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Inspecting Onsite Waste Disposal Systems - Septic System Testing Methods & Procedures - a Classroom Presentation
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• Classroom presentation on how to inspect and test septic systems

This septic system inspection and testing classroom presentation explains Onsite Wastewater Disposal / Private Septic System Inspection, Operation, Maintenance, and Repair to Clients. It describes detailed procedures for visual inspection of septic systems, septic system testing including loading and dye tests and other procedures, invasive inspection methods, septic capacity evaluation, & reporting the condition of septic systems, drywells, cesspools, leachfields, galleys and other onsite waste disposal systems and equipment.

Future trends in on site waste / wastewater disposal & legislation pertaining to septic systems and groundwater contamination are also discussed. Links at the end of this class presentation provide specific and detailed articles about locating and inspecting each specific component of a septic system as well as a detailed procedure for conducting a septic loading and dye test. Readers of this page should see our home page, the Septic Information Website for the complete list of septic system design, installation, inspection, diagnosis, maintenance, and repair articles available online. The author is a Massachusetts Licensed Title 5 Septic Inspector, and a licensed home inspector New York State License # 16000005303. Other credentials are at our bio and our contact information available online.

  Contents - Septic Inspection Course

What is a Septic System - What is Onsite Wastewater Disposal?

Class with text and illustrations for the inspection, testing, and diagnosis of septic systems (onsite wastewater disposal systems) provided by Daniel Friedman at Inspection Training Associates Inspection Expo '98, Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas NV October 1-4, 1998 [updated and expanded through 12/04/2006]

Waste is disposed-of on the property rather than being piped to a municipal sewage treatment plant. Actually this is speaking carelessly. More precisely, solid waste is retained in a holding (septic) tank from which it is periodically removed for disposal at an approved dumping facility. Clarified effluent is discharged from the tank (onsite wastewater) and is allowed to seep into the soil on the property.

Explaining septic systems to clients

"Yuck! You mean sewage stays in my yard?" I don't want that stuff on my property!

Yep. But not to worry, properly installed and maintained, the system can be sanitary and unobtrusive. It's true however that some maintenance is needed, particularly periodically pumping the tank. We'll talk about that in a minute. First let's look at a very basic understanding of what's installed and how it works.

What are the Functions of a Septic System:

In a typical modern system, waste from house plumbing, (kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower, toilet, laundry) flows through house waste pipes into a two-part system: a septic tank, whose job is to retain all solid waste, and a soil absorption system whose job is to permit clarified effluent (liquid from the tank) to seep into the soil. In the absorption system bacteria which occur naturally in the soil digest septic bacteria and other pathogens so that the liquid is eventually sanitary and doesn't contaminate the private wells, ponds, or streams. There is some bacterial action in the tank but most of it, and all of the important action occurs in the soil absorption system.

What are the Components of a Typical Septic System (Onsite Waste Disposal System)

What is the Septic Tank and What's its Function?

The septic tank in a modern system is a water tight container, usually concrete, sometimes fiberglass. Older steel tanks were used in many areas but might be considered a problem because of both small size and because eventually they rust out and fail. The tank is normally "full" of liquid and waste all the time. Since the tank is normally water tight, if we run 100 gallons of water in the house, 100 gallons of water enters the tank and pushes 100 gallons of effluent out of the tank into the soil absorption system.

The job of the septic tank is to keep solid waste from flowing out into the absorption system where it would clog the soil absorption system. Floating debris such as grease collects in the scum layer. Heavier solid waste eventually settles to the bottom of the tank. Some treatment occurs in the tank, up to perhaps 40% of the total treatment needed before wastewater is discharged to the environment. Treatment in the septic tank includes mostly anaerobic bacterial action and conversion of organic nitrogen to ammonia. Anaerobic treatment is slow and incomplete. You can see that the "tees" or baffles to permit only liquid effluent to flow out of the tank to the absorption field. Alternative septic system designs, and there are quite a few, include aerobic septic systems which, by adding oxygen and air to the septic tank, increase the level of treatment there. Tanks require periodic cleaning - more on that later.

More Reading about Septic System Basics and Septic Tanks

• Buyer's Guide Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems Inspection & Testing - What to Do, Step by Step.
• What is a Septic System An Engineer's View & Septic System FAQ's
• Ten Steps to Keeping a Septic System Working, suggestions from the U.S. EPA, edits and additions by DJF
• Retention Time in Septic Tanks Septic Tank Pumping Guide discusses retention time and "net free area" in a tank (allowing for sludge and scum layers)
• Septic Tank Inspection Procedure - How to Inspect Septic Tanks and evaluate the septic tank condition, baffles, sludge levels, damage, evidence of septic failure, etc.
• Septic Tank Location - How to Find the Septic Tank, how deep will the cover be, how to document its location
• Septic Tank Size Determining Needed Septic Capacity - Septic Tank Size vs. Usage: What septic size is required?
• Tank Tees & Baffles: septic tank baffles and tees, design to prevent system clogging

Above you can see sketches of two commonly-used concrete septic tanks.

What is the Septic Leach Field. What are its Components and its Function?

Clarified effluent flows from the tank into a soil absorption system, (SAS), also commonly called a drainfield, leach field, leaching bed. The drainfield is typically made of perforated pipes buried in gravel-filled leaching trenches or in a leaching bed. There are other types of SAS as well, and in the case of alternative or slightly more sophisticated septic systems, perhaps a raised bed or sand bed system.

The job of the soil absorption system is to treat the effluent by removing contaminants. This happens as the effluent soaks into the soil where bacterial action and filtration take place to convert unsanitary liquid to a sanitary condition before it flows onward deeper into the soil or ultimately to other locations. A biological mat forms below the SAS and performs this treatment.

Here's a sketch of side and top views of a system. Notice the three "drop boxes" also called distribution boxes which are used to connect several perforated pipes together.

Here's an idea of how effluent flows into the soil from the soil absorption system:

The job of the distribution box, or drop-box, or "d-box" is to provide equal distribution to each absorption pipe or trench, or in some cases to allow you to adjust the flow of septic effluent unevenly among various leachfield lines if that's needed.

Notice that in proper operation the effluent is moving down, not up to the surface.

More Reading about Septic System Drainfields or Leach Fields

• Absorption Field Design size and specifications for leach fields, absorption beds, gravelless systems, seepage pits
• Absorption Fields Trench Length has an example of calculating leach line trench length.
• Leach Field Size specifications for leach fields, absorption beds, gravelless systems, seepage pits
• Percolation Tests septic soil tests, deep hole tests
• Planting Over Septic Systems: trees, shrubs, groundcover over the septic system: what can you plant over or near septic system components without causing a problem?
• Wastewater Treatment Basics describes the basic processes that occur in wastewater treatment processes

Special Types of Septic Systems and Alternative Septic Designs

Older properties used systems such as cesspools, or tanks connected to drywells or seepage pits which worked but often have more limited capacity and/or life. Special land forms may require special systems. In areas where there is limited space, rocky soil, or other limitations, mound systems (bring in fill for rocky sites), dosing systems (pumps to overcome elevation restrictions) , sand filter beds (alternative treatment) , and other special systems such as recirculating sand filters and even systems that inject chlorine into effluent for discharge into waterways may be installed. We discuss special systems if we have reason to believe that one is installed at the property being inspected. Different test procedures may be required!

More Reading about Alternative Septic System Designs - Handling Difficult or Problem Sites

• Aerobic Septic Systems: Design Alternatives for Difficult Sites, specifications, photos, sketches, product sources, suppliers, designers
• Cesspools: explained, design specifications, safety, photos, sketches
• Drywells Home Buyer's or Owner's Advice
• Composting Toilets Are They A Septic System Design Alternative for Difficult Sites?
• Design Alternatives for Septic Systems: Home Page for: Advanced & Alternative Septic System Designs for Onsite Wastewater Disposal - design engineers, consultants, products, books for special problem situations, difficult soils, old system repairs. Aerobic septic systems, chemical, composting, incinerating & waterless toilets, Evaporation-Transpiration (ET) Septic Systems, septic media filters, greywater systems, holding tank septic systems, mound septics, raised bed septics, pressure dosing septic systems, sand bed filters, peat beds, constructed wetlands, septic disinfection systems.
• Disinfection for Aerobic Septic Systems - use of calcium hypochlorite tablets versus swimming pool chlorine tablets
• Disinfection for Aerobic Septic Systems - warning about use of swimming pool chlorine tablets
• Dosing Systems, Gravity, Siphons, Floats - to control movement of septic effluent to the absorption system
• Dosing Systems, Pressure - Pressure dosing, using manifold systems, rigid pipe systems, and drip irrigation systems to control movement of septic effluent to the absorption system
• Drywells design specifications for drywells, seepage pits, leaching pits
• Evaporation/Transpiration Septic Systems - septic system design alternatives for difficult sites
• Filters for Septic Tanks & Graywater to protect septic drainfields and reduce drainfield clogging
• Gravelless Septic Systems - design and installation specifications
• Lagoon Systems for human and animal waste and wastewater treatment
• Media Filter Septic Systems as components of alternative septic systems for difficult sites
• Mound Septic Systems as components of alternative septic systems for difficult Sites
• Pressure Dosing Septic Systems: explanation, design alternatives, photos, sketches, product sources, suppliers, designers
• Products - for Alternative Septic System Designs aerobic system pumps, media filters, gravelless systems, other advanced wastewater treatment products
• Pumps Septic pumps, sewage ejector pumps, grinder pumps, effluent pumps, sump pumps, & septic pumping stations compared; pump alarms. Advice.
• Raised Bed Septic Systems raised bed effluent disposal system as a component of alternative septic systems for difficult sites
• Sand Bed Septic Systems for effluent disposal as a component of alternative septic system design for difficult sites
• Seepage Pits for onsite wastewater disposal - design specifications. For more detail see Drywells design specifications
• Sewage Treatment Systems for onsite wastewater treatment & disposal, small residential and community system designs
• Waterless & Low Water Septic Systems, chemical toilets, incinerating toilets, holding tanks, greywater systems
• Wetland Septic Systems

Types, Causes, and Failure Criteria for Septic Systems: Defining "Failed" Onsite Wastewater Treatment or Disposal

This section lists types of failure of septic system failure by individual system component, the common causes of each septic component failure, and provides defining "septic failure criteria".

In simplest terms, there are two visible disposal failures:

• Toilets or other fixtures back up into the house - but first see "Diagnosing Clogged Drains then return here using your browser's "BACK" button.
• Effluent or sewage appears at the surface of the yard, or the neighbor's yard!

Septic odors may also indicate a system failure or an imminent failure. But such odors may also be produced by defects in the plumbing vent system or other site conditions. Beware, sewer gas contains methane and is explosive if it reaches a dangerous concentration inside a building.

Typical causes range from things that are easy and cheap to repair, to a need for complete system replacement:

• Clogged pipes
• Broken pipes
• Damaged tank
• Tipped distribution box
• Clogged/broken soil absorption piping
• Clogged absorption soils (grease & solids)
• Saturated soil absorption area

However there can also be treatment failures. Effluent may not back up or appear on the surface, but if insufficiently treated effluent reaches a private well or any stream or waterway, the environment is being contaminated -- an unacceptable condition. Historically many people have just worried about disposal. As the quality of drinking water deteriorates in many areas and as population grows in many previously thinly-populated areas, proper treatment has become the real concern for everyone's health.

For example, if there is not sufficient soil between the bottom of the soil absorption system trenches and the local groundwater, the local environment is being contaminated.

Other causes of onsite wastewater disposal system failure:

• Driving over the absorption system, leach field, drainfield
• Paving over the absorption system
• Flooding the absorption system with surface or roof runoff, or rocky, poorly-drained or under-sized sites may simply lack capacity
• Improper original construction , especially on rocky, poorly-drained sites (pipes settle, for example)
• Tipped or flooded distribution boxes, resulting in uneven loading of soil absorption system lines
• Use of septic tank or drain field additives which claim to extend system life can generate so much activity in the tank that solids are held in suspension and forced into the soil absorption system! Do not add any treatments, chemicals, yeast, or other treats to a septic system. In general these treatments don't work, may ruin the system, and are illegal in many localities. There is no magic bullet to repair a bad SAS.
• Rusting steel tank covers can cause death! Rusted covers can collapse. I have reports of children and adults who have died from this hazard, as recently as December 1997. In 2000 I consulted in a fatality involving an adult falling into a cesspool. At a building inspection I myself stepped through a hidden, rusted-through steel septic tank cover. Falling into a septic tank, drywell, or cesspool is quickly fatal, either from being buried by falling soils and debris, or by asphyxiation. Septic gases are highly toxic and can kill in just minutes of exposure. Even leaning over an empty (just pumped) tank has led to collapse and fatality of a septic pumper.
• Concrete tank lids: can be damaged by vehicle traffic; heavy duty covers are available.
• Steel tank baffles: rust out and fall off, permitting solids to enter the soil absorption system
• Steel tank bottoms rust out permitting effluent to leak into soils around the tank, possibly giving a large void in tank at time of testing, thus subverting a loading or dye test;
• Concrete tanks can crack or sections may separate causing leaks with the same effects as just stated
• Concrete tank baffles: may erode from chemicals, detergents, poor concrete mix, water flowing over top of baffles, or may be broken by improper pumping procedures
• Houses clustered around a lake: often will have a marginal system as properties were crowded together, built as part-time summer-camps, were built without code supervision, and often were built using amateur, marginal home-made systems.
• Age: eventually even a well-maintained SAS will clog and have to be replaced.

Onsite Waste Disposal System Failure Criteria

Massachusetts Title 5 lists specific failure criteria and serves as a good model for septic inspections anywhere.

• Backup anywhere in the system
• Discharge of effluent to the surface, stream, etc. regardless of whether or not septic dye is observed
• Static effluent level above outlet in the D-box
• System has to be pumped more than 4x/year
• Metal septic tanks (municipality dependent; note that in special site conditions small metal tanks may be the "only" solution and may be approved by local officials. An owner/buyer must be informed of the implications of such installations.)
• Soil Absorption System (or cesspool, etc) is at a depth exposing it to the maximum groundwater level

Cesspool failures (MA)

• less than 6" of freeboard
• less than 1/2 day's storage
• within100 ft. of a pond or dug well (surface water supply)
• within50 ft. of a private well (modern sanitary well)
• between50 and 100 ft from a private well if well fails bacteria test
• inMA, within Zone 1 of a public well
• BOHevaluation is required if within 50ft of any surface water

Soil Absorption System Failures (leach fields, drain fields, seepage pits)

• Breakout of effluent observed (& I consider odors as well)
• BOH evaluation in MA if within 100 ft of surface water supply
• within Zone 1 of a public well
• within 50ft of a private well
• between 50ft and 100ft of a private well if well fails bacteria test.

More Reading about Septic System Failures

• Cesspool Safety Warnings include dangers of cave-in and fatality
• Failure Causes - Septic Systems for Septic Systems, septic tanks, septic drainfields, cesspools, drywells, distribution piping
• Failure Causes - Drainfields: how to inspect septic leach fields & what causes septic field failure
• Failure Spots - Where septic system trouble is likely to show up regardless of septic dye testing

Maintenance Needs of Septic Systems

A principal measure to avoid system failure is periodic tank pumping. Systems can appear to "work" for a long time without maintenance. Modern system failure theory talks about systems that "crash." This means that a system can appear to be ok for a long while but may actually be getting in so much trouble that by the time a problem is noticed it's too late to do anything about it. The system crashes and is beyond repair. When a tank is not pumped sufficiently often there is less settling time for waste entering the tank, so small bits of floating solids are pushed out into and begin clogging the soil absorption system, shortening and eventually ending its life. I've found 9-year old systems which were in total failure for this reason.

Septic Tank pumping frequency depends on these variables:

• Tank size or capacity
• The volume of wastewater (number of occupants)
• Amount of solids in wastewater (garbage disposers)

Table I at Septic Tank Pumping Guide: When, Why, How provides details of tank size in gallons, number of occupants in the building, and tank pumping frequency in years.

Septic tanks will not fail immediately if they are not pumped. However, an un-maintained septic tank is no longer protecting the soil absorption field from solids. Continued neglect may result in system failure and even replacement of the soil absorption field. In some cases, site limitations may make replacement of the absorption field impossible.

More Reading About How and When to Maintain the Septic System, When to Pump the Septic Tank

• Biomat Formation in the Septic System Drainfield Absorption System - what leads to drain field clogging and expensive drainfield repairs
• Cesspools Home Buyer's or Owner's Advice
• Cesspool Age Estimates help evaluate cesspool condition and need for repair or replacement
• Filters for Septic Tanks & Graywater to protect septic drainfields and reduce drainfield clogging
• Garbage Grinders and garbage disposal units - effects on septic systems
• Safety: Septic System, Septic Tank, & Cesspool Safety Warnings for Septic Inspectors, Septic Pumpers, and Homeowners
• Sewer Gas Odors diagnosing, finding, and curing septic tank and sewer line smells
• Sewer Gas - Methane and other septic system gas explosion or asphyxiation hazards such as hydrogen sulfide
• Septic Tank Location - How to Find the Septic Tank, how deep will the cover be, how to document its location
• Septic Tank Pumping Frequency Guide for Septic Tanks: When, How, What to Watch For when pumping or cleaning septic tanks
• Ten Steps to Keeping a Septic System Working, suggestions from the U.S. EPA, edits and additions by DJF
• When Not to Pump a Septic Tank to avoid damage, unsafe conditions, or wasting money

Septic System Inspection Safety & Health Concerns:

Before discussing inspecting septic systems, cesspools, septic tanks, drainfields, etc., critical septic inspection safety issues must be reviewed. Making a mistake can result in a fatality for the septic inspector, septic pumper, building occupants, or anyone who has the misfortune to walk over and fall into an unsafe or collapsing system.

• Do not enter septic tanks/cesspools (fatality reports)
• Do not lean into septic tanks/cesspools (gas hazards, anoxia, asphyxiation)
• Note and take appropriate actions regarding unsafe tank covers
• Special hazards: pumping site-built cesspools, Long Island NY Fatality following Cesspool pump and collapse
• Special hazards: unsafe covers, collapsing steel tanks and covers, New York near-miss falling into septic tank, potential fatality cases involving children at two sites
• Septic collapse during exploratory excavation to find equipment
• Note and take appropriate actions regarding site or building unsanitary conditions (sewage backups)
• Do not bring sewage-contaminated clothing into your home
• Tetanus inoculations needed if working in this field
• Warnings which should be in writing and orally issued to
1. Septic and cesspool pumpers, workers, installers
2. Homeowners or building occupants
• Rope off and prevent access immediately if you detect a collapse risk or unsafe cover. Inform all appropriate parties.


• Read: Safety: Septic System, Septic Tank, & Cesspool Safety Warnings for Septic Inspectors, Septic Pumpers, and Homeowners
• Read: Cesspool Safety Warnings include dangers of cave-in and fatality
• Read: Septic System Warnings to Home Owners and Home Buyers

How to Inspect & Evaluate the Condition of Septic Systems - On Site Waste Disposal

Septic systems should be conducted in as non-intrusive a manner as possible. Depending on the level of service being provided by the inspector, local conditions, and client/owner requirements, the depth of information collected and extent of testing performed will vary widely. The steps described below give a general outline of types of investigation possible.

Collect Historical Information about the Onsite Waste Disposal System

Visual Site Inspection of the Septic System:

• On a property by a stream, pond, storm sewer, watch out for "repairs" that extended the SAS into these locations.
• Look for site problems: rocky areas, wet areas, areas taking surface or roof runoff and prone to flooding, odors, unusual growth, green stripes marking leach trenches, soggy sewage erupting at the surface, signs of recent excavation.
• If a well casing is visible note its location and distance from actual or most likely septic component locations.
• Notice dry as well as wet areas; if you perform a loading/dye test you'll want to look for changes anywhere on the property.

Even if you are not performing a septic inspection or test, if you are able to notice obvious signs of failure and fail to report them, you may be considered not to have conducted your inspection with professional diligence in behalf of your client.

How to Locate Septic System Components

We're talking about mostly buried stuff here. Remember that unless you actually find and open an access cover and confirm flow from the house into it, all you're doing is identifying typical or likely component locations in order to assist in understanding the property and to look for signs of failure.

• Septic Plans: Never assume that the system was installed exactly according to plan. Never assume that components are located in the most likely space unless you have hard evidence. Never assume that a tank cover you see is for a system still in use; it may have been abandoned.
• Main waste pipe in house indicates only the point of exit and a likely direction for septic components; components may be anywhere, even off the property or actually non-existent! Look for room for a tank and for room for the SAS.
• Tanks: are often buried close (10' or more) to the building as that's where there is backfill and a place to bury this large object; but they can be quite remote.
• Rectangular outline, depression, dry or green growth may mark a concrete septic tank; Round outline about 5' in diameter may mark a steel tank. Watch out for unsafe covers!
• Recent excavations: may mark septic components.
• Tank covers, cleanout-access ports: may be visible;
• On a fairly new property one would not expect the SAS to be located on a rocky ridge or amongst dense mature trees where a backhoe would not have been able to pass for excavation.
• Sewage does not flow up-hill unless there is a pump-system or siphon system installed
• Basement plumbing: may not empty into the main system - notice the level at which the main waste line exits the building; if it's above basement fixtures and there is no sewage pump system you should be looking for additional septic components.
• Special equipment: is available to locate pipes and tanks, using snakes and electronic sensors. A septic contractor or plumber in your area may have these tools; even a simple plumbing snake from the main house cleanout can indicate probable distance to a tank.
• Distances between septic system components and wells, streams, etc. are detailed in my Table of Septic and Well Distances citing various authorities and distances to streams, lakes, farm buildings, etc.

More Reading About How to Find Septic System Components

• Outside Inspection - - Simple Visual Site Inspection Gives Key Information About Septic System Condition
• Septic Tank Location - How to Find the Septic Tank, how deep will the cover be, how to document its location

Performing Septic Loading & Dye Tests

Septic Loading and Dye Testing is a useful, somewhat controversial, and not conclusive test of a system involving placing a tracer dye in a toilet, flushing the dye into the system, and running a reasonable test volume of water (minimum 150 gallons or 50-gallons per bedroom) into the system to look for signs of blockage in the building, backup in the building, or breakout of effluent (possibly dyed) anywhere on or around the property. There is no question that this procedure is useful in that it has disclosed numerous septic failures and has proven that preexisting wet areas did, in fact, come from the septic system. It will NOT find every failure condition. Below I describe the general procedure for performing a loading and dye test of an onsite waste disposal or "septic" system. A very detailed description of this procedure is at Septic Loading & Dye Test Procedure Details, a chapter of "Inspecting, Testing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems"

• Obtain owner permission. If a buyer has indicated that a septic test is to be performed one might expect the owner to have given permission for a loading and dye test but it's not the case that an owner understands ahead of time what is going to be done. If an owner objects to running water or performing a dye test the inspector should not proceed with the test and should inform the client, including the implications of the situation. A realtor present at the inspection should, by virtue of the realtor agency for the seller, be able to confirm that the septic test is to be performed.
• Do not perform loading tests on certain systems: dosing systems and recirculating sand bed systems may require that flows into them be limited in volume and time; some systems can be damaged by excessive flooding.
• Do not permit system pumpout right before testing: an empty tank may be 1000 gallons or more; it will not be filled by a typical loading and dye test, therefore the SAS will not have been loaded at all, and false conclusions may be drawn about the condition of the system.
• If pumping and tank inspection are to be performed in conjunction with a dye test: the optimum procedure would be to open and inspect the tank at its normal operating condition. The static level liquid in the tank (high, normal, low) may give evidence of a problem that will be masked when the system is flooded. Tank pumping may then be delayed until after the loading test has had opportunity to test the SAS. If there is obvious tank damage (missing baffles, collapsing tank, abnormal liquid levels) the dye test should not proceed.
• Document: when and where water was run, at what fixtures, for what length of time, at what measured or estimated average flow rate, and at what total volume.
• Confirm water flow into main waste line: from the fixtures where it is being run. Note piping that may suggest presence of separate drywells and do not use fixtures draining thereto for septic system testing. Document that drywells were not tested if you're not performing additional tests thereon.
• Monitor water supply equipment during test: if flow declines or stops, be sure to stop the test to avoid possible damage to a well pump.
• Watch for leaks and backup at fixtures: check each fixture before walking away leaving water running. Ask Douglas Hansen what happens if you don't do this.
• Inspect: suspected SAS area as well as all property areas for evidence of dye or effluent breakout before and after the test.
• Check nearby streams, storm drains: for presence of dyed effluent. Dye often appears in 10-20 minutes if there is a gross system failure; however it may not appear for 5 days in some cases.

More Reading about Septic Loading and Dye Tests - Detailed Procedures

• Dye Amounts, Water Volume: how much septic dye and how much water to use to perform a septic dye test
• Dye Tests: how to perform a Septic Loading and Dye Test - the complete procedure for septic loading & dye testing, a septic function test
• Failure Spots - Where septic system trouble is likely to show up regardless of septic dye testing
• Spotting Breakouts - Spotting Dyed Septic Effluent Breakout Outside - Where Septic Dye is Likely to Show Up During a Septic Dye

Excavating & Pumping Septic Tanks for Further Investigation of System Condition

This task is handled by a septic pumping company or a company working along with a septic system inspector. I schedule the pumper to arrive several hours after starting my inspection so I can do my loading test if one is to be performed. A detailed septic report (such as required by MA Title 5) includes:

• Description of septic tank: age, size, condition, location
• Distance between bottom of scum layer and bottom of outlet tee (want 2" or more else need pump)
• Distance between top of scum layer and top of outlet tee (want 2" or more else need pump)
• Thickness of scum layer
• Depth of sludge layer and distance from top of sludge to bottom of outlet tee (want 12" or more else need pump)
• Evidence of leakage into our out of tank (abnormal liquid top level)
• Evidence of effluent backup (runs back into tank during pumpdown). Note that a backup due to a plugged line is not a system failure; backup due to leach area (SAS) plug is considered a system failure.
• Other defects such as damaged baffles and unsafe tank covers.

More Reading About Pumping and Inspecting Septic Tanks

• Baffles, Septic Tank septic tank baffles defects and inspection suggestions
• Cesspool Safety Warnings include dangers of cave-in and fatality
• Septic Sludge & Scum Levels in Septic Tanks - Measuring the Level of Accumulated Solids, Sludge and Floating Scum in Treatment Tanks
• Septic Tank Inspection Procedure - How to Inspect Septic Tanks and evaluate the septic tank condition, baffles, sludge levels, damage, evidence of septic failure, etc.
• Septic Tank Location - How to Find the Septic Tank, how deep will the cover be, how to document its location
• Septic Tank Pumping Frequency Guide for Septic Tanks: When, How, What to Watch For when pumping or cleaning septic tanks
• Septic Tanks, Concrete defects and inspection suggestions for concrete septic tanks
• Septic Tanks, Fiberglass or Plastic defects and inspection suggestions for fiberglass or plastic septic tanks
• Septic Tanks, Steel defects and inspection suggestions for steel septic tanks
• Septic Tanks, Home Made defects and inspection suggestions for home made or site built septic tanks

Excavating & Inspecting Septic Distribution Boxes

• Evidence of solids carryover from the tank
• Leakage in or out of the D-box
• Flow not moving equally into each distribution SAS line
• Evidence of backup of effluent: stains showing liquid level has been above the outlet tee - this would be considered evidence of a system failure.

Inspecting the Soil Absorption System of an Onsite Wastewater Disposal System

The purpose of this component is to perform final treatment of effluent in a conventional or advanced design septic system by permitting treated effluent to flow from the septic tank (or other treatment tank) into the soil. Bacterial action and filtering there remove additional pathogens to bring the discharged effluent to an acceptable level of sanitation, thus permitting its discharge into the environment. "Soil absorption system" is a general term for what people call the "leach field," "leachfield," "drainage bed," "seepage area," "drip area" (usually in newer alternative design systems), "septic mound" "galleys," "drain trenches" or similar terms. If you have synonyms to add to this list, contact me and I'll add it here.

• Signs of hydraulic failure
• Condition of surface vegetation
• Ponding in the disposal area
• Encroachments into the SAS area (building a pool, for example)
• Other sources of hydraulic loading in the SAS area (downspouts or area drainage)

More Reading about Septic System Testing

• Dye Amounts, Water Volume: how much septic dye and how much water to use to perform a septic dye test
• Dye Tests: how to perform a Septic Loading and Dye Test - the complete procedure for septic loading & dye testing, a septic function test
• Failure Causes - Drainfields: how to inspect septic leach fields & what causes septic field failure
• Failure Spots - Where septic system trouble is likely to show up regardless of septic dye testing
• Outside Inspection - - Simple Visual Site Inspection Gives Key Information About Septic System Condition
• Soil Percolation Tests Perc Tests or Deep Hole Test for Soil Absorption Rate Testing
• Spotting Breakouts - Spotting Dyed Septic Effluent Breakout Outside - Where Septic Dye is Likely to Show Up During a Septic Dye

Recent & Future Trends in Onsite Waste Disposal Systems

Concern for Water Quality is increasing

Text under revision.

Effluent Disposal vs. Treatment

In many states including my own New York, focus has traditionally been on successful "disposal" of effluent which has received Level-1 treatment by a septic tank. Successful onsite wastewater "disposal" means we don't see the waste water on the surface of a property and that a dye test does not detect it being discharged into nearby surface streams or lakes. But successful onsite wastewater treatment means we are not contaminating the ground water. The Massachusetts Title 5 Septic Inspection standards and procedures make this distinction but many states have not adopted such rigorous standards (as of January 2006).

Legislation & Mandated Upgrades

Alternative and Advanced Onsite Waste Water Treatment & Disposal Systems are Available

A "conventional" septic tank and drainfield just won't work at some sites for reasons like these:

• The site is too rocky for a conventional septic system or perhaps there is no soil at all.
• The site is too small for a conventional septic system
• The site is too wet for a conventional septic system
• The site is too dry for a conventional septic system
• The site is too steep for a conventional septic system
• The site is too close to a lake or stream for a conventional septic system
• The community or occupants cannot afford a conventional nor an expensive alternative septic system design.

There are solutions for most site problems, including septic handling and wastewater treatment systems that can fit in a very small space and operate completely above ground. Alternative septic system designs and products have increased significantly in number in the past 20 years as experts have experimented with media treatment systems and alternative materials for treatment, septic tanks, and soil absorption or even evaporation systems. Systems that use no water or only very little water, and very important, systems that re-use graywater from a site have been designed. We have published a large collection of articles describing a variety of alternative septic system designs and also have collected reference sources: books, government resources, online articles. These articles and resources for alternative septic system designs are organized and listed at ALTERNATIVE DESIGNS.

Global Warming and Onsite Waste Disposal Issues

12/4/2006: different areas will experience quite different concerns as weather conditions, sea levels, and soil moisture are amended by the effects of global warming in the coming century, or perhaps much sooner.

• Areas of Rising Sea Level and Effects on Septic Systems: Rising sea levels will saturate soils and make conventional in-soil disposal and treatment ineffective, raising serious health concerns for very large populations of the earth who currently live at or close to sea level and in coastal areas.
• Amended Weather Patterns Resulting in More Rain and Effects on Septic Systems:: may occur in some areas as both sea currents (Gulf Stream) relocate and air currents (Jet Stream) relocate. Areas of increased rainfall resulting in increased soil moisture levels will reduce effluent disposal capability of conventional septic systems in those areas and may interfere with treatment of effluent in the biomat.
• Amended Weather Patterns Resulting in Less Rainfall and Effects on Septic Systems: areas becoming very dry may ease effluent disposal in soils up to a point. But soil pathogens necessary to form and function as the biomat that treats septic effluen