Karen Mancl
Professor and Water Quality Specialist
The Ohio State University
A septic tank-soil absorption system, as the name implies, is made up of two parts. Wastewater first flows from the home into a 1000- to 2000-gallon septic tank buried in the yard. The tank is watertight and equipped with baffles to create a place for wastewater to stand for at least a day. During that time the solid materials settle to the bottom of the tank and the greases and other light materials float to the top. While the wastewater, with the solid material mostly removed, flows out of the tank past an outlet baffle for additional treatment, the solid material accumulates until the tank capacity is reduced and the tank requires pumping.
The wastewater that flows from the tank is still sewage, requiring additional treatment to prevent contaminating water resources or threatening the health of people in the area. Deep, well drained soils are ideally suited to provide the necessary treatment. As the wastewater is distributed through trenches or laterals buried in the yard, it infiltrates the soil. Any remaining solid particles are filtered out, and the organic matter and nutrients are reduced by the microorganisms that colonize the soil under the trenches. Disease-causing organisms are also filtered out in the soil. To find out more about septic systems and septic tanks ask for "Septic Tank-Soil Absorption Systems" (AEX-743) and "Septic Tank Maintenance" (AEX-740), fact sheets available from Ohio county Extension offices.
The process of infiltration and treatment occurs for years in properly sited, designed, and managed septic systems. If neglected, a number of things can go wrong. Fortunately, if identified early, problems can be easily corrected at minimal or no cost.
The goal of a management program is to ensure long-term performance of septic tank-soil absorption systems to protect the public health and the environment. This is accomplished through a five-step process.
Proper siting and design are always critical in the consideration of septic tank-soil absorption systems. Ensuring that these systems are properly sited and designed takes on extra importance to the entity providing long-term management. Systems that have serious design problems are sometimes referred to as "lemons." A management program, no matter how conscientious, will be unable to overcome the deficiencies present in systems that are constructed in soils unsuited for soil absorption systems or are inadequate for the amount of wastewater being generated.
Management entities have detailed rules on site evaluation and design criteria for the systems they plan to manage. Inspections of the site as the system is being planned and sited are done to ensure that the systems are in the right place from the start. Designs are also reviewed and approved by the management entity to avoid oversights.
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Lake Panorama in Guthrie County, Iowa, has operated under a septic system management program since 1980. The 5100-acre rural development has a set of detailed rules on site evaluation and system design that is stricter than the rest of the county. Once the location of the soil absorption system has been identified, the site must be protected by a fence to avoid the disturbance and compaction of the soil as a home is being built on the lot. |
New septic tank-soil absorption systems that will be managed, must be constructed with management in mind. Fortunately, it is not difficult or expensive to construct a system to facilitate long-term management. The special features include:
Existing septic tank-soil absorption systems can be located and mapped to facilitate future management. Tank risers, lateral inspection ports, and additional lateral lines with a valve can be added as a retrofit. Because septic tank-soil absorption systems are buried, without a good construction diagram, locating existing systems for a retrofit can take some time.
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All septic tank-soil absorption systems at Lake Panorama have tank risers, lateral inspection ports, and valves to rest portions of the soil absorption system. Systems constructed after 1980 had these management features installed at construction. The management district worked gradually over a five-year period to locate and upgrade the approximately 300 systems installed before 1980. |
An annual inspection for possible problems quickly checks on the operation of septic tank-soil absorption systems. It takes from 15 to 20 minutes to:
Every three years the septic tank should be opened and inspected. The items to be checked are:
An additional 15 to 20 minutes per system must be set aside for record keeping to:
Finally, time to travel to the systems for inspections in rural areas must be included. By scheduling inspections by neighborhood, travel time can be kept to a minimum.
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About 600 septic systems are inspected each year at Lake Panorama. By catching problems early, they can be corrected with little or no expense and reduce the environmental and public health impact. The inspector is especially watchful for changes in landscaping that can inadvertently damage or restrict access to a septic system. |
Early maintenance and repairs are possible and encouraged through a regular inspection program. Routine maintenance, like septic tank pumping, can be accurately prescribed. Problems, such as ponding in a lateral line, can be identified and corrected easily at very little or no expense.
Management entities aggressively monitor routine maintenance and repairs to make sure they are done as needed. Most management entities have penalty provisions in place if homeowners refuse to maintain or repair their systems. The management entity may also have the authority to go onto private property and perform the necessary work. Fortunately, this is seldom a problem. Once properly sited, designed, and guarded from damage, septic systems need a minimum of maintenance and rarely require repair.
It is important to note that the expected life of any wastewater treatment system, including septic systems, is 20 to 30 years. While older systems may still function, they will likely require upgrading or component replacement. A management entity can monitor the system's age and forewarn property owners of anticipated upgrades.
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Management of septic systems at Lake Panorama has been very effective. Less than 1 percent of the 625 systems malfunction per year. Those that do are corrected quickly. If a property owner refuses to correct a malfunction, the management district requests that the water be turned off. In this way, untreated wastewater does not threaten the lake or the neighbors. |
Supporting the management entity ensures long-term performance of septic systems. While it is not cost-free, managing septic systems is about one-tenth the cost of a typical sewer bill. The most important element of a management program is a knowledgeable and dedicated inspector. Depending on labor costs in the area and travel distances, annual septic system inspections cost from $30 to $50 per home.
Maintenance and repair costs vary. Some management entities set fees so they can provide the necessary maintenance for everyone. In others, the property owner contracts and pays for necessary maintenance and repairs on an individual basis. What works best depends on the wishes of the community.
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The county sanitarian has inspected systems at Lake Panorama since the management entity was formed. Because he knows so much about every system, inspections are completed quickly. He spends about 40 percent of his time each year inspecting the 625 systems, notifying property owners of needed maintenance or repair, checking to make sure the work is done, keeping records, and preparing reports. When asked what he likes best about his work, he said, "I like working with people and helping them out with a problem. I like making the county better." |
Providing long-term management of septic systems is simple, quick, and inexpensive. With annual inspections, the need for maintenance and repair is identified early, and it can be taken care of at minimal or no cost. Most importantly, through annual inspections landscape changes that could damage or interfere with the septic system can be identified and corrected quickly. Through management of properly sited and designed septic tank-soil absorption systems, rural communities can provide for low-cost wastewater treatment and protect the public health and the environment.
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Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Adm. and Director, OSU Extension.
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