Well, if your tank gets clogged, the sewage will get backed up, and will start to fill your house :eek:
Brian
“OK, so I still don’t understand what would be the problem with putting anything I want into it as long as I get it pumped it out regularly.”
Pumping is only the half of it. Grease, paper products, etc. will still clog the drain lines, which can’t be cleaned. Once they go, you’re looking at several thousands of dollars for a new drainfield (if you have the land - if no, you are literally shit out of luck - no working drainfield, no occupancy of the house).
Is flushing your sanitary and paper products that important to you, Athena. Why can’t you just drop them into the trash?
Everything else, including reasonable garbage disposal use, should be fine.
LOL. I have to admit, that never occurred to me (I always assumed it was referring to a house full of people, somehow) and yet it’s pretty darn funny. Is that really what they’re referring to – a house full of sewage?
I don’t care about paper products, I can throw those in the trash. As to the other stuff, I’m willing to bet most females reading this thread would not ask that question. Trust me, it’s MUCH better to flush that stuff, especially when you have dogs in the house if you know what I mean.
Actually, though, the garbage disposal is the big one for me. That’s what I really want, and it sounds like that’s not going to be an issue.
Take a look at this graphic:
Modern tanks have two compartments. The first one “accepts” everything from the main drain from the house. Most of the solids settle in it and over time, most are broken down by bacteria. As the water level rises, it overflows into the second compartment. Note in the graphic that there is a baffle between the two compartments so that the solid stuff that sinks and the solid stuff floating on top don’t flow from the first to the second compartment. Dissolved solids though, will make their way into this compartment, and most settle out.
Sometiimes these are two separate tanks connected by a pipe.
The second one is called the distribution box. From it, or from the second compartment, is a grid of pipes with holes in them buried under the septic field.
Two types of systems carry the water from the distrution box/compartment to the field. A passive one depends on gravity. As the water level rises in the distribution box it trickles down to the grid and leaches into the soil. The second type, has a balance float which, when the water level rises to a point, “trips” and dumps a bunch of water at a time into the grid. This has the advantage of flooding the whole grid and distributing the water more evenly throughout the field.
So, virtually all of the insoluble material stays in the first compartment, and this is the main target of pumping. It isn’t completely emptied, since water and bacteria are needed to keep it working, but as much of the solid stuff as possible is removed. The distribution box/compartment doesn’t need to be pumped unless there’s a problem.
If you have the systyem checked/pumped every 2-3 years, you should be OK. The pumper will let you know how it’s doing and recommend a frequency. It’s a good idea to have it checked/pumped a few months after you move in. Then you’ve got a benchmark for how well it’s doing, based on your usage.
Comprende, Athena. A trash can with a foot operated lid in the bathroom might solve this problem for you.
We use one for dirty diapers. No smell at all.
My tank is getting pumped out for the THIRD time in a year tomorrow. Yep, need a new drain field. My landlord has finally gotten around to getting a permit. Symptoms of ours getting full include the toilet gurgling when the shower is running, and having to wait an hour or so between toilet flushes. It was last pumped in September. Our washer has its own greywater tank, so the water running into the septic tank is just toilets, sinks, and the shwer. Its gonna cost him about $2200 for the new drain field. This doesnt include the money he had to pay for the permit ($175) and the three pump outs, ($150 apiece).
I would use the garbage can!!
:rolleyes:
NutMagnet’s link does not work for me but I think this is it which includes http://www.montana.edu/wwwpb/pubs/mt9401.html
Another pump truck slogan:
“We’re #1 in #2!”
Athena, I would strongly recommend that you NOT install a garbage disposal if you have a septic system. The extra organic solids that it adds can easily overload and/or clog your system, as they do not break down as quickly as fecal matter. This can lead to failure of your whole system, which can be quite costly to correct.
For people who insist on installing garbage disposals, a septic system must be specifically designed to accommodate them. Generally the tank size and leach field area must be increased by at least 50%. The frequency of pumping must be increased as well, as often as every six months. Some municipalities require an extra septic tank be installed in series with the first. And even after all of this, you are still increasing the chance of system failure. All in all, installing a garbage disposal is a losing proposition.
We have a septic system for our house, and I told my wife before we bought the house that we were not going to be able to install a garbage disposal. None of the engineers in my office (who all have septic systems) have them installed either.
BTW, many municipalities are even banning garbage disposals for users connected to sewers and wastewater treatment plants, particularly if the WWTPs are having problems meeting their permit limits, or are having capacity issues. I know of one town that is enforcing this by requiring building inspections whenever property is transferred.
–robby (Environmental Engineer)
One real problem with flushing feminine products is that they can get caught in any roots that might have penetrated your sewer pipes. Being pretty much non-biodegradable, you eventually get an impenetrable plug. The results, I know from sad experience, can be just indescribable.
After some deliberation, I did install a garbage disposal in my house which has a septic system. I’m cautious about what I send down it, but the system is overdesigned for my current use (nominally 4-bedroom house with 1 occupant) and so far no problems.
Sorry abut the link, folks. Thanks sailor. It wasn’t the same link, but the graphic is similar.
What’s the straight dope on septic tanks?
Judging from this message board most of 'em are bordeline mental. Also they’re all fat.
(you may need to get a passing brit to translate)