What is the secret to a long and happy life? Well, good health and a positive attitude are the usual answers to this question. But take a look at the more practical aspect of the matter. A long and happy life starts with a good living environment. Waking up to and sleeping in a clean and refreshing home filled with love is a must have. But how could you possibly achieve this? One of the means to having this is a smooth running septic system. As you may already know, the septic system is your own personal wastewater treatment facility that handles and recycles the wastewater that your household produces. With this system functioning at peak capcity under your home and out in your lateral lines, you can be assured that you will always have a healthy living space.
Your septic tank and your drain field are the main parts of your septic system. The septic tank contains the anaerobic bacteria that degrade the solid waste products that enter it. Three layers form in the septic tank—the scum (topmost layer of lightweight solid materials), the effluent (middle layer of clear fluid), and the sludge (bottom layer that results from the decomposition of the heavy waste materials that settle). The drain field is the area of your yard where the effluent passes through to be purified. This is where the contaminants/pollutants and pathogens are filtered out by the biomat which is regulated by the aerobic bacteria. This is the last stage of wastewater treatment. Lateral lines are part of the drain field. These structures are responsible for distributing the treated effluent throughout the drain field. If these lateral lines are clogged, back up and failure may occur. Lateral lines should be cleaned as well. Here are some of the steps involved in cleaning lateral lines:
- It is essential that you know the location of your septic system.
- You should dig to reach the septic lid and the baffle covers as well. The septic baffles can be found about two feet behind and in front of the septic lid.
- When you see the lids, remove them.
- Inside the baffles are the inflow and outflow pipes (includes lateral lines). Clean away the sludge.
- Have your septic professional pump out the septic tank.
- Run water through your garden hose and push it through your pipes. Have the highest pressure turned on to really eliminate the scum coating that lines the pipes.
- Remove the hose after you flushed the pipes.
- Return the lids of the septic tank and the baffles after cleaning.
- You should mark the covers and lids for future cleaning.
In cleaning the lateral lines, you should keep in mind that this is only part of maintaining the smooth run of your septic system. Lateral lines are vital parts of your drain field. If they are blocked or clogged, your entire system will surely fail and your dream of a long and happy life will have a significant dent. It is not healthy for you and your family to wade in septic waste and inhale septic odors.
With this, you should make sure that you adhere to the set treatment and maintenance schedules that are recommended by your septic professional; that you should not plant trees on your drain field; that you should not use harmful chemicals or antibacterial cleansers; that you should not keep on dumping non-biodegradable things, fats, grease, and oils into your sinks, drains, and toilets; that you should install a dry well to lessen the system’s water load; and that you should not allow any form of construction or vehicle over your drain field. These measures could help lengthen the life of your lateral lines and septic system in general. If you really want to achieve a long and healthy life, start small, in your own home. Nothing is better than having a smooth running septic system that contributes to your coveted long and healthy life.
