All in the same week, three new separate residential septic systems on Big Moose Lake alone were being reviewed by engineers, and by this office. 

Two of the situations were failed systems and one was because the property owner wanted to do the replacement now, on his terms, and not be faced with an emergency replacement.

In all three situations, the property owners are doing the right thing.

At the first sign of trouble, they called their favorite contractors and made arrangements to get what they have pumped out.

Then they visually inspected what can be seen. This usually ends up having someone come in with a small excavator… unless you have a really strong back and don’t mind shoveling for a while.

One of the systems had the old metal tank disintegrated, totally rusted out. The baffles were so rusty, they were gone too.

When this happens, all the solids and suspended particles in the waste water move directly into the leaching or absorption area.

That leads ultimately to failure of the absorption area; and when that fails, the entire area needs digging up and replacing… otherwise it can be abandoned and a new spot found.

Either way it’s a lot more work or money.

Another system had two failed drywells. Both were full to the top and the septic tank was full, well over the outlet.

All the soils around the drywell had become cauterized, sealed with effluent.

This type of failure happens over time, but when a surcharge of waste water goes into the system, and the drywells become full and backs into the septic tank, the septic tank can’t work right.

The waste water will flow over the baffles thus allowing solids and particulates to get into the absorption area.

Although this happens over time, when it fails to the point where it backs up into the septic tank, failure becomes aggressive.

On the third system, where the owner just wants to do it now, there was no obvious failure going on.

But the old system is too close to the lake, and is pretty old…and just like cars, it’s just a matter of time before failure becomes more noticeable.

In the two situations of failure, the “stink” test gave it away. It was not the dye test. The nose does not lie.

If septic odor is detectable, there is a problem.

Very few systems will have ventilation, other than what venting is provided through the roof of the structure.

Ventilation is one of many things that create healthy septic systems. The bacteria need oxygen to do its thing. Without air, the system will die. If the bacteria die, it/they cannot devour all the waste. That is what makes everything turn to good waste water.

Good waste water is free of suspended particles not broken down to a liquid state.

Quite the subject isn’t it?

Pumping systems does help to remove anything that has been unable to be broken down. Grease and sludge will build up over time, and if not removed can be the beginning of failure.

Big Moose Lake, along with the Chain of Lakes have an excellent relationship with the code office through the annual dye testing program.

When this office is out there, our focus is dye testing and proper protection of our natural resource, the lake. We are not there to see who has an illegal shed or dock.

The dye tester would not know the difference anyway. We are there for one purpose, to see if there are any obvious problems.

And to do this we use our eyes and nose.

Thanks Big Moosers, you’re doing the right thing.