The Rural Voice, 1994-03, Page 16Water Matters
Common septic system problems
Last month's issue discussed the
purpose and structure of private sewage
disposal systems. These systems are
used in locations, such as rural areas,
where sewers are not available. A
septic system consists of a large,
concrete tank and underground or
raised beds which contain perforated
tiles set in back-filled trenches. This
system should provide for the safe and
effective treatment of household waste
for 20-25 years of year round use, if
maintained properly.
However, when private waste dis-
posal systems fail, that is, they are no
longer treating waste, it can be
extremely noticeable. Ponding sewage,
backed up toilets, a sewage smell or
lush green strips of grass found over
the tile bed area during typically dry
summer months are all signs of obvious
failure. On the other hand, failure can
be nearly invisible. In areas of sandy
or cobbley soil, typical of parts of the
Lake Huron shoreline, sewage
infiltrates directly through the soil. In
areas typical of these soils, dug wells
and cesspools were typically used. The
risk in this situation is contamination of
neighbouring wells and adjacent water
bodies such as creeks and lakes.
Common
causes for these
problems are:
old age, lack of
maintenance or
inappropriate
design,
installation,
location, and/or
usage. Aged
systems tend to
become clogged
to the point that
they need to be
replaced. Old
concrete tanks may become cracked
and leak. Many old tanks were made of
metal which is known to corrode over
time. Since these tanks are under-
ground, many people who have never
pumped their tanks may be surprised to
Even
new
septic
systems
can fail
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12 THE RURAL VOICE
find a rusted barrel acting as a septic
tank for their home or cottage.
New systems have their problems as
well. About 16 per cent of new installa-
tions fail in the first seven years due to
poor design, installation or location.
Serious consideration should be given
to the following factors in order to
reduce the possibility of system failure:
1) Does the site become saturated
with heavy rainfall, seasonal springs or
flooding or have a high water table?
An overloaded weeping bed has
extreme difficulty functioning under
these conditions. A raised design or
drier location may be necessary.
2) What are the location soils like?
Heavy (some clays) or very light (sand
or cobble) soils cannot provide a
suitable waste treatment environment.
If a system is put directly into heavy
clays, the bed will plug up fairly
quickly with ponding or toilet back up
as a result. Whereas, soils which are
too light will allow sewage to infiltrate
directly through them. In these soil
types, above ground tile beds or
imported fill, suitable for adequate
treatment, may be required.
3) Are there young trees or shallow -
rooting trees on the site? Tree roots
commonly plug up tiles. Willow tree
roots are especially notorious for
plugging weeping tiles.
4) Does the site have enough
sunlight? Septic systems rely heavily
on the availability of the sun in order to
allow for evaporation of the system.
This will help to remove excess water
from saturating the system.
Improper use of septic systems will
almost certainly guarantee future
problems. These disposal systems are
meant to treat human body waste as
well as kitchen, laundry and shower/
bathtub washwater. They cannot treat
household chemicals or hazardous
waste. Water softeners should not be
hooked up because they are known to
clog absorption trenches. Most Health
Units in Ontario recommend water
softeners be directed to leaching pits.
Another known cause for failure is a
change in use of the building the
system is servicing. For example,
many cottages have been converted to
permanent residences without improve -