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Helpful Information

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Tips for a Septic Tank System

  • To get the most out of your system, educating yourself in regards to your Septic Tanks and the manner in which they operate is essential.
  • The Septic Tank System is a “Filtering System”, just like the fuel filter in your car, if it is not cleaned out it will eventually become clogged and stop working efficiently. It will either block the inlet square from the house to the 1st tank (this is found inside the 1st round solid tank) or if the waste in the tanks breaks down into a muddy liquid/solid, it will push through and block the Leach Drain/Soakwells, which is designed to drain all the filtered water only into the surrounding ground and soak away.
  • It is advisable to keep plants and trees away from Leach Drain/Soak Well’s as most plants and trees like water and their roots systems are very good at finding their way to such a wonderful supply of fertilised water. Large trees should be 30 metres away from your Septic System and Weeping Willows and water loving trees should be even further away.
  • Read packaging on products well, as many cleaning products, bleaches, dyes, Chemicals etc can have a detrimental effect on the natural balance of bacteria in your Septic System.
  • If you wish to check out your Septic System and attempt to lift the lids on your Septic Tanks, be aware that the lids are extremely heavy and there is a possibility of personal injury.
  • If you have a bad smell coming from your DG’s or a gurgling noise is made when you are doing laundry washing or showering, or if your Toilet is making a gurgling noise when flushed, it can be an indication that your Tank/s are full and need to be pumped out. Gurgling can mean a blockage, however often when a Septic Tank/s are OVERFULL, blockages will occur as paper and raw sewerage come back up the pipe work and attach to joins or roots in the pipe work from the house. If the Tanks have been OVERFULL for a long time as waste & paper may by pass the 1st & 2nd Tanks and go straight into the Leach Drains/Soakwells and create other problems.
  • Be aware that if it is many years since your Septic Tanks were pumped out, the volume that is taken from the Tanks will exceed their capacity, as a very thick crust will have built up and our Driver’s will need to add water to break this crust up and enable them to pump the waste. There will also be backflow from the house pipes and Leach Drains/Soakwells.
  • As Mandurah is a “Holiday Mecca” with many holiday homes that are used infrequently, the Septic Tanks will operate differently than those that have regularly used. The solid crust in the Septic Tank will mostly turn to mud that goes to the bottom of the Tank, which in turn when suddenly used will push through to the Leach drain system, blocking up the holes in the Leach drain/Soak well. If this happens the Leach drain/Soak well may need replacing after the pump out. To avoid this process from happening, it is essential that you maintain regular pump outs. Remember that even though your toilets are still flushing, it may not be OK, and the above process will still be happening.
  • Never flush Cat Litter, Disposable Nappies, Baby Wipes, Sanitary Napkins, Tampons, Paper Hand Towel, Coffee Grounds, Cigarette Butts down the toilet. They will quickly fill and clog your Septic System and kill off beneficial bacteria in the Septic Tank.
  • Remember if you can’t eat it, it possibly isn’t fit for your Septic Tanks.
  • Don’t put Grease down the drain, as it will eventually clog your system.
  • Consider the on- going cost of being connected to deep sewerage and appreciate that having regular maintenance pump outs of your Septic System is cheaper.
  • There are many opinions on the need for Septic Pump Tank/s pump outs, however when you understand that everything that you flush down a toilet or a drain goes into your Septic Tank/s, it stands to reason that in time they do fill up even with the bacteria working on the waste, nothing every completely disappears magically.
  • As a general rule “Dunny Doctor” suggests that every 4-6 years, you should have both Septic Tanks pumped.
  • There are a number of factors that can effect this frequency eg. If a Young Working Couple, a Family of 4-6 people, Elderly Couple, Holiday House, Soil Type, Water Table, Medications taken by a householder occupy the household. The type of system you have to cope with the volume produced by the household.