by using a diverter in the D-box to route septic effluent to (for example) one set of leach lines while the others rest.

In addition, direct surface and subsurface water away from the fields, and of course pump the septic tank on regular schedule.

But once the biomat has clogged your drainfield, generally it needs to be replaced.

On 2013-03-16 by MARILYN

Your articles were very informative. You do not recommend using the chemical additives or devises to restore a drainfield. My drainfield is 50 years old. It no longer drains as well as it did due to the clogged biomat. Other than the $10,000 replacement, what can be done to restore the field to working order?

On 2013-02-11 by JDG - septic tank is not on my property

I am not too sure which area to ask this questions so hopefully this is the right one. I am in the process of buying a home, built around 2004. After looking at the property and deciding to make the purchase I requested that the septic tank be inspected (Texas) as required by local code prior to selling a home. I noticed two issues.

1. the septic tank is not on the property I will be purchasing its on the adjoining lot from behind.

2. the drain field appears to be going towards the home not away from it.

After some research it appeared the the septic tank in use was for a home that used to be on the property behind and the drain field was dug on the adjoining property (the home I am now purchasing) both lots appeared to be owned by the same people thus explaining why the drain field is on the opposite property.

After bringing this issue up, the real estate agent said it was fine, but I had burning questions and doubt that this setup was even legal?

the the septic tank is about 25-40 feet behind the home on the adjoining lot, which means this home was built on top of the drain field laterals given that each lateral has a minimum of 75 feet in length which will place those laterals underneath the home which has a slab foundation.

I am going to the health department to find the original permits with drawings but in my opinion the drain field should not even be coming towards the home. Any advice will be much appreciated. - BTW the home is about 2200sqf 4bd ,2bth with attached two car garage.

-j

On 2012-03-14 by Anonymous

Thanks for making this easy to understand for being so thorough.

On 2011-11-01 01:09:15.305498 by Aaron

Great article... We are looking at purchasing a home (we are a family of 5, 3 young girls) and just heard the septic is 800 gallons.. It is a 4 bedroom home built in 1930, that has been redone...

Recommendations?

On 2011-10-03 by (mod) - renting a home that has had many septic problems

Brittany,

because a proper repair - which probably involves replacing a failed drainfield - is expensive, it's understandable that the property owner might have tried other approaches, but none of what you describe sounds effective, reasonable, nor sanitary. And sinkholes can be dangerous.

On 2011-09-27 by Brittany

I am renting a home that has had many septic problems. We first had to have the septic emptied, then a new septic pump, then the field started leakeing, the landlord had someone come in and drill holes in the septic lines going to the field, it has caused sink holes in our yard, very frusterated.

On 2011-07-13 by (mod) - number of actual people sounds like a more accurate septic system design parameter

Matt you are quite right that the number of actual people sounds like a more accurate septic system design parameter than number of bedrooms.

I think however that the bedroom yardstick is based on an effort to simplify the calculation and to recognize that over the life of a building, it is a reasonable estimate of the probable number of occupants in a building than using an actual head count of a family.

A family with young children will certainly present a heavier liquid wastewater load on a septic system from laundry and perhaps bathing than even the same number of elderly people.

I think we're stuck with the bedroom yardstick therefore as more general;

But what makes perfect sense for a family such as yours is to consider the actual level of wastewater usage and to do what you can to assure a long and economically functioning septic system during both design and use phases.

That means, if your system is new, providing some additional drainfield capacity, and if your system is already in use you could increase the septic tank pumping frequency, add a septic effluent filter, and if you are using a drywell for greywater, a filter to protect that system as well.

On 2011-07-13 by Matt

Thank you for the great info. Moved to the country for the first time and been having issues. This explained a lot!

One question though - you mention to calculate the size of the tank needed by how many "bedrooms" we have, however is that accurate?

For example we have have 4 bedrooms and their are six of us. We have two kids in the same room, and I know many of our friends that have multiple kids in one bedroom. It is not the bedroom adding to the mess, but the kids. So should the amount of people not be counted instead?

On 2011-05-04 by (mod) -

Thanks for the very nice note about our InspectAPedia website content. We are dedicated to making our information as accurate, complete, useful, and unbiased as possible: we very much welcome critique, questions, or content suggestions for our web articles.

On 2011-05-04 by SavannahSue

Boy, did I learn a lot in a small amount of information from this. Much better explanation than what my Sanitarian Engineer that I've been dealing with has spoken about.

This finally helps me understand what the problems are with my system and (almost) helps me understand why my Board of Health is enforcing its new rules against my old house to my di$may.

On 2011-04-23 by From Genie : gnterwilliger@chart

Thanks so much for this information. I want to build a subdivision in Vermont in three years. You have been helpful.

...

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