pump

According to Roger Melville, Septic Tank Inspector for Carteret County for 14 years, "Normally a household with two persons should have it's septic tank pumped out every five to seven years.  A full household of four or more requires pump-out every three to five years." Agnes and I  bought our new home in River Bend sixteen years ago from builder Rick Sheper. The septic tank had never been pumped out since we moved in. . After seeing all the discussion of septic tanks versus city provided city sewer systems, I decided it was time to research the subject and check on our septic tank.

  The truck to the left is a 3000 gallon vacuum pump truck with special backwash feature

Septic Tank Service Contacted                                                                                                                          I contacted Atlantic All Pro, a septic tank service company which was established in New Bern by  Roger Melville and his son Scott six years ago.  I know that I and many of you were at a loss as to what was involved. How often should a pump-out be done and how much it would cost?  How would the pump truck reach the septic tank which was located behind my home?  I decided to photograph the procedure and show you step by step what is involved. 

First, I found that there are many types of septic tank systems specifically designed for certain terrains and soil conditions.  Some River Bend homes have dual septic tank systems; one for the toilets and the other for washing machine output.  I am going to concentrate on the "Conventional" septic tank system which is most commonly used in River Bend.  It consists of a septic tank and a drain field of 100 to 150 lineal feet or more.  Systems using two septic tanks will run 200 to 300 lineal feet.  A drain field is a ditch normally three feet wide which grades downward away from the septic tank.  It is lined with six inches of gravel stone upon which is laid a flexible four inch plastic pipe with one inch drain holes.  Additional gravel stone is added around the pipe which is then covered with a builders paper to prevent the soil above from clogging it.  Drain fields are not designed to last forever.  However, there is a special service available which rejuvenates and restores drainage systems which is called "Terra-Lift".

The Septic Tank
The truck arrived at 9:00 AM and backed down the driveway.  Next step was to locate the septic tank which was a foot underground somewhere in the back yard.  Scott used a quarter inch steel rod which he kept poking  into the ground until he hit a hard surface.  This took less than two minutes.  He then took a shovel and uncovered the tank.  The tank is divided  into two sections by a baffle located two/thirds from the input end of the tank.  The  baffle contains a 3" horizontal slit near the top which permits water to run into the outflow portion of the tank.   Septic tanks installed prior to 1982 do not have this baffle. 

(1) Probing for septic tank (2) Uncovering septic tank (3) Lifting cover on main section of tank (4) pumping sewage (5) pump hose running back to truck pump.

A heavy duty three inch flexible hose was run from the pump-out truck to the septic tank and the pump-out began.

A thousand gallons of sewage and sludge were removed.  There was two feet of sludge in the first section and a foot in the second section.  Normally, It is recommended that sludge not be allowed to build up more than one foot in the first section and none in the overflow section.

A long handle shovel is used to break up the heavy sludge in the bottom of the tank.  A high pressure stream of water is also played on the sludge to liquefy it  making it possible for pump-out.  Sewage had deteriorated a section of the cement outflow structure which was a part of the tank controlling waste water outflow level.   This is usually caused by a weak cement mixture. This required installation of a PVC tee which was installed into the outflow pipe to the leeching field. This was replaced at a cost of $50.00.  The cost of the pump-out was $125.00.  The septic tank was recovered and everything put back in place.  You would never know that there had been a pump-out  The job took about an hour and a half.   The system should be serviceable for another five to seven years or more.

(1) Hook up of pump hose to truck pump (2) Overflow section uncovered (3) pump-out (4) new PVC Tee (5) deteriorated outflow section

(6) installation of new PVC tee into drainage field outflow (7) job completed

Chemical Treatments
      There are many chemical products on the market which would have you believe that dumping their product into your system eliminates clog-up problems.  Although these products hasten the decomposition of sewage, your septic tank still needs pump-out of the sludge that accumulates on the bottom of your tank. 

       Homes using garbage disposal units should have their septic tanks attended to on a yearly basis. 

The frequency of pump-outs is often determined by the number of persons in a household, what is thrown into the system  and soil leeching  conditions.

Symptoms of Drainage (Leaching) Field Failure
    (1) The smell of sewage; (2) Sewage backing up into your house, (3) Smelly puddles above the drain fields.  This constitutes a very serious health problem . The leach field for your septic tank is exhausted and badly needs to be repaired or rejuvenated.   It could cost thousands of dollars to replace the system.  Fortunately, there is another option.  Roger Melville suggested that I contact Mike Joyce at Mike's Septic & Sewer Works in Newport. (252-223-2233)  for further information. This company which specializes in drain field rejuvenation has (a) rooter-rootor for removal of roots which sometimes grow into the drain fields; (b)) a 4,000 lb hydro-jetter which also cleans drain field lines of small roots, greases, and other obstructions; (c) the Terralift which does an excellent job of cleaning the system  and enables the company to offer a two year warranty on their work.  The alternate to Terralift is the installation of a new leach field which is expensive.\

How Terralift Works
    Terralift uses a long, narrow probe and an integral pneumatic hammer to penetrate soil to depths of three to six feet - depending upon the depth of your leach field.  It then forces air into the soil at a controllable rate using a special high-pressure compressor creating a network of fissures and cracks which breaks up the biomat that has formed on the wall of the trenches, and loosens compacted soil in the leach field .
    Terralift adds a new dimension to the process of using a second tank and parallel system that simultaneously allows the injection of air and polystyrene beads into the fissures and cracks that have been opened by the compressed air.  This maintains the passages for the percolation of liquids away from the trenches.
    Because air tends to follow the path of least resistance, both the air and the pellets will move horizontally and vertically upward through the soil.
    The pellets keep air and water passages open to ensure proper leaching and  transpiration on a long term basis.  The operation is repeated every four feet (depending on soil conditions) around each of the leach field trenches.

Day to Day Management.
    Just remember that when you flush your toilet, your waste is sent into your septic tank where a bacterial action takes place to decompose it sending the heavy sludge to the bottom of the tank.
    Don't use too much water as the drain field does not have unlimited capacity.
    The average person uses 50 gallons of water each day.
    Soils with heavy clay content do not absorb waste water very well.  Sandy soils such as those found in River Bend are good for drainage.
    Water conservation will extend the life of your system.
    Restrict the use of your garbage disposal unit.
  Don't poison your system by dumping  solvents, oils, paints, thinners, pesticides,                   disinfectants poisons and other substances into the system.  They can kill the bacteria that help purify your sewage and can also contaminate groundwater.

Limit Disposal to Sewage
    Don't use your septic tank as a trash can for cigarette butts, tissues, sanitary napkins, cotton swabs, cat box litter, coffee grinds, disposable diapers or plastic products which do not deteriorate.
     Don't put grease or cooking oil into the system.

Permit From Health Department
    A permit from the Health Department is required for new installations of septic tanks and or leeching fields.  It is not required for pump-out, router rooting of leeching fields or tera-lift.