Bacteria In Septic Tanks

Although their work is not glamorous, bacteria in septic tanks are the work horses of your system. Keep the bacteria in your septic tank happy and healthy.

While inspections and pumping go a long way, many are surprised to find that your septic tank is a living organism—at least the bacteria living there are. With trillions of bacteria naturally present and working to decompose the solid waste in your tank, it is important to know how to take care of them without upsetting the system.

What Are The Bacteria Living In Your Tank?

Bacteria are separated into two categories: Aerobic and Anaerobic. Aerobic Bacteria are more efficient than their counterpart when it comes to breaking down and using waste as fuel. However, they need plenty of oxygen to survive and are highly sensitive to environmental changes. With little to no need for oxygen and more resilience to environmental changes, the climate of a septic tank suits Anaerobic Bacteria better.

How Do Bacteria Help Your Septic System?

With solid waste often settling on the bottom of your septic tanks, it is hard for the flow, pumps and filters to reach it once it is on the bottom. Enter bacteria! They work to break down solids by digesting the waste as their fuel and excreting is as liquids and gasses. In fact, they are so efficient that they can handle decomposing up to 50% of the waste in your septic tank.

Is Other Maintenance Required?

While 50% is a substantial amount and goes a long way to keeping your septic system in working order, the bacteria need a helping hand. As the undigested solids begin to build up, it can become suffocating and hard for the bacteria stay ahead. To keep the colonies of bacteria healthy it is suggested to have your tank inspected every 5 to 7 years and pumped when the solid waste level is over 25% of your tank.  When you get your tank inspected, your septic professional can recommend whether a pumping is needed. Keep in mind, a system does NOT need to be pumped in order to be inspected.

What Can Disrupt Septic Tank Bacteria?

Although not on purpose, there are a few common household chemicals and practices that can hurt bacteria colonies over time. This list includes:

• Household Chemicals

Liquid bleach, disinfectant cleaners, drain cleaners, non-degradable detergents, solvents (such as paint thinners), insecticides and some prescription drugs such as antibiotics or strong medications. While anaerobic bacteria are resilient and able to handle the occasional chemical, large quantities can kill the colonies over time.

• Antibacterial Cleaning Products

Marketed to kill bacteria, hand soaps and other antibacterial cleaners are designed to not only keep your hands, counter tops and household clean, they can also kill off the bacteria in your septic system. We aren’t suggesting stopping washing your hands, but keep this in mind when thinking about the longevity of your septic tank.

• Flushable Wipes

Flushable wipes don’t decompose, leaving layers and layers of unbroken down solids that bacteria have a hard time decomposing.

• Septic Additives

Like many things, the natural process doesn’t need your help. Even the EPA agrees, stating that septic additives “may actually hinder effective septic system operation by destroying useful bacteria that aid in the degradation of waste, resulting in disrupted treatment activity and the discharge of contaminants.” So we say, don’t waste your money! If you do want to lend your system a helping hand check out this blog post that separates fact from myth on how to bolster the health of your bacterial colonies.

The stakes are high to keep your septic system in top condition, and that means keeping the trillions of bacteria happy and healthy! Have questions? Give us a call today!

Types of Septic Inspections

Maintenance and regular inspections (we recommend every 5-7 years) are crucial to owning an effective and efficient septic system.  Additionally, they give an accurate assessment of your system’s overall health and help target any repairs or upgrades your system might need.  Magneson Tractor Service offers thorough septic inspections covering all components and parts of your system.

Who Should Complete Septic Evaluations?

Only a licensed septic specialist should complete inspections, repairs, or replacements to your septic system. You can check to see if your contractor is certified with the Town of Paradise here, and check their Specialty C-42 or C-36 licence on the CSLB website.

Types of Septic System Inspections - Not every septic system inspection is the same.  Broken down into two general categories, they are either visual inspections or full inspections

                Visual Inspections

These are exactly what they sound like – a visual inspection of your septic system.  Typically, these are done by a home inspector.  Normally, they are not performed by a professional septic company, unless requested by the lender or savvy home buyers.

Visual inspections are quite simple.  They include tasks like:

• Running the water in the home

• Flushing the toilets

• A general walk-through and glance at the area of the yard containing the septic system.

If there are no backups, slow draining sinks, or water puddles in the absorption area – the system passes.  Pretty basic.  This is usually the service a home inspector will do when you are buying or selling a home. If you are looking into buying a home, it may be worth the money for a full inspection.  Visual inspections only tell you about the service, not the health of the tank or leach field.

               Full Inspections

Full inspections are the standard for professional septic companies.  You want a pro like Magneson Tractor Service to give your system a once-over before handing out a passing grade.  We want to know all of the nitty-gritty details.

Full inspections dive deep.  The septic tank is opened and examined.  Where is the water level?  Too full means its overloading, but too low means a possible leak.  Where is the sludge line?  Is it time to pump the tank?

Sometimes, the tank will be pumped down, checking for back flow from the leach field – an indication of a blockage or backup.  There are a few situations during an inspection when it is best to avoid septic tank pumping.  No aspect is overlooked with a full inspection.

Why Schedule a Septic System Inspection?

• Regular Maintenance - It’s that time, the time to inspect your system.  Whether you have a regimented schedule or you’ve forgotten until now; either way, it’s time to give your septic system a check-up.

• You Notice a Problem - Just had a pump-out less than a year ago, but your sink and toilets are draining slowly?  It’s time to schedule a septic tank inspection for backups or blockages.  Stop damaging the natural and crucial bacteria in your tank with harsh “fix-it” chemicals.  Let a septic professional find the problem and address it directly – the bacteria in your system will thank you.

• Upcoming Construction - Expanding or remodeling your home is an exciting project – but, make sure your septic is ready for it.  Can it handle the additional bathroom?  Can you add to that existing pipe, or is it on overload?  Also, where is the leach field and septic tank – so you don’t park or build on it?  These are all questions answerable after an inspection.

• Buying a New Home with a Septic System - Buying a new home is daunting – and expensive.  Save yourself from costly repairs a few years later by ordering a full inspection by a professional septic company.  While home inspectors perform visual inspections, they don’t cover everything and problems are easily missed.  Give yourself that peace of mind.

Our Septic Inspections

We pride ourselves on thorough septic system inspections for residential and commercial systems.  Magneson Tractor Service considers your entire system from pipes to tank, utilizing possible repair strategies to keep your system healthy and functioning.

We evaluate the following items during septic system inspections:

• Location, age, size, and original design

• Soil conditions, drainage, water table heights, and flooding potential of the surrounding area

• History of inspections and repairs when available

• The last time your septic tank was pumped

• Sludge levels in your tank.  If not recently pumped, these could potentially be high

• Check for back flow from the leach field into the tank.  This indicates potential backups or blockages in the absorption field.

• Absorption field condition.  Notably, we look for evidence of liquid waste reaching the soil surface, which leads to water contamination.  In addition, we inspect for signs of compaction and damage from too much weight on the field.

Ready to schedule an inspection?  Call Magneson Tractor Service at 530-961-3171 or contact us online.

What is a Septic System?

Poop goes where?

The heart of your septic system — septic tanks (or as my 3 year old says the Poo Tank), break down the waste from your home.  Most of the treatment takes place in the septic tank through naturally occurring organic processes, but the work doesn’t stop there.  Septic systems are a combination of pipes, a tank, bacteria and a leach field that work together to treat solid and liquid waste before releasing it safely into the ground. So…

How Does a Septic System Work?

Septic systems are underground wastewater treatment structures, commonly used in rural areas without centralized sewer systems. A typical septic system consists of a septic tank and a leach field.

The septic tank digests organic matter and separates float-able matter and solids from the wastewater. As the levels in the tank rise, the system discharges the liquid (known as effluent) from the septic tank into a series of perforated pipes buried in a leach field, chambers, or other special units designed to slowly release the effluent into the soil.

A standard septic system uses gravity to work its magic. Alternative systems need a little help and use pumps to help the septic tank effluent trickle through sand, organic matter (peat and sawdust), constructed wetlands, or other media to remove or neutralize pollutants like disease-causing pathogens, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other contaminants.

Proven technologies mix with nature and biological processes to remove the wastewater from your home or business before releasing the treated wastewater into the soil.  But the process only works if it has properly working components. That brings us to…

Photo Source: epa.gov

What Makes Up A Septic System?

There are two main components:

1. Septic Tank

2. Leach Field

1. Septic Tank

The septic tank is a watertight box, usually made of concrete or fiberglass, with an inlet and outlet pipe. Wastewater flows from the home to the septic tank through the inlet pipe. The septic tank treats the wastewater naturally by holding it in the tank long enough for solids and liquids to separate. The wastewater forms three layers inside the tank.

• Solids lighter than water (such as greases and oils) float to the top forming a layer of scum.

• Solids heavier than water settle at the bottom of the tank forming a layer of sludge.

• This leaves a middle layer of partially clarified wastewater.

The layers of sludge and scum remain in the septic tank where bacteria found naturally in the wastewater work to break the solids down. These bacteria are so efficient and resilient, healthy and happy bacteria decomposes up to 50% of the waste in septic tanks. The sludge and scum that cannot be broken down are retained in the tank until the tank is pumped. The layer of clarified liquid flows from the septic tank to the leach field or to a distribution device, which helps to uniformly distribute the wastewater in the leach field.

2. Leach Field

Every time new wastewater enters the septic tank, wastewater also exits the tank into the leach field.  The leach field is a shallow, covered excavated area at the exit of the septic tank.  It is important to note, unsaturated areas are the only suitable place for a leach field.

If the leach field becomes overloaded with an excess of wastewater or flooded with rainwater, the leach field can no longer effectively operate and treat wastewater.  Additionally, excess water causes effluent to flow to the ground surface, creating backups in the system.

Each state and local government requires different specifications when it comes to leach fields.  In Butte County, the Environmental Health department will dictate system size and type depending on property location and soil testing. Some areas will require minimum distances from water retention areas, water wells, and high water table locations. Your Septic contractor should work with local ordinances to ensure your property is in compliance with current regulations.

How Do You Take Care of Your Septic System?

Wondering how to take care of your septic system?  Maintenance and treating your septic system right with inspections, efficient water use, “do not flush” rules, and maintaining the area surrounding the leach field.

• Inspections and Pumping.  With natural processes easily interrupted, septic tanks are fragile, however with a healthy bacteria they can go many years without issue.  Have a professional inspect your septic system at least once every 5 to 7 years. There is no requirement on frequency of pumping, and if your system is healthy and appropriately sized, it may never need to be pumped.

• Follow “Do Not Flush Rules”.  Your toilet and garbage disposals are not trashcans – treat them accordingly.  Flush only toilet paper, avoiding “flushable” wipes.  Afraid of guests during the holidays messing up the system?  Put up some friendly reminders.

• Maintain the Leach Field.  Keep tree roots away from the leach field pipes.  Divert rainwater and runoff from saturating the area, and landscape with septic friendly plants.

• Avoid Strong Chemicals.  Start looking for alternative cleaning products and detergents while avoiding products containing chlorine bleach.

• Find A Septic Contractor and Inspector You Trust.  Having a professional whose opinion matters goes a long way.  They can help schedule maintenance and inspections while putting your mind at ease.

Septic systems are designed to function efficiently for the onsite treatment of wastewater as long as all the components are working correctly and together.  If your septic system isn’t working at its best call Magneson Tractor Service for an inspection at 530-961-3171 or send us a message.