Can't Find Your Septic Tank?

Did you just move into your house or cottage? Do you know when the last time the septic tank was pumped out and do you know where the septic system  is? Many people find themselves unsure of the location of their septic tank and leaching bed when they buy or inherit a home or cottage. If you don’t know where, it’s important to find out – not only to make getting regular pump-outs easier, but also so you can avoid building or planting trees or gardens over your leaching bed.

Here are some tips on what you can do to try and find your septic system:

• Contact the previous owner and ask them where the septic tank and leaching bed are.
• Contact your local health unit. If you live in Huron-Kinloss, contact the Grey Bruce Health Unit at 1-800-263-3456. If your septic system was installed after 1974 they may have a permit on file with a diagram showing the location of the septic system when it was installed. If not, they will be able to give you tips on what to look for.
• You can also ask local pumpers if they have ever serviced the property. They may have a recollection or record of where the system is.
• Find the main waste line out of the house/cottage. Look in the lowest part of the building, usually the basement or crawlspace. It’s usually a 4 to 6 inch pipe that goes out of the building and connects to the septic tank.  Make note of its location. This will give you an idea of where to start looking for the tank outside.
• Look for clues outside.
• In the winter, patches where the snow has melted can indicate the location of the tank.
• Look for rectangular depressions roughly 4ft by 8ft in size. The soil around septic tanks can settle over time, creating a depression where the septic tank is.
• In the summer look for areas of grass that are greener than the rest. The area that stays greener or has thicker grass may be the site of the leaching bed.
• Spongy or wet areas of the lawn may be the site of a failing leaching bed.
• When you figure out where the system is make sure you mark the location of the tank. Draw a map with measurements and landmarks.
• If you have no history on the last tank pump-out, call a local pumper to arrange for an inspection.
• Consider having access risers added your system. PVC risers can be added to make your lid flush with the ground – saving you from digging up your lawn every time the system needs pumped. The lids are watertight, secure and because they are made of high-density polyethylene, they don’t rust or corrode! 

Warning  Old septic systems can be a safety risk – some may have rotten wooden lids or cracked, eroded cement or steel lids. If you step on a rotten or cracked lid, you could end up in the tank, and that could be fatal. Never inspect or pump-out a septic tank yourself. Don't open the lid either, deadly gases in the tank can quickly overwhelm you, so leave opening the tank, inspecting the tank, and pumping out the tank to a licensed professional!

Winter is a-coming! Winter and your septic system

Your septic system can feel the wrath of winter too, when the snow falls and the temperature drops, remember to keep your septic system bundled up!

Depending on your system, location, and water use, your septic system could freeze during the winter months. The pipe connecting the house to the tank, the septic tank, the pipe connecting the septic tank to the leaching field and the leaching field are the parts of the system that commonly freeze up if not properly protected.

It’s important as a homeowner to maintain your system and have regular inspections prior to the winter months; however septic systems need to be kept warm during the winter too! Systems are more likely to freeze up during cold periods with no snow as oppose to periods with snowfall. To insulate your septic system simply place a foot of mulch (grass clippings, straw, hay or leaves) over top of it or let the grass grow long in the fall. The mulch and/or grass act as a snow fence and will catch the snow. Adequate snow cover benefits the system as it acts as natural insulator. The air spaces between the snow flakes trap warm air creating an insulating blanket over the soil. For additional insulation, Styrofoam sheets can be installed above the septic tank.

Your septic tank can freeze from a combination of problems or from one major issue, some of the common causes of septic system freezing include:

• Lack of snow cover: snow acts as an insulator, without adequate cover the system is exposed to the cold temperatures.
• Compacted snow: if there are no spaces between the snow flakes, there is little insulation.
• Compacted soil: pipes in the leaching bed can break or shift if the soil is compacted.
• Lack of plant cover: grasses and plants provide insulation as well as trap snow.
• Leaky pipes, faucets, or toilets: water constantly dripping into the system can cause freezing.
• Irregular use of system: little water use yields freezing in the system as there is no movement through the system.
• Waterlogged system: if the leaching bed is saturated with wastewater, it could freeze solid in winter.

If your system freezes, make sure you call a qualified septic professional as soon as possible. Never use car antifreeze, salt, or additives in attempt to thaw out your system by yourself. Also, do not run water continually through the system or use fire to unfreeze the system.

To keep your septic system protected from the harsh conditions of winter, make sure to place mulch over your system, keep snowmobiles (and all other vehicles) off the leaching field, routinely check toilets and faucets for leaks, as well as get your system inspected before winter to make sure there are no cracks or leaks.

September Septic Social

We had another Septic Social on Saturday at the Pine River United Church. Thanks to those who came out despite the rain clouds and wind. Also, a special thanks to our host the Pine River United Church. Septic inspections will be continuing throughout September, October and November, so if you got a letter and haven't booked an inspection we encourage you to call the Township to set up an appointment!

A Thing of Beauty - Landscaping and Septic Systems

Your septic system doesn’t have to stick out like a sore thumb, a little bit of simple landscaping will allow your system to blend into the rest of your lawn. A well designed landscape plan with the appropriate plant cover will help the system become part of the overall landscape and benefit the system as well. Proper vegetation cover prevents soil erosion, provides insulation, protects the system from freezing and ensures your on-site septic system will continue to work properly. Remember that structures such as patios, tool sheds or deck should not be constructed on your septic system as they will compact the soil, could potentially damage your system and limit access for pump-outs and repairs.

What to plant?
When deciding what to plant over your system, remember that deep rooted plants can clog and harm the pipes in the leaching bed. Also, choose vegetation that prefer dry soil and require no additional watering as extra water can reduce the system’s ability to absorb and treat household wastewater. Vegetable plants will not protect the system from soil erosion. Trees and shrubs should be planted far away from your system (minimum distance of 6 metres) as they have extensive root systems.  Therefore grasses and shallow rooted native plants are a good choice to plant as their roots won’t damage the pipes and they require little maintenance which will keep excess weight off the leaching bed.

The Planting Process
If your system is new, it’s a good idea to start planting on the leaching bed right away to avoid soil erosion, but do not add a lot of soil because the bed requires good ventilation to function. Grasses do an excellent job of holding the soil together to prevent soil erosion. After the grass has been planted, water the new plants once and then allow them to draw moisture and nutrients from the ground, there’s no need to add excess water! When maintaining your lawn, don’t be afraid to cut the grass growing on the leaching field. However, let the grass grow before winter as the grass will catch the snow thus providing insulation for the system and preventing the system from freezing. Make sure you know where your system is located to minimize traffic on the leaching bed.

Proper landscaping will ensure protection to your system and allow your septic system to become part of your lawn!

---

September Septic Social
Mark your calendar! This Saturday (September 18th) we're having a Septic Social at the Pine River United Church. The social starts at 10 with a demonstration of an inspection and quick overview of the HK-CSI program. The inspector will be there to take questions as well as staff from BMRoss. For more information click here.

You're Invited to Septic Social!

We're having another septic social, this time at the Pine River United Church (corner of Concession 4 and Highway 21) on Saturday September 18th. This is a great opportunity to see what happens during an inspection, see what the inspector is looking for, ask questions and learn about the HK-CSI program! The social starts at 10 AM and while have coffee and snacks too!

Back to School!

It's that time of year again-yes, the kids are going back to school. Septic pumpers don't have to go back to school, but if they did, they might take this kind of bus:



Have a great (and safe) Labour Day weekend!

Septic System Additives

The only thing that should be “added” to your septic system is household wastewater. However, there are many products that claim to enhance the performance of your system, guarantee less frequent pump-outs or even repair your system! Don’t be fooled though, these products are unnecessary, expensive, and may shorten the life of your system! Known as septic additives, these products are marketed as septic system starters, feeders, or cleaners, but whatever the name they do not need to be part of your septic system maintenance routine.

Starters are advertised to get the system going after the tank has been pumped out or when opening the cottage after being away for the winter; essentially the product is bacteria in a bottle. However, your system does not need bacteria to be added-every flush yields more than enough bacteria for the system to work properly!

Feeders claim to provide food for bacteria by adding yeast or other biological products for the bacteria to munch on. Fortunately, the wastewater entering the tank is the only food the bacteria needs, so there is no need to add any extra bacteria food. This is true for those old septic system remedies too (liver, beer or raw chicken) don't need to be added to your system.

Some cleaners are marketed with the slogan “never pump your tank again”. These products work by breaking down the sludge in the tank. The liquefied sludge exit the tank and flows to the leaching bed. The liquefied sludge can return to a solid form in the leaching bed and plug up the tiles This means wastewater won't be properly treated and your system may back up. Keep in mind that the purpose of a septic tank is to allow the scum to float to the top and the solids to settle on the bottom, leaving only the clear effluent to flow to the leaching bed for further treatment. Those solids are supposed to be in the tank!

The breakdown of sludge in the septic tank is a natural process which does need any help from chemicals. Encouraging homeowners not to pump out their tanks can have disastrous long term effects. There is no evidence which supports the effectiveness of any chemical treatment. Periodic pumping (every 3-5 years!) is a much better way to ensure your septic system will work properly for many years. Additives are not substitutes for proper care and maintenance of your system, so save your system and your pocketbook, keep additives out!

To see what the experts say about septic system additives click here