If you're a homeowner with a septic
system and a private water well, you may wonder just how safe it is.
After all, discharging wastewater from your septic system into the
ground when you're drinking groundwater pumped up from elsewhere on
your property may not sound totally safe if you don't know how the
septic system works.
Fortunately, regulations and guidelines
for spacing the septic system and the private well can ensure the
safety of your water. And typically, as long as you follow the
guidelines and keep your septic system in great shape, you won't have
a problem.
Here are five signs you don't need to
worry about your septic system contaminating your well water.
1. You Pump Your Tank Regularly
Having your septic tank professionally
pumped by a septic contractor gives you several advantages. First,
you'll avoid the problems that come with an overfilled tank. The main
problem that stems from an overfilled tank is that solids could get
out into the leach field, clogging the lines and possibly causing
leach field failure so it can't process the water correctly.
In addition, your septic contractor can
check the tank at each pumping. If your tank has developed any
malfunctions such as a broken or missing septic tank baffle that
could increase chances of septic system failure, your contractor can
let you know so you can arrange for repairs before the system is
damaged further.
2. Your System Is Far Away From the
Well
The minimum distance between your
septic system and the well is determined by local regulations and can
vary between different parts of the system. For instance, the septic
tank may only need to be 50 feet away from your well or more, whereas
the leach field may need to be at
least 100 feet
away from your well.
Make sure that every part of the
system, from the main sewer line all the way to the leach field at
the other end, has the minimum required distance from any private
wells, both those on your property and those on neighboring
properties.
3. Your System Passes Video
Line Inspections
Some septic experts recommend regular
video line inspections. These inspections use a tiny video camera to
check the conditions inside your septic system, especially your main
sewer line pipe. If you schedule regular video line inspections, you
can be assured of the condition of your system. You don't have to
wait and watch for symptoms of problems.
4. You Test Well Water Regularly
Some homeowners may be under the
impression that you only need to test your well if you are worried
about contaminants, such as from your septic system. However,
according to the EPA, well water testing is a
routine maintenance chore
that you should complete on a regular
basis.
Either way, if your well water always
comes up clean on tests, that's a sign your septic doesn't affect it.
5. Your Leach Field Seems Healthy
If your leach field is in distress, it
will likely give some indication of this. For instance, if too much
solid material has come down the lines from the septic tank and
caused an oxygen imbalance, the field may start to smell funny
because of sulfur compounds. Too much water could cause a similar
smell and may make the leach field area seem boggy or mushy.
If your leach field seems the same as
usual, without any symptoms such as marshiness, bad smells, or
standing water, it's probably not experiencing failure (at least not
to the degree of contaminating the groundwater).
These five signs aren't infallible, but
they can help you get a good sense of whether your septic system is
healthy, functioning well, and processing your wastewater correctly
so that your private well water won't become unsafe.
For more information about septic
repair and maintenance to keep your system in tip-top shape, get in
touch with Allen's Septic
Tank Service
today.
