There are several ways for a typical septic system failure to occur. Pipes can be broken or clogged by tree roots, by construction activities, or by cars driven over drainfield. However, a system need not be physically broken to fail.
The main reason for failure is reduced or terminated effluent flow through the leach field (also called drainfield). Septic solids remain in the septic tank and must be pumped on a regular schedule. If a tank is not pumped, sludge accumulation can cause solid organic materials to be transmitted to the drainfield where they can clog soil passages and cause excessive growth of the biomat. Grease and fats that form a floating layer in the septic tank can be emulsified by soaps and detergents. These tiny particles of fat and grease can then flow to the drainfield where, over time, they will clog soil pores.
Over an extended period of time, some of the solids that are suspended in the effluent flow from the septic tank into the leach field. The anaerobic bacteria digest the waste particles in the effluent and produces a by-product referred to as "bio-mat". The bio-mat is a black slime that contributes to soil clogging. The bio-mat grows to a thickness that basically plugs off your leach field and prevents water from draining away, creating a stinky “pond” in your yard!
The drainfield, also known as the leachfield, absorption bed, disposal field or seepage field performs the task of accepting and processing wastewater, or effluent, from the septic tank before it returns to natural aquifers below the earth's surface. Secondary processing begins in these beds as the effluent fills the trench then seeps through the biomat and into the surrounding soil.
The biomat is a naturally occurring tar-like substance that forms on the bottoms and sides of the drainfield trenches. It is made up of living anaerobic (without oxygen) organisms, which feed on organic matter in the wastewater. As the biomat matures it grows thicker slowing down the flow of wastewater to the surrounding soil. When the biomat grows too thick a waterproof barrier develops and absorption stops.
Another common problem develops in soils containing clay. Sodium in ordinary detergents, soaps, household cleaners, and water softeners causes clay particles in the soils to chemically bond. Additionally, naturally occurring bacterial strains found throughout your septic system are killed off by the use of many household chemicals such as bleach, anti-bacterial soaps and other bacteria killing chemical products that enter your tank.
When soil absorption stops, soils flood. Standing water may be seen on the surface of the drainfield. Water may back up into the tank and even into household plumbing. This is often the first sign of soil failure in your septic system. Drainfield soils begin failing at the beginning of the field. As areas of soil clog the effluent moves to the next available area down the line, when water reaches the end of the field, and can no longer be absorbed, it surfaces. This is a sign of total drainfield failure.
You can suspect the problem is the drainfield if:
- There are wet spots and persistent odors in your yard or over the drainfield
Drains are slow or wastewater backs up into the house in toilets and drains when it’s used heavily, or during wet months - Problems continue even though the tank has been pumped recently and the plumbing backs-up again shortly thereafter.
How do you fix this problem?
- When Proline's Septic Saver is installed, air is mixed with the wastewater at a near vacuum in the Aeroblend device. With the action of the Aeroblend device four things occur:
- The O2 is dissolved in the effluent in a low pressure environment. Much like sugar dissolves into hot tea faster and easier than cold tea, this method of exposing O2 to the effluent dissolves the O2 into the effluent MUCH more quickly than bubble making devices.
- The nitrogen in the air separates and bubbles off. Compare to a diver coming up too fast. The nitrogen separates from his blood and bubbles off giving him the bends.
- At the sudden loss of pressure, the cell walls of the waste in the effluent literally burst open. Imagine a grape thrown into space from the shuttle. It would literally burst open when it hits the vacuum of space. This allows aerobic bacteria to eat the waste more quickly. Also, because the effluent is so highly oxygenated, it allows oxidation of waste material. (Picture rust, only on organic material. Oxidation of organic material produces carbon – a very fine black powder.)
- Because of the way that O2 is introduced into the system via the AeroBlend device, so much O2 is present in the Proline system that bacteria is not the only process that “treats” the waste material. Much of the waste is simply oxidized (turned into a carbon powder).
Between the aerobic bacteria and the oxidation (burning) caused by the high O2 levels, all that is left of the waste going into the system is a black carbonized powder.
For more information on how you can reclaim a failed septic system for less than $900.00 call Proline Wastewater Equipment at (512) 864-9002
Proline's Septic Saver
http://www.prolinewastewater.com/septic_failure_fix.htm
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