With Two Major Hurricanes behind us, What should you do with flooded septic systems
With hurricane season still upon us, it’s a good time to brush up on the proper care of septic systems during flooding events.
Before the Storm
Once heavy rains start to fall and a flood is underway, try to cease water usage going to the system. Depending on the elevation of the septic tank and floodwaters, the tank can be used as a holding tank. The amount of damage to the system is related to the elevation of the flooding over the system combined with the length of time the system is flooded.
Make sure all inspection ports, lids and covers are properly capped and in place. Pumps and controls in the system can be removed and stored; remember to shut off electricity to the system. There should be no connections between the floor or foundation drains in the house and the system where water can drain through the system.
After the storm
After the floodwaters recede, the system shouldn’t be used until the soil has adequately dried to allow sewage to be absorbed without backing up, which could take several weeks. Homeowners should conserve water during that time.
Now is the time to call Septic Preservation Services to evaluate your system and let you know the condition and what steps you should be taking before using the system.
A comprehensive system inspection and assessment should also be conducted before putting the system back in use. This means opening all parts of the system — sewage tanks, drop boxes, anywhere there is access to system components — and assessing whether sediment or vegetative debris has entered the system. All sewage tanks should be pumped and cleaned out.
The tanks should be evaluated for watertightness and structural defects due to the flooding. Debris in the drop boxes should be removed. If there are pumps and a pressure distribution system, the distribution laterals should be jetted and cleaned. Pumps and controls should be reinstalled, recalibrated and tested.
The evaluation should include making sure wastewater moves between the parts of the system as intended. This may involve running a hydraulic load test on the soil treatment part of the system.
About a month after the system is restarted, Septic Preservation willschedule a follow-up visit to check for proper operation. Any pumps and controls should be checked and the pump calibrations re-evaluated to make sure they are delivering the correct amount of effluent.
Septic tank manhole covers should be secured and inspection ports should be free of blockage and damage. Make sure there’s no damage caused by animal intrusion in the soil treatment a
Inspections also should include a look at the vegetation over the septic tank, and any erosion damage should be repaired with sod or seeding to provide good plant cover.
If sewage backed up inside the home, homeowners should thoroughly disinfect the house, but they should avoid flushing disinfectants down the drain.
Destroyed systems
Floodwaters can cause components of a septic system to be partially or completely washed away. The owner of such a system shouldn’t assume that soil or other fill can be added and new system components constructed.
Heavy rains can cause slides to partially or completely cover septic system components with rock, mud or silt. These slides can affect the operational integrity of the system, especially the soil treatment systems.
Special care should be taken to keep vehicle and equipment traffic off the soil treatment system to avoid compaction.
If the soil treatment system is saturated or has standing water long after other areas have dried out, there may be a long-term problem related to the flood.
With luck, we won’t have to worry about a major hurricane impacting New England but preventative steps may be able to help save your septic system.
Septic Preservation Services is ready and able to answer all your questions on prevention and are the first call to action in case of a major disaster. You can reach them at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com
Parts of this article were published in Pumper Magazine on September 7, 2017. Visit www.pumper.com for more septic news.
Septic Inspections in Maine Today
/in Septic Preservation ServicesWe have extensive experience conducting septic inspections in Maine and provide our customers with thorough and professional inspections so they can be confident in the results.
If you require a septic inspection or if you have any questions about septic inspections, please do contact our office at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com
Garbage Disposals and Your Septic System
/in Bob Silva, garbage disposals, Maine, Massachusetts, Mattapoisett, New Hampshire, norton, rhode island, Septic Preservation Services, septic system maintenanceGarbage Disposals are used in many households, but are they safe to use with your septic system. Good Question!
While many companies that sell garbage disposals will tell you they are fine to use with a septic system, the truth is they really aren’t.
You really shouldn’t be using a garbage disposal with your septic system. The way that the septic system is set up involves a large tank filled with water and the waste from your home. The solid waste settles to the bottom where bacteria go to work breaking it down. Then, there is the water waste layer that has the excess liquid going out to the drain field. Finally, at the top, there is a layer of scum that has built up.
In order to keep your septic system running smoothly, there are many items that should not be flushed or sent down the drains. This includes, diapers, wipes, bleach, harsh chemicals and sanitary products to name a few. The same is true with your garbage disposal. All the fats, grease, and other waste from the disposal are being added to the septic tank which can can cause problems and clogs and prevent it from working correctly.
Basically, you are overloading the waste that is being put into your septic tank and the naturally occurring bacteria will not be able to keep up with breaking it down. If you use a garbage disposal, you should have your tank pumped every year, rather than the normal 3-5 year range. It can wreak havoc with your septic system.
A better idea? Compost. Composting your kitchen waste is much better for your system and environmentally friendly. You can buy a cheap plastic composter or even make your own. Depending on the size, you can add all your kitchen waste as well as leaves and grass and have a great fertilizer ready for your garden or landscaping.
It’s a win win situation for your yard as well as your septic system.
Visit www.septicpreservation.com for all your septic system questions. They have a qualified staff ready to help you with all your septic needs from pumping and cleaning to design and installation. Give them a call at 877-378-4279.
Septic Services for All Types of Septic Systems
/in Bob Silva, Massachusetts, Mattapoisett, norton, rhode island, Septic Preservation Services, septic repairs, septic repairs and adjustments, septic services, septic system repairsSeptic Preservation Services have extensive experience with many types of septic systems so you can be confident that your septic system service will be completed correctly, thoroughly, and in a timely manner.
If you need to schedule a septic system service or if you have any questions about services or septic systems please do contact our office at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com
Signs of Septic System Problems
/in Bob Silva, Massachusetts, Mattapoisett, norton, Septic Preservation Services, septic system repairsWe have experienced septic system technicians who use up to date equipment to locate and repair septic problems for our customers.
Today we have septic system repairs scheduled in West Bridgewater, Stoughton, Mansfield, Norton, Raynham, and Canton, MA. If you require a septic repair or if you have any questions, please do contact our office at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com
Septic Pumping Integral to Septic Maintenance
/in Bob Silva, Massachusetts, Mattapoisett, norton, Septic Preservation Services, septic pumping, septic system maintenance, septic system pumpingSeptic Pumping is an important part of your septic system maintenance. If you do not have this done your system will get clogged and full and when that happens it will cease to work efficiently and eventually fail. As you can probably imagine a failed septic system is not a pretty sight (or smell) and is often a very expensive thing to fix.
This can be avoided if you not only have your septic system pumped regularly but also use a through and reputable company to do so. The frequency that your septic system should be pumped varies on a variety of factors including the size of your system and the amount it is used, however, it is recommended that it is pumped every 3-5 years. A properly maintained septic system should only be pumped every 2-5 years, as needed, to avoid removing the “good” bacteria and keep the system running smoothly. Today we have septic pumping scheduled in Attleboro, Norton, Seekonk, Fall River, Freetown, Lakeville, and Acushnet, MA. If it has been over three years since your septic tank had a pump out, please contact us for an evaluation and to arrange septic pumping if necessary. You can reach us at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com
Flooded Septic System Tips
/in Bob Silva, hurricane, Massachusetts, Mattapoisett, norton, Septic Preservation Services, septic servicesWith hurricane season still upon us, it’s a good time to brush up on the proper care of septic systems during flooding events.
Before the Storm
Once heavy rains start to fall and a flood is underway, try to cease water usage going to the system. Depending on the elevation of the septic tank and floodwaters, the tank can be used as a holding tank. The amount of damage to the system is related to the elevation of the flooding over the system combined with the length of time the system is flooded.
Make sure all inspection ports, lids and covers are properly capped and in place. Pumps and controls in the system can be removed and stored; remember to shut off electricity to the system. There should be no connections between the floor or foundation drains in the house and the system where water can drain through the system.
After the storm
After the floodwaters recede, the system shouldn’t be used until the soil has adequately dried to allow sewage to be absorbed without backing up, which could take several weeks. Homeowners should conserve water during that time.
Now is the time to call Septic Preservation Services to evaluate your system and let you know the condition and what steps you should be taking before using the system.
A comprehensive system inspection and assessment should also be conducted before putting the system back in use. This means opening all parts of the system — sewage tanks, drop boxes, anywhere there is access to system components — and assessing whether sediment or vegetative debris has entered the system. All sewage tanks should be pumped and cleaned out.
The tanks should be evaluated for watertightness and structural defects due to the flooding. Debris in the drop boxes should be removed. If there are pumps and a pressure distribution system, the distribution laterals should be jetted and cleaned. Pumps and controls should be reinstalled, recalibrated and tested.
The evaluation should include making sure wastewater moves between the parts of the system as intended. This may involve running a hydraulic load test on the soil treatment part of the system.
About a month after the system is restarted, Septic Preservation willschedule a follow-up visit to check for proper operation. Any pumps and controls should be checked and the pump calibrations re-evaluated to make sure they are delivering the correct amount of effluent.
Septic tank manhole covers should be secured and inspection ports should be free of blockage and damage. Make sure there’s no damage caused by animal intrusion in the soil treatment a
Inspections also should include a look at the vegetation over the septic tank, and any erosion damage should be repaired with sod or seeding to provide good plant cover.
If sewage backed up inside the home, homeowners should thoroughly disinfect the house, but they should avoid flushing disinfectants down the drain.
Destroyed systems
Floodwaters can cause components of a septic system to be partially or completely washed away. The owner of such a system shouldn’t assume that soil or other fill can be added and new system components constructed.
Heavy rains can cause slides to partially or completely cover septic system components with rock, mud or silt. These slides can affect the operational integrity of the system, especially the soil treatment systems.
Special care should be taken to keep vehicle and equipment traffic off the soil treatment system to avoid compaction.
If the soil treatment system is saturated or has standing water long after other areas have dried out, there may be a long-term problem related to the flood.
With luck, we won’t have to worry about a major hurricane impacting New England but preventative steps may be able to help save your septic system.
Septic Preservation Services is ready and able to answer all your questions on prevention and are the first call to action in case of a major disaster. You can reach them at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com
Parts of this article were published in Pumper Magazine on September 7, 2017. Visit www.pumper.com for more septic news.
The Facts About Cesspools
/in Bob Silva, cesspool, cesspool replacement, cesspool service, cesspool upgrades, Massachusetts, Mattapoisett, norton, Septic Preservation ServicesA conventional septic system has a tank where solids can settle and begin to degrade, a distribution box, and a soil absorption system (SAS) that further treats the effluent by removing some of the bacteria, viruses, phosphorus, and nitrogen. Conventional septic systems are now more common, but there are many homes and properties that still have cesspools which are not required to be replaced. However, cesspools that exhibit signs of hydraulic failure, are located extremely close to private or public water supplies, or otherwise fail to protect or pose a threat to public health, safety or the environment will need to be upgraded.
We are replacing a cesspool for a customer in Stoughton, MA today because they have added 2 bedrooms to their home and cesspools must be upgraded prior to an increase in design flow. We also have cesspool services in Southborough, Marlborough, Grafton, Holliston, Millbury, and Uxbridge, MA.
If you have a cesspool that needs servicing or replacing please do contact our office at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com
Septic Rejuvenation by Septic Preservation Services
/in Bob Silva, Down to Earth Construction, Massachusetts, Mattapoisett, norton, Septic Preservation Services, septic system remediationSome of the benefits associated with Septic Rejuvenation include:
If you would be interested in septic rejuvenation or if you have any questions please do contact our office at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservaion.com
Overboard Discharge Repairs and Services in Maine and New Hampshire
/in Bob Silva, Kittery, Maine, Massachusetts, Mattapoisett, New Hampshire, norton, overboard discharge, overboard discharge repairs, overboard discharge services, rochesterThe Maine DEP’s Overboard Discharge (OBD) Program is responsible for regulating discharges of sanitary and household wastewater generated at residential or commercial locations to streams, rivers, bays, and the ocean. All OBDs must be approved by the DEP through a licensing process.
Septic Preservation Services is the only Statewide contractor on the OBD Service contractor list provided by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. For more information see http://www.maine.gov/dep/water/wd/OBD. If you require an OBD Repair or OBD Service please do contact our Biddeford, Maine Office at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com
Septic Inspections in Rhode Island Today
/in Bob Silva, norton, rhode island, septic inspection, septic inspections, Septic Preservation ServicesOur inspections are often requested by property owners who are selling a property with a septic system and need to provide an inspection to their buyers, but we also conduct inspections for buyers who wish to have an inspection done on a property prior to purchase.
A large portion of our septic inspection business comes from word of mouth either from satisfied previous customers, repeat customers or from realtor referrals, because realtors are confident recommending our service to their clients when they need septic inspections. Realtors are happy to work with us on a repeat basis because they know that Septic Preservation Services will provide a quality inspection for their clients.
If you require a septic inspection or if you have any questions please do contact our office at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com