Northern Virginia Septic Systems
Northern Virginia Septic Systems
- High-Efficiency Toilets Can Help Septic Systems Work More Efficiently and Save You Money
- Employing Septic System-Friendly Drainfield Landscaping
- Things You Shouldn't Flush When You Have a Septic System
- What is Hard Water and What Effect Does it Have on Your Well?
- The Effects of Hydrogen Sulfide - or Egg Odor - in Your Well Water
Septic Tank Systems
Introduction
- Considering a House with a Septic System?
- So you're thinking About a Septic System...
- How A Septic System Works
- Exploring Your Home Septic System
- Exploring Your Home Septic System: The Tank
- What Is a Septic Tank?
- Is There An Abandoned Septic Tank in Your Yard?
- What is An Aerobic Treatment Unit?
Maintenance
- Maintaining Your Septic Tank System
- Septic System Ongoing Maintenance
- How to Prevent Sewage Odor
- Five Tips to Keep Your Northern Virginia Septic Tank Working
- Managing Your Septic Tank to Minimize Trouble
- Septic System Tips
- Dangers of a Rusty Septic Tank To Your Northern Virginia Home
- How To Detect and Prevent A Rusty Septic Tank In Your Northern Virginia Home
- Homeowner Septic Tank System Guide (pdf)
- Avoid Septic Tank System Failures
- Spring Tips For Your Northern Virginia Septic System
- What is Septic System Failure - and What Could it Mean for Your Northern Virginia System?
Care for Your Septic Tank System from Inside Your Home
- Never Divert Your Sump Pump Into Your Septic System
- Easy Ways to Reduce Your Home’s Water Consumption and Ease Septic System Strain
- Reduce Garbage Disposal Use to Keep Your Septic System Healthy
- High-Efficiency Showerheads and Faucet Aerators Ease Septic System Strain
- What NOT to Flush If You Have a Septic Tank
- High-Efficiency Toilets Help Your Septic System
- Basic Tips on Disinfecting a Bathroom Without Harming Your Septic System
Landscaping
- Trees to Avoid Planting Near Your Northern Virginia Septic System
- Landscape Your Drainfield Without Harming Your Septic System
- What Is a Septic System Drainfield?
Troubleshooting
- What is Septic System Biomat Clogging?
- Could Coliform Bacteria Be in Your Well Water?
- Hydrogen Sulfide: The Culprit Behind Well Water Odor
- Symptoms of a Septic Issue
- Septic Tank Flooding: How to diagnose and fix the issue
- Why Septic Systems Malfunction
- Troubleshooting Your Northern Virginia Septic Tank Problem
- Reasons Your Septic System May be Failing
- Septic System Failure
Inspections and Regulations
- NSF Certification a Standard for SeptiClean Professionals
- New Loudoun County Ordinance Requires Septic System Inspection Before July 1, 2009
- Why Are Septic System Inspections So Important?
- FAQs - New Loudoun County Regulations
- Septic Tank Services - New Loudoun County Regulations
- Exploring Your Septic System's Required Capacity for Northern Virginia
Wells
Well Water
- Private Drinking Water Well Types: Driven, Dug, and Drilled
- Could Coliform Bacteria Be in Your Well Water?
- Hydrogen Sulfide: The Culprit Behind Well Water Odor
- Common Issues with Well Water
- Does Your Northern Virginia Private Well Have Hard Water?
- Hard Water Solutions For Northern Virginia Well Water
- What Is Well Water Testing?
- The Problem of Arsenic in Well Water
Links
- coming soon
View Our Video Galleries
- coming soon
Testimonials
- coming soon
Considering a House with a Septic System?
Some people who are looking to buy a house in the Northern Virginia area are reluctant to consider a home that is not connected to a community sewer. Some have heard horror stories about problems with old-fashioned septic systems. Others are totally unfamiliar with the concept of private waste removal.
Although you should inspect them prior to purchase, most modern septic systems function in a clean and efficient manner now that regulatory agencies closely monitor their design and installation.
What is a Septic System?
A septic system processes and neutralizes liquid and solid waste that exits your home from toilets, sinks and other plumbing fixtures.
A conventional septic system consists of three main parts:
- Septic tank
- Drainfield
- Soil beneath the drainfield
The Septic Tank
- A temporary, watertight holding tank for waste, often buried near the house. Tanks usually have a capacity of 1,000 or more gallons.
- Solids settle to the bottom of the tank and form a layer of sludge.
- Liquid waste exits near the top of the tank and flows through distribution pipes in the drainfield.
Septic Drainfield
- Multiple, gravel-lined trenches, usually 2-3 feet deep, where liquid that exits the tank flows. The drainfield is positioned so that gravity allows liquid waste to flow and become distributed into the area.
- Perforated distribution pipes are placed in drainfield trenches, ensuring that liquid waste can drain over a large area. The bottoms of the trenches are at least 12 inches above the groundwater table, sometimes more depending on the type of soil, so that waste is neutralized before entering.
- The drainfield is covered with soil before the system is used.
Soil
Natural components of soil neutralize bacteria and chemicals before they reach groundwater or nearby rivers and lakes. The ideal soil is aerobic, meaning it contains a good amount of cleansing oxygen, and is not saturated with water.
Septic System Variations
Some septic systems are more expensive than the one described above, but they allow you to build on a piece of land that might not be suitable for a conventional septic system. For instance, waste might need to be pumped to the drainfield, rather than entering it from a gravitational drain.
If You're Buying Land
Always make your purchase of an undeveloped piece of land without sewer connections contingent on obtaining a permit to install a septic system. There are some soils that are not suitable for any type of system.
Ask your real estate agent which government agency regulates systems in the area where you plan to build. If you are purchasing a house already on a septic system, ask for a copy of the original septic permit, since it should show you the location of the tank and drainfield.
Ask your home inspector about specific septic system tests that can be performed during your home inspection.