A septic system is an underground wastewater treatment structure commonly used in areas without centralized sewer systems. It is a two part system consisting of a septic tank and a disposal field. 

The first part of the system is the septic tank. This is where all the solid and liquid waste is collected from the plumbing lines inside the home. Think of it as the collection spot for everything that is flushed down a toilet or ran down a drain.

The second part of the system is the disposal field or leach field. This is where the effluent water from the septic tank goes to be treated before it is absorbed into the ground soil.

A septic system takes wastewater from your home to be recycled back into the earth. Wastewater is carried from your home by one main drainage pipe (commonly called a sewer line) into the septic tank. Once in the septic tank, solids settle to the bottom (forming sludge), while oil and grease float to the top (forming scum). T-shaped outlets (also called baffles) prevent the sludge and scum from leaving the tank and entering the drainfield.

The liquid wastewater exits the tank  from a pipe known as a crossover line. From there, the water is distributed into the drainfield. The drainfield is where the wastewater percolates into the soil, naturally removing harmful bacteria, viruses, and nutrients. 

There a numerous ways of locating your septic system. 

– Looking on your home’s “as built” drawings. Sometimes these can be found on your county’s website.

– Checking your yard for cleanouts, lids, or manhole covers.

– Contacting a septic inspector or pumper to help locate. There are several tools experts can use to locate septic tanks including a camera. 

There are several reasons why it is important to maintain your septic system. 

-Proper maintenance keeps you and your neighbors healthy. If a system is working properly, it will remove most pollutants. Insufficiently treated sewage can cause groundwater contamination that can spread disease in humans and animals.

-Protecting your property value is another reason why maintaining your septic system is important. A failing or unusable system will lower your property value and pose potentially costly legal liabilities. 

-Maintaining your septic system also saves you money! Regular maintenance pumping fees between $300 to $700 is a bargain compared to the cost of repairing or replacing malfunctioning or failing systems. These repairs can cost you thousands of dollars. 

Additives are a controversial topic in the industry. While some claim their products break down sludge to eliminate the need for pumping, the effectiveness of additives has not been determined. 

Our take? Save your money.. septic tanks already contain the microbes they need to breakdown household wastewater pollutants. 

Upkeep of your system isn’t complicated and doesn’t need to be expensive. There are four major ways to help make sure your septic will work properly for many years.

1. Pump frequently! Septic tanks are often recommended to be pumped every 3-5 years. However, with the recent boom of “flushable” products being sold and used, we recommend tanks to be pumped every 2-3 years. 
2. Be aware of water usage. Efficient water use can improve operation and can reduce the risk of failure. Try scattering loads of laundry and showers to help eliminate overloading your tank. 
3. Keep in mind that your toilet isn’t a trash can. A great rule of thumb is to only flush the “Three Ps”. Pee, poo and (toilet) paper!
4. Take care of your drainfield. Be aware of where your drainfield is on your property before you landscape or decide to make the area your new driveway. Heavy items and roots from trees and plants can infiltrate and lead to structural damage. 

Keep in mind that all water from your household is sent directly to your septic tank. This means that the more water a household conserves, the less water enters the system. The system will be in use less which can help reduce the risk of failure.  

The only things that should be flushed down your toilet are the “Three Ps”. Pee, Poo, and (toilet) Paper. 

Other items that may seem harmless can cause serious (and costly) damage to your system. These include feminine hygiene products, condoms, dental floss, diapers, cigarettes, cat litter, household chemicals (gasoline, oil, pesticides, paint) pharmaceuticals, and baby wipes. Even if a product states it is “flushable”, it’s best to keep it from entering your system.  

Although your drainfield is underground, it is important to be aware of where it is located.

Refrain from parking or driving on or near your drainfield. Heavy items can lead to structural damage. Another way to add some protection, is to be conscious of your landscaping. Try planting trees further away to reduce the chance of root infiltration. It is also a good idea to keep roof drains and other rainwater drainage systems away from your drainfield area. Excess water slows down or stops the wastewater treatment process. 

There is no need to eliminate the use of your garbage disposal. However, just like your toilet, be aware of the items being put down the sink. Sludge and scum can accumulate more rapidly the more you use your garbage disposal.

Go for it! Just be prepared for major maintenance and repair costs.

It is recommended that you pump your tank every 3-5 years. With the recent influx of “flushable” products being used, we believe it is a good idea to pump your tank every 2-3 years for proper maintenance.

This is a controversial topic in the septic industry. Some companies claim that “pumping” can be performed through the tank’s 6″ inspection ports. While “pumping” will just remove the liquids and some floating solids from the tank, “cleaning” is much more extensive and will remove liquids along with floating and settled solids.

We believe that routine service should include removing both the liquids and solids (scum and sludge) from the tank. We refer to this as pumping. 

Whatever you prefer to call it, the septic tank should always be pumped from the large opening (manhole) in the tank. This is the only way to ensure all of the settled solids are removed. 

Around 2001, effluent filters started appearing in the rear chamber of two compartment tanks. Filters were added as another precaution in keeping solids from entering the leach field. Ideally, effluent filters should be cleaned annually, but cleaning them during your pumping service is definitely recommend.  

Baffles are also known as “sanitary T’s”. They are connected from the inlet (from the house) and outlet (to the drainfield) sewer lines. They push the solids into the water instead of allowing them to float on top. They also keep the solids inside the tank, preventing them from entering the sewer lines back into the house or out into the drainfield.

There are a few types of drainfields that can be found in Arizona. The most common are seepage pits, leach lines, chambers and leach beds.

-Seepage pits (also called dry wells) are vertical holes drilled into the ground by using a drill rig. These can range from about 20′-50′ deep and 3′-6′ in diameter. 

-Leach lines (also called trenches) are horizontal lines that range in 20′-100′ in length at a depth between 3′-8′. The trenches are dug using an excavator and pipe is laid on a gravel base. 

-High capacity chambers are poly cast covers that are laid into trenches that allow for much better absorption and flow.

-Leach beds (also called back hoe pits) are squared off , excavated holes about 8′-15′ deep and filled with gravel. These are rarely installed in Arizona after much more efficient disposal methods were discovered.

A distribution box is a concrete or poly box that connects multiple pits or lines into one central connection to the outlet line coming from the septic tank. They are also known as “junction boxes” or “D-boxes”.