Septic tanks are used where this is no public sewer available. They work on the principle of breaking down solids by anaerobic bacteria in an enclosed chamber. The final purification of the liquid is in a filter bed. The effluent is sometimes discharged into a humus chamber, which allows the unstable material from the filter to settle. The water resulting from the process then passes into a soakaway. Water from a septic tank should not be discharged into a ditch, stream, river or pond.

JSA: Your septic tank should be pumped every two to three years OR when the total depth of sludge and scum exceeds one third of the depth of the tank. Pumping regularly is cost effective because it extends the life of your leach field which would be a major expense to repair or replace.

JSA: Honestly, if you were absolutely sure it was fermenting properly and there were no non-biodegradable pollutants in it, it should never have to be pumped. The reality, however, is that often the septic tank is used more like a trash can rather than a properly controlled chemistry project. So you need to do service inspections and regular pumping to prolong the life of your septic leaching system. Trained professionals of the Peace of Mind school offer you the best service for your system.

The cost of a septic system is a major investment. To protect that investment and prolong the life of your system, it is necessary to have the septic tank pumped out on a regular basis. Since all solids in your household wastewater settle out in the tank, it's important to have the tank pumped to avoid having sludge block the pipes that allows the liquids to move on to the leach field for filtration.

The national Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association recommends pumping your septic tank every 3-5 years. A proactive, preventative maintenance approach is best. Waiting until the system backs up before pumping out can cause irreparable damage and be very expensive. An inspection with each pumpout can head off costly problems. Metro-Rooter will inspect your system with each pumpout and recommend any needed service.

ANSWER. There are many guidelines about how often a septic tank should be pumped. The absolute answer is to measure the amount of sludge and scum in the tank and pump when it exceeds recommended levels. Remember that the septic tank acts as a separation device separating solids and greases from the water. It takes time for this to happen and generally the tank should be three to four times larger than the daily flow of waste. This gives three to four days for the water to pass through the tank.

Craven District Council does not provide this service. Please refer to the Yellow Pages for telephone details of contractors.

scum and sludge continue to thicken they start to squeeze the clear zone allowing more solids to escape from the tank to the rest of the system. Septic tanks should be pumped when the scum and sludge layers equal 1/3 the capacity of your septic tank. Every home is different and what may work for your household may not work for your neighbor. You should rely on your septic company to measure the layers for you during the pumping process and determine if more frequent pumping is necessary.

Septic Inspections prefer the tank to be at its normal operational levels for the completion of the inspection. If and when we recommend a maintenance pump-out, we suggest you do so after taking possession of property.

To maintain good neighbour relations, you may wish to discuss the problem with them, as they may not know that there is a problem. If this does not work then contact the Environmental Protection Department on 01756 706339

All septic tanks need to be pumped out on a regular basis. Pumping is essential to maintaining a well-functioning system and preventing premature system failure. To understand why, consider what your septic tank does. Your tank's function is to separate solids from liquid flows, and allow only clarified liquid wastewater (after at least 24 hours of settling time) to discharge into your leachfield for final treatment and absorption.

Your septic tank should be pumped at least once every 3-5 years. It may need to be pumped more frequently if there is a large number of people living in the house. Consult the Test Drill map to locate your parcel. The location of your parcel within Sacramento County will help determine the type of system needed for that area

JSA: The best situation for a long, happy septic tank life would be that only human wastewater enters the tank. This includes bathroom sink waste and proper toilet tissue. This however, is seldom the case. People often put anything and everything down sinks, drains and toilets. In moderation, a properly working septic tank can handle some biodegradable detergents, laundry soaps, kitchen wastes and biodegradable household chemicals.