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How Much Water Should a Household Use?

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How much water does an average household use?  This can be important to your septic system since excess water can strain the decomposition process and result in a variety of problems.

Here are some averages to keep you on track:

Dishwasher cycle- 7 gallons

Washing Machine- 40 gallons per load (front-loaders use less)

Toilet- 2 gallons per flush, 1.6 gallons for newer standard toilets

Shower- 2.5 gallons per minute (10 minutes- 25 gallons)

It can be difficult to keep track of usage. A water meter can be useful for houses with a well.  Purchasing water-friendly appliances, toilets and shower-heads can also help.

Remember: a septic system is installed based upon the number of people that are anticipated to be using it.  If your base number increases, you might need to upgrade to a larger system.

The average household uses about 300 gallons per day.  This is based on a 4-person household.  Each person uses about 80-100 gallons of water per day.

There are many ways to conserve water saving yourself money and being more eco-friendly.

Dripping faucets are another potential waste of water.  Even small leaks can waste a lot of water.  Hot water leaks are a waste of water and energy.

Leaks inside the toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day.

The solution is to fix the leak and save yourself money and water.

In the bathroom, take showers instead of tubs.  Turn the water off when you’re brushing your teeth.

In the kitchen and laundry, wait for a full load before running the dishwasher and washing machine.  Pre-rinsing your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher wastes water.

The more water you can conserve, the less water running into your septic system and the healthier it will be.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services can answer all your septic questions and help you keep your system running efficiently.  Call 508-763-4431 or visit www.allclearseptic.com.

This blog was posted on www.allclearseptic.com on August 5, 2015.

Septic Preservation Services

Beyond BOLD Media and Septic Preservation enjoy Scenic Sail!

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Beyond BOLD Media was graciously offered a relaxing sailboat ride on Wednesday night  by Bob Silva and Roberta Murphy of Septic Preservation.    The weather was perfect, winds were steady  and the sunset Septic Preservationwas beautiful.  Kate Lanagan MacGregor, Sonia Amaral, Kevin Thompson and Marie Greany of Beyond BOLD Media joined Bob and Roberta for a great night together.  They left from the Cove Restaurant in Fall River and sailed under the Braga Bridge headed to the Mt. Hope Bridge.  It was truly a fabulous night and Beyond BOLD Media is grateful to Bob and Roberta for the opportunity to spend some great time together out in the harbor on a beautiful night.

Beyond BOLD Media and Septic Preservation have enjoyed a great business relationship, but it was nice to enjoy some casual time together. It truly was a magical night!

Septic Preservation Services specializes in residential and commercial septic system inspections, repair, recovery and preservation.  Call them today for any Septic questions or concerns at 866-378-4279 or info@septicpreservation.com

This blog was posted on www.allclearseptic.com on July 29, 2015.

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Septic System Pump Chamber Basics!

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Are you buying or selling a house and find that your septic system is having issues pumping waste to thenew-leach-field-300x224 septic tank? Does your new system require a pumping system?  How does a septic pumping system work?  All-Clear Septic & Wastewater Services has put together this basic information to answer your questions.

A septic pumping system is put into place when a standard gravity feed system will not work due to the quality of soil near the property or the available area is uphill from the septic tank.  Different pumps can be used depending on the property.  Great care must be taken to ensure the correct pump is used in each situation and is robust enough to handle the anticipated volume to be moved.  It could be raw sewage must be pumped to the septic tank itself, treated wastewater is being pumped to the leaching area or a pressurized system is put into place where the effluent is pumped significantly above the tank.

The pump itself should reside within its own separate tank or compartment within a tank.  The goal is to prevent any raw sewage solids from clogging the pump or transferring into the leaching areas. An effluent filter may be placed in the line of the system.

With the pumping system properly installed in the tank, there are matters of pipe elevations and  slope and length between the pump and the “drop box”.  This all needs to be configured so the wastewater does not travel back down the inlet pipe, is moved equally among the various leaching septic system pump chamber basic areas and is not unnecessarily deteriorated by the force of the water being pumped in.  There are several techniques to do this.

The leaching area in which the water is pumped to can also be configured in several ways.  The engineer must be aware of the soil composition so any chance of erosion, contamination or flow back to the property can be avoided.  There are many ways this can be accomplished including multiple fields and location depending on the size of the lot they have to work with.

The ultimate decision to include a pump system will be made by the engineer in conjunction with local inspectors and regulators.  You should always follow these recommendations in order to ensure there are no preventable failures in your systems and waste is moved and treated as effectively as possible.

If you have questions or are looking for more information regarding your septic system or want to read the whole white paper on this subject, visit info@allclearseptic.com or call All Clear Septic & Wastewater Services at 508-763-4433.

This blog was posted on www.allclearseptic.com on July 22, 2015.

Septic Preservation Services preparing a new System for Installation!

How a Septic System Functions!

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Septic Preservation Services preparing a new System for Installation!

Septic Preservation Services preparing a new System for Installation!

What exactly is a septic system and how does it work?  Here is an abbreviated version or overview of modern Septic System components and how they work provided by All-Clear Septic and Wastewater Services.

A septic system is used to process and clean waste water from houses and larger facilities.  A septic system needs enough open land for the treated water to pass through the ground and be reabsorbed into nature.

The primary component in a septic system is a holding tank.  This tank is generally buried underground and connected to waste water inputs by pipes flowing from the building’s waste system.  The tank acts as a settling area  for solids to be collected, and a pass-through for water to move to the distribution box and soil absorption.

In the tank, live beneficial bacteria  help to break down organic waste in the system.  This enables the septic system to go years, in some cases, without the need to service the system.  To help the bacteria work, newer systems are equipped with aerators which add oxygen to the tank, which is a critical component needed by the bacteria to help break apart waste.

For systems with a soil absorption system, processed water in the tank passes through a pipe to the distribution box, which sends water to the various sections of the leaching system.  The leaching system is the mechanism by which treated water is returned to the soil in a safe and ecologically friendly manner.  A leaching system may be one of several different styles with pits, trenches or a field being the most popular systems.  A leaching field is an area of soil and gravel or sand with excellent drainage through which treated waste water is able to be absorbed into the ground and continue the cleansing process through a natural ecological system.

Septic systems should be professionally pumped out on a regular basis to remove solids which build up on the bottom.  Pumping also removes improperly flushed materials that cannot be broken down naturally.

Septic systems are designed to handle  a specific volume or waste per day from the building it is connected to.  Residential systems are built with the number of bedrooms and occupants as the primary factors in calculating the required size of the system.

This is a simplifed version of a septic system.  Visit www.allclearseptic.com and click on the education tab for a more thorough explanation.

The septic professionals at All-Clear have years of experience in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, and Hawaii in all aspects of septic engineering, inspection, installation, repair and maintenance! Don’t wait for your septic to fail, call 508-763-4431 today!

Visit www.septicpreservation.com

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All Clear Septic Title V Inspection!

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Watch this great video by Kate Lanagan MacGregor from BOLD Moves Real Estate as a technician from All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services performs a Title V Inspection.  

All Clear Septic Services performs a detailed and  thorough MA  Title V Inspection.  All of the septic system covers are opened prior to the inspection.  The technician begins by measuring the grade depth of all covers.  The measurement is taken from the top of the tank to the soil surface.  Next the condition of the inlet and outlet pipes is assessed.  The overall liquid level is checked and measurements of the solids at the bottom of the tank and the scum layer at the top are taken.

Next is the evaluation of the condition of the distribution box.  Waste water from the tank is very corrosive and runs through the distribution box.  Over time the concrete may break down due to the corrosive nature of the liquid running through it.  The addition of a filter on the outlet pipe of the tank and/or the addition of a vent on the distribution box are very beneficial in preserving the life of this component.

How can you help prevent this?  Risers installed to bring the tank covers to grade can help.  Having covers to grade makes a routine maintenance program easier.  Instituting a routine maintenance program is very important for the overall health of your septic system.

Luckily for the homeowner in this video, this system passed.  Let us help you develop a routine maintenance program so you will pass your MA Title 5 Inspection.

Visit www.allclearseptic.com for more information. 

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Massachusetts Title V complete video and whitepaper now available!

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You can now see a page by page overview of the entire Massachusetts Title V Septic Inspection form narrated by Al Rivet of All-Clear Septic & Wastewater Services!

Al walks you through the entire inspection form, ensuring you understand every single word!

You can view the entire library here: http://allclearseptic.com/education-videos/

here is the video:

here is the downloadable whitepaper overview link: All-Clear Septic overview of Massachusetts Title V Inspection Form

If you need an inspection, have questions or need septic services, please call All Clear Septic & Wastewater Services at 508-763-4431!

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Part 4 – Al Rivet walks through Massachusetts Title V ( Title 5 ) Septic Inspection Form

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Al Rivet with All Clear Septic & Wastewater Services walks through the Massachusetts Title V ( Title 5 ) Inspection Form – Part 4

Do you have questions about the Massachusetts Title V ( Title 5 ) Inspection form? Do you have a septic inspection pending? Al Rivet from All Clear Septic & Wastewater Services takes us through the 17 page document line by line, highlighting the sections which may cause confusion or need further explanation.

Al’s review continues on page 14 with his review of the various components of the septic system, and the importance of maintaining them properly. He details information required for sections including the Pump Chamber, Soil Absorption System and less commonly used items as Cesspools and Privies, or an outhouse. The Soil Absorption System is reviewed thoroughly as it can have the significant impact on the local ecology if it is put in too close to a water source.

Page 15 is a diagram of the system from above, with the nearest landmarks included. This is to enable anyone working on the system to find the portion they want to check with as few holes as possible. Al recommends adding risers to the septic tank to allow easy access without the need for heavy equipment and digging. It is also used to ensure any new construction is not placed on or near critical components of the existing septic system.

Next is an in-depth review of the inspectors assessment of nearby bodies of water, wells or other sources of usable water. This is necessary to ensure the septic system has no impact on potential drinking water sources and to prevent contamination of the local environment. The bottom of the page requires a written description of how these tests were conducted for approval reviews and to re-conduct the tests if needed in the same manner.

Finally there is a simple checklist on which the inspector validates they have completed each section.

Watch Al take you through the end of the Massachusetts Title V Inspection form below!

 

If you need an inspection, have questions or need septic services, please call All Clear Septic & Wastewater Services at 508-763-4431!

 

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All-Clear Septic

Part 2 – Al Rivet walks through Massachusetts Title V ( Title 5 ) Septic Inspection Form

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Al Rivet with All Clear Septic & Wastewater Services walks through the Massachusetts Title V ( Title 5 ) Inspection Form – Part 2

Do you have questions about the Massachusetts Title V ( Title 5 ) Inspection form? Do you have a septic inspection pending? Al Rivet from All Clear Septic & Wastewater Services takes us through the 17 page document line by line, highlighting the sections which may cause confusion or need further explanation.

In part two of his overview of the form, he begins with a request that you read the form in detail, as you go along with this video if you so desire. He then goes into detail regarding the failure criteria, including one of the most common failure reasons being part of the soil absorption system below the groundwater high level. This is to ensure the system does not contaminate the local groundwater or well.

Large systems for condominiums or other businesses is the next subject, with flows between 10,000 and 15,000 gallons per day. This is mentioned to be sure the system capacity is sufficient for the water used by the business or living space. There are different criteria for the septic system which must be taken into account to pass due to size, capacity and space needed for the soil absorption system.

The top of page six begins the checklist identifying the current state of the septic system. It requires the inspector to note all aspects of the system including pumping records, plan inspections and any record of recent maintenance to the system. These pieces of information will give the inspector a better understanding of the system’s health.

The bottom of page six and all of page seven are dedicated to the current conditions under which the septic system is being used. The number of bedrooms the system was designed for compared to the actual number of bedrooms is first, and quite important. A healthy system is designed to handle at minimum the total number of bedrooms in the dwelling, if not more. If there are more bedrooms than the system was designed for there could be significant flow issues and the possibility of contaminating the ground water. Other pieces of information noted are laundry or garbage grinder usage, seasonal living and any water meter readings if they are available.

Lastly on page 7 are conditions if the system if for commercial or industrial usage, with technical information regarding the system design and usage being listed.

Watch the video below as Al Rivet walks you through this portion of the Massachusetts Title V ( Title 5 ) Septic Inspection Form!

 

If you need an inspection, have questions or need septic services, please call All Clear Septic & Wastewater Services at 508-763-4431!

 

All Clear Septic & Wastewater Services

All Clear Septic & Wastewater Services

Al Rivet walks through Massachusetts Title V ( Title 5 ) Septic Inspection Form

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Al Rivet with All Clear Septic & Wastewater Services walks through the Massachusetts Title V ( Title 5 ) Inspection Form.

 

Do you have questions about the Massachusetts Title V ( Title 5 ) Inspection form? Do you have a septic inspection pending? Al Rivet from All Clear Septic & Wastewater Services takes us through the 17 page document line by line, highlighting the sections which may cause confusion or need further explanation.

The top of page 1 from the form details the property location and the inspector’s qualifications. This portion is key as it indicates exactly who is handling the inspection and their state-issued license information. This is good to have in the event there is some issue in the future or you need a second inspection after completing any upgrades or alterations to the existing system.

The bottom of page 1 and page two detail the status of the system after the inspection. It can Pass, Conditionally Pass, Fail or require further Evaluation by the Local Approving Authority. A passed inspection requires just a check in the box and any comments the inspector feels necessary to add. A “Conditionally passed” inspection requires the owner to perform some manner of work on the system in order to fully pass, but it is not enough to fail the system. A “Fail” inspection means the system requires replacement, repair or significant work to bring it up to code. A “Further Evaluation is Required by the Board of Health” inspection is to ensure the system meets local regulations regarding system location and proximity to drinking water, wells or other wetlands in an effort to prevent environmental contamination.

Below is a video of Al Rivet discussing these points at length!

 

If you need an inspection, have questions or need septic services, please call All Clear Septic & Wastewater Services at 508-763-4431!

 

All Clear Septic & Wastewater Services Title V Inspection