Septic System Failure Drainfield
How the septic system additives?
If your house has a system septic, you are one of an increasing number of homeowners in the United States that rely on private waste water disposal. Twenty-five percent of all dwellings, and 33 percent of new homes in the use of sewage "U.S. treatment, also known as septic systems. In addition, Professor Mike Hoover of the Department of Soil Science at the University of North Carolina State argues that "forces such as urban and suburban expansion and the high costs of central sewerage systems for builders and governments to "increase the number of users each year septic system.
For owners septic system, proper maintenance can mean the difference between a long duration, the system smoothly and ultimately racks up tens of thousands of dollars in problems. However, many people receive conflicting and confusing advice about what maintenance is necessary.
Most Professionals recommend that septic tanks be pumped every 2-3 years to remove solids collected, but many private companies have another solution – the use of low-cost septic additive on a regular basis to reduce the need for more expensive pumping. Also, when a septic system is in trouble and costly repairs or replacement looms, many additives offer a quick fix.
So What is truth? Septic system additives are (there are about 1200 in the market today) the next best thing to indoor plumbing, or is money for drain?
Some experts say that the additives do more harm than good, and some believe they are not harmful, but do nothing at all, except cost money. Apart from septic additive manufacturers themselves, could find no scientist, engineer, academic, or government source that recommended septic system additives.
101 Septic Additives
In homes with septic systems, when the toilet flushes or tracks of the machine, the wastewater leaves the home and accumulates in a septic tank. There, the natural bacteria in the waste is broken most of the solid material in a liquid or gas. Heavy solid or pieces of plastic or other material that can not break, fall to the bottom of the tank and form a layer of sludge. substances such as lighter fats and oils rise to the surface, called slag. From there, the relatively clear liquid in the center of the tank, called effluent, flows and is absorbed in the drainage area surrounding the tank. It is a relatively simple and natural process.
septic tank additives, also called septic tank treatments, cleaners, restorative, rejuvenating and stimulating, are divided into two categories: chemical and biological weapons. Chemical additives are marketed to open clogged drains and breaking the fat and oil. Include active ingredients such as sulfuric acid, which can be highly corrosive and cause structural damage to a septic tank.
Furthermore, it is generally recognized that the soil and groundwater exposure of harsh chemicals can harm the environment, therefore, according to a article published in the Journal of Environmental Health, chemical additives "are of limited use today."
The biological additives are made from bacteria, yeast, and / or enzymes. They are said to work as agents of starting of new systems and increase the efficiency of degradation of the solids in the existing systems. Biological additives are often sold as routine maintenance in the toilet on a weekly or monthly basis to ensure the septic system of "balance." In terms of environmental impact of organic additives, the journal Environmental Health reports that most "wastewater experts" do not care.
What is the advertising?
Septic tank additives are available for purchase at home improvement stores or construction, hardware stores and supermarkets. They are advertised on television and the Internet. Finally, additives are sometimes promoted through application over the phone or door to door sales. In the face of the broad market, homeowners need to be educated consumers about what they are receiving.
Jennifer Hause, a scientist the National Environmental Service Center at West Virginia University, believes that "people do not understand what happens in a septic tank. The process is a natural biological process you do not need anything to help it do its job. "
Of particular concern is that some products claim to reduce or eliminate the need for pumping septic system regularly. The pumping of solids from the tank is considered vital and basic practice in most of the guidelines for septic system maintenance. Encourage owners not to pump their tanks can have disastrous long-term consequences.
Hause said: "While entering wastewater in a septic tank, solids are present. The work of the septic tank is to maintain the greatest amount of solids in the tank (retention and liquidation) – Not let them move to the next treatment process which in many cases is a drainage field. If a product claims to reduce or eliminate the need for the bomb, I would to ask where, then, the sound can go if they are no longer in the tank? Not all solids present in wastewater can be converted to liquid and gases as some claims have been made. "
What the Government says
Because the design in any septic system depends in part, on their specific environment surrounding local health departments are often the best source of guidance and information to the owner.
"Owner / Users Consult with local authorities, in most cases local health departments to ensure that there is no provision in place that does not allow the use of additives, "says Hause.
In the states of Washington and Massachusetts, allow only approved additives for use, sale or distribution. In both cases, the state government is the detection of harmful ingredients and does not provide "an endorsement or approval with respect to the provision, efficiency or performance additive system. "
The Washington State Legislature declared in 1993 that "most of the additives do not have a positive effect on the operation individual systems, and can contaminate groundwater, are dysfunctional septic drain fields, and lead to costly repairs for homeowners. "In 1994, the legislator added," Chemical additives do, and other types may contribute to septic system failure and contamination of groundwater. In order to determine what ingredients on non-chemically based products additives have adverse effects on public health or the environment, products necessary to present an appeal. "
The state of Washington will not allow manufacturers to use the word additives approved for purposes marketing, but the materials product may say "comply with the laws of Washington in connection with damage to public health and water quality."
What the Research Says
"A lot of research involved," Dr. Hoover wrote in an email, "is of interest not only for professional practice in the field of wastewater on the site, but it is also of great interest to many owners homes, too, that the desire to protect domestic investment and the environment at the same time. "Yet, independent research has solid been low during the last forty years. Two studies conducted in the late 1990s are striking.
In 1997, Hoover directed what was called a "milestone" study conducted by then-graduate student, Gregory H. Clark. 48 septic systems in two mobile home parks, Clark has created three groups of tanks to receive additives and to act as a control. The tanks were divided into groups that had been well maintained (the last extraction), poor maintenance (rarely or never pumped in 15 -20 years of use), and those who fell in the middle. The principal investigator collection and analysis of samples from the tanks that the tanks did not know had been treated, and the study received no funding and had no business involving septic additive. The three products tested were of Drano, Liquid Plumr and RID-X.
Different measures, such as the depth of the sludge (solids), the thickness of the foam, the number of floating solids, and total of bacteria present in the tank were collected during the period of one year. The study concluded that "the test additives provides no statistically significant or long term significant benefits compared to the control "of the elements that are measured and conditions of this study. The authors also called for continued research wider under the circumstances before "definitive conclusions" can be drawn. This study is published in January 2008 Journal of Environmental Health.
A second study, published field of bacterial additives made by the National Association of Wastewater Transporters, Inc. (NAWT), followed by 12 septic tanks for two years. They also concluded that there was no change in the accumulation of sludge at the bottom of the tank or the number of floating solids. There was a reduction of 30 percent in the floating scum layer, a statistically significant finding, but also found an increase in fats, oils and fats in the septic system flow outlet for the drain field, which could cause other problems. The NAWT concluded that the additive does not seem to have detrimental effect on septic systems, but have no an opinion, positive or negative, regarding the use of additives for bacteria in septic tanks. "
Conclusion
Most chemical additives, which clearly damage septic systems and the environment, no longer sold. The biological additives are mostly benign, but unnecessary, "re-brand potions sold under private labels," according septic systems engineer Sanford Mersky.
Some owners worry that the medications you take, or cleaning solutions used in the home can kill or damage bacteria needed in their tanks. Hause recommends that whenever there is a perceived problem in a septic system, owners should have been assessed by a professional septic, and she says, the local health department is the best place to start looking for resources.
For more information on septic tanks and septic systems, visit -depot.com www.tank.
About the Author
TANK DEPOT offers the very best in plastic tanks: septic tanks, chemical storage tanks, water tanks, and more. Tank depot carries the world’s largest supply of plastic tanks from only the best manufacturers around the country.
How to Find the Septic Tank & Drainfield – Part 2
Septic System Failure Drainfield
Septic System Failure Drainfield
How to Find the Septic Tank & Drainfield – Part 3
Septic System Failure Drainfield
Septic System Failure Drainfield
How to Find the Septic Tank & Drainfield – Part 3
Septic System Failure Drainfield
Septic System Failure Drainfield
How to Find the Septic Tank & Drainfield – Part 3
Septic System Failure Drainfield
Septic System Failure Drainfield
How to Find the Septic Tank & Drainfield – Part 3