Frequently Asked Questions How can I maintain a healthy septic system? The septic tank provides the first step in treatment. Its primary purpose is to protect the drainage field, or other system components, from becoming clogged by solids suspended in the wastewater. The wastewater is discharged from the home directly into the tank where it is retained for a day or more. During the time it is in the tank, the heavier solids settle to the bottom to form a sludge layer. The lighter solids, greases and soil float to the top to form a scum layer. The tank must be pumped regularly to remove the accumulated solids. If not done, the tank will fill with sludge and the solids will be washed out into the drainage field where they will quickly clog the soil. The drainage field, or subsurface infiltration field, provides final treatment of the wastewater and disposes the treated water through groundwater recharge. The drainage field is typically built as a series of trenches or as one larger bed, and is usually 1 to 3 feet below ground level. The drainage field must be constructed in permeable soils, have a level bottom, and be 4 or more feet above the groundwater table. The septic tank effluent is allowed to flow to the drainage field by gravity or is dosed by pump or siphon. The effluent enters the soil and is treated as it percolates to the groundwater. The soil acts as a biological filter to remove nearly all harmful substances including disease causing bacteria and viruses, toxic organics and other undesirable wastewater constituents remaining in the septic tank effluent. Drainage fields other than those described above can be used. These include leaching chambers, seepage pits mounds, LPP's, atgrades and other designs. If you have any of these, check with your installer or contact CJS. Pump Your Tank Regularly Pumping your septic tank is probably the single most important thing you can do to protect your system. If the buildup of solids in the tank becomes too high and solids move to the drainfield, this could clog and strain the system to the point where a new drainfield will be needed. Inspect Your System Annually Inspecting your septic system annually is a good way to monitor your system's health. Inspections can reveal problems before they become serious, and by checking the levels of sludge and scum in your tank, you can get a more accurate idea of how often it should be pumped. Protect Your System Finally, it is important to protect your septic system from potential damage. Planting anything other than grass near your septic system, such as shrubs and trees, can cause damage. In addition, do not allow anyone to drive or operate heavy machinery over any part of the system. Also, do not build anything over the drainage field. Return to FAQ's