Summary of Contents for Mason County Public Health Septic System
- Page 1 SEPTIC SYSTEM USER’S MANUAL Care and Feeding of Your On-Site Sewage System by Toby Tahja-Syrett Mason County Public Health P.O. Box 1666 Shelton, WA 98584 (360) 427-9670 ext. 352...
- Page 2 This page intentionally left blank.
- Page 3 PROPERTY ADDRESS: ________________________________________________________________ CITY, STATE, ZIP: ____________________________________________________________________ PARCEL NUMBER: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ -- ___ ___ -- ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ • Your major system components are checked below. • First, read Sections 1 & 2 to learn the basics everyone needs to know about using and maintaining a septic system.
-
Page 4: Table Of Contents
How to use this Manual Important Contact Information Section 1: System Do’s and Don’ts Do’s Don’ts Section 2: Information for all Septic System Users What’s in it For You? What is a Septic System Anyway? Common Problems High Flows Garbage Disposals and High Strength Waste... - Page 5 Alarms What is A Failure When Should I Call A Professional? Troubleshooting Common Problems Section 3: Individual System Information System Configuration Drawings Gravity Distribution Pressure Distribution Sub-Surface Drip Distribution Glendon Biofilter Sand Filter Mound Sand-Lined Drainfield Aerobic Treatment Unit (ATU) Recirculating Filter Component Fact Sheets Septic Tank...
-
Page 6: Purpose Of This Manual
Purpose of This Manual This manual is a guide to owning and maintaining your septic system. It is designed to cover the major issues that you may face, and hopefully to give you a better understanding and appreciation of how your system works and why. -
Page 7: Important Contact Information
Important Contact Information: Mason County Public Health 426 W. Cedar St. P.O. Box 1666 Shelton, WA 98584 Shelton (360) 427-9670, Ext. 352 Belfair (360) 275-4467 Elma (360) 482-5269 FAX: (360) 427-8442 WEB: http://www.co.mason.wa.us/envhealth/index.php Your System Designer: (If you don’t know, check your approved permit & design or contact Mason County) -
Page 8: Do's
5. Do consider purchasing a front-loading, high efficiency, low-water use washing machine at replacement time. These machines have become comparable in price to top-loaders and use much less water and electricity – saving your septic system and your money. - 6 -... - Page 9 6. Do install faucet aerators or other water saving devices on all sinks. You can also cut down on sink water by turning down the valves under the sink to lower gallons per minute coming out of the faucet. 7. Do put a water-displacing device (bag, brick, plastic water bottle) in your toilet tank to save water by reducing flush volume.
- Page 10 15. Do familiarize yourself with the location of your septic system and drainfield. Contact the county Health Department for a copy of your records. 16. Do direct water from downspouts, roofs, streets, driveways, drains and surface runoff away from drainfield. Additional water from these sources can overload your system and prevent it from working properly.
-
Page 11: Don'ts
4. Don’t use a garbage disposal. If you have a garbage disposal, consider getting rid of it or use as rarely as possible. A septic system repeatedly overloaded with organic solids may plug up and quit working. Compost... - Page 12 scraps or dispose of in your trash. 5. Don’t pour grease down your drain. Collect it in a container and dispose of it in the trash. 6. Don’t use large amounts of bath and body oils. 7. Don’t overuse soaps and detergents – use liquids and concentrates whenever possible.
- Page 13 14. Don’t dispose of excessive food preparation wastes down the drain such as home canning wastes, wine/beer making wastes, fish or game waste, etc. Compost or dispose of in the trash. 15. Don’t flush excessive pet wastes down the drain. Dispose of in trash or in an appropriate way outside (such as a pet waste compost system).
- Page 14 Compaction destroys the soils ability to absorb wastewater. 33. Don’t turn off electricity to the septic system pumps when going on vacation. If there is any leak or flow into the system, the pump will need to run or sewage could back up into the house or on the ground.
-
Page 15: Section 2: Information For All Septic System Users
Information for All Septic System Users What’s in it For You? Why should you maintain your septic system? You just paid a fortune for this new system and the first thing you are told is to get to work maintaining it. It isn’t... -
Page 16: What Is A Septic System Anyway
What is a Septic System Anyway? No matter what type of tanks and other components you have, your system is above all else, a wastewater treatment and disposal machine. It takes all the smelly, icky sewage coming out of your home and collects it, treats it, then allows the purified water to flow back into the environment. -
Page 17: Common Problems
However, using a garbage disposal can be very unhealthy for your septic system (and your bank account). Garbage Disposals have been shown to increase solids levels in the septic system up to 33% faster, which means you’ll be pumping your tank more frequently. Disposals can also greatly increase the waste strength, making more work for your system. -
Page 18: Septic Tank Additives And Chemicals
Water Softeners and Hot Tubs Water softeners are the subject of debate over causes of septic system failure. These devices generally add sodium to the system and also elevate the amount of water sent into the system. At this time, there is no conclusive evidence that water softeners harm your system, although the jury is still out. -
Page 19: Keeping Your System Accessible
IN WHAT PART OF * Snow melts more as the outgoing sewer THE YAR D IS THE quic kly? pipe. SEPTIC SYSTEM LOCATED? Use a metal detector * The grass doesn't grow to locate metal as wel l, or where i t grows... - Page 20 Finally, keeping your components accessible is the best way to keep them in view, and therefore remember where they are. They are also especially helpful in aiding a new owner, pumper or maintenance person in figuring out where components are located. WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE OIL?
-
Page 21: Hiding In Plain Sight
– except your pumper, of course! Protecting your system Construction in your septic system area could damage your tank, pipes or soil. Construction can also block access to septic components and make monitoring and maintaining your system more difficult. -
Page 22: Landscaping Your System
Maintaining Adequate Reserve Area Your ‘reserve’ or ‘repair’ area is a very important part of your septic system. If and when your system should ever fail, this area will be needed to site a new system. If you use your reserve area for a parking lot, new shed, garage, or level it out for a nicer landscape, you will probably end up paying thousands of dollars extra if you have to replace your system. -
Page 23: Pumping Your System
• If the reserve area has been left with natural trees and vegetation, it is best to keep it that way. Clearing can damage soil and make your future system more expensive if not done very carefully. • If you want to landscape your reserve area, the same rules apply as for your regular system. -
Page 24: How Often Should It Be Pumped
How often should it be pumped? Your system should be pumped WHENEVER IT NEEDS IT. This will be different for everyone. Hard and fast rules like “pump the tank every other year” just aren’t scientifically valid. Also, pumping the system is hard on the bugs because it can take years before the anaerobic zoo in your tank is functioning at its peak. -
Page 25: Tanks Safety Checklist
Tank Safety Checklist • Never enter the septic tank or pump tank. Components should be accessed from the outside only. There are very low levels of oxygen in the tanks, plus there could be accumulations of hydrogen sulfide, methane, carbon dioxide and other harmful gases. •... -
Page 26: Inspecting And Maintaining Your System
Inspecting and Maintaining Your System Conduct regular checks and maintenance Most systems should be checked annually. With simpler systems, you might opt do this yourself. For more complex systems it is best to hire a pro. Proprietary systems like ATUs usually require all maintenance is done by one of their licensed representatives. -
Page 27: Maintaining Your Records
All pumps, air blowers for ATUs, and some disinfection units require alarms. Septic system alarms are generally loud and annoying – they are designed that ay to make sure problems aren’t ignored. They usually consist of a small plastic box mounted on a wall or post near the tank s. -
Page 28: What Is A Failure
When you have an alarm, you can usually silence it by pushing a button on front of the panel. Some panels may have a button on the side, or a lever other switch. However you do it, turn off that noise. he light will generally continue to flash. -
Page 29: When Should I Call A Professional
When should I call a Professional? • If you have sewage surfacing in the yard • If you keep having an alarm that won’t go away when you cut back on water use in the house • If you have any kind of ‘pretreatment’ system such as a sand filter, moun ATU, gravel filter, drip system, etc. -
Page 30: Troubleshooting Common Problems
Troubleshooting Common Problems Problem Risks Potential Causes Potential Solutions • • Slow Draining Human contact with Excess water use in Fix leaks Fixtures (sink, sewage is a serio • house Install water saving fixtures tub, shower); health threat. • • Groundwater infiltrating Drain ground and surface Bacteria and viruses... - Page 31 • • Alarm ounding Sewage may back up Too much water being Reduce water use to house or break used in house • Check for leaky fixtures ut on ground • • Groundwater infiltrating Drain ground and surface into tanks water away from tanks •...
-
Page 32: Section 3: Individual System Information
TION 3 Individual System Information • Look on Page 1 of this manual to see what system and components are checked. • Next to those chec ked components are page numbers. • Those re the pages y ou need to read to learn more about your particula r system, how... -
Page 33: Gravity Distribution
GRAVITY SYSTEM SEPTIC TANK (PG 40) PLEASE TURN TO THE PAGES INDICATED SOUR FOR MOR INFORMA TION ON EACH SYSTEM PART. DISTRIBUTION GRAVITY DISTRIBUTION DRAINFIELD (PG 49) RESERVE AREA (PG 56) - 31 -... -
Page 34: Pressure Distribution
PRESSURE SYSTEM ALARM/CONTROL PANEL (PG 54) SEPTIC TANK (PG 40) PUMP TANK (PG 41) SOURCE PLEASE TURN TO THE PAGES INDICATED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON EACH SYSTEM PART. MANIFOLD PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION DRAINFIELD (PG 50) RESERVE AREA (PG 56) - 32 -... -
Page 35: Sub-Surface Drip Distribution
SUB-SURFACE DRIP SYSTEM ALARM/CONTROL PANEL (PG 54) SEPTIC TANK (PG 40) OR ATU (PG 45) OR RECIRC FILTER (PG 46) SAND FILTER (PG 47 PUMP TANK (PG 41) SOURCE SUPPLY LINE RETURN FLUSH LINE SUB-SURFACE DRIP FIELD (PG 51) PLEASE TURN TO THE PAGES INDICATED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON... -
Page 36: Glendon Biofilter
NDON BIOFILTER® STEM ALARM/CONTROL PANEL (PG 54) SEPTIC TANK (PG 40) PUMP TANK (PG 41) S OURCE PLEASE T URN O THE PAGES INDICATED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON EACH SYSTEM PART. GLENDON BIOFILTER MOUND G 53 RESERVE AREA (PG 56) - 34 -... -
Page 37: Sand Filter
SAND FILTER SYSTEM ALARM/CONTROL PANEL (PG 54) SEPTIC TANK (PG 40) PUMP TANK (PG 41) SOURCE PLEASE TURN TO THE PAGES INDICATED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON EACH SYSTEM PART. SAND FILTER (PG 47) DRAINFIELD MAY BE: GRAVITY (PG 49) PRESSURE (PG 50) DRIP (PG 51) MOUND (PG 52) RESERVE... -
Page 38: Mound
MOUND SYSTEM ALARM/CONTROL PANEL (PG 54) SEPTIC TANK (PG 40) PUMP TANK (PG 41) IF YOUR MOUND IS SOURCE PRECEDED BY A: SAND FILTER, SEE PAGE 35 ATU, SEE PAGE 38 RECIRC FILTER, SEE PAGE 39 MOUND (PG 52) RESERVE PLEASE TURN TO THE AREA (PG 56) PAGES INDICATED... -
Page 39: Sand-Lined Drainfield
SAND-LINED DRAINFIELD ALARM/CONTROL PANEL (PG 54) SEPTIC TANK (PG 40) PUMP TANK (PG 41) SOURCE PLEASE TURN TO THE PAGES INDICATED FOR MORE MANIFOLD INFORMATION ON EACH SYSTEM PART. SAND-LINED DRAINFIELD (PG 48) RESERVE AREA (PG 56) COAR SE SAND UNDE R LINES - 37 -... -
Page 40: Aerobic Treatment Unit (Atu)
ATU SYSTEM ALARM/CONTROL PANEL (PG 54) TRASH TRAP (PG 42) ATU (PG 45) SOURCE DISINFECTION UNIT (PG 55) PUMP TANK (PG 41) PLEASE TURN TO THE PAGES INDICATED FOR MO INFORMATION ON CH SYSTEM PART. DRAINFIELD MAY BE: GRAVITY (PG 49) PRESSURE (PG 50) DRIP (PG 51) MOUND (PG 52) -
Page 41: Recirculating Filter
RECIRCULATING FILTER SYSTEM ALARM/CONTROL PANEL (PG 54) RECIRCULATING FILTER (PG 46) RETURN FROM FILTER DOSE TO FILTER SOURCE SEPTIC TANK (PG 40) RECIRCULATION TANK (PG 46) DISIN FECTION UNIT (PG 55 PUMP TANK (PG 41) PLEASE TURN TO PAGES IND ICATED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON... -
Page 42: Septic Tank
The s eptic tank is a primary tank that collects all wastewater coming into the septic system. With the use of baffles in the tank, wastewater is slowed down. This allows the heavy solids to sink and the lighter ones to float, while a clear zone forms in the middle. -
Page 43: Pump Tank
Pump Tank Description: Pump tanks are under-ground tanks that receive wastewater flowing from one component – septic tank, ATU, filter, etc. – and pump it to another (drainfield, filter, etc.) Pump tanks generally consist of a single chamber with a pump, co ntrol floats and discharge line out. -
Page 44: Trash Trap
Trash Trap Description: Trash traps are under ground-tanks placed in front of ATUs (page 45) that receive wastewater flowing directly out of a residence, business, etc. They generally consist of a single-chambered, baffled tank. Access risers allow the tank to be opened, pumped and checked. The trash trap may be a completely separate tank from the ATU, or it may be the rst compartment of a multi-chambered tank with the ATU in another compartment. -
Page 45: Pump Basin
Pump Basin Description: Pump basins are generally plastic or fiberglass chambers housing a pump. They are usually 24” to 30” in diameter and 5’ to 6’ deep and can be for moving so lids or liquids. ction: ‘Solids’ or ‘grinder’ pump basins are usually installed because the plum bing comes out in a place where it was not possible to install a full sized tank. -
Page 46: Grease Trap
The function of the grease trap is to stop grease from entering the downstream septic system components – especially filters and drainfields. It functions much the same as a sep tic tank with the exception that it’s generally a single ompartment and the baffles go deeper in the tank to allow for more floating grease buildup. -
Page 47: Aerobic Treatment Unit (Atu)
Aerobic Treatment Unit (ATU) Description: An ATU is a system generally made up of a buried tank and an air-blower. Sewage first passes through a trash trap (page 42) and then enters the ATU tank where it is injected with a large volume of air and often agitated or mixed. ome similar units are sequencing batch reactors (SBR’s) and rotating biological contactors ( RBC’s). -
Page 48: Recirculating Filter
Recirculating Filter Description: A recirculating filter is a system made up of recirculation tank with a pump, a media filter pod (or pods), and a return line from the filter back to the recirculation tank. After sewage passes through a septic tank, it enters the recirculation tank here it is pumped to the filter pod(s). -
Page 49: Sand Filter
Sand Filter Description: A sand filter is made up of a buried plastic liner filled with special sand and gravel. After sewage passes through a septic tank, it enters a pump tank where it is pumped to the sand filter. After flowing down through the filter, it is collected and sent to the drainfield. -
Page 50: Sand-Lined Drainfield
Sand-Lined Drainfield Description: A sand-lined drainfield consists of a pressure distribution drainfield (page 50 overlaying a thick layer of filter sand, which is laid down first. Sand-lining provides extra treatment of wastewater on sites where the original soil isn’t suitable (too gravelly), or where extra treatment is required. Function: The function of the sand-lined drainfield is to clean the wastewater to a high lev before passing it into the original soil. -
Page 51: Gravity Drainfield
Gravity Drainfield Description: A gravity drainfield consists of a network of pipes under ground. Effluent flows the pipes by gravity and a distribution box is used to split the flow evenly b etween multiple lines. The effluent flows out the bottom of the pipes through a series small holes. -
Page 52: Pressure Drainfield
Pressure Drainfield Description: A pressure drainfield consists of a network of small pipes under ground. Effluent is pumped to the pipes under pressure and a manifold is used to split the flow evenly between multiple lines. The effluent is sprayed out of the pipes through a series of small holes, then it moves down to the bottom of the trench or bed and into the original soil. -
Page 53: Sub-Surface Drip Drainfield
Sub-Surface Drip Description: A sub-surface drip drainfield consists of a network of very small diameter plastic tubes under ground. Effluent is pumped to the tubes under pressure and a manifold is used to split the flow evenly between multiple lines. The effluent drips out of the tubing through small emitters –... -
Page 54: Mound Disposal
Mound Description: A mound consists of an elevated drainfield bed installed in a large sand berm. The pressure drainfield in the mound consists of a network of small diamete pipes. Effluent is pumped to the pipes under pressure and a manifold is used to split the flow evenly between multiple lines. -
Page 55: Glendon Biofilter Disposal
Glendon Biofilter® Description: A Glendon Biofilter® is made up of a buried basin – usually a concrete tank – filled with sand and gravel. After sewage passes through a septic tank, it ente rs a pump tank where it is pumped to the Biofilter®. After moving into the bottom of the basin, it flows up through the layers of media. -
Page 56: Alarms & Control Panels
Alarm & Control Panels Description: Alarm and control panels are electrical boxes mounted near the system tanks which give off audible and visual signals when the system is experiencing malfunction. They also may contain controls, timers, counters, meters, data collectors, etc. which run your system. Function: The function of the alarm is to alert you to problems wit h the system. -
Page 57: Disinfection Units
Disinfection Units Description: Disinfection units are small devices that are designed to kill bacteria in wastewater as it passes through them. The two most common types are ul tra- violet lights and chlorination units. Both of these units are usually located nea the tanks in small pipes containing eithe r a UV light bulb, or chlorine tablets. -
Page 58: Reserve Area
Reserve Area Description: Your reserve drainfield area consists of an appropriately sized and loca ted space in which to build another drainfield. It may be a completely separate area from your primary (installed) drainfield, or it may be adjacent to or interlaced with you primary field. -
Page 59: Commercial Systems
Commercial Systems The wastewate r system is a critical component on which your business success ltimately depends. Proper use, care and maintenance will ensure its longevity. Variability: It is critical to remember that in any commercial system, uses change, flow pattern s shift, traffic fluctuates seasonally and also as a business becomes more opular. - Page 60 OG – fat (and food), oil and grease – can be managed to minimize the discharge to the septic system and decrease main tenance of grease traps. By reventing the introduction of FOG into the septic system you redu ce the burden on the grease traps and reduce maintenance time, costs and disposal fees Cleanup Tips: •...
-
Page 61: As-Built Worksheet
As-Built Worksheet Use the grid below to create a sketch of your system area. Use a pencil so you can erase if necessary. Be sure to include: • • • Buildings Tanks Drainfield lines • • • Driveway Sewer lines Observation ports •... -
Page 62: Maintenance Record Log
Maintenance Record Log DATE: ACTION SERVICE NOTES: TAKEN: PROVIDER: Make additional copies of this sheet as necessary and keep them with your records - 60 -...