What Is Septic System Failure?
A septic system should effectively accept liquid
wastes from your house and prevent biological and
nutrient contaminants from getting into your well or
nearby lakes and streams. Any, time these things do not
happen, the system is failing.
For example, when waste backs up into your home or
liquid is bubbling up in your backyard, the system has
obviously failed. If significant amounts of biological or
nutrient contaminants reach your well or surface waters,
the system is also failing, even though it may appear to
be working just fine.
Why Septic Systems Fail
Most septic systems will fail sometime. These systems
are designed to have a lifetime of 20 to 30 years, under
the best conditions. Eventually, the soil around the
absorption field becomes clogged with organic material,
making the system unusable.
Many other factors can cause the system to fail well
before the end of its "natural" lifetime. Pipes blocked
by roots, soils saturated by storm water, crushed tile,
improper location, poor original design or poor
installation can all lead to major problems.
But by far the most common reason for early failure
is improper maintenance by homeowners. When a system is
poorly maintained and not pumped out on a regular basis,
sludge (solid material) builds up inside the septic tank,
then flows into the absorption field, clogging it beyond
repair.
How to Know If Your System Is Failing
Look for these symptoms to determine if you have a
serious problem:
Sewage backup in your drains or toilets. This is
often a black liquid with a disagreeable odor.
Slow flushing of your toilets. Many of the drains in
your house will drain much slower than usual, despite the
use of plungers or drain cleaning products.
Surface flow of wastewater. Sometimes you will notice
liquid seeping along the surface of the ground near your
septic system. It may or may not have much of an odor
associated with it.
Lush green grass over the absorption field, even
during dry weather. Often, this indicates that an
excessive amount of liquid from your system is moving up
through the soil, instead of downward, as it should.
While some upward movement of liquid from the absorption
field is good, too much could indicate major problems.
The presence of nitrates or bacteria in your drinking
water well. This indicates that liquid from the system
may be flowing into the well through the ground or over
the surface. Water tests available from your local health
department will indicate if you have this problem.
Buildup of aquatic weeds or algae in lakes or ponds
adjacent to your home. This may indicate that nutrient,
rich septic system waste is leaching into the surface
water. This may lead to both inconvenience and possible
health problems.
Unpleasant odors around your house. Often, improperly
vented or failing systems cause a buildup of disagreeable
odors around the house.
Health and Economic Effects of a Failing System
The most serious effect of a failing system is the
potential for serious disease from the leaking and
improperly treated waste. Dysentery and hepatitis can be
spread by these wastes. In addition to the diseases
themselves, mosquitoes and flies that spread some
illnesses can breed in areas where liquid waste reaches
the surface.
Chemical or nutrient poisoning can also be a problem.
Many of the synthetic products you use around the house,
such as strong cleaning products, can be poisonous to
humans, pets and wildlife if they travel through soil to
your well or on the surface to lakes, streams or ponds.
Excess nitrate levels in drinking water can pose serious
health threats to infants. The health of plants around
your home can be seriously affected, too. The waste from
failing systems can kill many species or cause increased
growth of undesirable plants.
The economic costs of failure are no less important.
The most obvious effect is the direct expense of
replacing your septic system. This could cost $2,000 to
$4,000. Also consider the indirect cost of losing the use
of your house while the system isn't working and the
long-term inconvenience of a system that doesn't operate
properly.
What To Do If Your System Fails---- Immediate Actions
Follow these steps if you notice any of the symptoms
listed above:
Call your local health department. This is the first
thing you should do. Health department staff members have
the expertise to assess your situation quickly and offer
advice on how to cure the problem.
Have your septic tank pumped. Frequently, this will
help the problem temporarily, especially when it is
combined with drastic water conservation. The empty tank
can hold several days of waste. (This won't be effective
if a clog exists between the house and the septic tank,
or if very high water levels are the cause of the
problem.)
Conserve water in your home. This is particularly
effective if your system has not failed completely. lt
can help lessen the problem for a short time. Water
saving devices and reduced consumption, especially in
your bathroom, can have a significant effect.
Fence off the area. If liquid waste is seeping to the
surface, prevent people and pets from getting in contact
with the effluent.
What To Do If The System Fails----Long Term Options
In many, if not most, cases, redesigning and
replacing the system in a new location is the only
practical long term solution. This type of work should be
completed only by a qualified contractor. Local health
department permits are required before construction can
begin. The chemical cures sometimes advertised are
ineffective remedies for severely damaged systems.
Other solutions may be of help in some situations,
including:
Increase the size of the absorption field. This will
help if the original field was too small for the size of
your family or if the soil does not allow water to
percolate very well.
Conserve water in your home on a long term basis. The
smaller the amount of water flowing through your system,
the longer it will last. For systems that perform
marginally or leak nutrients into nearby lakes and
streams, this is a good alternative.
If periodically saturated soils are a main cause of
problems, consider installing perimeter drains. This
system involves installing tile drains underground at a
specified distance around the absorption field to help
lower water levels. lt works in some but not all
situations and require the assistance of a qualified
contractor Its location should also be evaluated by your
local health department.
Connect to a community sewage system, if one is
available. Although the long-term costs may seem high,
the benefit of reduced worry and greater responsibility
are often worth this price.
If septic system failures are common in your area,
consider participating in the development of a or other
similar alternatives. These systems are designed for
small communities and some rural areas and are generally
much more cost effective than large sewer systems.
How To Prevent The Problem
The key to preventing your septic system from failing
is proper maintenance. Regularly pumping the tank, being
careful in what you put down the drains, and avoiding
such things as planting trees over the field or covering
the system with permanent patios and home additions are
important to keep the system running well.
Proper initial design is another critical aspect in
preventing your system from failing. Many septic systems
are doomed from the start because they are put in poor
locations or constructed improperly. Be sure a new system
is installed in an area with proper soil conditions, and
at sufficient distances from your house and well (these
factors are regulated by local health department codes).
Also make sure the system is designed to meet your
present and future needs. If, for example, you are
building a small home with plans to enlarge it as your
family grows, design the septic system to accommodate the
largest size you expect your family to grow to. Consider
asking your contractor to include such useful features as
junction boxes and observation ports, which aid in
assessing the condition of the system.
Water conservation was mentioned earlier as a method
to keep a marginal system operating, but it is also an
excellent method of preventing future problems from
occurring.