septic info including 2000 design

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SEPTIC SYSTEM INFORMATION SHEET WHAT IS IN MY BACK YARD AND HOW DOES IT WORK? Most houses built in Orono after 1960 where city sewer is not available have two septic tanks, one or more distribution boxes and a number of drainfield trenches . In the septic tanks, heavy sewage solids will settle to the bottom and be decomposed by anaerobic (oxygen-free) bacteria action. Floating solids such as grease, fat, and soap scum will be retained inside the tank by baffles at the inlet and outlet. This ensures that the effluent entering the drainfield is relatively free of solids, which tend to clog up clay soils . Many houses built after 1975 have mound drainfields . These systems function on the same principles as trench drainfields except that the trench bed is installed above the original ground to provide a separation from the seasonally high water table and allow the system to function adequately. fi TRENCH SYSTEM '41344"2"517 .7.81tatovrarril r L ,-1- „ 0 box floating solids distributiondrainfields sludge ` MOUND SYSTEM ./ • .ti • `=t • Ammmamtt pumping chamber . /'t;;LiwI IAtI Ai ,.• �� HOW CAN I MAKE MY SEPTIC SYSTEM LAST LONGER? 1. Do not use your toilet or kitchen sink as a garbage can. Undigested foods and cigarette butts will not decompose in the septic tanks (this includes the use of garbage disposals ! ) . 2 . Have your tanks pumped at least once every three years (once every two years is necessary with garbage disposals) . This will probably cost you $80 - $125 . If you do not specifically ask the pumping • contractor to open up your tanks, he will probably just put the • hose down the inspection riser and drain the liquid from the tanks. • This 'method will not effectively remove the solids ! The tanks should be opened in order to. stir the contents while pumping to break up the sludge and scum layers. The baffleb can also be cleaned, examined, and repaired (if necessary) at this time.