Having a riser and a lid with a clear path to the tank along with having your tank pumped regularly (every 3-5 years) in addition to having your filter cleaned as needed,  will provide you with a long lasting, healthy on site system. For example, a 1,000 gallon tank that is pumped every 4 years, will cost you about $5 a month. Add a filter cleaning at only $60 annually, and you have a low cost, well maintained system. 

What kind of system do I have??

Septic System:

A septic system receives and treats wastewater from homes before releasing it back into the groundwater supply. Treatment of wastewater includes the removal and storage of inorganic solids, the processing of sewage and the biological removal of harmful bacteria and viruses. Most septic systems are comprised of a tank and a drainfield, although some types of systems–such as a multi-flow septic system–include only a tank. The important distinction is that a septic tank removes pollutants from wastewater.

Cesspool:

A cesspool is any pit or container that receives wastewater from a house or building. The term “cesspool” is usually used to refer to an open pit that is lined with rocks or concrete, but an underground tank or holding container that is not connected to a drainfield can also be defined as a cesspool. The main function of cesspools is the storage of wastewater.

What can’t I put into the cesspool?

ANSWER: There is a long list, but if it won’t biodegrade, don’t put it in. Plastics, paint, coffee grounds, egg shells, floss, disposable diapers, condoms, tampons, cooking oil, motor oil, bleach, and solvents should go somewhere else. Please don’t empty your pool or spa here!

Ask anyone that has ever dealt with a drain field. They will tell you, there are a number of reasons why drain fields back up. The most common cause for this issue is that of over usage in a small amount of time. If you have guests that come over and stay for a week or two, then this can often be the leading cause of having issues with your drain field. The septic system is not designed for a heavy use environment and as a result, this will often lead to a drain field backing up and needing service to correct the problem.

There are other factors that will play a role in the failure of a drain field. One of the other most common of these is that of the wrong items being flushed down the toilet or placed in the garbage disposal. This is a difficult thing for a person that is not accustomed to a septic system to adjust to. Unlike a sewer system that almost anything can be flushed, you have a list of items that are never to be flushed down the system. These accumulate and clog up the system. Depending on the level of the problem, you might be forced to replace the entire system to get it flowing again.

There are many other areas of concern that have to be explored if the previous ones have not been found to be the problem. One of these is the failure of the pipes that are part of the drain field system. This is often one of the overlooked issues that cause a backup in the drain field to occur. It is vital that you have a professional inspect these pipes on a regular basis to ensure that you are getting the best results from your drain field and that it is not going to be a huge issue. Inspections are fairly inexpensive and can help you understand the basics of your system and what condition it is in.

These are just a few of the things that a homeowner needs to be on the outlook for when it is a matter of keeping their drain fields from backing up. Taking a little of this advice can actually save a homeowner thousands of dollars in the end by not having to replace their entire system. By performing regular maintenance on the system to keep it in good running is the key to a healthy system. The key to all of this is to maintain the system regularly, and to not allow things to go too long once a problem is discovered.