Plantings
District staff will inform customers roots are causing problems with your OWTS. Roots can clog pipes, break apart tanks, infiltrate the gravel in your leachfield, and render a system completely inoperable. The Monterey Pines and Cypress seem to be the main villains, but the District has seen problems caused by Eucalyptus, Bay, Junipers, and Ice Plant. In the follow-up to your Routine Inspection, staff will advise you to have roots removed if we see them infiltrating your tank. Also, if your leachfield were slow to accept the applied hydraulic loading during the inspection, we would require that you investigate the cause. If you promptly remove the roots, you can salvage your system and keep it operational. Please keep in mind that typically your system is about 12 to 18 inches below the surface and that plants with invasive or deep roots must be not be placed in the leachfield area.
Plumbing Back-up
If a plumbing backup occurs suddenly, chances are it is not a problem with your OWTS, but a blockage between your household plumbing and your tank. You should have a sanitary clean-out so a plumber can access your household server line to clear the blockage. Disposal of non-degradable paper products can clog the inlet to the tank. Tree roots can also infiltrate pipes.
A sudden plumbing backup can occur if your OWTS relies on a pump, and either the pump has failed, or there has been an interruption in electrical power. If you suspect you have a pump problem, contact a septic contractor. The District maintains a list of local contractors licensed to work on systems.
Odors
Odors emanating from your OWTS can be indicative of a saturated field. During normal use of an unsaturated system, the gases in the septic tank will pass with the wastewater into the soil and be absorbed. If a field is saturated, the gases tend to migrate up the plumbing vents, and the neighbors will notice a "septic odor." A carbon filter is available for installation on the roof vent to scrub these unpleasant odors.
Immediately before and during the routine inspection, the District inspector will note if a significant odor is associated with a particular system. The owner will be notified if the system appears saturated and not functioning correctly. The odor associated with surfacing effluent is of grave concern to the District.
Power Outage
If you have a gravity system, your sewage disposal needs will be met during the power outage. If your system incorporates a pump, the pump will not function until the return of power. To prevent sewage from backing up in your plumbing, the household must minimize all wastewater generation. Typically, a system has 200 to 300 gallons of emergency storage just for this occurrence. Since your electrical appliances (washing machine, dishwasher, and electric hot water heater) would not work, the household will naturally use less water. When power returns, you may hear an alarm sound because the alarm has been triggered by the high water conditions in the tank. After the pump lowers the effluent level, the alarm buzzer should stop.
Alarms
There are several reasons why the alarm on your OWTS might sound. All are important, and no alarm should be ignored.
- There may be a pump failure or an interruption of power to the pump. If the pump is not functioning, sewage will fill a septic tank or sump basin until the alarm sounds.
- There may be an electrical short in the alarm electrical system. There may be a float failure.
- For systems utilizing timed dosing, if the household has exceeded its maximum limit, an alarm will sound, and the pump will distribute a small amount of effluent to the sand filter to immediately relieve the flooded condition. The household must refrain from disposing of excess wastewater immediately so that the system will not be overused. Each time this "high-use" alarm sounds, an override counter in the electrical panel will record the event. District staff tracks these counts for each system to ensure compliance with the Discharge Limit.
Surfacing Effluent
Effluent ponding in a leachfield, breaking out downhill from a system, or flooding out the top of the tank is a serious concern to the District and will be addressed immediately. If these conditions are observed during the inspection, the property owner will be notified immediately, and the Discharge Permit will be revoked. If a report comes into the District regarding suspected surfacing effluent, the District Inspector will investigate promptly. Please limit your exposure to suspected untreated effluent. Keep pets and children from contact, and please contact the District with your complaint.