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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPumping Letter - Correspondence - 261 REA STREET 6/18/2019 Y "Y I i a, J North over Health Department 1 Community and Economic Elevelopment DIVISIon t Sotic System Pumplug Records Dates 61 1 Address.- 261 Rea St. Condition of'sys e .: Heavy solids in tank, Dear Owner: Pleasenote that a septic system pumping record dated 6 6 19 and received 6/13/19 states that your sepfic system'stank,had heavy level f solids inside. This can be fromin utilities in the house, a garbage disposal or other issues. Attached y iffl find a ft . Caring o your Septic System. Pieria read 1u the flyer to learn some of the suggested best practices, for caring, or your septic system. If you do have a garbage disposal in your house,please disconfinue its use . If you have any questions or concerns,, please contact the Health Department at the phone number listed below. Thank you,for tak-ing the time to consider the 'impact this may have on your system as well as the environment. Sincerely, 1 Stephen Casey Jr. 4 Health,Inspector Office: ) 688, 9540 nc: Caring or your Septic System: A ReferienceGuide for Homeowners Page forth Andover HealthDepartment, .6,00 Osgood Street, Suite 'Northd er MA 0 1845 Phone-, 9 8 .9 Fax: 9,78.688.8476 oo terence Laring torL&our bcpbc S%,,Fstemm, A Re' Y Y Guide for Homeowners, f Caring for Your Septic System Septic Sept,ic Systems Explained Septic systems are:individual wastewater treatment systems (conventional septic systems, inn ti e/alternative IM systems, or cesspools)that use the soil and bacteria ri to,treat small wastewater flows, usually from individual homes. They are typically used ire viral or large lot settings where centralizedwastewater treatment (sewer system to a treatment plant) isimpractical and unavailable. Thera are many types of septic systems,in use today.While all systems are individually designed for each site,, most systems are based on the same principles. Conventional Septic System conventional septic system consists of a septic tank, a distribution box and a leach field. Your septic system treats your household wastewaterby temporarily holding it in the septic tank,where heavy solids and lighter r debris are allowed to separate from the wastewater and bacteria begin to break, everything down. The solid's sink to the bottom and are called the sludge layer; the lighter debris such as hair,, oils and grease float to the top,and are called a scum layer; and the wastewaters or effluent is,left in the milddle. This separation process with the initial decomposition is known as primary treatment. MAULt «,� ;w .Ins . cti m ,,r�,1' rl . `�" r4 '� ", , e.,w'+ * ;" H r•w e . „ • y .w ^60 �G x , . .« �P ., Tee w w Ir„ 1 �I,ed, .. to.distfltbiftlofll Witeu After the partially treated wastewater effluent leaves the tarry it flows into a distribution box. The distribution box separates,this effluent,evenly into a network of pipes called septic lines within the leach field. ;mall holes throughout the bottom of each septic lire allow the effluent to slowly l drain into gravel and sand layers where bacteria farther treat and purify the effluent. This is known as secondary treatment., A properly functioning septic system urifias the effluent through primary and secondary treatment and does not pollute the groundwater., Caring for Your Septic System 1. (Conventional Septic Systerni, Innovative/Alternative (I/A) System, or Cesspool), The accumulated solids in t'he bottom of true hou e!septic dank sld be pumped out every two years to prolong the life of your sy�stem. Septic systems must be maintained regularly to stay working. Neglect or abuse of your system can cause It to fail. Failing systems Carr: • Cause a serious health threat to your fam it and neighbors, • Degrade,the environment, especially lakes, streams and groundwater) • Reduce the value of your property, • Be very expensive to repair,r, a n d • Put,thousands of water supply users at risk if you live in a public water supply watershed and fail, to maintain your system. Be alert to these warning signs of a failing system: Sewage surfacing over the leach field (especially after storms), Sewage back-ups in,the house, Ws green growth, over the leach,field, Slow drainit­iig toilets or drains, Sewage odors., Save Money by Maintaining Your Septic System 0 A major reason to maintain your septic system i's to save money. Failing systems are expensive to repair or replace, and poor maintenance is often the culpint. Preventive maintenance is a,whiole lot cheaper than repair or replacement. For e m le, it could cost up to$40,000 or more to replace afalling system with a new one, compared to approximately$300 to$400 to have a system, inspected, and purnped every couple of years. Maintaining a septi,le system is like maintaining a car. A,small effort on a regular basis can save a lot of money and significantly prolong the life,of the system. * Innovative/Alternative (,I/,A)systems, although providing more advanced treatment, is req,uire more frequent oversight and maintenance. * Please refer to our Septic, Installers list for licensed contractors, w f Tips to Avoid Troul le DO have your tank pumped out,and system inspected every 2 years by a licensed septic contractor, if the tank fills up with an excess of solids, the st ° at r will not have eno�ughtime to settle in time tank.,'These excess solids will then pass on to the[each field, where they will clog the drain fines and soil. More information on Pumpiffl. t DO keep a record of pumping, inspections, and other maintenance,. Use the back page of this brochure t record maintenance dates. DO practice water conservation. Repair dripping faucets cuts rid leaking inn toilets, run washing machines and dishwashers only when full, avoid long showers, and use water-savIng features in faucets, shower leads and tilts. DO learn the location f your septic system nd leach field. Keep a sketch of it hardy for service visits. if your system has a flow diversion valve, learn its location, and turn it once a year. Flow di ert rs can,add many years to time life of r.r r system. DO divert roof drains in and surface water from driveways and hillsides away from the septic system. beep sump pumps and house footing drains away from the,septic system as well DO grow grass or small plants(not trees or shrubs)above the septic system to hold the drain field in place.Water conservation through creative landscaping is a great way to control excess runoff. DO use only additives that have been allowed for usagein Massachusetts by MassIDEP.Additives that are allowed for use in Massachusetts have been determined not to produce a harmful effect to the individual l system r its components or to the n it nm nt at large. ,tale leftover hazardous household chemicals,to your approved hazardous t+ collection center for disposal, Use bleach, distrifectants, and drain and toilet bowl cleaners sparingly and in accordance ith product lads* DON"T allow anyone to drive or park over any part of the system.The area over the leach field should be left undisturbed with only a mowed grass curer. Roots from, nearby trees or shrubs may clog and damage your,septic lianas. DON'T plant trees within 30 feat of your system or park/drive over any part of the system.Tree roots is will clog your pipes, and heavy vehicles may cause our septic lines to collapse. DON'T mi al a or allow repairs to your septic system without obtaining the required health department permit. Use professional licensed contractors when needed. DON'Tuse commercial septic tank additives other than'those allowed for use in Massachusetts l ass E . These products usually do not help and some may hurt your system in the! long run. DON'T use chemical solvents,to clean the l m in r septic system. "Miracle" chernicals will bill Tmicrearganisms that consume liar ful wastes.These products can also cause groundwater contamination. DON'T perform x ssive laundry l ads.... lth your washing machine.ine. Brag lead after load does not allow your septic tank time to adequatelytreat garter and overwhelms the entire system r th excess wastewater,.You could therefore be flooding our leach field without allowing sufficient recovery time.You 1, should consult a septic professional to determine the gallon capacity and number of loads per day that can safely go into,the system. DON,'T use a garbage grMder, garbage disposal or any type of in sink food disposal,, which feeds 0 'ly firnit its use o,r remove it. Food materials into the septic system. if you do have one in,the house, sever�e I do,not,break down the same way as wastewater and adding food wastes or other solids severely reduces your system's clapaGity, increases the need to pump the septic tank and can damage your system. DON'T use your toilet,as a trash can by dumpling non-degra,dable items down your toilet.or drains. Also, don't poison your septic system and the groundwater by pouring harmful,chemicals down the drain. They, can kill the beneficial bacteria that treat your wastewater. Small amounts of standard household cleaners, drain cleansers, detergents, etc. will be diluted in the tank and should cause no damage,to the system. Keep the following materials out of your systen NCIN-DEG RADABLES ITEMS: cigarettes, etc. Cooking grease,, disposable,diapers, Mastics, dental,floss, POISONS oil, paint, paint thinner, pesticides, piolyurethane, dyes, disinfectants, antifreeze, etc. Gasoline, Water Softeners Many,homes or small businesses may decide to install water softeners to address"hard water" and the resulting mineral deposits that build up from, it.The Title 5 regulations prohibit water softener backwash or reject wastes from going into a septic system (conventional septic system, l/A system, or cesspool), in any amount. weVer i �the backwash from water softeners or from,other water purification or filtration devices,can be Ho , discharged into a drywell that has,been properly d signed and is approved by the local Board of Health. Biackwash Is wastewater generated from the cleaning of water and wastewater treatment filters. A,drywell, is a it with open-jointed fining or holes that allow infiltration to the surrounding soil. For more, information on having a drywell designed for your home or business, you should contact the 'Health, Department.