Potty Pumpers Elite Corporation, T/A

Millers Sanitary Service

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1. How does a septic system work?

A septic system consists of a tank and an absorption area, also known as a drain field or a drainage field.

The septic tank is an underground concrete or fiberglass container that holds wastewater from your home.  Tanks vary in size.  The average home has a 1,000-gallon tank.   For homes that have a sand mound as the absorption area, the tank may be as large as 1,250 or 1,500 gallons.

Bacteria in the tank break down wastewater into three parts:  water, sludge, and scum.  The water, also known as effluent, flows from the tank into the distribution box and then into the absorption area.  What has to be pumped from your tank is the sludge, also known as solids, the heaviest component that settles on the bottom of your tank, and scum (grease, fats, and paper products), the lightest component that floats on top.  The average homeowner has this sludge and scum pumped every three to five years, depending on the size of the tank and the size of the household.  The effluent is the layer of clear liquid that forms between the scum and the sludge.

The effluent flows out of the septic tank and into the distribution box, which allows for the even distribution of the effluent over the absorption area.  The effluent exits the distribution box through pipes in the absorption area.  Bacteria present in the soil treat contaminants that still exist in the effluent so that, when the effluent reaches the groundwater aquifer, it should no longer contain contaminants.

The two most common types of absorption areas are the standard in-ground field and the elevated sand mound.   The in-ground field absorption area, which depends on gravity most of the time, is maintained by simply having your tank pumped on a regular basis. 

The elevated sand mound includes a pumping station, which is an underground concrete or fiberglass pit that is located between the septic tank and the absorption area.  The pumping station settles out any carry over of solids in the water from the septic tank and pumps the water to the mound.  The pumping station needs to be cleaned every two times you have your tank pumped.  In addition, once a month you need to remove one of the caps on the pipes (there are approximately six pipes on a sand mound) and replace it a day or two later.  This procedure will clean out any solids that may have entered the pipe. 

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2. How do I know if my system is not functioning correctly?

You may actually smell sewage odor in your house, in your drinking water, or on your property in the area around your tank.

There may be a wet spot on the ground near your system, which means that your absorption area is malfunctioning.

You may actually have sewage backing up into your house or appearing in your yard, and/or your toilets and drains may be running very slowly.

Your pumping station may run continuously or not at all, the alarm light may be on, or your alarm is sounding.    If your pumping station has a clog or if there is an electrical problem, the alarm will sound.  Check the circuit breaker to see if it has tripped.  If so, reset it.  Otherwise, call for service. 

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3. What can I do to keep my system functioning properly?

The average homeowner needs to have his/her system pumped every three to five years depending on the tank and the size of the household.

Be careful what you put into your system.  Harsh chemicals, including chlorine bleach, septic system additives, grease, oil, gasoline and antifreeze, paints and varnishes, and solvents can prevent the necessary bacterial action from occurring and can possibly clog or damage your system.  It is recommended that you use liquid laundry detergents instead of powdered detergents.

Do not build any structures or plant trees or shrubs over your tank or absorption area.  The weight of buildings can crush your pipes, and roots from trees or shrubs can clog or even destroy the pipes.

Replace the baffles in your tank if they have deteriorated or have dropped into the tank.  Baffles are located at the inlet and outlet pipes in your tank.  Without these baffles solids will flow directly into and clog the absorption area.

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4. I know people who have never had their systems pumped.  Why should I bother?

If a system is not pumped often enough, the absorption area may be damaged.  A tank usually has enough space for approximately three years of safe accumulation of sludge.  If you do not have your tank pumped, this sludge will continue to accumulate, and solids can escape into the absorption area and clog the system.  You may end up paying thousands of dollars to repair or to replace your system.  

Do not use additives to reduce the volume of sludge or to substitute for pumping.  If you rely on these additives instead of conventional tank pumping, your system may fail.

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5. What else do I need to know?

Know where your tank lid is located.  Try not to bury your lid more than one or two inches because you will need to have it dug open before your tank can be pumped.  If your contractor plans to bury your lid more than six inches, he should put a riser on the tank to raise the lid.

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6. What is a cesspool?

A cesspool is almost like a conventional septic system. 

A conventional septic system has a tank and an absorption area, also known as a drain field or a drainage field.    The water, also known as effluent, flows out of the septic tank and into the distribution box, which allows for the even distribution of the water over the absorption area. The water exits the distribution box through pipes in the absorption area.  If you have a cesspool, the water flows out of a pipe in the cesspool directly into the ground.  The sludge and scum left behind in the cesspool need to be pumped every three to five years, depending on the size of the tank and the size of the household. 

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7. My question hasn't been answered here. How can I get an answer?

Email the skunk, and he will answer your question personally.

If you have a question or comment relating to the site itself, please email the webmaster.

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