Protect Your Septic System | An Experimental Study
PROTECT YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM!
By John Alden, Watershed Coordinator
AS THE WINTER SEASON APPROACHES, and in view of the difficulties many residents had with their septic systems during the winter of 2002-3, I thought I might provide some advice on how to protect your individual sewage treatment systems during the coming winter. I am a licensed professional septic system designer, and I have met with the Cass County Environmental Services Department (ESD) to discuss Best Management Practices for owners of septic systems.
THE PRIMARY RECOMMENDATION from ESD is that you should maintain the fluids and solids in your septic tank during the fall and winter seasons. In other words, DO NOT PUMP YOUR TANK IN THE FALL. If the winter frost goes to sub-soil levels of 8 to 10 feet, as it did this past winter, the contents of the tank will help to prevent the tank from collapsing under the pressure of expanding frozen soil. It is therefore best to pump your tank, when necessary, in the spring of the year.
A SECOND RECOMMENDATION: The use of advertised septic system additives may be greatly detrimental to your septic system drainfields. This is true for both gravity systems and mound systems. The purpose of a septic tank is to have the solids settle out to the bottom of the septic tank. When the tank is pumped out, these solids will be removed. Additives such as Rid-A do too good a job: they break down the solids before they have reached the bottom of the tank. The additives keep the former solids in liquid suspension that allows the slurry to go directly into the drainfield of the system. Then, unfortunately, the drainfields clog and fail prematurely. DO NOT USE THESE ADDITIVES IN A TEN MILE LAKE SEPTIC SYSTEM.
WHEN SHOULD YOU PUMP YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM? Septic tank pumping schedules depend on the number of year-round residents, the number of summer friends and family, their length of stay, and the basic design of an individual septic system. Staff at the Cass County ESP are very willing to consult with you and help you decide when and how often you need to pump your system.
AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY
by Jim Schwartz, Member, Environment and Ecology Committee
YOU MAY BE AWARE that a few septic systems around the lake have been undergoing an experimental treatment, with the concurrence of the Environment and Ecology Committee. Cass County Department of Environmental Services is also observing this experimental treatment.
INITIAL RESULTS from the 10 septic systems undergoing experimental treatment for nutrient and solids reduction were encouraging. Phosphorus concentrations were down from control systems by 75%, nitrogen by 70% and solids (sludge and scum) by about 90%. Any such decision, of course, will depend upon favorable results from remaining tests.
GOALS OF THE TREATMENT are to: (1) reduce nutrient flows into drain fields; (2) in so doing, cut flows from drain fields to the lake, and (3) prolong the effective life of septic systems by decreasing the formation of solids. If approved, annual cost of the process to individual property owners would range from about $35 for seasonal residents to approximately $65 for those who live here all year. POTENTIAL BENEFITS could be substantial: better treatment of waste water, considerably longer life for septic systems, greater intervals between pumping and, best of all, a healthier Ten Mile Lake.
