Get Pumped - Ken's Septic Western Star

Septic Maintenance

The septic tank is a crucial component of your on-site sewage system. It is a watertight tank designed for the storage and treatment of a minimum of 3 days worth of sewage flow generated from a dwelling. This treated sewage (effluent) then is allowed to enter into the septic field.

Bacteria entering with the raw sewage into the septic tank naturally digest the sewage. This bacterium literally eats the solid sewage particles and turns them into liquids and gasses. The by-product of this biological process is left in the bottom of the tank as sludge, and at the top of the tank as the crust.

This sludge and crust has to be removed (pumped) when the clear zone between the crust and sludge is less than one day's flow of sewage from a dwelling.

This sludge/crust accumulation usually takes between 3 and 5 years to accumulate to the point of requiring pumping.

How system failures can occur

If septic tank maintenance is left longer than recommended a large amount of small raw sewage particles will leave the septic tank through the outlet and enter the septic field. If too many sewage particles enter the field they will plug up the pores of the soil and not allow the sewage effluent to be dispersed in the soil. This will cause a failure in the system noticed by back ups or sewage water on the surface of the yard.

The Septic Field

What does it cost to pump out a septic tank?

If you live in the CRD area and have a standard residential septic tank that is easily accessible, and the dirt is removed from the opening lid of the tank, the cost to pump this is based on $150.00 plus 0.25 cents per gallon for disposal.

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Ken's Septic is a division of Mansell's & Ken's Environmental Services
Vancouver Island's Wastewater Management Specialists

www.kensseptic.com/maintenance.html
Updated: December 12, 2003