Operation and Maintenance
After the septic tank system is placed in service, proper operation and maintenance of the system will ensure continued efficient service and prevent sudden replacement expenses. The septic tank and drainfield are designed and installed to handle a maximum calculated daily sewage flow Consistently exceeding the design flow will eventually overload the system and cause failure. The tank may receive new solids faster than it can dispose of the old ones and the drainfield may become saturated from excessive water use. Various products are on the market which are said to start, accelerate or improve the action in the septic tank. Since all necessary bacterial are already present in the sewage entering the system. such products are not recommended.
Maintenance of a septic tank will depend largely on the daily sewage flow and individual household wastewater characteristics. With ordinary use and care, a septic tank should not require pumping out more than once every two to three years. It should. however. be inspected occasionally to determine the depth of accumulated sludge and grease. Waste from kitchen garbage disposal units puts an extra load on a septic tank system. If a disposal is used, the capacity of the tank should be increased to handle the increased solid wastes. The tank may also require yearly pumping to remove accumulated solid waste buildup.
Failure to pump out a septic tank system when indicated, will result in solids or greases overflowing into the drainfield which in turn may become clogged and stop functioning. In this event, not only will the tank have to be pumped out, but the drainfield may also have to be replaced. Septic tanks can be cleaned by septic tank cleaning firms permitted by the county health department. This type of work should be done only by experienced professionals who will pump the entire contents of the tank into a tank truck and dispose of the content in an approved, sanitary manner.