3 Environmental Consequences of Septic System Neglect

If you own a home in a rural area or off-the-grid spot without sewer access, you probably have a septic tank to handle wastewater. Septic tanks are terrific, eco-friendly, and low-tech options for processing sewage while keeping the plumbing flowing in your home. However, they are often put through the paces, especially when the heat and humidity rise. Remember these six septic system challenges in extreme heat and humidity if your system seems to be on the fritz in the dog days of summer.

How Extreme Heat Affects Your System

When the temperature rises, activity under the septic tank’s “hood” gets busier. Here’s the how and why of it.

Increased Biological Activity

A big part of how your septic tank processes wastewater is the number of bacteria inside. Not to worry; they are the good kind of bacteria. They feast on the waste in the system, breaking it down and eliminating much of the odor of raw sewage. Unfortunately, high heat increases microbial activity. This means less oxygen in the tank, which creates anaerobic conditions. When this happens, things get stinky, and the breakdown of waste is more difficult.

Evaporation and Cracked Soil

Naturally, the hotter it gets, the drier things get. This leads to lost water through evaporation, causing the soil to dry and crack and rendering it incapable of absorbing and filtering wastewater. That means nastier, untreated wastewater can reach the water that collects underground, which is bad for the environment and worse for you if it infiltrates your well water.

Overload!

When it gets hot, people use more water, and when people use more water, it overloads the plumbing system. In turn, it overwhelms the septic system. Wastewater may back up into the home through the drains. Faucets and flushing could become less efficient, and maintenance issues may increase. You’ll likely need to pump your septic tank more often and sooner than normal. That means more money spent on repairs and pumping.

How Humidity Interferes With Septic Systems

Sometimes, people say, “It ain’t the heat, it’s the humidity.” In this case, it absolutely is!

Saturated Drain Fields

When the humidity rises, the soil over your septic tank’s drain field grows waterlogged. When that happens, it can’t process the effluent (liquid waste or sewage) in wastewater very well. This means backups and sewage rising to the top, to gross effect as you can imagine. That leads to very unhealthy conditions, not to mention terrible smells!

Anaerobic Conditions

As touched on earlier, anaerobic (low or no oxygen) conditions increase the presence of anaerobic bacteria. It also slows waste breakdown, increases the potential for clogs, and creates unhealthy activity overall.

Mold

High humidity encourages the growth of mold in the tank and connected pipes. As mold sits and thrives, it leads to pipe corrosion. Eventually, the pipes break down, requiring extensive repairs and replacement while allowing hazardous leaks in the meantime.

Those are just six septic system challenges in extreme heat and humidity. Talk to your septic tank professional about what you can do to combat these. Contact Brandon septic tank cleaning for advice, periodic pumping, and other preventative maintenance today!

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