Mushy Yard

[Eric Maron]

Hello, A couple of years ago, I found that a sectionin my yard was oozing waste water from the ground. Needless to say, I smelled like Dung!!!I had my septic system pumped twice in a year, and the company that pumped the sludge said it was quite heavy. They had me treat the system for a month or so, and then pumped the system the 2nd time.I see that the section of the yard is once again oozing the nasty bile.What are the options to keep that muck below ground, and not let it come to the surface?Thanks, Carlos

[CarlosParticipant]

: Hello, : A couple of years ago, I found that a section in my yard was oozing waste water from the ground. Needless to say, It smelled like Dung!!!: I had my septic system pumped twice in a year, and the company that pumped the sludge said it was quite heavy. They had me treat the system for a month or so, and then pumped the system for the 2nd time.: I see that the section of the yard is once again oozing the nasty bile.: What are my options to keep that muck below ground, and not let it come to the surface?: Thanks, : Carlos

[CarlosParticipant]

: Hello, : A couple of years ago, I found that a sectionin my yard was oozing waste water from the ground. Needless to say, I smelled like Dung!!!: I had my septic system pumped twice in a year, and the company that pumped the sludge said it was quite heavy. They had me treat the system for a month or so, and then pumped the system the 2nd time.: I see that the section of the yard is once again oozing the nasty bile.: What are the options to keep that muck below ground, and not let it come to the surface?: Thanks, : CarlosCarlos, it sounds like your leach field is failing to percolate the effluent from your septic tank, into the soil. Pumping the sludge from the septic tank is only part of the solution to your problem. Your system most likely has but one leach field.Systems utilizing this design concept have a finite design life. In other words they are designed to fail at some point in time. Unfortunately, most permitting agencies in this country (USA), and others, issue permits for systems with this inherent design characteristic on a daily basis.When the clogging mat, which is formed at the gravel-soil interface, grows to a thickness such that the percolation rate through it, is less than the application rate on it, the effluent either surfaces in the yard, or backs up into the septic tank, and ultimately into the house. The effluent will flow in the path of least resistance. In the case of your system, it surfaces in your yard.When faced with a septic system failure such as yours, and provided there is adequate area available, I recommend the installation of a diversion valve in the sewer pipe between the septic tank, and the existing leach field. I prefer the use of a plug valve, manufactured by NATIONAL DIVERSIFIED SALES. Another leach field is then installed so that you have the ability to alternate the effluent flow from one field to the other on an annual basis.The leach field never drys out, but instead it becomes unsaturated. When the effluent is no longer applied to the resting field, and the residual water slowly percolates through the clogging mat, it is replaced by air. The oxygen in the air changes the environment in the leach field from one that is anaerobic (no oxygen), to one that is aerobic (oxygen present). The clogging mat is then quickly removed by aerobic microbial digestion.I prefer the use of SB*2 gravelless leach field tubing, manufactured by ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS. Monitoring and ventilation ports are then installed in each field.The ventilation port in the resting field is fitted with a drain grate to allow atmospheric air to enter the leach field. The monitoring port in the in-use field is fitted with a threaded plug to prevent sewer gas odors from eminating into the yard.It is also prudent to install a septic tank effluent filter in the outlet tee of the tank. I prefer to use a ZABEL filter, because of the ease of cleaning. This filter improves the quality of the effluent being applied to the leach field by reducing suspended solids concentrations. It also eliminates from the effluent, the condoms, cigarette filters, tampon applicators, plastics, and all other indigestible crap that find their way into the septic system, and pass right through a conventional septic tank baffle system.Be sure to install a riser to the ground surface over the outlet manhole of the tank so that it is easy to access the filter for cleaning. The filter can be cleaned by pulling it up to the top of the tee, and flushing the accumulated debris back into the tank, with a strong stream from a hose.The annual maintenance duties should be performed on SEWAGE INDEPENDENCE DAY, the 4th of July. Celebrate your independence of the SEWER GRID, but remember that with this independence comes the responsibility of a sewage treatment system operator.I recommend that you implement the above modifications to your system to provide a system with an infinite design life, if given the required, proper maintenance.The length of the above response is necessary because of the complexity of subject, and a more brief response would be a disservice to you. I value the opportunity to get up on the stump that this international forum provides, and yet again, preach this sermon to those regulators that permit inadequate septic system designs. My only hope is that they read, and heed this advice when updating regulations they promulgate. I also hope that the professionals in the industry will petition the regulatory agencies to implement the required changes in the codes for their respective jurisdictions. I hereby invite feedback, from the professionals in the industry to the above recommended septic system design standards. JWA

[CarlosParticipant]

: : Hello, : : A couple of years ago, I found that a sectionin my yard was oozing waste water from the ground. Needless to say, I smelled like Dung!!!: : I had my septic system pumped twice in a year, and the company that pumped the sludge said it was quite heavy. They had me treat the system for a month or so, and then pumped the system the 2nd time.: : I see that the section of the yard is once again oozing the nasty bile.: : What are the options to keep that muck below ground, and not let it come to the surface?: : Thanks, : : Carlos: Carlos, it sounds like your leach field is failing to percolate the effluent from your septic tank, into the soil. Pumping the sludge from the septic tank is only part of the solution to your problem. Your system most likely has but one leach field.: Systems utilizing this design concept have a finite design life. In other words they are designed to fail at some point in time. Unfortunately, most permitting agencies in this country (USA), and others, issue permits for systems with this inherent design characteristic on a daily basis.: When the clogging mat, which is formed at the gravel-soil interface, grows to a thickness such that the percolation rate through it, is less than the application rate on it, the effluent either surfaces in the yard, or backs up into the septic tank, and ultimately into the house. The effluent will flow in the path of least resistance. In the case of your system, it surfaces in your yard.: When faced with a septic system failure such as yours, and provided there is adequate area available, I recommend the installation of a diversion valve in the sewer pipe between the septic tank, and the existing leach field. I prefer the use of a plug valve, manufactured by NATIONAL DIVERSIFIED SALES. Another leach field is then installed so that you have the ability to alternate the effluent flow from one field to the other on an annual basis.: The leach field never drys out, but instead it becomes unsaturated. When the effluent is no longer applied to the resting field, and the residual water slowly percolates through the clogging mat, it is replaced by air. The oxygen in the air changes the environment in the leach field from one that is anaerobic (no oxygen), to one that is aerobic (oxygen present). The clogging mat is then quickly removed by aerobic microbial digestion.: I prefer the use of SB*2 gravelless leach field tubing, manufactured by ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS. Monitoring and ventilation ports are then installed in each field.: The ventilation port in the resting field is fitted with a drain grate to allow atmospheric air to enter the leach field. The monitoring port in the in-use field is fitted with a threaded plug to prevent sewer gas odors from eminating into the yard.: It is also prudent to install a septic tank effluent filter in the outlet tee of the tank. I prefer to use a ZABEL filter, because of the ease of cleaning. This filter improves the quality of the effluent being applied to the leach field by reducing suspended solids concentrations. It also eliminates from the effluent, the condoms, cigarette filters, tampon applicators, plastics, and all other indigestible crap that find their way into the septic system, and pass right through a conventional septic tank baffle system.: Be sure to install a riser to the ground surface over the outlet manhole of the tank so that it is easy to access the filter for cleaning. The filter can be cleaned by pulling it up to the top of the tee, and flushing the accumulated debris back into the tank, with a strong stream from a hose.: The annual maintenance duties should be performed on SEWAGE INDEPENDENCE DAY, the 4th of July. Celebrate your independence of the SEWER GRID, but remember that with this independence comes the responsibility of a sewage treatment system operator.: I recommend that you implement the above modifications to your system to provide a system with an infinite design life, : if given the required, proper maintenance.: The length of the above response is necessary because of the complexity of subject, and a more brief response would be a disservice to you. I value the opportunity to get up on the stump that this international forum provides, and yet again, preach this sermon to those regulators that permit inadequate septic system designs. My only hope is that they read, and heed this advice when updating regulations they promulgate. I also hope that the professionals in the industry will petition the regulatory agencies to implement the required changes in the codes for their respective jurisdictions. I hereby invite feedback, from the : professionals in the industry to the above recommended septic system design standards. JWAJust entered this follow up to see if it would appear on the main bulletin board.

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