Septic System Do’s and Don’ts after Flooding

Septic System Do’s and Don’ts after Flooding

by | Oct 11, 2020

During and after floods or heavy rains, the soil in your septic system drainfield can become waterlogged. For your septic system to treat wastewater, water needs to drain freely in the drainfield. Special care needs to be taken with your septic system under flood conditions.

A conventional septic system is made up of a septic tank (a watertight container buried in the gound) and a drainfield. Image: Soil and Water Science Lab UF/IFAS GREC.

A conventional septic system is made up of a septic tank and a drainfield or leach field. Wastewater flows from the septic tank into the drainfield, which is typically made up of a distribution box (to ensure the wastewater is distributed evenly) and a series of trenches or a single bed with perforated PVC pipes. Wastewater seeps from these pipes into the surrounding soil. Most wastewater treatment occurs in the drainfield soil. When working properly, many contaminants, like harmful bacteria, are removed through die-off, filtering and interaction with soil surfaces.

What should you do if flooding occurs?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers these guidelines:

  1. Relieve pressure on the septic system by using it less or not at all until floodwaters recede and the soil has drained. Under flooded conditions, wastewater can’t drain in the drainfield and can back up in your septic system and household drains. Clean up floodwater in the house without dumping it into the sinks or toilet. This adds additional water that an already saturated drainfield won’t be able to process. Remember that in most homes all water sent down the pipes goes into the septic system.
  2. Avoid digging around the septic tank and drainfield while the soil is waterlogged. Don’t drive vehicles or equipment over the drainfield. Saturated soil is very susceptible to compaction. By working on your septic system while the soil is still wet, you can compact the soil in your drainfield, and water won’t be able to drain properly. This reduces the drainfield’s ability to treat wastewater and leads to system failure.
  3. Don’t open or pump the septic tank if the soil is waterlogged. Silt and mud can get into the tank if it is opened and can end up in the drainfield, reducing its drainage capability. Pumping under these conditions can cause a tank to float or ‘pop out’ of the ground, and can damage inlet and outlet pipes.
  4. If you suspect your system has been damaged, have the tank inspected and serviced by a professional. How can you tell if your system is damaged? Signs include: settling, wastewater backs up into household drains, the soil in the drainfield remains soggy and never fully drains, a foul odor persists around the tank and drainfield.
  5. Keep rainwater drainage systems away from the septic drainfield. As a preventive measure, make sure that water from roof gutters doesn’t drain towards or into your septic drainfield. This adds an additional source of water that the drainfield has to process.
  6. Have your private well water tested if your septic system or well were flooded or damaged in any way. Your well water may not be safe to drink or use for household purposes (making ice, cooking, brushing teeth or bathing). You need to have it tested by the Health Department or other certified laboratory for total coliform bacteria and coli to ensure it is safe to use.

For more information on septic system maintenance after flooding, go to:

More information on having your well water tested can be found at:

More Information on conventional and advanced treatment septic systems can be found on the UF/IFAS Septic System website

Water, Water Everywhere: Children Discuss Water Quality

by | May 20, 2013

Salt water continues to make it into our fresh water supply. Will you conserve?

Salt water continues to make it into our fresh water supply. Will you conserve?

I had the privilege of spending a day recently with children from Medart Elementary School for their annual Project Learning Tree (PLT).  During PLT, community representatives make presentations on nature, conservation and sustainability practices.  The 2013 theme was Wakulla Life is Nice!

I decided to speak on water conservation since we live in such a wonderful part of Florida with an abundant amount of clean, fresh water.  Through an imaginary trip to Wakulla Springs, the children and I noted the clear water and discussed how and why it remains that way. We concluded that we were quite special to have the Springs so close by to enjoy.  I reminded them that people visit Wakulla Springs from all over the world to witness the clear, clean water and that water is not that way for many people around the world.   I used a poem written by a student who wrote,

 

“When I look through my water window….

I see lake water for fun.

I see ocean water for surfing.

We’ve got water by the ton!

But when I look a little closer for the part that we can use,

I see we’ve only got a little;

if I waste it – we ALL lose!”

 

The students were reminded that even if a world map looks like it contains a lot of water or 71% of its surface, 96% is salt water and the other 4% is fresh.  When looking at it through this lens, the amount of water on the earth’s surface looks somewhat different.  We decided that there was “water, water everywhere, but only a few drops to drink.”

I suggested ways that they might assist to save the 4% of fresh water on the earth’s surface.  The United State Environmental Protection Agency offered some great facts to allow the children to get a better grip on how people use or misuse water.  For example, did you know that:

  • A household can save up to 20,000 gallons of water each year by fixing leaky faucets.  A leaky faucet puts 3-5 gallons of water down the drain every minute.
  • More than five gallons of water is wasted if the tap water is running while brushing teeth.  Only ½ gallon of water is used if the toothbrush is just wetted and rinsed.  This results in a 4 ½ gallons savings each time teeth are brushed.
  • Washing dishes with the tap running can use an average of 30 gallons of water.
  • Washing a car at home, using a hose, uses up to 150 gallons of water.  Washing a car at a self-service car wash uses 5-10 gallons.  Using a sponge and a bucket, uses 1.5 gallons.
  • Taking a bath uses between 30-50 gallons of water.  A 4 minute shower takes 20 gallons.   If your shower is longer, it could use more water than a bath so the secret is with either a bath or shower, to get in, wash and turn the water off. A low-flow showerhead will also assist in the saving of water.

I then asked the children to sign a pledge.  It read:  “PLEDGE TO SAVE WATER.  I know that our Earth’s water supply is limited.  I will do my part.  I will turn off the water while brushing my teeth and I will shorten my shower to 4 minutes.”  99% of the Medart Elementary students who participated signed the pledge.  I was proud of them and the decision that they made.

Are you willing to conserve water to keep the world from losing the fresh water available??