Why Is Grass Dead Around Septic Tank Emitters? (Correct answer)

Dead grass over the septic tank during dry or hot weather indicates that the septic drain field is absorbing the wastewater and filtering it into the soil. The grass will recover when the weather cools and the rainy season arrives.

How do I know if my drain field is failing?

The following are a few common signs of leach field failure:

Grass over leach field is greener than the rest of the yard.

The surrounding area is wet, mushy, or even has standing water.
Sewage odors around drains, tank, or leach field.
Slow running drains or backed up plumbing.

Can septic tanks kill grass?

The Grass Over a Septic Tank Is Dying This limits the amount of water the grass growing receives in the shallower soil. During periods of prolonged dry weather, the soil over your septic tank may dry out completely, causing the grass to wilt and die.

Why is my grass dying over my drain field?

As temperatures increase, grass draws more moisture from the soil beneath it. The soil above leach lines is shallower than the soil in the rest of the lawn, so it holds less water compared to the rest of the lawn, causing grass directly above the lines to dry out and turn yellow.

Why is the grass dying above my septic tank?

When you notice brown patches or lines over your septic system, it’s likely that the soil under the grass isn’t getting enough water. When it’s hot and sunny, the shallow soil can dry out quickly, keeping your grass from getting the moisture it needs.

How do you know if you need a new drain field?

Drainfield pipes that crack open and break rather than clogging up release too much water into the field area. You may notice puddles or spongy and mushy ground over the area. If a technician reports high water levels during a tank inspection, you may need drainfield repairs instead of just a routine pumping.

What are signs of a full septic tank?

Here are some of the most common warning signs that you have a full septic tank:

Your Drains Are Taking Forever.
Standing Water Over Your Septic Tank.
Bad Smells Coming From Your Yard.

You Hear Gurgling Water.
You Have A Sewage Backup.
How often should you empty your septic tank?

Is lawn fertilizer safe for septic systems?

Are Chemical Lawn Treatments Harmful to Your Septic System? When correctly applied, chemical lawn treatments are not harmful to your septic system. Fertilizers, pesticides, and weed killers are designed to dissolve and be absorbed by the soil and underlying root structure of your lawn.

Can I put dirt over my drain field?

Never add additional soil over the drain field unless it is a minimal amount used to restore an area that may have been eroded or pulled up by removing another plant. Try not to be overly zealous when tilling the soil for planting. Remember that the drain lines may be as close as 6 inches from the soil surface.

Should grass be greener over drain field?

If the trenches are full of effluent, the grass should be green over all of the trenches. The effluent reaches soil above the trench rock and capillary action pulls the moisture up for the plant roots.

Why is the ground soft around my septic tank?

The presence of healthy, lushly growing plants around your septic tank or along the route of your drainage lines indicates wet areas, as does a spongy or damp feel to the ground. Excess moisture might mean that your tank is full or that your drainage pipes are damaged.

How do I keep the grass green in my septic tank?

Lush Green Grass The trenches in your leach field are filling with liquid waste because the soil can’t absorb any more water from your house. That wastewater is full of rich nutrients that give the grass over your septic system a good dose of fertilizer and turn it a rich shade of green.

What can you put on top of a septic tank?

Put plastic sheets, bark, gravel or other fill over the drainfield. Reshape or fill the ground surface over the drainfield and reserve area. However, just adding topsoil is generally OK if it isn’t more than a couple of inches. Make ponds on or near the septic system and the reserve area.

Can I fertilize over leach field?

Using such species will allow you to avoid or limit the use of fertilizers and soil amendments, which can compromise the drain field’s function. Because growing conditions can be variable in a septic system drain field, grasses that adapt to different pH and moisture levels grow best.

Why Is There Dead Grass Over My Septic Tank?

iStock/Getty Images image credit: singjai20/iStock

The presence of dead grass above your septic tank is, strangely enough, a favorable indicator. It indicates that your septic system is most likely operating as it should be doing. In dry or warm weather, the grass becomes brown because it is not receiving enough water, which is mainly owing to the shallow layer of soil above the tank. Watering the brown grass, on the other hand, is the worst thing you can do.

Tip

In dry or hot weather, dead grass above the septic tank shows that the septic drain field is absorbing and filtering the wastewater into the surrounding soil. When the temperature cools down and the rainy season approaches, the grass will begin to recover.

Don’t Water the Dead Grass

Even though brown grass over your sewage tank is an unsightly annoyance, your lawn should recover in the fall months. The addition of extra water to the brown grass limits the ability of your leach field to absorb wastewater from your home and may potentially result in the failure of your wastewater treatment system. Even when the grass becomes brown because there isn’t enough soil to maintain its root system, you shouldn’t deposit topsoil over your tank or leach field since it will clog the drains and create flooding.

Increasing the quantity of dirt in your system limits the amount of air available to the microorganisms that break down the wastes in your system, which might result in the system failing altogether.

The solids, also known as sludge, settle in the septic tank, where helpful bacteria break them down and dispose of them properly.
Water from the middle tank drains from the tank to the leach field through a network of drain pipes that are strategically placed across the leach field.
Even after it has been cleaned by bacteria in the soil, the leftover wastewater flows into the groundwater.

Compacted soil, as well as moist, soggy soil, has less oxygen in it, which inhibits the capacity of the microorganisms to perform their functions properly.
You have liquid waste accumulating in the trenches of your leach field because the soil is unable to absorb any further water from your home.
A blocked or broken line connecting the home to the septic tank, as well as a clogged baffle on the tank, can cause wastewater to escape into the soil and pollute the environment.

Toilets that are sluggish to drain, sewage smells, and sewage backing up into the house or appearing on the leach field are all indications that something is wrong. Most septic tanks require pumping out every one to three years in order to operate at peak functionality.

Precautions and Septic Tanks

Make sure not to dig too far into the ground while planting over your septic system. Drain lines can be as near to the surface of the soil as 6 inches. Drain lines are not always visible. When working with soil over a septic system, it is important to use gloves, safety goggles, and a mask in order to limit exposure to potentially hazardous organisms. Make certain that the tank lid and any other covers or hatches are properly secured; accessing a septic tank can be a life-threatening mistake owing to the fumes released by the decaying sludge.

It is recommended to use ornamental grasses and herbaceous plants such as catmint (Nepeta spp.

in zones 3-9), and vervain (Verbena spp.

You should avoid planting any produce over a sewer system since you run the danger of bacterial contamination of your food.

Brown Grass Over a Septic System

Septic tanks are often dug behind or to the side of your property in order to be as inconspicuous as possible to you. The installers cover the sewage system with gravel and dirt, allowing your lawn to grow healthy above the system while not attracting attention to the septic tank itself. When your grass turns brown, it is most likely because the soil is drying out too quickly – this may make your grass look bad, but it does not indicate that there is a problem with your irrigation system. Brown patches or lines appearing over your septic system indicate that the soil underneath the grass is not receiving adequate water.

This isn’t nearly enough to keep much moisture in.

Watering more often can be beneficial, but the grass should recover on its own as soon as the weather begins to calm off.

Despite the fact that this wastewater provides additional nutrients to your grass, making it appear lush and full, it can eventually become a swampy, unpleasant mess if not addressed by a septic system professional in a timely manner.

Brown Grass in a Leach Field

There are millions of homes that are fitted with septic systems, which filter wastewater through a series of pipelines and gravel pits that are connected to a leach field. As a result of their location beneath the earth, they are sometimes overlooked until a problem emerges. Even while brown grass on your leach field is not a sign that anything is wrong with the system, it can be ugly in a landscape that has been well-maintained. It’s possible that green grass may return in the fall, but what should you do in the meantime?

Why Brown?

The presence of brown grass along the length of your leach field after the spring rains have ended and the summer heat has set in is most likely an indication that the drain field is doing its function. Several pipes running beneath the soil, which are set in gravel and then covered with 6 to 12 inches of soil, constitute a properly designed leach field.

As a result, this thin layer of soil dries up more quickly than neighboring soil that does not have drainage pipes, causing the grass to become brown when the rest of the grass does not.

Don’t Try This

You may be tempted to water brown grass, but you should avoid the temptation. Extra water pumped into the leach field, also known as an absorption bed, overloads drainage pipes and compacts the soil, resulting in a field that is unable to function properly. When an absorption bed is compacted, it deprives bacteria residing in the soil of oxygen, which they require to break down effluent that is discharged from subterranean drainage pipes. It is impossible for the system to function properly without the microorganisms.

Drought Tolerant

If the brown grass is becoming too unattractive for your liking, try replacing it with drought-tolerant Buffalo grass (Buchlo dactyloides), which thrives in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 to 8 and is drought-tolerant. According to the University of California, buffalo grass cultivars that consume 75 percent less water than some types of turf grasses have been produced. Whenever replacing grass on a leach field, do not manipulate the soil with a rototiller, as this might cause damage to the buried pipes and septic system.

Other Things to Try

In order to plant a leach field, it is better to choose herbaceous plants that have shallow roots. They help to avoid soil erosion and will not cause any damage to subsurface pipelines. Alternatively, you may try a ground cover like Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), which grows in USDA zones 5 to 10. It doesn’t require mowing, it attracts animals, and it’s a native of the Pacific Northwest region. To avoid losing your lawn, plant shallow-rooted flowers along the brown strips, making sure not to dig too deeply when you’re planting them.

Dead Grass over Septic Tank

“Why is there dead grass growing over my septic tank?” some homeowners may wonder. When it comes to finding a solution, it might be difficult because there are several factors that can contribute to the abrupt death of your lush, healthy grass in the vicinity of your septic tank. Dead grass over the septic tank may be a symptom of a failing system, but there are other instances in which dead grass may be a positive indicator, indicating that the septic tank is performing as it should. As if the situation wasn’t complicated enough, dead grass over your septic tank may simply indicate that the soil where the grass is planted is not thick or deep enough to maintain the precise quantity of moisture it need to live in the first place.

Failure of the hydraulic system. This is most likely the most prevalent issue that arises with septic systems. Simply put, this indicates that the septic tank is no longer capable of purifying the waste water it formerly did. Typically, this occurs when a clog occurs in the septic system. Because the contents are not allowed to disperse into the soil, microorganisms are unable to break them down into harmless chemicals. The earth becomes contaminated, which eventually results in the contamination of the grass surrounding it, as shown in the picture. The presence of significant septic tank scents indicates the presence of this problem. The solution to this problem is to choose a septic system installer who has been approved. A proper septic removal permit should be obtained by the installation before opening the septic tank to ascertain if it is, in fact, defective. It is possible that the installation will recommend that you get your septic tank drained out. It’s possible that your septic tank is performing its job properly. The presence of dead grass above the septic tank may indicate that the soil is performing admirably in terms of water absorption from the septic tank, to the point where there is insufficient water left for the grass to maintain its life. Liquid wastes are channeled away from the septic tank and into drain fields. In the case of a septic tank with green grass growing on top of it, it is possible that liquid waste is filling the trenches in the drain field because the earth is too saturated to absorb any more water. As a result, finding dead grass atop your septic tank does not automatically indicate that your septic system is failing. The soil is not sufficiently deep to support root structure. It might just be a case of a very hot summer, or it could be that the layer of soil covering the septic tank is too shallow for the grass roots to develop. The soil may be too thin to retain the proper amount of moisture to feed the roots, and as the roots grow longer, they may encounter resistance from the septic tank, which prevents them from accessing water from the surrounding area. The soil may be too thin to retain the proper amount of moisture to feed the roots. The remedy is as simple as adding a bit additional dirt over the septic system, at the very least 6 inches of topsoil, and then planting grass. Although you should avoid digging too deeply and planting plants that are meant to be eaten over your septic system, there are some good groundcover options that require little water to thrive and can withstand most drought conditions. Bermuda grass, St. Augustine, Centipede grass, Zoysia, Tall fescue, and Buffalo grass are all good choices for groundcover because they require little water to thrive and can withstand most drought conditions. It is best not to irrigate the dead grass since it may regrow in the fall and the additional water may lower the absorption rate of the drain fields.

About The Author

If you notice melting snow or poor quality of grass cover, you can use this space to ask or comment about where to find a septic tank or soak beds.

InspectAPedia does not allow any form of conflict of interest. The sponsors, goods, and services described on this website are not affiliated with us in any way. Condition of the septic tank and drainfield Location indications based on the color of the grass or the amount of snow melt: Greener grass, browner grass, and melting snow are all indicators of the health of the septic system, including the septic tank, the pipe, and the drain field. This page explains what these terms signify and offers ideas and techniques for additional study in order to identify the problems described above as a result.

These cues also aid in the location of the septic tank. For this topic, we also have anARTICLE INDEX available, or you may check the top or bottom of the page. Use the SEARCH BOX to discover the information you’re looking for quickly.

Snowmelt over the Septic Tank or Drainfield – what do they mean?

Conflicts of interest are not tolerated at InspectAPedia.com. No affiliation exists between us and any sponsors, products, or services mentioned on this website. The condition of the septic tank and the drainfield Place indications based on the color of the grass or the amount of snow melt a certain location receives A septic system’s status may be determined by looking at the grass. Greener grass, browner grass, and melting snow are all indicators of the health of the septic system, including the septic tank, pipe, and drain field.

It is also possible to detect a septic tank by using these clues.

Use the SEARCH BOX to locate the information you want quickly.

Reply: your septic system clues sound normal but here is how we can check for developing septic system trouble:

Snow melt and even greener grass over the septic tank may be typical, but it might also indicate a problem with the system. Good news would be the lack of any scents (SEPTIC SYSTEM ODORS) or damp or soggy areas (SEPTIC DRAINFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS), as well as the absence of any sewage backup into the residence (SEPTIC DRAINFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS) (SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION). It is also important to note that snow melt over drainfield trenches (as shown in the top photo of this page) is not always an indicator that the system is failing.

Take some shots of the area over the tank with snow melt (and later with greener grass) and, while you’re at it, take some photos of the region where you believe the drainfield is located so that we can all see whether there are any depressions, snowmelt, damp patches, or other problems.

This is a regular occurrence and is not a cause for concern.

Guide to Diagnosing Snowmelt or Green Grass Over the Septic Tank

Opening the inspection cover over the septic tank outflow end will quickly reveal the presence of this issue. If the sewage level is only as high as the bottom of the tank outlet pipe, where it flows through the tank wall, this is considered regular operation.

If the level of sewage rises over the bottom border of the horizontal section of the outlet pipe, this indicates that the outlet pipe or drainfield is clogged with sewage. You may get more information and photographs about this method at SEPTIC TANK BAFFLES.

Explanation of Greener Grass over the Septic Tank

If the tank cover was dug for service, it is possible that someone seeded the area around the tank, resulting in greener grass over the tank. Alternatively, healthier lawns around the septic tank might indicate that the tank is leaking around its cover, which would be an odd occurrence and a warning indication of problems. Backing up pipes to the leachfield (or, in the worst case scenario, a failed leachfield) might result in wastewater draining too slowly out of the septic tank or even backing up into the building.

Explanation of Brown Dead Grass over the Septic Tank

In addition, if the tank top is not too deep below earth, it is possible to find browner grass growing over a septic tank. If you have a shallow septic tank top, this indicates that there will be less soil thickness, which will result in soil dryout during dry weather, which will result in dead grass in that particular region. If you’re interested in learning how deep your septic tank may be, check outSEPTIC TANK DEPTH Finding the location of a septic tank is frequently assisted by visual indicators that begin beyond the region where the main waste line exits the house.

Several visual clues that assist in locating the septic system are discussed in greater depth atVISUAL CLUES LOCATE the SEPTIC TANK.

A former building owner may have left stones, slates, stakes, or other markings to indicate the position of a septic tank pumpout access cover

However, this is not always the case. Cast iron or white or black plastic pipes sticking out of the ground, perhaps between 10′ and 20′ from the house, and especially if they are 4″ to 6″ in diameter and are cast iron or white or black plastic, may indicate vent or cleanout locations on the waste line between the building and the septic tank, or they may indicate where the tank is located. The installation of a 6″ top 8″ “riser” pipe with a cap near to ground level (which may be painted green by the homeowner) by certain septic pumping firms is used as a rapid access port to pump the septic tank. If one removes the pipe cap and glances inside, maybe with a torch, it is simple to determine whether or not one of these ports is directly above the tank. When there are symptoms of impending collapse, such as soil subsidence, it is not safe to walk over or near septic tanks. Electrical boxes protruding from the ground may indicate the location of electrical connections feeding electrical components that are utilized in some septic systems, according to some reports. Examples include septic tanks that use effluent pumps to transfer effluent to an uphill position, pumping chambers that use sewage grinder pumps to send sewage to an uphill septic tank and drainfield, and drainfields that use effluent pumps to move effluent to an uphill location. A video demonstrating a septic tank with a pumping station and its electrical connections can be seen atSeptic 101 part 1: Septic Tanks and Pumping Stations. How to locate the septic system in this video
Rectangular depressions of approximately 4 ft. x 8 ft. On the other hand, it is possible that soils have settled away from the septic tank and created an elevated rectangular area on rare occasions. One of our sites experienced this because the bottom of the septic tank was situated on bedrock, and after backfilling, certain soils around the tank settled and compacted, but the tank itself did not move
A rectangular region with less grass growth – this is due to the fact that the tank is not sunk very deeply and so has less dirt above it

If the tank is leaking or backing up and spewing effluent around itself, the grass will grow more lushly in the vicinity of the tank. Depressions in the earth, each measuring around 2 sq.ft., that may indicate a past excavation for tank pumping
Snow melt: In regions where snow falls, portions of melted snow may be seen at the top of the septic tank’s tank wall (or areas of a failing leach field). Photograph of this clue, which shows drainfield trenches as depressions in the snow, may be found on the websiteVisualClues to Location. Drawings or drawings depicting the position of a septic tank can occasionally be found in a building’s basement or crawl space, scribbled on a surface at the point where the main waste pipe exits the structure, indicating that the tank is in the correct place. Of course, a conscientious previous owner may have left a sketch on a piece of paper for the new owners to find. AtRECORDS to LOCATE the DRAINFIELD, an example of a drawing for finding septic system components can be found. Wet spots on the ground that may indicate a clogged drainfield. Pipes ending in streams, lakes, or swamps, or at the boundary of a property, may indicate an overflow drain that was installed to deal with a malfunctioning septic system. Septic smells may also indicate an overflow drain. This is a shot of one of these that is most likely found in a DRAINFIELD
I’d like to express my gratitude to reader (anonymous) for addressing the significance of snowmelt or greener grass above the septic tank (12/2010)

Thank you to Donica Benwho, in her letter of November 11, 2007, warns against the dangers of digging into hidden electrical cables, which we will examine further at a later date. Safety Procedures for Septic Tanks and Cesspools
Identifying the source of the problem – is there a problem with the septic system or with the building drain system? Septic Tank Safety: Safety Warnings for Septic Inspectors, Septic Pumpers, and Homeowners Regarding Septic Systems, Septic Tanks, and Cesspools
Condition of Septic Tanks- How to Inspect Septic Tanks and Evaluate the Septic Tank Condition, including the condition of the baffles and sludge levels, as well as damage and signs of septic failure

Form OF SEPTIC DRAINFIELD: factors for the shape and placement of a septic drainfield or leaching bed
LOCATION OF THE SEPTIC DRAINFIELD: where to look for the septic drain field or leaching bed
Procedural for Drainfield Inspection Leach Fields – how to check and diagnose septic drainfield problems.

. Continue reading atVISUAL CLUES LOCATE THE SEPTIC TANK, or choose a topic from the closely-related topics listed below, or visit the completeARTICLE INDEX for a comprehensive list of articles. Alternatively, see PLANTS OVER SEPTIC SYSTEMS.

Suggested citation for this web page

INSPECTION OF SEPTIC TANK GRASS OR SNOWMELTat An online encyclopedia of building environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, and issue preventive information is available at Apedia.com. Alternatively, have a look at this.

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES:ARTICLE INDEX to SEPTIC SYSTEMS

Alternatives include asking a question or searching InspectApedia using the SEARCH BOXfound below.

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

We encourage you to use the search box just below, or if you prefer, you may make a question or remark in theCommentsbox below and we will get back to you as soon as possible. InspectApedia is a website that allows you to search for things. Please keep in mind that the publication of your remark below may be delayed if it contains an image, a web link, or text that seems to the program to be a web link. Your submission will appear when it has been reviewed by a moderator. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.

Technical ReviewersReferences

Citations can be shown or hidden by selecting Show or Hide Citations. InspectApedia.com is a publisher that provides references. Daniel Friedman is an American journalist and author.

Understanding Your Septic System

Knowing the basics of septic systems, whether you’re installing or living with one, is beneficial when making decisions about your home. If you follow these procedures, you will be able to extend the life of your system, learn what to do if something goes wrong, and analyze your alternatives if you ever need to expand your system due to a home renovation project. This type of sewage treatment system, which is utilized by one in every five households in the United States and almost half of all households in the South, cleans wastewater equally as well as municipal systems in cities.

Septic systems are simply more cost-effective alternatives for sparsely inhabited rural and spread-out suburban regions where installing sewer lines would be prohibitively expensive. When it comes to septic systems, the average life expectancy is 25 to 30 years.

How septic systems work

All septic systems are composed of two major components: a tank in which particles settle to the bottom and a drainfield (also known as a leachfield) in which water dissipates after passing through it. Detailed information regarding the sort of system you have should have been included in the documents you got when you purchased your home. If the specifics have become hazy due to the passage of time, get out those old documents and do some research. It’s possible that your local health department or state environmental agency has backup data as well.

Standard system

According to typical septic systems, gravity moves wastewater from the home into the septic tank, which then transports it to a drainage field. The septic tank is a large underground container that is often built of concrete, polyethylene, or glass fiber. Water collects there for a long enough period of time for the components to separate. Every few years, a septic pumping firm will come in and remove the greases and oils that have risen to the surface as scum, as well as the solids that have sunk to the bottom as sludge, and transport them to an approved disposal location.

A system of perforated pipes or drain tiles is installed in trenches or on a gravel bed one to three feet below the surface of the ground.
As water trickles out of the pipes, the soil and its microorganisms function as natural filters, removing impurities from the water as it passes through them.

However, it isn’t a possibility for every single lot.
It will only work if there is adequate of well-draining soil above the water table to support it.

Alternative systems

You’ll need an alternative system if your soil type, property size, or proximity to a wetland prevents you from using a conventional system. An alternative system is one that includes an improved septic tank, drainfield, or both. These systems are more expensive to install than simple systems, however the cost varies greatly based on your location, your local environmental standards, and the technology you require to be installed. Here are a few examples of the most prevalent kinds. Treatment alternatives are number one.

It is possible to get away with a smaller drainfield—one that is built on a site that does not drain well—or with a site that is adjacent to a lake or stream, in which case you must adhere to tougher environmental regulations.
They break down materials considerably more quickly than the anaerobic bacteria found in traditional septic tanks, resulting in cleaner water being discharged into the drainage field.
It is possible to use an aerobic unit to replace or supplement a septic tank, or to function in conjunction with one.

Filtering water is accomplished by the use of a huge underground or above-ground box that is filled with sand.
After that, the water trickles through the sand before draining into the drainfield below.
It also serves as an alternative to drainfields by enabling fluids to drain into the earth under the surface.

Alternatives to Drainfields Alternate treatment systems fall into two categories: those that treat the drainfield end of the process and those that treat the process itself.
These systems aid in the safe dispersion of water in areas where soil conditions are poor or when there is insufficient open space for a normal drainfield.
It is utilized in situations where the soil is thin or contains excessive clay, or where the water table is very high.

Water trickles out over a vast area in controlled dosages from a pump chamber in drip irrigation, which costs between $2,500 and $15,000, depending on the size of the drainfield.

Because the plumbing is just 6 to 8 inches belowground, you may need to filter the water first, maybe with an aerobic unit, due to the shallow depth of the pipes. In addition, you’ll need a filter and frequent maintenance to keep the system from becoming clogged.

Do’s and Don’ts of Aerobic System Maintenance

Posted onAlthough aerobic systems are more advanced than regular systems, they still require routine maintenance in order to perform at their best. Posted on Here are some dos and don’ts for keeping your aerobic system in good working order (tips on standard systems here). DEselect a TCEQ-licensed maintenance provider to perform routine maintenance on your system. According to TCEQ regulations, all aerobic systems must be checked every four months, even if your county does not require a maintenance company to perform the service (there is a lot more to servicing your system than simply adding chlorine, not to mention the health risks associated with coming into contact with wastewater).

When your alarm goes off or your light comes on, contact your maintenance provider immediately and decrease non-essential water consumption.

DO NOT WAIT a few days before reporting an alarm activation.
DON’T turn off the system unless absolutely necessary.
Check out our video on how to unclog your chlorinator.

Keep clear from any gas or electrical sources.
If ants begin to mound near any portion of the system, saturate the area with ant killer to eliminate them.
Only use calcium hypochlorite tablets that are specifically developed for wastewater treatment.

Allowing plumbers, landscapers, irrigation companies, and other professionals to change anything or touch any element of the system other than providing chlorine and turning off the alarm is strictly prohibited.
DO use caution before allowing anything into the system.

Aerobic systems are intended solely for the treatment of home wastewater and toilet tissue. The following are examples of things that might be harmful to your system:

Overuse of garbage disposal

Fat, grease, and oil
Too many cleaners
Too much fabric softener

Bleach, cigarette butts
Diaper and wipe waste
Feminine products waste

Paper towels waste
Condom waste
Q-tip waste

Paint waste
Hair combing waste
Food waste (fruit peels, fruit juice, cola, wine, vinegar, salad oil waste, sugars waste, coffee grounds waste)

Dental floss waste
Kitty litter waste
Unused medicine waste

And so on.

Items such as these can increase the cost of maintenance and tank cleanings, which can lead to a higher total cost of ownership. DO NOT allow any changes to be made to any aspect of the system or the position of the spray heads. The system becomes out of compliance as a result of the modification, and the property owner may incur additional costs to bring it back into conformity. DOpump your system when your maintenance provider recommends that you do so. Van Delden performs a sludge test on your system every time it is serviced.

(The average household will require a pumping of the system every 2-5 years.) Planting landscaping around the system or spray heads is not recommended.

(Only vegetative surfaces can be treated with this spray).

When it comes to what has to be done when it is pumped, every make and model is different.

Using water more efficiently helps to keep the system from being overloaded.

Whenever possible, do not do all of your laundry on the same day.

Over the course of 80 years, Van Delden Wastewater Systems has proven itself to be the premier Wastewater System provider, supplying San Antonio, Boerne, and the surrounding Texas Hill Country with services you can rely on today and in the future.

(Boerne).