Preventing groundwater pollution from failing septic systems should be a priority for every homeowner. Contamination of the groundwater source can lead to the pollution of local dams, streams, lakes, and ponds, exposing family, friends, and neighbours to waterborne diseases and other serious health risks.
How do you know if your septic system is failing you?
Answer the following questions
- Do your drains empty slowly for reasons other than old, clogged pipes?
- Does sewage back up into your house?
- Have you noticed a wet, smelly spot in your yard?
- Is your septic tank piped to a ditch or stream?
- Is your washing machine or sink piped to a road or stream?
- When it rains, or the ground is wet, do you experience problems with your drains?
- When you do laundry, does a wet spot appear in your yard?
- Do you frequently have to pump your septic tank (more than once a year)?
- Is the grass over or around your septic tank greener than the rest of your lawn?
- Is the area around your septic tank or drainfield wet or spongy even when it has not rained for a week or more?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it means that your system is not treating and disposing of sewage in a safe, environmentally sound fashion.
A septic system uses bacteria to break down the water, and therefore it is important that you do not use cleaning products or dispose of any product down the drainage system that will kill bacteria.
Items to watch out for are:
- Products that contain chlorine or ammonia
- Fats and greases
- Non-degradables such as disposable nappies, cat litter, plastics
- Poisons like petrol, paint, thinners or pesticides.
- Excessive food scraps.
There is a wide range of biological cleaning products that are made specially for use with septic tank systems.
By conducting maintenance on a regular basis, you can save a lot of money and significantly prolong the life of the system. Septic systems, over time, will build up with an excess of accumulated solids that should be pumped out every 3-5 years. This will depend on the volume that is put through the tanks, so it varies greatly on application. Make sure the tank is pumped out by a licensed liquid waste contractor; please see the local council in your area about any special EPA regulations.
Please never allow anyone at any time to enter the septic tank as it is a confined space and once operating is an extreme health risk.
Regular inspections of your septic system are recommended to ensure that it is working properly and to determine when the septic tank should be pumped. Systems that have moving parts may require more frequent inspections. By having your system inspected and pumped regularly, you can prevent the high cost of septic system failure.
Polymaster Septic Tanks have been designed and manufactured in Australia, using only high-quality Australian industrial-grade polyethylene and are able to withstand the rigours of the real world, such as knocks during transport, jolts and bangs during installation and groundwater pressure after installation. Being a one-piece moulded tank, they are easy to handle, and lifting lugs are incorporated into the design to make it easy to sling the tanks using a crane, excavator or other lifting machinery.
A low profile and compact design minimises the amount of digging required prior to installation; the depth of excavation is minimised, and the hole is easier to backfill after installation. The ribbed design provides incredible strength and resistance to shape deformation. To minimise the amount of work required on site, these are pre-assembled before leaving the factory; simply position the tank and connect the inflow and outflow pipes!
Available in two sizes, 3100L & 4550L, these new ultra-strong, low-profile septic tanks have been tested and certified to AS/NZS 1546.1:2008; they come with a 7-year manufacturer’s warranty.
For enquiries relating to ordering a Septic Tank, contact the Polymaster team on 1800 062 064 or Polymaster.com.au
