Law Creates First Major Improvement to Septic System in 100 Years
RALEIGH — Beginning January 1, permits for constructing septic systems will require additional parts on the septic tank to make the system last longer.
Changes in North Carolina's law and rules for septic tanks will require filters to remove solids from the wastewater and risers to allow access to the tank for maintenance. The improvement will affect about 50,000 new septic systems each year.
"This is the first significant upgrade of the lowly septic tank since it's invention in the 1880s," said Steve Steinbeck of the on-site wastewater program. "It should go a long way toward solving the historic problem of small solids stopping up the system."
Filters at the tank outlet will keep very small solids from entering the drain field and clogging the pipes and soil, extending the life of the system and saving the homeowner on repair costs. The cleaner wastewater entering the ground better protects public health and the environment; raw sewage is less likely to pool on the ground, run into a stream or contaminate a drinking well.
Access risers at the entrance and exit of the tank will make maintenance easier. The tank should be pumped and the filter cleaned every three to five years on average.
"Just like a car that gets regular maintenance will run longer, regular pumping and filter cleaning of a septic tank will help the system last longer," said Steinbeck. The money saved on repairs will more than make up for the small increase in the cost of the septic system."
Other measures that will extend the life of a septic system include not driving over the drain field, not using a garbage disposal, not using the toilet as a trash can and not pouring grease down drains.
"The septic system is a living treatment device that should be treated with attention and care to ensure a long life," said Steinbeck.
All construction authorizations issued on or after January 1 will include the new requirements.
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Date Posted: 12/09/98
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