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• Septic Systems Online: This website answers just about any question you might have about buying, owning, maintaining, repairing, or installing a property with a septic system

We explain how to buy, inspect, install, test, diagnose maintain and repair septic tanks and all other components of all types of septic systems. We discuss how septic systems work, and how to provide septic system care to avoid replacing the septic system unnecessarily. We provide septic cleaning and septic maintenance procedures, septic inspection methods, septic repair guides, and septic system design information.

We give in-depth information about conventional septic tanks, drain fields, septic pipes, and septic waste handling. We describe and explain the need for and how to install alternative septic system designs for problem sites where the need is to save water or where it is difficult to dispose of septic waste. We include tables for septic tanks: pumping frequency, septic tank size, septic tank design, and clearances between septic systems, wells, and other site features and boundaries. This page organizes and links to our detailed septic system inspection, test, repair, and design articles, including our online septic systems book. Septic testing class presentations, septic system photos, septic system design sketches, septic care tables, links to products and consultants are provided. If you do not quickly find here information you need, ask by email. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at page left to navigate THIS DOCUMENT or our Website.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

SEPTIC INFO ARTICLES - Our Online Articles on Septic Systems

"How-To" Articles at our Septic System Information Website are in these groups: (these links are also at page left)

1. Septic System Basics, septic maintenance and septic care instructions for home owners and home buyers; steps to take when buying a home with a septic tank and septic fields
2. Septic System Design & Installation, and alternative septic designs and septic products,
3. Septic System Inspection & Testing, how to find and diagnose septic system problems
4. Septic System Maintenance & Repair, septic system care, maintenance, repair or replacement procedures and products
5. Septic Component & Product Suppliers provides lists of suppliers and repair experts for septic systems
6. Septic Videos: "how to" videos describe how to find the septic tank, how to find the drainfield, dealing with septic pump alarms, and other septic system inspection, maintenance, and repair tutorials in short videos hosted at You Tube

We discuss just about every septic system topic and product at this website: septic tank design, septic tank size, septic tank pumping frequency, septic tank cleaning, and septic tank inspection. If you find that something is missing from this website just contact us and ask for it.

"Septic tanks" are what home owners or home buyers think of when buying or maintaining a home with a private septic system. But we should be thinking about the whole septic system - since the drain field or leach field makes up half of a typical septic system cost. Septic tank care and septic tank cleaning need to be done on a regular frequency (we provide a septic tank pumping schedule table) in order to avoid ruining the drainfield.

Septic tank maintenance is not enough. Proper septic system design for the level of usage and soil conditions is critical if the system is going to have a long useful life. We are also quite concerned with septic system health and safety since there are potential collapse hazards which can be fatal, and there are bacterial and pathogen hazards for both site occupants and for the environment if a septic system is not working properly.

The articles listed at this website form an extensive guide to septic systems care, inspection, testing, and installation. We welcome questions and suggestions for content.

Information for Home Buyers or Owners
Septic System Basics - How Septic Systems Work, Septic Inspection, Septic Maintenance, Septic Repairs

• Additives & Chemicals products for septic system maintenance. Are septic products needed? Are septic treatments legal?
• Alternative Designs for septic systems with problem sites, poor soil percolation, limited space: aerobic, dosing, evaporation, gravelless, greywater, lagoon, media filter, septic filters, mounds, raised beds, waterless toilets
• Abandoning a Septic Tank - Guide - how to safely find & abandoned unused septic tanks, cesspools, drywells
  
• Backups and Clogged Drains diagnosing septic backups and septic system failures versus clogged drains - key step in septic repair
• Backup Prevention: extra steps to avoid a septic backup such as during a party or when you anticipate heavy use of the septic system
• Backup Repair: what to do when the toilets or drains are backing up
• Basic Designs for septic systems, tank size, field size, design notes
• Buy Septic Books Online at Amazon.com - books for septic system design. septic system education materials
• Buyer's Guide Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems inspection & testing - what to do, step by step to inspect and test a septic system when buying a home
• Biomat Formation in the Septic System Drainfield Absorption System - what leads to drain field clogging and expensive drainfield repairs
• Cesspools home buyer's or Owner's cesspool maintenance advice
• Cesspool Safety warnings about cesspool, drywell, seepage pit collapse dangers
• Contaminants in Sewage which may be released from sewage spills from residential septic systems and wastewater disposal systems
• Design Guide for Septic Systems complete list of detailed "how to" articles
• Designs for Septic Systems - Master List of Septic System Designs & Types, named and described
• Distances & Clearances from septic system components to other site features, property boundaries, waterways, etc.
• Don't Flush these things into a septic system: a list of what's ok and what's not ok to put into septic tanks and building drains
• Don't Pump Before Testing Septic Systems: warnings for home buyers about septic tank pumping
• Drain Clogs, Slow Drainage: how to diagnose & repair slow or clogged drains; find out if the problem is in a drain or in the septic system, a key step in septic repair
• Drain Noises: may indicate defective or clogged plumbing: how to diagnose and cure drain sounds
• Drain Line Replacement diagnosing a clogged drain leads to drain line replacement - step by step photo-illustrated guide to drain replacement
• Drainfield Layout: septic drainfield or leaching bed shape and placement considerations
• Drainfield Location: how to find the septic drain field or leaching bed
• Drywells home buyer's or owner's advice for drywell installation, testing, and maintenance
• Definitions of septic system terms, an online septic system dictionary
• Drawing Library © drawings of septic system components, fields, layouts. These are educational, not engineering drawings and are © protected. Sample engineering drawings and plans wanted for the website.
• Filters for Septic Tanks & Graywater to protect septic drainfields and reduce drainfield clogging
• Flood Response what to do after a septic system has been exposed to flooding, key septic maintenance and repair tips
• Garbage Grinders and garbage disposal units - effects on septic systems and septic maintenance requirements
• Gases, Septic Methane and other septic system gas hazards such as hydrogen sulfide
• Grazing, Animals Over Septic Fields, is it a problem?
• Inspection & Testing of Septic Systems complete list of detailed "how to" articles
• Septic Inspection Types & Levels - describes the parameters of visual inspections, tank and field inspections, dye tests
• Septic Inspection Worksheets for use with various types and levels of onsite septic inspection and testing
• Septic Inspection Book - online text describes septic system inspection, diagnosis, repair, design
• Septic Inspection Course - online documents
• Life Expectancy of Septic Systems and septic system components
• Maintenance & Repair of Septic Systems complete list of detailed "how to" articles
• Neighboring Septic System Problems - advice for dealing with a neighboring septic system producing odors or seepage
• Planting Over Septic Systems: trees, shrubs, gardens, groundcover over or near the septic system: what can you plant over or near septic system components without causing a problem?
• Planting Gardens Near Septics, vegetables, fruits, other types of gardens
• Pumps Septic pumps, sewage ejector pumps, grinder pumps, effluent pumps, sump pumps, & septic pumping stations compared; pump alarms. Advice.
• Reference Books, Codes, Design Guides for septic system maintenance, repair, design, installation
• Septic & Cesspool Safety - septic system, septic tank, & cesspool safety warnings for septic inspectors, septic pumpers, and homeowners.
• Septic Tank Abandonment Guide - how to safely find & abandoned unused septic tanks, cesspools, drywells
• Septic Tank Depth - how deep will we find or install a septic tank
• Septic Tank Inspection Procedure - how to inspect septic tanks and evaluate the septic tank condition, baffles, sludge levels, damage, evidence of septic failure, etc.
• Septic Tank Location - How to Find the Septic Tank, how deep will the cover be, how to document its location
• Septic Tank Pumping Frequency Guide for septic tanks: when, how, what to watch for when pumping or cleaning septic tanks
• Septic Tank Pumping Reasons why relying on the septic tank pumping schedule table or advice from pumping contractors isn't enough
• Septic Tank Pumping Procedure step by step photo guideline of how to pump and clean a septic tank - septic tank care
• Septic Tank Size: septic tank size and capacity vs. usage determine the required septic tank size, calculate size of an existing septic tank
• Septic Tank Types: characteristics and inspection guide for steel, concrete, plastic, fiberglass, and home made septic tanks
• Sewage Odors in Wet or Cold Weather - Septic Odors or Sewage Odor Diagnosis & Repair Guide for diagnosing and eliminating cold weather sewer gas odors
• Sewer Gas Odors diagnosing, finding, and curing septic tank and sewer line smells
• Sewer Gas - Methane and other septic system gas explosion or asphyxiation hazards such as hydrogen sulfide
• Sewer Line Replacement diagnosing a clogged drain leads to drain line replacement - step by step photo-illustrated guide to drain replacement
• Steep Slope Septic Designs - how to install sewer lines from building to septic tank; how to install septic drainfields, leach field systems at steep or sloped sites.
• Swimming Pool Clearance distance to septic components
• Ten Steps to Keeping a Septic System Working, septic maintenance suggestions from the U.S. EPA, edits with additions by DJF
• Toilet Emergencies: how to stop a toilet from overflowing
• What is a Septic System? An Engineer's View & Septic System FAQ's
• When Not to Pump a Septic Tank to avoid damage, unsafe conditions, or wasting money. Don't pump the tank right before a septic test.

See These Directory Lists of Septic System Parts & Supplies

• Aerobic Septic System Products Directory List
• Alternative Septic System Product Suppliers List
• Filters, Septic Filters & Wastewater Treatment Systems Using Filtration Methods Products Directory
• Gravelless Leach Field Septic Systems Products Directory List
• Other Septic Wastewater Treatment Products List
• Plumbers & Septic Repair Companies List
• Septic Effluent Distribution Products Directory List
• Septic Tanks septic tank supplier
• Toilets, Composting Toilets, Biological Toilets, No-water/Low water toilets, Waterless toilets, Chemical Toilets, Incinerating Toilets and related products list

Septic System Design & Installation

• Absorption Field Design size and specifications for leach fields, absorption beds, gravelless systems, seepage pits
• Absorption Fields Trench Length has an example of calculating leach line trench length.
• Alternative Designs for septic systems with problem sites, poor soil percolation, limited space: aerobic, dosing, evaporation, gravelless, greywater, lagoon, media filter, septic filters, mounds, raised beds, waterless toilets
• Authorities, Septic Design Specifications by Federal and State Regulators
• Aerobic Septic Systems: Design Alternatives for Difficult Sites, specifications, photos, sketches, product sources, suppliers, designers
• Basic Designs for septic systems, tank size, field size, design notes
• Books & Building Codes for Septic System Design. Septic System Education Materials
• Books on Septic Systems to Buy Online, our list of recommended books on septic system maintenance, design, and alternative designs available at Amazon.com - Septic System Education Materials
• Baffles & Tank Tees: septic tank baffles and tees, design to prevent system clogging
• Capacity: Determining Needed Septic Capacity - Septic Tank Size vs. Usage: What septic size is required?
• Capacity: Determining Needed Septic Capacity - Based on Water Usage: Typical residential water usage for people, appliances, and activities.
• Cesspools: explained, design specifications, safety, photos, sketches
• Clearances & Distances from septic system components to other site features, property boundaries, waterways, etc.
• Contaminants in sewage which may be released from sewage spills from residential septic systems and wastewater disposal systems
• Design Guide for Septic Systems complete list of detailed "how to" articles
• Designs for Septic Systems - Master List of Septic System Designs & Types, named and described
• Distances & Clearances from septic system components to other site features, property boundaries, waterways, etc.
• Drywells Home Buyer's or Owner's Advice
• Composting Toilets Are They A Septic System Design Alternative for Difficult Sites?
• Composting Toilet Books, recommended reference books on composting toilet design, installation, maintenance, available for online purchase
• Design Alternatives for Septic Systems: Advanced & Alternative Septic System Designs for Onsite Wastewater Disposal - design engineers, consultants, products, books for special problem situations, difficult soils, old system repairs. Aerobic septic systems, chemical, composting, incinerating & waterless toilets, Evaporation-Transpiration (ET) Septic Systems, septic media filters, greywater systems, holding tank septic systems, mound septics, raised bed septics, pressure dosing septic systems, sand bed filters, peat beds, constructed wetlands, septic disinfection systems.
• Design Basics for Septic Systems: choosing septic tank size, leach field Size - basic septic system volume and absorption system design guides.
• Distribution Box design, inspection, testing, and maintenance of the septic system D-box
• Disinfection for Aerobic Septic Systems - use of calcium hypochlorite tablets versus swimming pool chlorine tablets
• Disinfection for Aerobic Septic Systems - warning about use of swimming pool chorine tablets
• Dosing Systems, Gravity, Siphons, Floats - to control movement of septic effluent to the absorption system
• Dosing Systems, Pressure - Pressure dosing, using mainfold systems, rigid pipe systems, and drip irrigation systems to control movement of septic effluent to the absorption system
• Drainfield Layout: septic drainfield or leaching bed shape and placement considerations
• Drainfield Location: how to find the septic drain field or leaching bed
• Drywells design specifications for drywells, seepage pits, leaching pits
• Drawings and sketches of general septic system designs and septic system types - septic plans
• Evaporation/Transpiration Septic Systems - septic system design alternatives for difficult sites
• Filters for Septic Tanks & Graywater to protect septic drainfields and reduce drainfield clogging
• Gravelless Septic Systems - design and installation specifications
• Greywater Systems or Graywater systems for disposal of onsite wastewater: designs, products, advice, books.
• Greywater Books to Buy Online our list of recommended gray water systems design and installation guidelines available through Amazon.com
• Global Warming Effects on Septic Systems and Onsite Wastewater Treatment or Disposal
• Inspection & Testing of Septic Systems complete list of detailed "how to" articles
• Lagoon Systems for human and animal waste and wastewater treatment
• Leach Field Size specifications for leach fields, absorption beds, gravelless systems, seepage pits
• Life Expectancy of Septic Systems and septic system components
• Maintenance & Repair of Septic Systems complete list of detailed "how to" article
• Media Filter Septic Systems as components of alternative septic systems for difficult sites
• Mound Septic Systems as components of alternative septic systems for difficult Sites
• Percolation Tests septic soil tests, deep hole tests
• Pressure Dosing Septic Systems: explanation, design alternatives, photos, sketches, product sources, suppliers, designers
• Products - for Alternative Septic System Designs aerobic system pumps, media filters, gravelless systems, other advanced wastewater treatment products
• Pumps Septic pumps, sewage ejector pumps, grinder pumps, effluent pumps, sump pumps, & septic pumping stations compared; pump alarms. Advice.
• Raised Bed Septic Systems raised bed effluent disposal system as a component of alternative septic systems for difficult sites
• Retention Time in Septic Tanks Septic Tank Pumping Guide discusses retention time and "net free area" in a tank (allowing for sludge and scum layers)
• Sand Bed Septic Systems for effluent disposal as a component of alternative septic system design for difficult sites
• Seepage Pits for onsite wastewater disposal - design specifications. For more detail see Drywells design specifications
• Seepage Pit Collapse or Failure - stages in the life of a drywell, seepage pit, cesspool, and what to do if the pit is damaged
• Septic or Sewer Connection? - how to determine if a building is connected to a septic tank or to a public sewer line
• Septic Tank Abandonment Guide - how to safely find & abandoned unused septic tanks, cesspools, drywells
• Septic Tank Depth - how deep will we find or install a septic tank
• Septic Tank Sludge and Floating Scum: what makes up the contents of residential sewage
• Septic Tank Size: septic tank size and capacity vs. usage determine the required septic tank size, calculate size of an existing septic tank
• Septic Tank Types: characteristics and inspection guide for steel, concrete, plastic, fiberglass, and home made septic tanks
• Septic Tanks, Concrete defects and inspection suggestions for concrete septic tanks
• Septic Tanks, Fiberglass or Plastic defects and inspection suggestions for fiberglass or plastic septic tanks
• Septic Tanks, Steel defects and inspection suggestions for steel septic tanks
• Septic Tanks, Home Made defects and inspection suggestions for home made or site built septic tanks
• Sewage Contaminants which may be released from sewage spills from residential septic systems and wastewater disposal systems
• Sewer Gas - Methane and other septic system gas explosion or asphyxiation hazards such as hydrogen sulfide
• Sewage Treatment Systems for onsite wastewater treatment & disposal, small residential and community system designs
• Sewer Line Replacement diagnosing a clogged drain leads to drain line replacement - step by step photo-illustrated guide to drain replacement
• Soil Percolation Tests Perc Tests or Deep Hole Test for Soil Absorption Rate Testing
• Steep Slope Septic Designs - how to install sewer lines from building to septic tank; how to install septic drainfields, leach field systems at steep or sloped sites.
• Swimming Pool Clearance distance to septic components
• Tank Size: septic tank size and capacity vs. usage determine the required septic tank size, calculate size of an existing septic tank
• Tank Tees & Baffles: septic tank baffles and tees, design to prevent system clogging
• Toilets, Chemical, Composting, Incinerating: chemical toilets, composting toilets, greywater systems, holding tanks, incinerating toilets
• Treatment Levels describes the different levels of treatment of septic wastewater that occur in typical residential systems
• Water usage Home & Outdoor Living Water Quantity Requirements, table of daily residential water usage
• Water Softeners maintenance, adjustment, and water softener effect on drinking water; potential effects of salts on septic systems
• Wastewater Treatment Basics describes the basic processes that occur in wastewater treatment processes
• Waterless & Low Water Septic Systems, chemical toilets, composting toilets, greywater systems, holding tanks, incinerating toilets
• Wetland Septic Systems

Septic System Inspection & Testing

• Baffles, Septic Tank septic tank baffles defects and inspection suggestions
• Books on Septic Systems to Buy Online, our list of recommended books on septic system maintenance, design, and alternative designs available at Amazon.com - Septic System Education Materials
• Buyer's Guide Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems Inspection & Testing - What to Do, Step by Step.
• Cesspools Home Buyer's or Owner's Advice
• Cesspool Age Estimates help evaluate cesspool condition and need for repair or replacement
• Cesspool Safety Warnings include dangers of cave-in and fatality
• Clearances & Distances from septic system components to other site features, property boundaries, waterways, etc.
• Design Guide for Septic Systems complete list of detailed "how to" articles
• Designs for Septic Systems - Master List of Septic System Designs & Types, named and described
• Don't Pump Before Testing Septic Systems: warnings for home buyers about septic tank pumping
• Drain Noises: may indicate defective or clogged plumbing: how to diagnose and cure drain sounds
• Drainfield Inspection Procedure Septic Leach Fields - how to inspect and diagnose septic drainfield failures
• Drainfield Layout: septic drainfield or leaching bed shape and placement considerations
• Drainfield Location: how to find the septic drain field or leaching bed
• Drywells Home Buyer's or Owner's Advice
• Dye Amounts, Water Volume: how much septic dye and how much water to use to perform a septic dye test
• Dye Tests: how to perform a Septic Loading and Dye Test - the complete procedure for septic loading & dye testing, a septic function test
• Failure Causes - Septic Systems Basic Septic Inspection Procedures: for septic tanks, septic drainfields, cesspools, drywells, distribution piping
• Failure Causes - Drainfields: how to inspect septic leach fields & what causes septic field failure
• Failure Spots - Where septic system trouble is likely to show up regardless of septic dye testing
• Filter Clogging signs of clogging septic filters at septic tanks or drywells
• Floating up Tanks - Septic tanks or oil tanks float up out of the ground if empty and exposed to rising ground water or flooding
• Inspection & Testing of Septic Systems complete list of detailed "how to" articles
• Inspecting & Testing Septic Systems: Online Septic Book, Inspection, Test, Diagnosis, Repair, & Maintenance: Our Online Septic Book: Septic Testing, Loading & Dye Tests, Septic Tank Pumping, Clearances, details of onsite waste disposal system inspection, testing, repair procedures.
• Inspecting Onsite Waste Disposal Systems Online Septic Class, Explaining Septic System Operation to Clients; Visual Inspection, Testing, Invasive Inspection , Evaluation, Reporting; Future Trends, Legislation
• Life Expectancy of Septic Systems and septic system components
• Maintenance & Repair of Septic Systems complete list of detailed "how to" article
• Media Filter Septic Systems types of alternative septic systems using sand, peat, textile, foam cube or other filter media, single pass vs. re circulating media filters, how to identify them.
• Sewer Gas Odors diagnosing, finding, and curing septic tank and sewer line smells
• Sewer Gas - Methane and other septic system gas explosion or asphyxiation hazards such as hydrogen sulfide
• Wet Weather or Cold Weather Septic Odors or Sewage Odor Diagnosis & Repair Guide diagnosing and eliminating cold weather sewer gas odors
• Inspection & Testing of Septic Systems complete list of detailed "how to" articles
• Septic or Sewer Connection? - how to determine if a building is connected to a septic tank or to a public sewer line
• Septic Inspection Types & Levels - describes the parameters of visual inspections, tank and field inspections, dye tests
• Septic Inspection Worksheets for use with various types and levels of onsite septic inspection and testing
• Septic Inspection Book - online text describes septic system inspection, diagnosis, repair, design
• Septic Inspection Course - online documents
• Septic Site Inspection Procedure - Simple Outside Visual Site Inspection Gives Key Information About Septic System Condition
• Septic Sludge & Scum Levels in Septic Tanks - Measuring the Level of Accumulated Solids, Sludge and Floating Scum in Treatment Tanks
• Septic Tank Depth - how deep will we find or install a septic tank
• Septic Tank Inspection Procedure - How to Inspect Septic Tanks and evaluate the septic tank condition, baffles, sludge levels, damage, evidence of septic failure, etc.
• Septic Tank Location - How to Find the Septic Tank, how deep will the cover be, how to document its location
• Septic Tank Pumping Articles - list of tank pumping and tank repair articles
• Septic Tank Size: septic tank size and capacity vs. usage determine the required septic tank size, calculate size of an existing septic tank
• Septic Tank Types: characteristics and inspection guide for steel, concrete, plastic, fiberglass, and home made septic tanks
• Septic Tanks, Concrete defects and inspection suggestions for concrete septic tanks
• Septic Tanks, Fiberglass or Plastic defects and inspection suggestions for fiberglass or plastic septic tanks
• Septic Tanks, Steel defects and inspection suggestions for steel septic tanks
• Septic Tanks, Home Made defects and inspection suggestions for home made or site built septic tanks
• Sewage Contaminants which may be released from sewage spills from residential septic systems and wastewater disposal systems
• Soil Percolation Tests Perc Tests or Deep Hole Test for Soil Absorption Rate Testing
• Spotting Breakouts - Spotting Dyed Septic Effluent Breakout Outside - Where Septic Dye is Likely to Show Up During a Septic Dye
• Swimming Pool Clearance distance to septic components
• Toilet Emergencies: how to stop a toilet from overflowing

Septic System Maintenance & Repair

• Additives & Chemicals for septic system maintenance. Are septic products needed? Are septic treatments legal?
• Books on Septic Systems to Buy Online, our list of recommended books on septic system maintenance, design, and alternative designs available at Amazon.com - septic system education materials
• Clogged Drain and Septic Backup Diagnosis - is the problem the septic system failure or a building drain system clog?
• Contamination in Buildings how to test buildings for bacterial contamination from sewage and septic backup, remediation, & references
• Design Guide for Septic Systems complete list of detailed "how to" articles
• Don't Flush these things into a septic system: a list of what's ok and what's not ok to put into septic tanks and building drains offers important septic maintenance advice
• Drain Noises: may indicate defective or clogged plumbing: how to diagnose and cure drain sounds
• Flood Response what to do after a septic system has been exposed to flooding: key septic repair and maintenance steps and when to do them
• Garbage Grinders and garbage disposal units - effects on septic systems and on the need for septic tank cleaning
• Grazing, Animals Over Septic Fields, is it a problem?
• Inspection & Testing of Septic Systems complete list of detailed "how to" articles
• Leach Field Inspection Procedure septic leach fields - how to inspect and diagnose septic drainfield failures
• Life Expectancy of Septic Systems and septic system components and the relationship of field life to septic maintenance
• Maintenance: Ten Steps to Keeping a Septic System Working, septic maintenance suggestions from the U.S. EPA, edits and additions by DJF
• Maintenance & Repair of Septic Systems complete list of detailed "how to" article
• Neighboring Septic System Problems - advice for dealing with a neighboring septic system producing odors or seepage
• Planting Over Septic Systems: trees, shrubs, groundcover over the septic system: what can you plant over or near septic system components without causing a problem?
• Planting Gardens Near Septics, vegetables, fruits, other types of gardens
• Planting Grasses or Flowers Over Septic Systems what's OK
• Planting Ground Cover, Ivy Over Septic Systems what's OK
• Planting Trees or Shrubs Over or Near Septic Systems what's OK
• Pumps Septic pumps, sewage ejector pumps, grinder pumps, effluent pumps, sump pumps, & septic pumping stations compared; pump alarms. Advice.
• Root Killers Over Septic Fields, is there a concern?
• "Roto Rooters" and Power Drain Snakes to clear clogged septic fields
• Safety: Septic System, Septic Tank, & cesspool safety warnings for septic inspectors, septic pumpers, and homeowners
• Sewage & Septic Backups and what to do about sewage spillage in buildings
• Sewage Contaminants which may be released from sewage spills from residential septic systems and wastewater disposal systems
• Inspection & Testing of Septic Systems complete list of detailed "how to" articles
• Septic or Sewer Connection? - how to determine if a building is connected to a septic tank or to a public sewer line
• Septic Inspection Types & Levels - describes the parameters of visual inspections, tank and field inspections, dye tests
• Septic Inspection Worksheets for use with various types and levels of onsite septic inspection and testing
• Septic Inspection Book - online text describes septic system inspection, diagnosis, repair, design
• Septic Inspection Course - online documents
• Septic Tank Abandonment Guide - how to safely find & abandoned unused septic tanks, cesspools, drywells
• Septic Tank Depth - how deep will we find or install a septic tank
• Septic Tank Pumping Frequency Guide for septic tanks: when, how, what to watch for when pumping or cleaning septic tanks - the key septic maintenance schedule
• Septic Tank Pumping Procedure step by step photo guideline of how to pump and clean a septic tank - septic tank care
• Septic Tank Sludge and Floating Scum: what makes up the contents of residential sewage
• Septic Sludge & Scum Levels in septic tanks - measuring the level of accumulated solids, sludge and floating scum in treatment tanks
• Septic Tank Inspection Procedure - How to Inspect Septic Tanks and evaluate the septic tank condition, baffles, sludge levels, damage, evidence of septic failure, etc.
• Septic Tank Location - How to Find the Septic Tank, how deep will the cover be, how to document its location
• Septic Tank Pumping Articles - list of tank pumping and tank repair articles
• Septic Tank Pumping Reasons why relying on the septic tank pumping schedule table or advice from pumping contractors isn't enough
• Septic Tank Size: septic tank size and capacity vs. usage determine the required septic tank size, calculate size of an existing septic tank
• Septic Tanks, Concrete defects and inspection suggestions for concrete septic tanks
• Septic Tanks, Fiberglass or Plastic defects and inspection suggestions for fiberglass or plastic septic tanks
• Septic Tanks, Steel defects and inspection suggestions for steel septic tanks
• Septic Tanks, Home Made defects and inspection suggestions for home made or site built septic tanks
• Sewage Contaminants which may be released from sewage spills from residential septic systems and wastewater disposal systems
• Sewer Gas Odors diagnosing, finding, and curing septic tank and sewer line smells
• Sewer Gas - Methane and other septic system gas explosion or asphyxiation hazards such as hydrogen sulfide
• Sewer Line Replacement diagnosing a clogged drain leads to drain line replacement - step by step photo-illustrated guide to drain replacement
• Soil Percolation Tests Perc Tests or Deep Hole Test for Soil Absorption Rate Testing
• Swimming Pool Clearance distance to septic components
• Tank Location - how to find the septic tank, how deep will the cover be, how to document its location
• Ten Steps to Keeping a Septic System Working, septic maintenance suggestions from the U.S. EPA, edits and additions by DJF
• Toilet Emergencies: how to stop a toilet from overflowing
• Wet Weather or Cold Weather Septic Odors or Sewage Odor Diagnosis & Repair Guide diagnosing and eliminating cold weather sewer gas odors
• Water Softeners maintenance, adjustment, and water softener effect on drinking water; potential effects of salts on septic systems

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SEPTIC DESIGN BASICS - Septic System Design: Choosing Septic Tank Size, Absorption System Size, Basic Design Notes

The full Chapter on Design Basics is at SEPTIC DESIGN BASICS.

If you need basic septic system design parameters such as finding the recommended septic tank volume and conventional recommended leach field or drainfield size, along with some notes on how to calculate these from simple water usage and site conditions, here are links to that information. Also take a look at the septic publications, septic design manuals, and onsite waste disposal standards links and articles above and below this section. I am re-writing and reorganizing this design material into a separate guide for laymen (like myself). Septic engineers already know all this stuff. Meanwhile look at the articles listed below as they will allow you to answer basic septic system design questions.

Septic Tank Sizing: to determine the required septic tank size you would need to look at article #1 to see the required tank size based on daily water volume usage and perhaps article #2 to confirm that you're estimating the water volume reasonably.

Tank Retention Time if you just wanted to know our opinion about tank size as a function of effluent retention time, see item #3.

Septic field size planning: see article #4 which sizes the field based on its percolation rate and #9 which describes performing a perc test, with perhaps a look at #10 to understand biomats and why a leach field in a wet area won't treat the effluent.

1. Capacity: Table of Required Septic Tank Sizes: Septic Tank Capacity vs Usage is a table of required septic tank sizes
2. Capacity: Home & Outdoor Living Water Requirements is a paper on daily water usage per household or person
3. Designs for Septic Systems - Master List of Septic System Designs & Types, named and described
4. Retention Time in Septic Tanks Septic Tank Pumping Guide discusses retention time and "net free area" in a tank (allowing for sludge and scum layers)
5. Fields: How Big Should the Leach Field Be? - table of soil percolation rate vs. field size
6. SEPTIC CLEARANCES: from wells, streams, etc.
7. SEPTIC DESIGN ALTERNATIVES for onsite waste disposal systems - septic systems
8. Steep Slope Septic Designs - how to install sewer lines from building to septic tank; how to install septic drainfields, leach field systems at steep or sloped sites.
9. DEFINITIONS of common septic system and onsite waste disposal terms
10. Drawing Library © drawings of septic system components, fields, layouts. These are educational, not engineering drawings and are © protected. Sample engineering drawings and plans wanted for the website.
11. Soil Percolation Tests
12. Biomat Formation in the Septic System Drainfield Absorption System - what leads to drain field clogging and expensive drainfield repairs

Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. If you just "scroll down" you'll miss some important articles. See links at page left.

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Septic Design Consultants and Septic Service or Repair Contractors: Septic design consultants and alternative septic design engineers, septic pumping and repair contractors, academics, researchers, and other onsite wastewater industry participants can be listed in the appropriate sections of this website.

Books or other publications on septic system inspection, design, repair, maintenance, and alternative onsite waste disposal designs, technical documents, and other online resources can be listed at appropriate web pages at our site. We invite submissions of books and products for technical review. Product and book reviews are published at this website. Recent book or product reviews can be found listed at Book Reviews - Construction Practices, Building Inspection, Aerobiology, Indoor Air Quality.

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More Information on Septic Systems, Building Inspection or Testing

• Planning to call us "just to ask a question"? We're sorry but the traffic volume at this website prevents us from providing free telephone consulting. Please use email at the "contact us" link on any of our pages instead of calling. We will however provide pro-bono consulting by telephone or by email for elderly, disabled, and people with limited means. Before paying for consulting services, be sure to read the septic system inspection, care, inspection, and design articles we provide above and at the websites listed below. These will answer most basic questions about septic system maintenance, repair, and basic installation and design, and the articles offer more depth and better organization than an off-the-cuff email. We always invite email about content suggestions or corrections for this website.
• For general septic repair advice, contact your local health department, or experienced septic engineer or contractor in your area.
• Besides Septic Tanks, other types of tanks such as buried and aboveground oil storage tanks present similar environmental and hazard issues.

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Inspecting, Testing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems - An Online Septic System Textbook

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Introduction to Septic Systems - Inspection, Testing, Maintenance

What is a Septic System

A "septic system," also referred to as a private, on-site waste disposal system, receives waste water and solids from a Building's plumbing facilities (bathrooms, kitchens, shower, laundry), treats, and then disposes of the effluent from this waste, by permitting it to absorb into soils at the property. "Treatment" is accomplished by bacterial action in the "septic" or "treatment" tank and it is mostly accomplished by bacteria in the soil around and below the effluent absorption system, or "drain field." This bacterial action is needed to reduce the level of pathogens in the effluent discharges from the waste system into the soil. The principal components of a private on-site waste disposal system usually include the following:

• piping connecting the Building to the treatment tank
• a septic or treatment tank which retains solid waste
• piping connecting and conducting clarified effluent from the treatment tank to a distribution box
• a distribution box connecting the effluent line from the tank to the absorption system or "drain field"
• an absorption system which permits effluent to drain to soils below
• a bio-mat or bio-mass of pathogen-digesting bacteria which forms in soil below the absorption system.

Many variations on this general scheme are used, depending on local climate, soil conditions, available space, economy, and available materials. Special equipment and systems may be designed for problem or difficult sites such as rocky or wet ground, permafrost, or wet tropical marshlands. Readers who are unfamiliar with what a private septic system is and the types of systems installed should review articles and sketches of septic system components found at The Septic System Information Website

Types of treatment tanks, adsorption systems, pumps, and other special equipment are discussed in some further detail in this text, and are listed in the septic system inspection checklist data. For a more detailed introduction you may want to read our Lockwood article "What is a Septic System" and then return here to continue by using your browser's "BACK" button.

Safety Warnings for Septic System Inspectors

Providing inspection and diagnosis of on-site waste disposal systems is an extremely valuable public service which helps protect people from expensive unanticipated septic system repair costs and helps protect public health by assuring sanitary disposal of sewage and gray water waste from Buildings. More importantly though, such inspections may detect and warn about serious safety hazards at some properties. The strong warnings issued below intend to reduce septic system safety hazards for inspectors and property owners/occupants, but it is not the author's intention to dissuade inspectors from providing this valuable service.

Danger lurks at cesspools, open covers, tanks or tank covers in poor condition, and from high levels of methane gas. These risk collapse, falling, asphyxiation, and other potentially fatal hazards as well as risks of unsanitary conditions.

Septic and Cesspool Inspection Safety:

• Collapse Hazards: Septic system inspectors face personal risks of health and safety including possible fatal system collapse or asphyxiation. Old steel tanks, thin, rusting steel or rotting home-made wood tank covers, site-built tanks and cesspools, and recently-pumped cesspools are at particular risk of collapse. Falling into a septic tank or cesspool is likely to lead to rapid asphyxiation from methane and in cases of collapse, there is risk of becoming buried. The author has consulted in cases involving such fatalities (homeowner fell into a site-built cesspool), and at one site inspection, walking near an overgrown area the author himself stepped through a rusting steel septic tank top, surviving only by throwing himself into a nearby clump of brambles! Beware of
  • flimsy, rusted, old-steel, home-made, or missing septic tank/drywell/cesspool covers
  • abandoned systems which may not have been filled-in
  • collapsed, or collapsing septic tanks or cesspools
  • possible presence of multiple components at a property, abandoned or in-use
• Entering or Looking into Tanks: No person, except those licensed, equipped, and trained, should ever enter a septic tank. Special equipment is needed. Tank inspection (or service) should not be performed alone. Even leaning over to look into a (recently pumped) tank has been reported to cause asphyxiation.
• Unsanitary conditions: Be alert for unsanitary conditions such as surface effluent or sewage backups into Buildings, events which risk serious viral and bacterial hazards and which indoors, may require professional cleaning.
• Issue appropriate warnings: Septic system inspectors (and service personnel) must recognize and respond properly unsafe conditions at a site, including issuing appropriate warnings and in some cases, marking off unsafe areas where, for example, there is visual evidence of a risk of collapse hazard.
• Avoid damaging septic system components or the Building: Improper septic testing procedures, such as flooding a dosing-system, can damage the system. Also, remember to check for leaks into or under the Building being tested when running water into the Building fixtures and drains. Don't leave water running unattended - at risk of flooding the Building.
• Don't do anything dangerous: Inspectors should omit and report the omission of any planned inspection procedure which in the inspector's judgment is unsafe or unsanitary.

Septic Inspector Qualifications/Licensing

If you perform septic inspections you are obligated to do so with proper information, training, procedures, and in some communities a license is required. Some states (e.g. CA, CT, NJ, MA) have specific certification requirements for inspectors of septic systems, as well as specific regulations regarding the performance of the inspection itself. Be sure to obtain information pertinent to your own state, usually from the state health department or state department of environmental protection. For example, Massachusetts septic inspectors will want to look at the links and the Title 5 regulations at our page on the Massachusetts Septic Testing Law. Other links to septic system installation and inspection regulatory agencies are at our Local, State, U.S. Federal Government, & International Agencies & Resources for Septic Systems Wastewater Treatment page.

Septic System Warnings to Home Owners and Home Buyers

Septic system concerns for a Building owner start with safety. Here are some red flags:

• Signs of collapse-possible fatal hazards: include depressions or "soil subsidence" anywhere on or around the property. Any suspect area should be roped-off and absolutely no one should walk over or even close to such a spot until it has been investigated by a professional.
• Old or abandoned systems: such as site-built cesspools or drywells were often made with a thin steel or wood cover which with age can collapse. If the history of the site or visual observation suggests that there are or were old systems at the property, professional investigation is warranted. Improper "abandonment" (failing to fill-in a pit) can lead to sudden collapses. Signs that there may be old systems at a property might come from anecdotal evidence (ask a neighbor, ask the local septic installing or service companies), or visual evidence such as seeing abandoned waste pipes at basement or crawl space walls or floors. Don't assume that an old house which is now connected to the public sewer didn't previously have an on-site waste disposal system.
• Septic service by untrained workers: such as aerating, agitating, or pumping out an old site-built cesspool, can lead to sudden system collapse. Prevent access over or near any such systems.
• Unsanitary conditions such as discharge of sewage effluent to the yard surface, to a nearby well or stream, or previous septic backups into a Building deserve professional attention. Indoors special cleaning may be needed to remove bacteria or other pathogens.
• Septic testing by inexpert "inspectors" who may not follow an adequate procedure increases the risk of a costly surprise.
• Uninformed homeowners may not notice a danger or malfunction. Homeowners should review the safety warnings listed above. The information here is general in nature. Since conditions and requirements vary widely at individual sites, the you should obtain qualified expert advice pertaining to the specific system about which you have questions, and should not rely on this general text for costly diagnostic/repair/replacement decisions. In other words, I'll try to give you some helpful information. In exchange, don't expect me to pay for your new septic system.

The next chapter proceeds with inspection of the septic system components.

How Does Each Septic System Component Fail? - What to Look For During a Septic Inspection

This chapter discusses detailed "how to" steps instructing the investigator in how to inspect specific septic components for signs of failure. The following section will discuss types and causes of septic failure and will provide criteria that define "failure."

Before digging up your septic tank or calling a septic pumper, if you think the septic system is failed because of drain blockage or drains backing up into the Building, you should to see Diagnosing Clogged Drains: Is it a blocked drain or the septic system? - A First Step for Homeowners". If you link to that text, please return here using your browser's "BACK" button.

Inspecting Outside Waste Piping

Outside waste piping conducts sewage (black water and gray water) from the Building to the treatment tank or "septic tank," and from the treatment tank to the distribution box. These lines should be of solid, non-perforated material and need to be protected from mechanical damage (such as by vehicles). Piping extending from the distribution box into drain fields is normally perforated, though solid lines might be used if effluent is being processed by more specialized devices such as seepage pits, galleys, or a sand-bed system.

House to tank

This line may become blocked by waste, damaged by collapse of a section, or invaded by roots. Detection of these conditions is fairly easy by routing a snake or power snake from the Building drain to the septic tank. An experienced power snake operator can often tell by "feel" that a drain line is collapsed, partially collapsed, or invaded by roots. While you may make a temporary "repair" of such a condition by drain-cleaning, if the line is broken or root-invaded, you should expect to have to excavate and replace it soon.

Tank to Distribution Box

The same failures can occur on this line as from house to tank.

Drain field piping

In a conventional "drain field" of perforated pipes buried in gravel-filled trenches, a drain line may be invaded by tree roots. This is why experts advise keeping tree and shrub plantings away from drain fields. Vehicle traffic can also collapse this or any outdoor waste piping, which is why experts advise against ever driving over a drainfield or over any other septic system components.

Inspecting Septic Tank Condition

The purpose of the treatment tank or "septic tank" is to contain solid waste and to permit the beginning of bacterial action to process sewage into a combination of clarified effluent, settled sludge, or floating scum in the tank. An intact, un-damaged septic tank is normally always filled with these materials.

Only by pumping and visual inspection can actual tank capacity and condition be completely determined. Probing in the area of a tank, without excavation, is not recommended as the probe may damage a steel or fiberglass tank.

Steel septic tanks

Concrete septic tanks

Concrete tanks at an existing septic installation are usually viable, but might have damaged baffles or cracks that permit seepage of groundwater in or septic effluent out around the tank. Occasionally we've seen tanks made of poor-quality concrete (insufficient portland cement) which eroded badly. If the tank outlet or absorption system have been blocked, examination of the tank interior may show that effluent is or has been above the top of the baffles (see baffles below) thus indicating a system failure discussed next.

Other types of tanks and home-made onsite systems are described below at Septic Tank Type, Capacity, Material Details

Inspecting the Condition of Septic Tank Baffles

Baffles in a septic tank are provided to keep solids and floating scum and grease inside the tank. Baffles are provided at both the inlet to the tank (from the Building) and the outlet from the tank (to the absorption system).

Broken baffles or high sludge levels can cause solids to flow out of the tank and into the absorption system. The result is reduced absorption into surrounding soil and eventual failure of the system. Floating scum thickness and settled solids thickness can be measured through access ports into the tank or cesspool. Finding solids at or covering the outlets or damaged baffles should result in report of a very questionable adsorption system and possible major repair cost.

If baffles are lost or damaged (rusted off on a steel tank or broken off on a concrete tank), they can be repaired or replaced. For example at a steel tank the contractor may simply insert a plastic piping "Tee" into the tank inlet or outlet to create a new baffle system.

However, depending on how long the tank was used without good baffles, the volume of solids and grease that moved from the tank to the absorption system will have begun clogging soils there and will have reduced the future life expectancy of the absorption system.

Baffle damage and repair, or even a complete tank replacement when the absorption system has been left alone always lead the author to warn the Building owner that the future life of the absorption system may be in doubt and that additional expense will be involved.

Inspecting the Level of Accumulated Solids, Sludge and Floating Scum in Treatment Tanks

Solids entering a septic tank are intended to remain there until pumped out during tank service. A large portion of solids settle to the bottom of the tank as sludge. Grease and floating scum remain at the top of the sewage in the tank. Baffles (discussed above) help keep solids, scum, and grease in the tank. Bacterial action in the tank make a modest reduction in the solids volume and begin the processing of sewage pathogens, a step later completed by soil bacteria in the absorption fields.

Net free area: If the sludge level becomes too high or the floating scum layer too thick, in addition to risking passage of solids out of the tank (damaging the absorption system), the remaining "net free area" of liquid in the tank is reduced. When the net free area becomes too small, there is insufficient time for waste entering the tank to settle out as bottom sludge or top floating scum. That is, for an in-use septic tank with a small net free area, the frequent entry of solid and liquid waste will keep the tank debris agitated, thus forcing floating debris into the absorption system where the life of that component will be reduced (due to soil clogging).

The importance of keeping an adequate net free area in a septic tank is the reason that tanks need to be pumped at regular intervals. Building owners who never pump a tank until it is clogged have already damaged the absorption system.

See the Massachusetts Title 5 Septic Inspection procedure discussed below for details about determining the level of floating and settled scum and sludge in the tank.

Inspecting the Septic System Distribution