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Issue: 98 March 5, 2005
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Education:
Better
Understand Your Home and Those You Sale |
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The
Adventures of Wally Raindrop
Who
is Wally? |
| Grandad,
Where Does The Poopie Go? |
| Hello,
Wally Raindrop here. Hope you haven't
forgotten me (Don't remember? Click on
"Who is Wally?"
above). |
| In case you
haven't figured it out yet, old man
Hilton doesn't control me, I write
what I feel like when I feel like it.
You can be assured that poopie is not
something I care to discuss with you.
I am sure you have no interest in
reading about such a nasty subject.
Can you think of anything worse than
falling from the sky and landing in a
pile of dog poop? It is not a pleasant
experience. |
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Then there are cats,
horses, deer, rabbits and oh, shall I
tell you about the grizzly bear? I
about forgot about the Sasquatch, man
was that ugly. You thought people poop
was bad. Have you ever considered just
how much poopie there is in this
world? I prefer to be clean enough for
you to consume and I don't think you
want anything to do with me following
those adventures. |
| Hilton has five children, three grandchildren
and another in the oven. Two are two
years old at that age when poopie is a
daily subject for everyone in hearing
range including me whether I care to
hear or not. Then the subject arose;
Grandad, where does the poopie go? |
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When Hilton's son-in-law was being
potty trained his parents told him
when they flushed the poppie was going
to grandma Goldie in New York. Sounds
like a good place for poopie to me. I
have been to New York, there is lots
of poopie there. But, since September
11th I have tried to not be so
critical about the place. We all have
our problems theirs are just more
populous. I understand psychologically
it is very important not to upset the
child about this issue. Where the
poopie goes is a very upsetting issue.
This is an important event concerning
something they made. Where it is going
is very important to your child. You
may not think much of it, but if the
poopie doesn't reach its intended destination
you will think its important as well
so pay attention. |
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Being the very clean technical guy
that he is, do you think Hilton is
going to do the research on this
subject? No way man, who do you think
gets this smelly little assignment.
Well, since he is a grandfather almost
four times, I thought I would be nice
and agree to the assignment. Boy did I
ever screw up. First he picks me up,
throws me in the toilet and flushes.
As if that wasn't enough, because that
toilet was on a public sewer, he takes
me out to the county, throws me in
another toilet and flushes. Said he
wants us to have a complete experience.
I think I will look for another place
to live. Hiltons computer is beginning
to stink.
I can still see the light as I go
round and round, water is everywhere.
Darkness, wet, dirty, it stinks down
here. Ops, going back the same way,
the water is getting higher, light
again as I hit the basement floor.
Looking up the pipe is slopping the
wrong direction and leaking. Poopie
does not run up hill. If your poopie
goes into a public sewer system count
yourself lucky. you only must get the
poopie off of your site and the public
utility handles the rest. You don't
need to concern yourself with it. The
main concerns you have are that the
pipes don't leak, run down hill and
if your lowest fixture is lower than
the sewer man hole nearest your home
you better have a backflow valve on
your poopie line or everyone else's
poopie may end up in your floor. Now
that can be a smelly mess. It's also a
good idea to pay your water bill which
usually includes the sewer bill
otherwise your poopie will not leave
the house and it can get really
smelly. Realtors know what that's
like, don't you?
Not lucky, don't have a connection
to public sewer? You must be much more
concerned about where your poopie goes
because it probably does not leave
your yard and you are now responsible
for it forever. Go with me on my little
adventure as we go round and round
again out of the light through the
pipe, its just like the slide at the
water park (you had better hold your
nose) except at the end we fall into a
tank with all of the poopie from the
past along with water and soap from
the washing machine and dishwasher and
last nights leftovers from the garbage
disposal. Oh, there is the scuba diver
and fish baby flushed down the toilet
before us. At least we will not be
lonely here. |
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On the
left "Septic Tank" that is
where we are now. Did you know if you
don't have public water and drink
water from a well on your property
that the water you flush ends up
coming back to the pump in your well?
Isn't that a pleasant thought. Don't
be upset, when you flush on a public
sewer system, that water goes into a
river and is then pumped out by the
town down stream for their water
supply. Who is up river from you? Do
you begin to grasp the importance of
your sewer system. Improper
maintenance can make you very sick and
even lead to the death of your family,
friends and neighbors. |
| A
well designed, installed, and
maintained septic system can provide
years of reliable low-cost service.
When these systems fail to operate
effectively, property damage, ground
and surface water pollution, and
disease outbreaks can occur.
Therefore, it makes good sense to
understand and care for your septic
tank system. |
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There are
many different types of septic tank
systems that can fit a wide range of
soil and site conditions. The
following information will help you to
understand a simple type of septic
system, and keep it operating safely
at the lowest possible cost.
A "conventional" septic
tank system has three working parts:
- The septic
tank.
- The drainfield
with its replacement area.
- The surrounding soil.
Note that some systems may have a
sand filter as shown on this drawing
but such is unusual in our area. Some
systems if the drainfield is higher
than the tank may have a pump as shown
here. |
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| We
came in the "Inlet From
House" above. The typical septic
tank is a large buried rectangular, or
cylindrical container made of
concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene.
Wastewater from your toilet, bath,
kitchen, laundry, waste disposal, etc.
flows into the tank the same way we
arrived. Heavy solids settle to the
bottom (thank God Wally Rain Drop is
not a heavy solid and stays at the
top) where bacterial action partially
decomposes them to digested sludge and
gases. Most of the lighter solids,
such as fats and grease, rise to the
top and form a scum layer. That's
where old Wally is now in the
"Scum Layer". I would like
to drag the old scum bag that flushed
me here down to join us. |
| Septic
tanks may have one or two
compartments. Two compartment tanks do
a better job of settling solids and
are required for new systems. Tees or
baffles are provided at the tank's
inlet and outlet pipes. The inlet tee
slows the incoming wastes and reduces
disturbance of the settled sludge. The
outlet tee keeps the solids or scum in
the tank. All tanks should have
accessible covers for checking the
condition of the baffles and for
pumping both compartments. If risers
extend from the tank to or above the
ground surface, they should be secure
to prevent accidental entry into the
tank. |
| Solids
that are not decomposed remain in the
septic tank where old Wally has absolutely
no intention of overstaying his
welcome. If not removed by periodic
pumping, solids will accumulate until
they eventually overflow into the
drainfield. Most septic tanks need to
be pumped every 3 to 5 years,
depending on the tank size, and the
amount and type of solids entering the
tank. |
| Early
Waring Levels Inside Your Septic Tank |
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The
septic tank should be pumped whenever:
 | the
bottom of the scum layer is within
3 inches of the bottom of the
outlet lee or baffle, or |
| the
top of the sludge layer is within
12 inches of the bottom of the
outlet fitting. |
Many
products on the market, such as
solvents, yeast, bacteria, and enzymes
claim to improve septic tank
performance, or reduce the need for
routine pumping. None have been found
to be of benefit. Some can cause
solids to carry over to the
drainfield, which results in early
soil clogging and the need for a new
drainfield. Products containing
organic solvents contribute to
groundwater pollution.
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| The
wastewater leaving the septic tank is
a liquid called effluent. It has been
partially treated but still contains
disease-causing bacteria and other
pollutants. Discharging effluent onto
the ground's surface or into surface
and ground water is against North
Carolina State law. |
| The
Drainfield |
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| Finally
we have made it through that nasty
septic tank and into the drainfield.
The drainfield receives septic tank
effluent. That's what we have become.
It has a network of perforated pipes
laid in gravel-filled trenches (2-3
feet wide), or beds (over 3 feet wide)
in the soil. Wastewater trickles out
of the pipes, through the gravel
layer, and into the soil. The size and
type of drainfield depends on the
estimated daily wastewater flow and
soil conditions.
Every
new drainfield is required to have a
designated replacement area. It must
be maintained should the existing
system need an addition or repair. |
| Soil |
| Through
the drain field and out into the soil.
Oh what a wonderful place. There is a
worm, roots, pebbles, rocks and rich
dirt. This is much nicer than that
nasty septic tank and the drainfield
wasn't much better. The gravel and
soil acts as a filter to remove any
small amounts of solids that may be
carried along with the liquid. The
drainfield treats the wastewater by
allowing it to slowly trickle from the
pipes out into the gravel and down
through the soil. The gravel and soil
act as biological filters. The longer
distance we soak through the soil the
cleaner we become until finally we
reach ground water. Lets swim over to
the well, into the pump, through the
pipe into the holding tank through
another pipe and if we take the right
turn out the kitchen sink faucet and
freedom. Be careful now and stay out
of that drain or we will take that
stinky nasty journey again. Relief a
glass. Oh is that lips I see, we are
in for trouble if we don't get out of
this glass. Have you ever visited a
stomach? And you thought septic tanks
were a bad place. |
| System
Failure |
Warning
signs of a failure:|
| Odors,
surfacing sewage, wet spots or
lush vegetation growth in the
drainfield area |
| Plumbing
or septic tank backups |
| Slow
draining fixtures |
| Gurgling
sounds in the plumbing system |
If you
notice any of these signs or if you
suspect your septic tank system may be
having problems - contact your local
health department for assistance. |
| Caring
For Your System - The Ten Essentials |
| 1.
Practice water conservation. The more
wastewater you produce, the more the
soil must treat and dispose. By
reducing and balancing your use, you
can extend the life of the drainfield,
decrease the possibility of system
failure, and avoid costly repairs.
To
reduce your water use:
| Use
water-saving devices. |
| Repair
leaky faucets and plumbing
fixtures. |
| Reduce
toilet reservoir volume or flow. |
| Take
shorter showers. |
| Take
baths with a partially-filled tub. |
| Wash
only full loads of dishes and
laundry. |
2.
Keep accurate records. Know where your
septic tank system is and keep a
diagram of its location. Records of
its size and location may be available
at your local health department. It is
also wise to keep a record of
maintenance on the system. These
records will be helpful if problems
occur, and will be valuable to the
next owner of your home.
3.
Inspect your system once each year.
You may want to leave this to a
professional it is a nasty job. Check
the sludge and scum levels inside your
septic tank to assure that the layers
of solids are not within the early
warning levels. The tank
also should be checked to see if the
baffles or tees are in good condition.
Periodically inspect the drainfield
and downslope areas for odors, wet
spots, or surfacing sewage. If your
drainfield has inspection pipes, check
them to see if there is a liquid level
continually over 6 inches. This may be
an early indication of a problem.
4.
Pump out your septic tank when needed.
Don't wait until you have a problem.
Routine pumping can prevent failures,
such as clogging of the drainfield and
sewage back-up into the home. Using a
garbage disposal will increase the
amount of solids entering the septic
tank and require more frequent
pumping.
5.
Never flush harmful materials into the
septic tank. Grease, cooking
fats, newspaper, paper towels, rags,
coffee grounds, sanitary napkins, and
cigarettes cannot easily decompose in
the tank. Chemicals such as solvents,
oils, paint and pesticides are harmful
to the system's proper operation and
may pollute the groundwater. Septic
tank additives do not improve the
performance of the septic tank, nor do
they reduce the need for
pumping.
6.
Keep all runoff away from your system.
Water from surfaces such as roofs,
driveways, or patios should be
diverted away from the septic tank and
drainfield area. Soil over your system
should be slightly mounded to help
surface water runoff.
7.
Protect your system from damage.
Keep traffic such as vehicles, heavy
equipment, or livestock off your
drainfield or replacement area. The
pressure can compact the soil or
damage pipes. Before you plant a
garden, construct a building, or
install a pool, check on the location
of your system and replacement area.
8.
Landscape your system properly. Don't
place impermeable materials over your
drainfield or replacement area.
Materials, such as concrete or
plastic, reduce evaporation and the
supply of oxygen to the soil for
proper effluent treatment. They also
can hinder getting to the system for
pumping, inspection, or repair. Grass
is the best cover for your system.
9.
Never enter any septic tank. Poisonous
gases or the lack of oxygen can be
fatal. Any work to the tank should be
done from the outside preferable by an
experienced professional.
10.
Check with your local health
department for help with system
problems. Although some
malfunctions may require complete
drainfield replacement, many problems
can be corrected with a minimum amount
of cost and effort. |
How does the
location of my septic system affect my
water supply?
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| To avoid
problems such as recycling untreated
wastewater, location should be the
first consideration when installing a
septic system. A septic system usually
requires a specific amount of land
based on the soil characteristics and
should be at least 100 feet from any
wells or water supplies. There must be
adequate room to install a new
drainfield should the original
drainfield fail. The ability of the
soil surrounding the drainfield to
absorb and treat the effluent is an
important concern in regard to water
quality. Signs of soil problems or
site limitations that could affect the
septic system include gullies,
ravines, excessively steep slopes, or
other land characteristics that would
make installation difficult. The
system should not be installed in land
that is wet or swampy, designated
wetlands, or land near streams or
rivers that could flood. It has also
been found that septic systems
constructed where the water table is
too shallow do not provide effective
treatment in the drainfield .
Often the most suitable soil for a
septic system is on the highest ground
on the site. Under ideal conditions,
however, the septic system should be
located lower than your well, but good
soil is most important. Also, the
deeper your well, the less likely it
is to draw in sewage effluent. |
What are the
rules and regulations governing septic
systems?
|
| North Carolina
State law requires a comprehensive
soil and site evaluation by your local
health department to determine the
suitability of your soil and land
site. Before construction begins on
your home or septic system, you must
receive an improvement permit from the
health department. Permits for septic
systems are valid for no more than
five years. Beginning in July 1992,
state regulations require a septic
system maintenance contract between
homeowners and management
organizations for certain types of
alternative septic systems.
The size of the septic system that
you install is legally determined by
the number of bedrooms in your home
and the type of soils at the site.
Once installation is complete, the
system must be approved by the health
department before electrical service
can be permanently connected to your
home. |
What are the
alternative types of septic systems?
|
| The
conventional septic system is the most
widely used and least expensive.
Alternative types of septic systems
include low-pressure pipe systems,
fill systems and aerobic treatment
units. These cost a great deal more to
install than a conventional system,
and the low-pressure system needs to
be inspected every 6 months. The
aerobic treatment unit must be
inspected 4 times a year.
Other possible options for on-site
wastewater disposal include cluster
systems, sand filters, mound systems,
and spray irrigation systems. |
| What
interest do banks and mortgage
companies have in my water and septic
systems? |
| Some banks
or lenders require that the
prospective buyer or seller furnish
proof of a bacteria-free water supply
before they will issue a mortgage.
Also, some will not issue a mortgage
for homes with a failing septic
system. Thus, it pays to be concerned
about your water from well to wash to
waste. |
| Here we are
back in the clean world. The next time
old man Hilton or his stinky little
grandchildren have poopie ideas you
will find me running for the
hills. |
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Thoughts for the week...
Some
folks poppie is other folks gold
Ever
paid a plumber or had your septic tank
pumped?
On
the side of septic tank pump trucks
Sweet
Thing / Honey Bee / Liquid Gold
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