What is a septic system?

In urban areas, sewer systems are established with sewer lines, collection tanks, water purifying treatment facilities, and discharge lines carrying treated water into streams or rivers.

In rural areas, a septic system for each individual home is constructed with a septic holding-tank where household wastewater is held and primarily treated, and a dis­charge pipeline to a drainfield where wastewater is filtered through a series of perforated drain tiles into the soil and then into a nearby river or stream. It is important that the filtered water outlet be 100 feet from a river or stream.

Faulty septic tank systems are the largest contributors of contaminated wastewater into the groundwater, rivers and streams. Wastewater contaminants such as nitrates, harmful bacteria and viruses can end up in these freshwater sources, severely endangering our drinking water and recreation sites. Chemical substances commonly used by homeowners such as pesticides, paints, varnishes and thinners also can end up in the water. Some chemicals, even in small amounts, are almost impossible to remove from the groundwater once they reach the saturated zone (the area beneath the soil which is thoroughly soaked.)

What you can do now

To make sure your home septic system works well over a long period of time, follow these maintenance practices:

· Know the location of all components of your septic system.

· Keep heavy vehicles away from the tank, drainpipes and the drainfield.

· Don't plant trees or shrubs near drain tiles since their roots can clog drain lines.

· Properly dispose of household chemicals such as caustic drain openers, pesticides, paints, hazardous wastes. Never pour them down the toilet or drain, for they can destroy the bacteria in the septic tank.

· Don't use garbage disposals in your kitchen sink; they contribute unnecessary solids and grease to your septic system.

·  Remove grease and wasted food from your dishes before washing them. Put this garbage in your trash can.

·  Put your vegetable cuttings—onion skins, apple cores, orange rinds into your compost pile. (See Instructions on Composting in Your Own Back Yard)

·  Distribute your laundry chores throughout the week to avoid overloading the system on any given day.

·  Conserve water in your house whenever and wherever possible. Turn off water when brushing teeth, talking on the phone, petting the dog or other activities.

·  Monitor your septic tank yearly and have a reputable contractor pump out the sludge and scum every three to five years. This helps ensure that there is enough space in the tank for wastewater, and prevents solids from escaping into the drain field.

Ways to check your septic system

·  Look for the following symptoms to determine if waste from your septic tank system is reaching the river.

·  Excessive weed or algae growth in the water near your shore. Nutrients leaking from septic tank systems could be a major cause of this type of growth.

·  Unpleasant odors, soggy soil or water seeping over the land surface. These symptoms often indicate failure of the system and the need for repairing, expanding, or replacing the tiles in the drainfield.

·  Health department test results indicating the presence of biological contamination. These tests may show the presence of harmful bacteria in the water. Although wastes from septic tanks are not the only source of these contaminants, they are likely suspects.

·  Indicator dyes. Special dyes available from specialty catalogues may help to find problems that otherwise are difficult to notice. The dye is put into your septic tank and then flows through the system and becomes visible in nearby ditches, streams or the river.

How your septic system works

The rural septic tank is a watertight container made of steel, concrete, fiberglass, or plastic, usually buried underground downhill from your house. It is usually about 10x10x10 feet. All home wastewater, known as grey water, from your bathroom sink, bath, shower, toilet, washing machine, kitchen sink and dishwater flows into this tank. The heavy solid particles settle to the bottom in the form of sludge. Normally occurring beneficial bacteria in the wastewater feed on this sludge and liquefy the solid waste products. Liquids and light materials float toward the top of the tank where they form scum. These should be pumped out by a commercial contractor every several years.

From the tank, the wastewater flows through a confleeting pipe into the drain field system in a field below the tank. Here it flows through a series of tiled perforated pipes that are spread out in specified distances about a foot beneath the ground. Here the wastewater drains into the soil which filters out microorganisms and chemicals. The filtered water then moves into the groundwater or nearby streams. Remember: the filtered water outlet must be 100 feet from a river or stream.

·  State and local help

State and local regulators perform a soil percolation test ("perk test") on your septic site to determine what constitutes suitable soil. Unacceptable soils are sand or fractured rock which permit wastewater to pass through too fast; and clay which accepts only small amounts of wastewater.

West Virginia sewage system designs standards require all sewage systems to be sized according to both the soil percolation rates and the number of bedrooms in your house. The number of bedrooms determines the use and amount of water flowing through the system. Note: If you add another bedroom, you will have to enlarge your sewage system. For nonresident homeowners who visit their cabins only on weekends, and hence use less amount of water, specific arrangements can be made.

All sewage systems must be large enough to store the sewage effluent during periods of unusually heavy household use, or when heavy rainfall or flooding saturates the soil in the drainfield and reduces its ability to absorb the household waste liquid.

SEE ALSO:

Where is get more information/Help - Printed on a separate sheet you will find the contacts for WV Bureau of Public Health and Local departments of Health.