The Care and Feeding of Septic Tanks by Pete Pfeiler

La Habra Heights sewage disposal is accomplished almost entirely by private septic systems, that is, by septic tank and seepage pit or leach field. Two housing developments are the only areas served by public sewer. The rest of us dispose of our sewage on our property. For some of us "old timers" who may have forgotten, and for newcomers who have not grown up around septic systems, a brief explanation might be helpful.

Sewage is defined as the liquid wastes of a household or community containing large quantities of organic matter subject to biochemical decomposition. The aim of disposal is to prevent the creation of public health hazards (pathogens) in water supplies or on the soil surface. If people or animals come into contact with polluted soil or septic system effluent, they can become sick. But when septic systems are functioning properly, the danger of pathogens is eliminated.

A septic system has two components. The first component is a septic tank, which is generally a rather large (750+ gallons) concrete box with two compartments interconnected by an opening in the lower part of the dividing wall. Sewage flows into the first compartment, which traps the greases, solids and other non-soluble materials (glass, buttons, nails, toys, sand, etc.), and holds the material until it has had a chance to decompose and liquefy. The non-biodegradable material remains in the first compartment, while the liquid passes through the opening into the second compartment, where the process of bacterial decomposition is by and large completed.

Effluent containing dead bacterial matter is then passed out of the septic tank into the second component of the system. This is either a seepage pit or a leach field. A seepage pit is simply a large hole (generally 4 feet in diameter and 30 or more feet deep) lined with unmortared brick which allows liquids to percolate into the soil, where the bacterial matter is filtered and disposed of. A leach field is usually a series of 8" diameter perforated pipes (laid horizontally and surrounded by gravel) that performs the same function as the pit.

With proper care, your septic system can last for many years without causing problems. The Los Angeles County Department of Health, Mountain and Rural Programs recommends pumping the liquid or second compartment as needed. The first compartment, which traps solids, should be pumped every 3 - 4 years. Although there is no official recommendation about feeding microbes to your tank, some septic system owners find that using commercial bacterial preparations can reduce the amount of grease and solid waste in the system.

Following are several suggestions to help extend the life of your system.

Avoid putting non-biodegradable items in the system such as egg shells, grease, glass, sand, certain types of paper (Kleenex is not good), bones, etc.

Minimize the amount of garbage that you put through your disposal (put it in the trash or mulch it).

Have the first compartment of the septic tank pumped regularly to remove non-biodegradable material.

Avoid on-site regeneration of your water softener, that is, do not back-flush your water softener tank into the septic system.

For further information, contact the Los Angeles County Department of Health, Mountain and Rural Programs at (213) 881-4158.