One of the services that Hanover Land Services, Inc. provides for our clients is perc test coordination and septic system design in both Maryland and Pennsylvania. Perc testing, or Probe/Perc testing in PA, is required to assure that the site soils are adequate to support a septic system. The perc testing data is also used in the septic system design. Both Doug Barmoy and Reg Baugher are certified Sewage Enforcement Officers (SEOs) in Pennsylvania. SEO certification requires extensive training in soils and septic design.
For anyone who wonders how a septic system actually functions, here's a quick explanation. Sewage from your home (on anything else connected to your septic system) flows to the septic tank where the primary treatment takes place. Septic tanks are usually rectangular and made of concrete. The tank is typically designed to retain the sewage that flows from a home each day for 24-36 hours.
In the tank, the heaviest matter settles to the bottom where naturally occurring bacteria work to help these solids decompose and form sludge. The lighter solids, greases and fats, known as scum, float on top. This leaves a center layer of a liquid containing dissolved and suspended sewage material. The middle layer flows from the tank through an outlet pipe to a tile field, deep trench, sandmound, or seepage pit where the liquid seeps into the soil over a large area. This is why perc test are needed to find good permeable soils to support a septic system. The soil provides additional treatment for the effluent.
The sludge and scum layers stay in the septic tank and will eventually need to be removed by pumping. When wastewater leaves a septic tank too soon (the tank is either too small or water use is unusually high), solids can be carried with it to the drainfield. These solids can damage the drainfield by clogging the small holes in the drainfield pipes.
Tips for Septic System Maintenance:
- Do not drive or park vehicles on any part of the septic system.
- Plant only grass over a septic system drain field. Roots could cause
damage.
- Flush/drain responsibly: Flushing household chemicals like paint, pesticides, oil and antifreeze can destroy the biological treatment taking place in the system (halt the decomposing of solids).
- The only thing that should be flushed in the toilet are wastewater and toilet paper. Anything else could potentially cause clogs.
- Don't use septic tank additives. Under normal operating conditions,these
products usually do not help and some may be harmful to your system.
- Stagger laundry or other high water use events throughout the week. Try to do no more than two laundry loads per day.
- Pump septic tank at minimum every 3-5 years.
Signs of a Failing Septic System:
- Toilet running sluggish - Sewer odors in the house and/ or drinking water
- Illness, often to household
visitors
- Sponginess around septic
tank, distribution box or dosing
tank and absorption area
- Surfacing raw sewage
- Backup of sewage into laundry tubs or other fixtures
- Dosing pump runs constantly or not at all
- Dosing tank alarm light is on