L B
ARY
E.M. 3091
May 1969
WASHINGTON STAT£ UNIVERSITY
SEPTIC TANK CARE IS BETTER THAN REPAIR*
First of all, less problems will occur if the septic tank is (1) designed to
provide access for cleaning and adequate volume for settling, sludge, and scum
storage, (2) constructed to assure water tightness and with adequate capacity
to include automatic washers, garbage grinders and dishwashers.
Location of Sewage Disposal System
Depends on:
1.
absorbing quality of the soil;
2.
depth of ground water;
3.
size and slope of the lot;
4.
distance to and type of surrounding water supply systems;
5.
distance to
6.
the area of ground needed;
7.
future replacement and expansion of the system; and,
8.
discharge of roof drainage.
strea~s,
lakes, etc.;
Maintenance -Septic tanks and subsurface disposal fields work by bacterial decomposition of
raw sewage only. No additives, yeast, septic tank conditioners or the like are
needed. Many septic tank "cleaners", chemical and enzyme, have been placed on
the market. They are not known, however, to eliminate t he need for periodic inspection and cleaning. Some of the caustic-type cleaners may interfere with
bacterial processes in the tank and lead to clogging in the absorption field.
When putting a new tank in operation, . the addition of digested sludge from an
active tank will help, but all the necessary bacteria will eventually develop
from the incoming sewage.
Normal amounts of bleach, soap, or detergent, will not affect the septic tank
operation.
*Excerpts from the following publications: AIB-274 (USDA) "Farmstead Sewage
and Refuse Disposal" and Bulletin E.S. No-1 "A Septic Tank System for Your
Home", Washington State Dept. of Health.
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
•
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
•
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
In cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture
Issued in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, by the Washington State University
Cooperative Extension Service, John P. Miller, Direc:tur
•
PULLMAN
E.M. 3091 - Page 2
Septic tanks need only be cleaned when the accumulation of scum
ceeds the maximum storage capacity of the tank. A check of the
accumulations every two years is advisable. A strip of turkish
along the edge of a probing stick is useful for determining the
and sludge growth.
and sludge exsludge and scum
toweling fixed
rate of scum
About Tree Roots -Tree roots can mean trouble when they grow into drains and sewers. But costly
digging jobs to free clogged drains can often be avoided. Copper sulfate, also
called blue vitriol, will sometimes free sewers of troublesome tree roots. The
moderately fine crystals, when flushed through the toilet, dis solve easily, yet
lodge i n roots long enough to do their work. The roots are killed wit hout injury to the tree. The dead roots rot off and are washed away.
But prevention is better than trying to clear out a sewer which is badly
clogged. Two or three pounds of copper sulfate should be flushed through the
toilet at the first sign the sewer is sluggish - and if tree roots are a likely
suspect. This should be done when the flow of water is not excessive. Then,
to keep the sewer in good working order, put one and one-half to two pounds
of c opper sulfate through the toilet once a year. Homeowners with septic tank
system can put the crystals through the distribution box if the system has one.
EHD:kb
5/69/2000