As septic systems age, they generally become less efficient and may require to be replaced due to new EPA restrictions. Effluent, the wastewater from a septic system is poisonous. Because of the dangerous characteristics of this effluent, septic systems are becoming more scrutinized by local health departments, state health departments and the EPA. In many communities, when a home is sold, a septic inspection must be done to make sure the system is working properly and none of this effluent is entering the groundwater ecosystem.

Your septic system is a vital part of the infrastructure of your home. Without it, you would not be able to use the showers, toilets or any other of the water spigots inside your home. Your septic system is vital to keep your home clean and comfortable. A defective system will also cause a bad smell on the outside of your home. A properly installed septic system will last for decades to come and will keep your home comfortable. It will also protect the environment from toxic effluent getting into groundwater.

Types of Septic Systems We Install

Traditional Trench Systems or Leach Field Systems

These Systems have been used for many years and were generally considered the standard. In this system the solids and liquids all flow to a holding tank. The solids stay in this holding tank where they are slowly dissolved by bacteria. After the holding tank, the effluent is either transferred to the leach field by gravity or an electric pump which is housed in its own tank. The leach field is a maze of pipes or underground chambers where this effluent is able to leach or distribute into the native soils. When working properly, you won’t even know the leach field exists under the ground.

Mound system

This system is generally used where the soil is determined not suitable for a traditional trench type system. The holding tanks functions the same on this system as a traditional trench system. After the holding tank, the effluent enters a dosing tank where it will be pumped to the mound under pressure. With a mound system, a special distribution area is constructed of a sand/gravel mix which is above the ground and looks like a small mound. This mound has a pipe at the top with holes in it where the effluent is introduced into the mound at evenly spaced intervals through the day. The entire mound is covered with topsoil. The mound area is then seeded with grass or some other type of ground cover.

Drip Distribution Mound

This system is very similar in construction due to the mound system. It’s generally used where soils are more problematic than areas where a mound can be installed. This type of mound is generally larger than a standard mound system as less of the effluent is expected to be distributed into the native soil. With this system the effluent is slowly distributed into the gravel/sand mix hence the name, “drip.”

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) or Off Lot Septic

These types of the systems are the newests and most complex systems. They act like a mini sewage treatment system in a series of tanks. They use various components like aeration pumps, UV lights, chlorinators and other apparatuses to treat the effluent. The manufacturers of these system claim the effluent is clean enough to introduce back into the environment after it’s treated. With that being said, these systems are the most complex and most expensive to maintain. Many times the clean effluent that comes out of these systems is piped out to a culvert area or drainage ditch. These types of systems are considered off site as the filtered effluent is discharged where it can leave the property. In Ohio, these systems are general only allowed for replacement systems on older homes where a traditional system will not fit or the soils are not suitable for a traditional system.

Spray Septic System

The spray system is one of the newest systems being installed in Ohio. The effluent is filtered in a similar way as the off lot system or NPDES system. After treatment, the treated effluent is sprayed onto the ground with a modified spray head. This spray head is designed not to freeze in the winter months. This type of system is generally considered an on site system as the treated effluent never leaves the property.