If you are on this page of my blog, I guess you have some septic tank issues and would like to know how deep you have to reach in your pocket to solve them. My goal here is giving you info about septic tank cleaning, its price, and telling you something that can actually reduce the cost!
Trust me, I was in your shoes, I was desperately looking for tips and tricks on the septic tank cleaning-out process to make it as painless as possible, with a budget that doesn’t give me a headache. I did thorough research and now sharing my findings here to save you some time, effort, and dollars.
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I refill my water bottles with tap water many times a day. When I heard that a poorly maintained, or let’s just say dirty septic tank can potentially pose risks to the drinking water quality in my household, I wanted to learn more about this topic to understand it and see what I can do.
Dirty Septic Tank Dangers On Drinking Water
Domestic wastewater (water from toilets, sinks, showers, and laundry) contains human waste, detergents, soaps, food scraps, and other organic and inorganic materials. Harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites love it. Pathogens like E. coli, salmonella, hepatitis A, and norovirus can survive and remain infectious in untreated water. You can imagine what happens when these get into the drinking water sources. Yeah, outbreaks of diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach cramps, to mention a few.
Wastewater contains high levels of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which can lead to a process called eutrophication when released into water bodies. Excess nutrients can use up the oxygen in the water by causing rapid growth of algae and aquatic plants. This can result in the death of aquatic life (including aquatic organisms). Drinking water contaminated with excessive nutrients can also have adverse health effects, especially for infants or anyone with a compromised immune system.
Why Is Septic Tank Cleaning Out Crucial?
Photo by Dmitry Bukhantsov on Unsplash
If a septic tank is not pumped or cleaned out regularly, solids and contaminants can accumulate and eventually enter the drain field. If the drain field malfunctions or is just overloaded, the untreated wastewater can potentially reach groundwater or contaminate nearby water sources. This can lead to the contamination of drinking water supplies too, posing some serious health hazards.
So, what can be done to keep the drinking water safe? It is recommended to regularly test and monitor the quality of the drinking water, but the regular cleaning and pumping of the septic tank is the most essential.
Periodic pumping out the accumulated solids (sludge and scum) from the septic tank is needed to keep the system functioning correctly. This process is typically done by professionals using a vacuum truck to suction out the dirt layers and effectively clean the tank. It depends on the size of the tank, the number of people in the household, the amount of wastewater generated how often you need to get it pumped.
Can I Do The Septic Tank Cleaning Out By Myself?
Cleaning out a septic tank is usually performed by professionals who have the necessary equipment and expertise. It can be rather hazardous to do it by yourself, and it requires some special tools too.
Like with any dangerous activity, if you go for it, always prioritize your safety! Wear protective clothing, gloves, and goggles to avoid contact with the wastewater and potential pathogens. Make sure the area you work in is well-ventilated and try to avoid inhaling fumes. Be very cautious around the septic tank and avoid entering it, as the confined space can be totally unsafe!
Keep in mind, there can be specific local requirements and restrictions on DIY septic tank cleaning. Make sure you familiarize yourself with these rules before attempting to deep clean a septic tank. It’s also essential to be cautious and avoid damaging the septic tank or its components during the cleaning process.
But this doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can safely do to keep your septic tank as clean as possible!
Septic Tank Cleaning Price List
I found online that septic tank cleaning costs can be between $0.23 and $0.40 per gallon. According to HomeGuide, the national average for pumping a septic tank in 2023 is between $295 and $610 with most people spending around $375. Of course, the final cost depends on the location, and some other factors (such as tank size, accessibility, sludge level, and additional services).
What is really alarming though is that septic tank repairs (removing clogs or such) can run between $1500-$2000 on average!
How To Avoid Costly Repairs And Frequent Pumping?
What can we do to avoid system failure and frequent professional pumping, intense cleaning, or costly repairs?
If the solids just sit there in the tank, they can accumulate and reduce the available capacity for wastewater. This can lead to backups, clogs, or even the overflow of untreated wastewater into the drain field or surrounding environment. Ouch, that sounds bad.
This is why it is so important to properly maintain the septic tank (not to mention extending the lifespan of the system). When the tank is clean, the separation and digestion processes within the tank can occur efficiently, ensuring that the effluent that enters the drain field is adequately treated. This helps the further purification of wastewater in the drain field and so protects groundwater and surface water sources.
There are a bunch of septic tank treatment products available, which can help you with the maintenance and some level of septic tank cleaning out. But there is only one that releases oxygen and contains 6 times more live aerobic bacteria per gram than any other, developed by scientists:
The Septifix tab breaks down and eliminates all organic sludge from your septic tank, including natural oils, grease, and organic hydrocarbons. It prevents back-ups, clogs, and corrosion, not to mention all the smells!
I wish I knew about this (cost-)effective and eco-friend solution sooner. Never imagined flushing the toilet can do so much for my drinking water. 🙂
You can visit the Septifix website for more details about this magical little tablet that can save you thousands of dollars while keeping your drinking water safe! Take a look at their offer and see for yourself if Septifix can solve your septic tank issue.
I think protecting drinking water sources and preventing the dangers of wastewater is worth every penny, but I’m not gonna lie, if I can save a few $$$ in my household, I’m going for it. Also, using a tablet developed by scientists who know much more about wastewater than I possibly can is much easier for me than attempting to clean out a dirty and rather disgusting septic tank by myself.
Drink clean water and stay healthy!
Cheers!
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