- Old age. We all fail after a while and septic systems are no different. Having said that, a properly designed, installed, maintained and operated system should last for many years. Well maintained systems have been know to last 30 to 35 years.
- Improperly maintained. If you do not change the oil in your car's engine it will work for quite some time, but it will fail long before it should, just as sure as you are reading this. A septic system is exactly the same. Proper maintenance including pumping on a regular basis (every 3 to 5 years) is one of the most important parts of onsite septic system maintenance. On-site maintenance and why its needed.
- Improper operation. If the operator of the system (the person living in the dwelling) abuses it by overloading it with water e.g. leaking tap, doing the baseball's team laundry, or pouring kitchen grease down the drain, parking the 45 foot motor home over top of the field, etc. Nothing much can save this field from eventual failure.
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- Improper design for present day use. If an on-site septic system is designed for a normal three bedroom house, it can't be blamed for failing, if we want to give it the sewage from a four bedroom house with a suite in the basement.
- Improper installation. There are many ways an installation contractor can make the system fail. For example, by installing the system when the soil conditions are wet, there is a good chance that the soil will be compacted and smeared and therefore will not drain as well as it could. Most contractors who have taken some formal training in the installation of on-site systems should be able to satisfactorily complete a septic system by following the pre-approved system design. It is important to know if your contractor has the knowledge and is certified to do the work you want him to do.
- Outside ground water. The on-site system is designed to handle only the sewage generated in the dwelling. If storm water is allowed to enter into the system (tank or field) the system will fail quite quickly.
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