Newspaper Page Text
Page 4 December 15, 2019 StarNews www.starnewsgaonline.com
SEPTIC SYSTEM FACTS from front
recommendation. He added, “Also, the
existing tank does not need to come up to
code in Carroll County. If they were permit
ted years ago and approved as they were,
then they can continue to be used as they are.
Homeowners don’t have to add risers or add
a filter to it.”
Both risers and filters are current require
ments for new systems.
As far as replacing a system, Holloway
said this necessity usually occurs when the
tank becomes structurally unsound, the field
lines no longer function properly, or a com
bination of both.
A typical septic tank design includes two
main components - a tank and field lines.
The tank may be made of concrete, fiber
glass, or plastic and includes “inlet and out
let tees.” Tanks installed prior to February
20th, 2000, consist of a single compartment.
Since then, tanks have been required to have
two compartments and an “effluent filter”
The primary purpose of the septic tank is to
separate the solids from the liquid in order to
facilitate the breakdown of the solids by
microorganisms naturally present in the
wastewater.
The field lines, or absorption field, may be
constructed of gravel or other approved
aggregate, chamber, gravel-less pipe, drip
irrigation or other approved alternative prod
uct. The type of absorption field is usually
determined by the soil conditions present on
the site. The wastewater effluent coming out
of the septic tank may contain disease caus
ing microorganisms and pollutants. The soil
acts as a natural filter and treats the waste-
water effluent through physical, biological
and chemical processes. Harmful bacteria,
viruses, and pollutants are treated as the
wastewater effluent moves down through the
soil before it reaches the groundwater table.
The absorption field must be located in an
area of unsaturated soil in order to facilitate
this process. For this reason, a soil analysis is
required on all property
served by an on-site
sewage management
system.
Some things to look
for that indicate a septic
system is no longer
functioning properly are
bubbling in toilets,
drains in showers or toi
lets that are backed up
and won’t break free
with normal treatment, and the backing up of
sewage in the lowest point of a residence,
such as a basement.
“That typically doesn’t happen very often,
but if you have a bad problem, it can,” said
Woodrow.
System failures can be caused by different
factors, but excess water use is frequently
the culprit.
“What we run into a lot is that people
have leaky toilets or faucets, and that excess
water - over time - can cause a system to
flood out,” Woodrow said. “If it’s not waste-
water, you don’t really want it going down
into your system unnecessarily. You want to
get those things fixed.”
Malfunctioning field lines, Woodrow said,
often lend to the need for a system
replacement.
Ominous odors; standing water or damp
spots near the septic tank or drainfreld;
bright green, spongy lush grass over the sep
tic tank or drainfield, even during diy
weather; algal blooms in nearby ponds or
System failures can be
caused by different factors, but
excess water use is frequently
the culprit.. .Woodrow said the
average life of a typical septic
system is usually around 20 to
25 years.. .However, he said
tanks can last much longer.
lakes; and high levels of nitrates or coliform
bacteria in water wells are all signs of poten
tial septic system field line failures.
“After a while, field lines grow what we
call a bio-mat, and that basically seals off
any of the porous lay
ers of the soil and
causes it to become
essentially a big hold
ing tank,” Woodrow
said. “Once they get
full, it backs up into
the house or comes out
up on the ground.”
In this case, new
lines are almost always
required, a professional
installer must be hired, and permits must be
obtained from the Carroll County
Environmental Health Department. Peimits
are also required for new system installa
tions and major modifications, but not for
regular service jobs.
Woodrow said the average life of a typical
septic system is usually around 20 to 25
years and this is when field line failure often
occurs. However, he said tanks can last
much longer.
“Unfortunately, they aren’t meant to be
peimanent solutions,” he said. “When you’re
talking about replacement, though, you’re
mainly talking about the lines.”
If someone is having a noimal seivice job
on their system, and the company doing the
work is bringing up other potential issues
with it, Woodrow said homeowners should
feel free to call the Environmental Health
office for clarity, understanding of the issues,
or to find out if the
repairs/replacements/upgrades are actually
required or needed.
“We can answer any questions people
might have,” he said. “We don’t set prices,
and we don’t recommend anything out of the
noim, but we educate them if they ask. We
will come out to the property if need be and
take a look at it.”
One thing septic companies might try to
sell homeowners on is additives, Holloway
said, but the state doesn’t approve additives
or have any official guidelines concerning
them.
“That’s something a homeowner is just
going to have to educate themselves on,” he
said. “They need to do the research.”
According to the Georgia Department of
Public Health’s Land Use Program, which is
“dedicated to educating the public and
wastewater practitioners about on-site waste-
water issues,” additives “are not beneficial to
on-site sewage management systems and, in
fact, can be detrimental.” For complete
details on additives, visit
https://dph.georgia.gov/.
Holloway said the Department of
Environmental Health wants the public to
know what septic system maintenance,
repair, and installation involves, so they can
make educated choices when having this
type of work done.
“We want people to know what to look
for,” Holloway said. “We would like for
them to know what pumping a tank involves
before they contract a business to do it, so
the company’s not telling them what they
should know or not know.”
Holloway added that his office recom
mends getting three or four bids before hav
ing any septic work done, and to not “always
go with the lowest bid, but rather who is
going to give you the best quality for the
best seivice.”
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