Blairs Grove Septic Social

On July10, 2010, Huron-Kinloss Mayor Mitch Twolan hosted a septic social at his residence. Neighbours from Blairs Grove and Lurgan Beach were invited to come and meet the inspector and see how inspections are done. Thanks to: the Mayor for hosting the social, Jason Cranny, septic inspector from the Grey Bruce Health Unit, and Murray Irvin from Porter's.

Check out the pictures of the social below!

Danger Down Below - Forgotten Septic Tanks

Old and abandoned septic tanks, holding tanks or cesspools may be a hidden hazard lurking on your property. Over time, these cement structures erode and can collapse, creating sink holes. In some cases the collapse may not occur until someone or something walks or moves over the old tank. When someone falls into an abandoned septic tank, they can be seriously injured or even killed. In Allentown, New Jersey a 2-year old boy fell into an abandoned cesspool on his family's property. Luckily, his mother saw him fall and was able to pull him to safety. Check out the full story here.

It's important to property decommission any old septic tanks, holding tanks or cesspools. Decommissioning a septic tank involves pumping out the septic tank and then filling it with appropriate material, typically pea-gravel or sand (depending on local regulations). Around the septic tank, the soil is backfilled to a level slightly higher than the ground to allow for settling.

For more information on septic system decommissioning, please refer to the Grey Bruce Health Unit's website.

Go green when you clean

Did you know that your cleaning products may be harming your septic tank? Some cleaning products can be hard on your septic system as well as the environment. For instance, just a small amount of drain cleaner or bleach can kill the good bacteria in your tank that help break down sludge and scum. Many common cleaners also contain harmful chemicals and phosphates which can negatively affect water quality in nearby bodies of water, in addition to harming your system.

However, many pharmacies and grocery stores now offer green cleaning products like laundry detergents, dishwater detergent, dish soap, glass cleaners, and all purpose cleaners which are biodegradable, dye-free, phosphate-free, and contain less harsh chemicals when compared to regular cleaners. To minimize the amount of harmful chemicals going down the drain to your septic tank, switch to green cleaning products. 

Also, you can use natural cleaners that make excellent disinfectants, all purpose cleaners and drain cleaners. Common household items such as boiling water, lemon juice, washing soda, Borax, liquid soap, and white vinegar can be used to keep your kitchen, bathroom, and living room sparkling without harming your septic tank or the environment!   

So before you reach for the bleach, opt to use more tank-friendly cleaning products to keep your system (and the environment) happy!

How Septic Systems Work

When properly cared for, a septic system makes an excellent on-site wastewater treatment centre, located conveniently in your back yard. It is an arrangement of tanks, pipes, and surrounding soil which work together to treat household wastewater.

The treatment process begins when household wastewater enters the septic tank through an inlet tee. The septic tank is a buried, watertight container typically made of concrete, fiberglass or polyethylene and consists of two chambers. As the wastewater flows into the septic tank, the heavy solids settle to the bottom of the tank, forming a sludge layer. Lighter materials such as fats, oils, or grease float to the top forming a scum layer, leaving partially treated wastewater in the middle. Baffles and screens within the tank keep the scum from escaping to the leaching bed. The sludge and scum layers are acted upon by naturally occurring bacteria which work in the anaerobic (oxygen-poor) conditions of the tank and slowly decompose the solid waste. They cannot decompose all the solid waste, therefore, it is important to have your tank pumped out every three to five years. Newer tanks generally have risers with lids at the ground surface to allow easy location, inspection and pumping of the tank.

Next, the partially treated wastewater flows out of the tank by an outlet tee, where it will begin the next step of treatment in the leaching bed. The leaching bed consists of a series of perforated drain pipes. As the wastewater enters the pipes it slowly percolates down from the pipes and into the soil. The soil organisms and the soil itself act as filters by removing nutrients, toxins, bacteria, metals and organisms from the wastewater. As the wastewater continues to move down through the soil, pollutants are removed and eventually the treated water returns to the groundwater system.

Even though your septic system is out of sight, it plays an important role in treating household wastewater. So make sure you maintain your system by getting it inspected and pumped out every three to five years by a professional!

On the lighter side

Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Kentucky back country. As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and, being a typical man, I didn't stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch. I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't know what else to do, so I started to play. The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I've never played before for this homeless man. And as I played 'Amazing Grace,' the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together. When I finished I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full.

As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, "I never seen nothin' like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."

Apparently I'm still lost.

Thinking of replacing your old septic system - check out the minimum separation distances

The following diagram illustrates the required provincial minimum separation distances for septic systems:

New Septic System Technologies to Retrofit Your Current Septic Tank

More and more companies are developing innovative ways to improve septic systems and to extend their life span. 

Some of these technologies include:

Adding parts, such as filters, to stop grease and solids from entering the leaching bed.

Installation of plastic risers to make tank access easier - eliminates digging to locate the septic tank lid when it is time for a pump-out.

"SEPTIC SOCIAL" - SILVER LAKE (FORMER KINLOSS) - SAT. JULY 10TH, 10:00 AM - 12:00 NOON

Councillor Jim Hanna  is hosting a "Septic Social" at his home 1572 Bruce Rd. 1, on Sat. July 10th from
10:00 am - 12:00 pm. 

Come out and see a H-K Community Septic System Inspection. Learn what the program is about, meet the Inspector and see how inspections are being done. Meet your neighbours - free refreshments!

"SEPTIC SOCIAL" - BLAIR'S GROVE / LURGAN BEACH - SAT. JULY 10TH, 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

The Mayor of the Township of Huron-Kinloss, Mitch Twolan is hosting a "Septic Social" on Sat. July 10th at his home, 20 Blair's Grove, Blair's Grove, from 1:30 - 3:30 pm. 

Come out and see a Community Septic System Inspection. Learn what the program is about, meet the inspector and see how inspections are being done. Meet your neighbours - free refreshments!