Most urban and suburban municipalities provide facilities for the treatment of industrial and domestic household waste at wastewater treatment plants. However in rural and more remote areas, it is septic tank systems which provide the functions of sewers and treatment plants.
An optimal operation of the septic system is essential to health, the environment and property value. The septic system can become a health hazard, public nuisance, and a financial burden. It is necessary to know:
- How the septic tank works.
- The kind of soil absorption area on site.
- Reasons for septic tank failure.
- Expenditure to replace a failed septic system.
- Effects of a failed system on health and ground water.
The use of a Non-Active Biocatalyst like Eco-Clean to the care of your septic system will protect you indefinitely from the difficulties created by a failing system.
DESCRIPTION
The septic system is an on-site sewage treatment and disposal system buried in the ground comprised of a septic tank and a soil absorption area.
The modern septic tank is a watertight containment area usually made of pre-cast concrete, concrete blocks, or reinforced fiberglass. When waste material enters this area, a biological action takes place.
1. Organic solid material floats to the surface and forms a layer of what is commonly called “scum”. Bacteria in the septic tank biologically convert this material to liquid.
2. Inorganic or inert solid materials and the by-products of bacterial digestion sink to the bottom of the tank and form a layer commonly called “sludge”.
3. Only fairly clear water should exist between the scum and sludge layers. It is this clear water that should overflow into the soil absorption area.
Solid material overflowing into the soil absorption area will block soil pores and cause septic systems to fail. Two main factors cause solid material to build up enough to overflow; bacterial deficiency and lack of sludge degradation
Bacteria must be present in the septic tank to digest the organic solids. Normal waste will provide enough bacteria to digest the solids, unless harm is done to the sensitive bacteria, which are susceptible to environmental changes.
CHARACTERISTICS
WATERTIGHT CONTAINMENT AREA
Bacteria must be present in the tank to digest and liquefy the scum. If not digested, the scum will accumulate until it overflows, clogging the soil absorption area.
Sludge requires bacteria to digest and degrade it. If this action is slowed or stopped sludge will accumulate until it overflows, again clogging the soil absorption area.
SOIL ABSORPTION-OR LEACHING AREA:
Various kinds of soil absorption or leaching systems exist. There are three main ways to carry off the overflow water from the septic tank:
- Leaching fields generally consist of a network of perforated pipes laid in a gravel-lined trench
- Filter beds work on the same principle as leaching fields, with a perforated pipe running through layers of sand and crushed stone. Filter beds are wider than leaching fields, and can be constructed above or below ground. Filter beds are much smaller than leaching fields and can be utilized where property is not large enough for the long trenches required for a leaching field.
- Some drainage pits have closed tops, open bottoms, and holes in the side walls. Some older septic systems consist of only a drainage pit or cesspool.
THE PROBLEM
Many cleaning products used every day are harmful to bacteria. Products carrying warnings as below will kill bacteria.
- Harmful or fatal if swallowed
- Avoid contact with the skin
- Do not get in open cuts or sores
- If in contact with eyes, call a physician immediately
Commonly used cleaning products will kill the bacteria necessary for optimal septic system operation. For example the following products regularly used on a daily basis will cause problems to the system:
Detergents / Bleach / Polishes / Disinfectants / Acids / Sink tub cleaners / Toilet cleaners / Cleaning compounds / Caustic drain openers / Etc.
WARNING SIGNS OF SEPTIC SYSTEM FAILURE
·Sluggish drainage in the home ·Gurgling sound in pipes and drains
·Plumbing backups ·Thick crusts indicating bacterial deficiency
·Outdoor odor ·Mushy ground or greener grass in area of septic system
OTHER CAUSES OF SEPTIC FAILURE
Bad location, in areas of poor drainage and incorrect installation. Overloading with high solids water. Kitchen grease emptying into the drain. Flushing of inorganic materials down the toilet. Water softeners that dose salts and chemicals. Solids clogging the pipe perforations in filter beds.
Garbage disposals ground up food stuffs are especially hard on the septic system because they are not digested first by the human body. Any septic system that receives garbage grindings needs an extra help to break down these solids.
A neglected system will become blocked, overflow, contaminate, pollute and have an obnoxious odor and lead to substantial capital costs for system replacement.
THE SOLUTION: Use of Non-Active Biocatalysts (NABCs)
A septic tank system will serve satisfactorily only if it is properly designed, installed, and adequately maintained. Even a good system which does not have proper care and attention will become a nuisance, and burdensome expense.
Septic system maintenance means two simple things:
·Sludge that accumulates in the bottom of the tank must be pumped out periodically. How frequently depends on the size of the tank, the use it gets, and the condition of the system. With regular dosing of NABCs these periods can be extended to long intervals since the system is highly enhanced, providing high rates of sludge degradation
·Bacteria necessary for solids digestion require catalysts to enhance the biological process and maintain the metabolism of the bacteria at a high level. This is essential since bacteria-killing products reduce the bacterial population in septic systems if left untreated. This will result in failure as described above.
If your system has bacterial deficiency a NABC is the solution for optimum septic tank treatment. NABCs contain cell stimulants which excite bacteria and enzymes to catalyze reactions producing the breakdown of solids in drains, pipes, septic tanks and the soil absorption system. NABCs quickly promote the reproduction of bacteria for continued solids digestion and odor control. NABCs work on grease, fats, soap scum, and the organic solids that ordinarily clog septic systems.
Surveys have shown that good biological maintenance of the septic system leads to significant savings over a 10 year period. With regular treatment using NABCs, at the end of the ten years your system will still be in pristine condition: healthy, free-flowing, odor-free, and ready to give you years and years of trouble-free service.
In Short, the use of Non-Active Biocatalysts will result in:
- Maintenance of free flowing drain lines and leachate area
- Odor Elimination
- Fat and Grease degradation
- Sludge degradation and enhanced solids digestion
- Reduction in COD / BOD values
- Reduction in TDS and TS