Chatham & Effingham County Septic Design & Site Plans
General Information About a Septic System
A septic system is a relatively simple combination of a pretreatment device including septic tank, aerator, filter and/or lift station; and a septic field. The tank separates solids and floating materials from the liquid. The aerator and filter may be required to treat the liquid before it enters the septic field when the soil is marginal or has other limiting layers. The septic field treats the liquid and dissipates it into the ground. In Chatham and Effingham Counties, the normal, accepted, septic field may consist of a traditional stone and pipe system (with or without fill), a Low Pressure Dosing System, an At Grade System, a Mound System, or a Drip Irrigation System.
If a system is pumped and maintained, it usually lasts about 30 to 50 years. In most cases, if a house is that old, then it needs to be modernized, which means new bedrooms, plumbing fixtures, and generally more water consumption. At that point, we recommend a new septic system be installed. Just for a point of reference, we have designed replacement fields for systems as new as 5 years and as old as 106 years (The owner is the granddaughter of the original builder in 1898 and there is no record that the field was ever replaced).
The owner of a septic system must remember that a septic field is designed to fail. Proper maintenance, including pumping every 2 or 3 years, is very important and will allow the system to provide adequate septic treatment for many years.
Signs of a Failed Septic System
A property owner must keep an eye on the existing septic system. "Out of Site, Out of Mind" is not true for your septic system. A failed septic system will cause unsanitary conditions that can lead to sickness or death in the community. Here are some signs that will help you determine if your septic system may have failed:
- Sewage surfacing on the ground on, or near, the septic field or tank, and then running down the hill.
- Spongy ground on, or near, the septic field. To a certain extent, this includes excessive green grass during the growing season, although this is a real early sign rather than a sign of actual failure.
- Sewage backing up into your house. This is particularly true in the basement, when your toilets won't flush, or when bath water from the lower levels take a long time to drain out.
- If you notice any of these signs, check to verify that your toilets aren't running or that there isn't a running faucet in the house. There are firms that provide septic inspections.
