Septic Systems

What you put into your septic system greatly affects its ability to do its job. As a rule do not put anything in your septic system that could be put in the trash. For example:

1. Don’t discharge greases, cooking oils, food scraps, coffee grounds, and garbage disposal waste.
2. Don’t discharge material that will not easily decompose such as cigarette butts, sanitary napkins, paper towels, facial tissues, and disposable diapers.
3. Don’t discharge washing machine water that has not passed through a lint trap.

Reducing the volume of sanitary wastewater can decrease the amount of suspended solids being discharged to the soil absorption field. Excess water volume strains the system unnecessarily. Observe the following water conservation tips to help reduce the volume of wastewater flowing to your sewage system. 

1. Install reduced-flow plumbing fixtures or water saving devices such as low-flow shower heads and flow restrictors for faucets.
2. Repair leaking plumbing like dripping faucets, float valves, etc.
3. Direct water softener backwash water outside if it does not create a nuisance.

Plan your home water use to help reduce peak load times. Here are some suggestions: 

1. Wash clothes over a period of several days, try not to wash more than one load per day.
2. Wash full machine loads of dishes and clothing during non-peak hours.

Clean your septic tank regularly. There are several reasons to pump a septic tank. The first is to remove undigested scum and sludge that accumulates in the tank. When excessive amounts of sludge or scum build up within a septic tank, they may be carried over into the soil absorption field. The distribution pipe and field soil structure may become clogged reducing the efficiency of the system. A licensed sewage hauler should pump the septic tank every 3 years in order to prevent excessive solids from accumulating. Septic tank maintenance not only removes accumulated solids but also allows the pumping contractor to inspect the system for proper operation and identify any structural problems. Proper septic tank maintenance may increase the life of your system and prevent expensive repairs.

There are numerous commercially available septic tank additives that claim to prevent clogged drains, rejuvenate failing systems or eliminate the need for routine pumping. Septic systems usually fail as a result of old age, neglect or clogged absorption fields, not from impaired bacterial action. Thus, introducing live bacteria or enzymes into a failing system may not offer much help. Additives that claim to clean the septic tank may do more harm than good. Indigestible solids, untreated by the additive, may build up in the tank. The additive may emulsify grease or scum that would otherwise reside longer and be broken down in the tank. These materials could then wash out into the soil absorption field and clog it more quickly.

To prevent damaging your private sewage system, use only those septic tank additives approved by the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). Department approval means that the manufacturer has demonstrated that the product does not affect soil hydraulic conductivity in the absorption area, or does not affect groundwater quality beneath the private sewage system. Even if Department approves the product there is no guarantee that it will work as advertised.

If you are considering using a septic tank additive, please contact the Environmental Health Division at 262-896-8300 to make sure that the additive has been approved by the Department of Safety and Professional Services and will not harm your sewage disposal system.

When sewage backs up into a dwelling or business a blockage or collapse of the conveyance pipe between the building and septic tank, or between the septic tank and soil absorption field may be the cause. It might also be caused by the run-back of sewage from the absorption field (the field itself is clogged).

If a clogged conveyance pipe is the problem, it will be necessary to remove the blockage or replace the pipe.

If the sewage back up stems from a clogged or overloaded soil absorption field, you may have to replace it if water conservation measures and more frequent septic tank pumping no longer solve the problem. Any soil absorption field will eventually fail with age and use. Once this happens, it’s necessary to replace the soil absorption field. Contact a certified soil tester to find out the type and location of the replacement system suitable for your property.

Any sewage disposal system that uses a soil absorption field works efficiently because it is designed with a minimum 3-foot separation between the bottom of the field and the water table or bedrock. The 3-foot separation is necessary so that wastewater containing bacteria and viruses is filtered before it reaches groundwater or bedrock. An existing soil absorption field installed in soils where the 3-foot separation does not exist is considered a failing system. When these unsuitable soil conditions are verified, you must install a replacement sewage disposal system that complies with plumbing code requirement

When the soil absorption field becomes clogged or overloaded, sewage may seep onto the ground surface. Although this sanitary waste has been partially treated in the septic tank, when it reaches the soil absorption field it still contains many thousands of bacteria and viruses per milliliter of liquid volume. These pathogens can cause illness, and create odors. The pooled sewage can also become a breeding area for insects.

As a septic system ages, the soil in the absorption field gradually loses its ability to absorb wastewater. Eventually wastewater flows in faster than it can be absorbed. Sewage can then appear on the ground surface over the soil absorption field, over the septic tank or elsewhere on the property. Once this happens, it’s necessary to replace the soil absorption field. Contact a certified soil tester to find out the type and location of the replacement system suitable for your property.

All private sewage systems are designed based on a gallon per day discharge rate from the building being served (i.e. number of bedrooms or building usage, if a public building). Since private sewage systems have a finite life, proper maintenance is important as a means of providing system longevity. Owners of private sewage systems should be aware of the following maintenance recommendations as a means of increasing private sewage system life.

1. Make it a practice to conserve water within the home.
2. Wash clothes over a period of several days trying not to wash more than one load per day.
3. Install reduced flow plumbing fixtures or water saving devices like reduced flow shower heads, a suds-saver feature on the washing machine, or flow restrictors.
4. Repair dripping faucets, float valves etc.
5. Only biodegradable materials should be discharged to the septic system. Materials such as cigarette butts, sanitary napkins, paper towels, facial tissues, disposable diapers, coffee grounds etc. should be disposed of in the trash.
6. Fats and greases should not be discharged to the septic system.
7. If a garbage grinder is installed, its use should be minimized in order to avoid discharging an excessive amount of finely ground solids to the septic system.
8. Periodically have a licensed septic tank pumper inspect and pump the septic tank to ensure that it is operating properly and to remove any indigestible accumulated solids from the tank. Septic tank maintenance on a two-year basis is recommended.
9. The addition of chemicals, enzymes, yeasts or other additives to the septic tank will not eliminate the need for periodic maintenance nor will they cure a failing septic system. Some chemicals may even be harmful to a septic system. In Wisconsin, the State Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) must approve chemical additives. Either check with the County or with the regional DSPS office Link to obtain information on approved chemical additives
10. Do not drive cars or heavy equipment over the septic system.
11. Educate yourself about your septic system and how it operates. Do not build over the septic system. Know where the septic tank, pump tank or absorption field is located and be aware of its limitations.

For some people served by private sewage systems the thought of an expensive system failure is never far from their minds. Advertisements for septic tank additives that can completely eliminate this worry looks tempting but these claims could be exaggerated.
Some advertisements for septic tank additives claim to completely prevent clogged drains, entirely eliminate the need for routine pumping, and rescue failing systems.

Introducing live bacteria or enzymes into a failing system may not offer much help because septic systems usually fail as a result of old age or neglect of clogged absorption fields, not from the lack of bacteriological action. Because septic systems are designed to catch solids, all tanks will eventually fill with indigestible solids (sludge). No chemical, enzyme or bacteria can digest sand, soil other inert materials. Indigestible solids that accumulate in the tank can wash into the soil absorption field if they are not pumped out. These solids can clog soil pores and prevent water from percolating through the soil absorption field. When the tank is more than half full of sludge there’s too little room for incoming wastewater to remain in the tank long enough to be treated properly. Grease and scum that accumulate on top of the wastewater must also be removed when the tank is pumped to prevent them from washing into the soil absorption field.

The Environmental Health Division recommends that a licensed pumper routinely pump your septic tank every 2-3 years even if additives are used. The cost of pumping a septic tank is often much less than you would pay for a year’s supply of septic tank additives.

While there is no accepted test method to prove septic tank additive products are effective, some products are actually harmful. In Wisconsin, all products claiming to aid digestion in septic systems must be reviewed prior to sale by the Department of Commerce for proof they do not adversely affect:

• The bacterial action in the private sewage system;
• The soil hydraulic conductivity in the soil absorption field; or
• The groundwater quality beneath the private sewage system.

There are no known chemicals, yeast, or other substances capable of eliminating or reducing solids in a septic tank so cleaning is unnecessary. The use of septic tank cleaners does not replace the need for regular pumping of the septic tank and general maintenance of the private sewage system.

The county reserves the right to question any soil test report submitted and require an on-site evaluation to verify the information submitted by the certified soil tester. Soil test reports submitted to the Waukesha County Environmental Health Division are reviewed shortly after being received for accuracy and completeness. Most questions are resolved shortly after submission and the soil test report is filed to await the submission of private sewage system plans.

Due to changes in soil reporting requirements, soil tests completed prior to October 1993 may not be acceptable. Soil tests conducted after this date are typically acceptable providing the site has not been altered by cutting and/or filling and there is no reason to question the soil conditions as they were reported.

The Wisconsin Administrative code establishes minimum isolation distances between the septic tank/soil absorption field and various improvements made on the property. A partial listing of some of the minimum isolation distances are as follows: