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How to Avoid Septic Tank System Failures

The majority of failures have to do with design and construction. Almost always, failures can be avoided at the time of construction. The soil is the most important portion of any septic system. Soils will be different in Virginia then they are in Maryland and the soil could be different in Fairfax County then it is in Prince William or Loudon County Virginia. The soil must be carefully considered and protected during and after construction. As a property owner we at SepticCare believe that you can avoid a system failure in the following three ways:

1. We recommend and always will perform a detailed soil analysis to make certain that we have the basis for a correct and strong design. We have trained soil evaluator's to examine the site to make sure it has adequate soil depth and permeability to support a properly built and deployed septic system. The soil evaluator determines the soil depth to seasonal high water table and any soil layers that restrict absorption and treatment of sewage. Soil profiles are best observed in a soil pit that will need to be excavated on the lot. Your SeptiCare soil evaluator will supplement information gathered from the soil pit with information from auger holes and probe samples and general information from soil surveys.
2. We typically build when the soil is dry. Even the most careful and experienced contractor will have difficulty installing a system during wet weather. At Septicare we are always certain to be patient and make sure that the soil is dry before installing a septic system. Construction in wet soil can result in soil compaction and smearing that reduces the ability of the soil to absorb and treat wastewater.
3. We don't pipe sewage to the ditch or storm sewer. We will not allow the construction of a shallow drain to carry untreated sewage to a ditch, drain tile, or storm sewer. We are extremely environmentally conscious and want to take every precaution we can to protect Prince William, Fauquier, Warrenton, Fairfax, Clark and Loudon Counties rivers and creeks. We are well aware that these creeks and rivers may supply water to the residents of Leesburg, Manassas, Sterling, Fairfax, and other towns in the state of Virginia. While this practice may eliminate ponding sewage in the yard, it only moves untreated sewage to Virginia's streams and lakes. If sewage is ponding in the yard, the site is probably not suited for a septic system; one of our trained soil evaluator's would evaluate the site to design a replacement system. We at SeptiCaare will not be a polluter's and damage the rural environment that all of the citizens of Virginia love and value.