Clogged Drain Pipes - First in a series of Four reasons why a septic system fails


<><>

Clogged drain/leaching septic system pipe
  

One of the reasons a septic system fails is due to "biomat" build-up inside the tile bed/leaching field area.  Biomat is a build-up of a black sludge material that clogs everything it comes into contact with.  Evidence of a biomat clogged leaching bed are:

• the ground around the septic tank or over the leaching bed may be soggy or spongy to walk on
• toilets, showers and sinks may be slow to drain or even back up
• sewage odours may become noticeable especially after a rainfall or when you have company
• gray or black liquids may be surfacing in your yard or backing up through fixtures into the house/cottage
• E. coli or faecal coliform indicator bacteria may be found in nearby well water or in a surface ditch close to the leaching bed
• the water level in the septic tank is higher than the outlet pipe which indicates that the water is ponding in the distribution lines (inspection should only be conducted by a qualified person)
• sewage effluent  is ponding in the distribution lines (inspection should only be conducted by a qualified person)

Refer to Biomat Blog (July 31, 2012) for additional information