United States
                       Environmental Protection
                       Agency
 Office of Water
 Washington, D.C.
EPA 832-F-00-079
September 2000
                        Decentralized  Systems
                        Technology  Fact Sheet
                        Septic Tank Systems for Large Flow Applications
DESCRIPTION

A septic tank system is a traditional wastewater
treatment technology utilizing treatment in a tank
system followed by soil absorption.  The system
operates on gravity and has been used in  residential
areas for decades.  A modification to the traditional
system is an enlargement  to accommodate  many
homes and/or commercial discharges.  This is
accomplished with individual septic tanks followed
by a community collection  and subsurface disposal
system, or a community collection system followed
by  a single  treatment   system.    Commercial
establishments, such as restaurants, nursing homes,
hospitals and other public use areas do not generally
use septic tank systems due to oil & grease, odor,
and flow issues.

The primary device in treatment is a septic tank
enclosed in a watertight container that collects and
provides  primary  treatment  of wastewater  by
separating solids from the wastewater.  The tank
removes solids by holding wastewater in the tank
and allowing settleable solids to settle to the bottom
of the tank while floatable solids (oil and grease)
rise to the top. In  large  commercial systems, a
separate  oil/grease removal system is applied to the
commercial waste before introduction to the septic
tank. The tank should hold the wastewater for at
least 24 hours to allow enough time for the solids to
settle.

Some solids are removed from the water and stored
in the tank while some are digested.  Up  to 50
percent of solids retained  in the tank decompose
while the remainder accumulate as sludge at the
tank bottom and must be removed periodically by
pumping the tank.
Three main types of septic tanks are  used for
wastewater treatment:

•     Concrete.

•     Fiberglass.

•     Polyethylene/plastic.

All tanks must be watertight because groundwater
entering the system can saturate the soil absorption
field, resulting in a failed system.  Furthermore, in
instances where septic tanks precede a secondary
treatment  process,   excess  groundwater  may
inundate the  downstream process,  causing it to
perform poorly.

From the septic  tank,  the  clarified  wastewater
passes through the tank outlet and enters the soil
absorption field.  The most common outlet is a tee
fitting connected to the pipe leading to the soil
absorption field.  The top of the tee retains floatable
solids (scum,  oil, and grease) that might otherwise
clog the absorption field.  An effluent filter can be
placed in the outlet tee for additional filtering of
wastewater. The effluent filter removes additional
solids, keeping them from clogging the absorption
field  and causing premature failure. Effluent filters
must be cleaned regularly.

Soil Absorption Field

The soil absorption field provides final treatment
and distribution of the wastewater. A conventional
system consists of perforated pipes surrounded by
media such  as  gravel, chipped tires,  or  other
material, covered with geotextile fabric and loamy
soil.  This system relies heavily on the soil to treat
wastewater, where microorganisms help remove
organic matter, solids, and nutrients from the water.

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As  effluent continually flows into the soil, the
microbes eating the components of the wastewater
form  a biological mat.   The  mat  slows the
movement of the water through the soil and helps
keep  the  area below the mat  from  becoming
saturated.  The water must travel into unsaturated
soil so microbes there and in the mat can feed on
the  waste  and  nutrients in the effluent.  The grass
covering the soil absorption system also uses the
nutrients and water to grow.
                                 Backfill 1-3'
                                 Barrier Material

                                 6-12" gravel
             Perforated
           Distribution Pipe
Source: Robillard and Martin, 2000

  FIGURE 1 SECTION OF TRENCH SOIL
          ABSORPTION SYSTEM
Treatment

Used properly, the septic tank and soil absorption
system  works  well,  reducing  two  parameters
commonly   used  to  measure  pollution:  (1)
biochemical oxygen demand, which is lowered by
more than  65 percent;  and (2) total suspended
solids, which are cut by more than 70 percent.  Oil
and grease are typically reduced by 70 to 80 percent
(EPA 1980).

Using  a septic  tank to  pretreat sewage from
commercial  sources also makes other secondary
treatment systems more  effective.  The effluent
from the septic tank is consistent, easy to convey,
and  easily  treated by  either aerobic (with free
oxygen)  or  anaerobic   (without  free   oxygen)
processes.
Common Modifications

Septic  tanks  for  large  flow  systems  may  be
followed by traditional soil absorption systems or
by one  of several alternate technologies such as
constructed wetlands  or  slow  sand  filtration.
Pressure sewers and small diameter gravity sewers
may also be used as alternate collection systems for
transport of effluent to central treatment facilities.
These systems are discussed  in other fact sheets
(see Reference section). This fact sheet focuses on
the traditional  septic tank  system applied  to
commercial waste and multiple sources,  using
subsurface infiltration for wastewater disposal.

Subsurface Infiltration

Subsurface wastewater infiltration systems (SWISs)
are  subgrade land   application  systems  most
commonly applied in unsewered areas by individual
residences,  commercial  establishments,  mobile
home parks, and campgrounds (EPA, 1992).  The
soil infiltration  surfaces are  exposed  in buried
excavations that are  generally filled with porous
media.   The media maintain  the  structure of the
excavation,  allows the free  flow  of  pretreated
wastewater to the infiltrative surfaces, and provides
storage of wastewater during times of higher flows.
The wastewater enters  the soil where treatment is
provided by filtration, adsorption, and biologically
mediated  reactions which consume or transform
various  pollutants.   Ultimately,  the wastewater
treated in the SWIS enters and flows with the local
groundwater.

Various  SWIS designs have  been developed for
various  site and soil conditions encountered.  The
designs  differ primarily in where the filter surface
is placed. The surface  may be exposed within the
natural  soil profile  (conventional or alternative
technology) or at or above the surface of the natural
soil (at-grade or mound systems) (see related Fact
Sheets).   The elevation of the filter surface is
critical to provide an adequate  depth of unsaturated
soil between  the  filter  surface  and a  limiting
condition (e.g. bedrock or groundwater) to treat
wastewater applied.

The geometry  of the filter surface also varies, with
long,  narrow filter  surfaces  (trenches)  much

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preferred.  Wide filter surfaces  (beds) and deep
filter  surfaces (pits  and deep trenches) do  not
perform as well, although they require less area.

Subsurface infiltration systems are capable of high
levels of treatment for most domestic wastewater
pollutants.   Under  suitable site  conditions,  they
provide  nearly total  removal of biodegradable
organics,  suspended  solids,  phosphorus,  heavy
metals, and virus and fecal indicators.

The fate of toxic organics and metals is not as well
documented, but limited studies suggest that many
of these  constituents  do not travel far from the
system. Nitrogen is the most significant wastewater
parameter not readily removed by the soil. Nitrate
concentrations above the drinking water standard of
10 mg-N/L  are commonly  found in groundwater
immediately below SWISs (EPA 1992), but these
concentrations fall with distance down-gradient of
the SWIS.

APPLICABILITY

Community Establishments

Septic tanks are usually the first component of an
on-site system and are the most widely used on-site
wastewater treatment option in the United  States.
Currently, about 25 percent of new homes in the
United States use septic tanks for treatment prior to
disposal of home wastewater.

Septic tanks for single family homes are generally
purchased as "off the shelf items, which means
that they are ready for installation and based on a
standard flow. The wastewater characteristics used
to design septic tanks are  generally those for  a
typical residence.

Commercial Establishments

For   many   commercial  establishments,   the
wastewater-generating sources  are  sufficiently
similar to the wastewater-generating sources in a
residential dwelling.  For  other establishments,
however,  the wastewater characteristics may be
considerably  different  from  those  of  typical
residential wastewater.
Commercial establishments can take advantage of
a centralized system if the flows and capacities are
sufficient and adequate pretreatment is available.
Wastewater must  be pretreated  prior to  being
discharged to a soil absorption system. Wastewater
is most commonly pretreated by an on-site  septic
tank when a soil  absorption system is used for
treatment/disposal.   In  areas where soil and
groundwater  conditions   are   favorable  for
wastewater  disposal and  land costs  are low,  a
community soil absorption system is  usually the
most cost effective wastewater treatment/disposal
option for  flows below 35,000 gallons per day.
Careful application of the  effluent to the soil
absorption  system  ensures uniform application of
effluent over the  filtration surface.  Distribution
laterals should be  provided with cleanouts for
access and  flushing.  Ponding monitors should be
installed in trench areas to  allow  observation of
liquid level in trenches.

Subsurface Infiltration

In some instances, it is  desirable to bury the
absorption  system.  Buried systems,  known  as
subsurface wastewater infiltration systems (SWISs),
are advantageous because the land above a  SWIS
may be used as green space  or  park land, and
because  they  provide  groundwater  recharge.
Subsurface infiltration systems are well suited for
treatment of small wastewater flows.  Small SWISs,
commonly   called  septic  tank  systems.,  are
traditionally used in unsewered areas by individual
residences,   commercial  establishments,  mobile
home parks,  and campgrounds.    Since the late
1970s, larger SWISs have been increasingly used by
clusters of homes  and small communities  where
wastewater flows are less than 25,000 gpd.  They
are a proven technology,  but require specific site
conditions to be successfully implemented. SWISs
are  often  preferred  over on-site  mechanical
treatment  facilities because  of their  consistent
performance with few operation and maintenance
requirements, lower life cycle costs, and less  visual
impact on the community.

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DESIGN CRITERIA

Pretreatment of Wastewater  for  Commercial
Septic Tank Systems

The most serious operational problem encountered
with commercial septic tank systems has been the
carry-over of solids, oil and  grease  due to poor
design and  lack  of proper maintenance.   The
carryover of suspended material is  most serious
where a disposal field is to be used  to dispose of
septic  tank  effluent without  further treatment.
Recognizing that poor septic tank maintenance is
common,  some regulatory agencies require  the
addition of a large septic or other solids separation
unit  before collected septic tank effluent can be
disposed of in subsurface disposal fields.  The use
of oil and grease traps reduces the discharge of TSS
and oil and grease significantly. The presence of oil
and grease in effluents from septic tanks  servicing
restaurants has  led to the  failure of downstream
treatment processes such as  intermittent  and
recirculating sand filters.   As a consequence of
these problems, pretreatment is recommended.

Pretreatment  in  centralized  treatment   systems
involves  coarse  screening,  comminution,  grit
removal, oil and grease removal, flow equalization,
and TSS removal.
increase  in  different  types  of oils and greases
available for cooking.  The problem  is further
complicated because many of these oils are soluble
at  relatively  low  temperatures,  making  their
removal  more difficult.   Typically,  skimming or
interceptor tanks  (grease traps) are used to trap
greases and oils.  Figure 2 shows a schematic of an
oil  and  grease trap  with an  external  sampling
chamber.
 Note: 1 in = 2.54 cm
 Source: Crites and Tchobanoglous, 1998

    FIGURE 2 SCHEMATIC OF OIL AND
     GREASE TRAP WITH EXTERNAL
           SAMPLING CHAMBER
Pretreatment for Oil and Grease Removal

Wastewater from  restaurants, laundromats, and
other  commercial  establishments  may  contain
significant amounts of oils and grease which may
be discharged to the soil absorption system when
they enter a septic tank. Oils and greases tend to
accumulate on the surface of the soil absorption
system, reducing the infiltration capacity.  Oils and
greases are especially troublesome because of their
persistence and low rate of biodegradation.  To
avoid  problems   in   decentralized  wastewater
treatment and disposal systems, the effluent oil and
grease concentration should be reduced to less than
about 30 mg/L before it is introduced to the soil
absorption system (Crites  and  Tchobanoglous
1998).

The problems associated with the removal of oils
and  greases  become  more  complex  with  the
Several commercial  oil  and grease  traps  are
available.   Most  commercial units  are  rated by
average flow rather than instantaneous peak flows
observed in the field from restaurants and laundries.
The use of conventional septic tanks as interceptor
tanks has also proven to be effective in removing
oil   and  grease.     Depending  on   the   tank
configuration, some replumbing may be necessary
when  septic tanks  are  used to  trap  grease.
Typically,  the inlet is located below the  water
surface while the  outlet is placed closer to the
tank's bottom. The larger volume provided by the
septic  tank helps achieve  the maximum possible
separation  of  oils  and  greasy  wastes.   For
restaurants, the use of a series of three interceptor
tanks is effective to separate oil and grease.  High
concentrations of oil  and  grease associated with
restaurants make the use of three interceptor tanks
in series necessary to reduce this concentration to
acceptable levels.

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Volumes for grease interceptor tanks typically vary
from one to three times the average daily flowrate.
For   example,   if  a  restaurant  serves   100
customers/day   at   an  average   flow  of   38
liters/day/customer (10 gallons/day/customer), the
size  of the  grease interceptor tank  should  be
between 3,800 and 11,400 liters (1,000 and 3,000
gallons).  Depending on the activities at a given
facility, accumulated sludge and scum  should be
removed every  three  to six months (Crites  and
Tchobanoglous 1998).

Septic Tanks

A septic  tank  must  be  the  proper   size  and
construction and have a watertight design and stable
structure to perform successfully.

•      Tank size.  The required size of a  septic
       tank  for  a  commercial  establishment
       depends  on anticipated flows  from  the
       facility, coupled with additional  flow from
       residences  or  other   inputs,   if  on  a
       community system.

       Tank construction.  A  key factor in  septic
       tank design is the relationship between the
       amount of surface area, its sewage storage
       capacity,  and  the  amount and  speed of
       wastewater discharge.  These factors affect
       the tank's efficiency and  the  amount of
       sludge retention.  Tank construction must
       also assure a watertight structure.

A key to maintaining a septic tank is placing risers
on the tank openings.  If  a septic tank is buried
below the soil surface,  a riser must be used on the
openings to bring the lid to the soil surface.  These
risers make it easier to locate and maintain the tank.

Septic tank effluent may  be  applied to the  soil
absorption field by intermittent gravity flow or via
a pump or  dosing siphon. Periodic  application
using  a  dosing  siphon   maintains  an  aerobic
environment in  the  disposal  field,   allowing
biological treatment of the effluent to occur more
rapidly. Dosing siphons  are particularly desirable
for fields  composed  of highly  permeable  soils
because they help  maintain the unsaturated flow
conditions necessary to achieve effective biological
treatment of effluent.

Subsurface Infiltration

Important considerations in designing subsurface
infiltration systems include:

•      Soil texture.  There are three sizes of soil
       particles:  sand,  silt and clay.   Texture
       reflects the relative percentage of each of
       these  soil particles at a particular site.  Soil
       texture affects the rate at which wastewater
       infiltrates into and  percolates through the
       soil (called hydraulic conductivity).  These
       factors determine how large an absorption
       field is needed. Sand transmits water faster
       than silt, which is faster than clay.

       Hydraulic loading.  This is the amount of
       effluent applied  per square foot of trench
       surface or field, an  important factor in
       septic tank design.  Because  water  filters
       through clay soils more slowly than through
       sand or silt,  the hydraulic loading rate is
       lower for clay than for silt, and lower for
       silt than for sand. Because clay soils have a
       very  low conductivity,  they may  easily
       smear and compact during  construction,
       reducing their infiltration rate to half the
       expected rate.

Site Selection

Selection criteria for a  site on which wastewater
treatment and renovation is to occur must consider
two fundamental  design factors.  These  are the
ability of a site to assimilate the desired hydraulic
load and the ability of the site to  assimilate the
process load.  The  process load consists of the
organic matter, nutrients, and other solids contained
in the wastewater.   The  hydraulic  assimilative
capacity  of a site is often determined by the texture
of the soil material  on a site.  Sites with  sandy
textured  soils generally are  assigned high hydraulic
loadings while sites with fine textured clay are often
assigned  low  hydraulic  assimilative capacities.
This typical hydraulic loading scenario often results
in excessive loadings of the process constituents on
a sandy site.

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Sandy  textured  soils  generally  exhibit  rapid
permeability.  This suggests that these soils will
drain  rapidly  and   reaerate  quickly.    These
characteristics  allow  moderately  high  organic
loadings onto these soils, but limit the potential for
these soils to attenuate  soluble pollutants such as
nitrogen and phosphorus.  The fine textured soils -
those that contain clays -  exhibit high potential to
attenuate soluble pollutants, but exhibit very limited
capacity to  transmit  liquid;  consequently  the
hydraulic  loadings applied to these soils must  be
very conservative. No  soil provides the optimum
characteristics to assimilate all constituents applied
and  the  challenge   to  the  onsite  wastewater
professional is to balance the loadings applied with
the total  assimilative  capacity  of the  designed
receiver site. Treatment objectives must be utilized
to optimize system design.

When large volumes of wastewater are designated
for application onto  a  site,  then a groundwater
mounding analysis may  be required.  This analysis
is required to assure  that the separation distance
between the bottom of the trench and the shallow
groundwater is  adequate to provide  necessary
treatment.  Large systems should be designed  so
that the longest dimension  of the trench is along site
contour lines  and the shortest dimension crosses
field contours.  This  generally results in systems
designed with  hydraulic  gradients that facilitate
treatment.

Soil  and site conditions on which wastewater will
be treated will vary from location to location. Sites
selected as receivers for wastewater must exhibit
characteristics  that  facilitate   treatment  and
renovation of wastewater.  Sites for wastewater
treatment and renovation must be selected based on
criteria  established by local regulatory agencies as
acceptable

Trench  bottom application rates  range from 0.2 to
1.2 gpd/ft2 depending on  soil conditions. Table 1
contains suggested rates of wastewater applications
for trench and bed bottom areas.
     TABLE 1  SUGGESTED RATES OF
       WASTEWATER APPLICATION
Soil Texture
Gravel, coarse
sand
Coarse to
medium sand
Fine to loamy
sand
Sandy loam to
loam
Loam, porous
silt
Silty clay loam,
clay loam
Clay, colloidal
clay
Percolation
Rate (m in/in/
min/cm)
<1/
<0.4
1 -51
0.4-2.0
6 -157
2.4-5.9
16-307
6.3-11.8
31 - 607
12.2-23.6
61 - 1207
24.0-47.2
>120/>47.2
Application
Rate (gpd/ft2/
Lpd/m2)
not suitable
1.27
0.049
0.87
0.033
0.67
0.024
0.457
0.018
0.27
0.008
not suitable
 Notes: 1) min/in x 0.4 = min/cm
       2) gpd/ft2 x 40.8 = Lpd/m2

 Source: Crites STchobanoglous, 1998.
Hydraulic Loading Rate

The design hydraulic loading rate is determined by
soil   characteristics,   groundwater  mounding
potential, and applied wastewater quality. Clogging
of the infiltrative surface will occur in response to
prolonged wastewater loading, which will reduce
the capacity of the soil to accept the wastewater.
However,  if  loading  is  controlled,  biological
activity at the infiltrative  surface will  maintain
waste  accumulations in relative  equilibrium  so
reasonable infiltration rates can be sustained.

Selection of the design hydraulic loading rate must
consider both  soil  and system  design  factors.
Typically, design rates for larger SWISs are based
on detailed soil analyses and experience, rather than
measured hydraulic conductivities.

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Wastewater Pretreatment
Disadvantages
At a minimum, wastewater treatment in a septic
tank is  required before application to a SWIS.
Figure 3  presents a  schematic  of a  dual  soil
absorption system.  Higher levels of treatment such
as achieved with an aerobic treatment unit (ATU)
can reduce SWIS size or prolong system life, but
this must be weighed against the increased costs of
pretreatment  and  potential  damage from  poor
maintenance of the system.
Source: Barrett and Malina, 1991

   FIGURE 3 PLAN VIEW OF DUAL SOIL
       ABSORPTION BED SYSTEM
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Advantages

Subsurface infiltration systems are ideally suited for
decentralized treatment of wastewater because they
are buried.  They  are  often the only method of
wastewater treatment available for rural homes and
business   establishments.    Some  communities
choose  subsurface infiltration  systems to avoid
costly sewer construction.  Where individual lots
are not suited for their use, remote sites may be
used to cluster homes onto a single SWIS, limiting
the need for sewers. Alternatively, wastewater from
entire communities may be treated  by a SWIS.
Because the system is buried, the land area can be
used as green space or park land.  In addition,
SWISs provide groundwater recharge.
Use of SWISs is limited by site and soil conditions.
Because the infiltrative surface is buried, it can be
managed only by taking it out of service every 6 to
12 months to "rest", requiring the construction of
standby  cells  with  alternating  loading  cycles.
Therefore, larger SWISs  are usually restricted to
well-drained  sandy soils to reduce  land  area
requirements.  Because nitrogen is not effectively
removed by SWISs, pretreatment may be necessary
to prevent  nitrate  contamination above drinking
water standards in underlying groundwater.

Flows from commercial establishments greater than
the design capacity of the system may overwhelm
the SWIS and produce overflow  conditions and
objectionable odors.

PERFORMANCE

Septic tanks and other pretreatment units must be
properly maintained to keep a SWIS system treating
sewage efficiently. As the septic tank or  ATU is
used, sludge  accumulates in the  bottom of the
treatment unit.  As  the  sludge level increases,
wastewater spends less time in the tank and solids
may escape into the absorption area. Properly sized
septic  tanks  generally  have  enough  space to
accumulate sludge  for at least three years.  ATUs
require aggressive sludge management.

The frequency of tank pumping depends on:

•       The capacity.

•       The amount of wastewater flowing into the
       tank (related to size of household).

       The amount of solids in the wastewater (for
       example,  more solids  are generated if
       garbage disposals are used).

The  soil absorption field will not immediately fail
if the tank is not pumped, but the septic tank will no
longer protect the soil absorption field from solids.
If the tank or ATU is neglected for long, it may be
necessary to replace the soil absorption field.

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One example of septic tank/absorption field system
failure is  found  in Missouri.   Several statewide
surveys have shown that 70 percent (150,000) of
systems are not functioning properly, causing nearly
60  million gallons of untreated  or semi-treated
sewage per day  to  reach  groundwater supplies
(Schultheis and Hubble). Based on the general soils
map of Missouri, 60 to 99 percent of counties in the
Ozarks region show severe limitations in the use of
absorption field systems.

Many studies of failing septic tank  systems  have
been  conducted.   The  Lower Colorado River
Authority (LCRA) received a grant from the Texas
Water Commission (TWC) to  identify clustered
sites of on-site wastewater treatment and disposal
facilities in the Lavaca and Colorado  coastal basins
that may be failing.  Information from this study
will identify areas which may qualify for funding
under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.

A  study  was conducted by  the  Texas  Water
Commission (TWC) to gauge whether septic tanks
were  polluting Lake Granbury  in Hood County,
Texas  (TWRI Spring 1993).  Because so many
septic tanks were in use  near the lake, there was
additional concern of fecal coliform contamination.
Analysis of samples taken in coves along the lake
showed that 10 percent of tested  areas had more
than 200 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters,
indicating that the lake is highly contaminated with
fecal coliform bacteria.

Increasingly stringent discharge regulations  have
led many communities to turn to more effective on-
site means to treat waste. One example is Eagle
Mountain Lake near Fort Worth, Texas, where the
Tarrant County Water Control  and  Improvement
District (WCID) is taking strides to improve the
effluent  quality   of  the  2,500   local   on-site
wastewater systems at Eagle Mountain Lake. Many
homes in this area are weekend homes, with septic
tanks designed for limited use. WCID is designing
the on-site system to be large enough for full time
use to improve effluent quality.

In  the Texas  Panhandle,  the  Texas  Natural
Resource Conservation Commission  (TNRCC) has
used  innovative  on-site technologies  to  solve
wastewater problems in the region associated with
failing septic tank systems due to rapid growth in
the region.  In the 1980s, the town of Umbarger
installed a 44,000-gallon septic tank and a 30,720-
square foot drainfield to serve its 325 residents.
This community system replaced the collection of
many smaller septic  tanks distributed throughout
the  town,  many   of  which  had   previously
experienced failures.

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

Subsurface Infiltration

A well-designed SWIS  requires limited operator
attention.  Management functions primarily involve
tracking   system  status,   testing  for   solids
accumulation,   evaluating   pump   performance,
monitoring  system  controls,  and   monitoring
performance of pretreatment units,  mechanical
components, and wastewater ponding levels above
the filtration surface.  Operator intervention may be
required if a change is noted.  Routine servicing of
SWIS is generally limited to annual or semiannual
alternating of infiltration cells.

Another maintenance task to prevent a system from
backing up is to clean the screen on the effluent end
of the  septic tank.   This filter must be cleaned
periodically by removing the filter from the outlet
and spraying it with a hose directed back into the
septic tank.

Soil absorption fields must be protected from solids
and rainfall.  If a tank is not pumped, solids can
enter  the  field.   Rainfall  running off roofs or
impermeable surfaces such as concrete areas should
be diverted around  the soil absorption field to
prevent it from becoming saturated with rainwater.
Fields  saturated with  rainwater  cannot  accept
wastewater. Planting cool-season grasses over the
soil absorption  field in winter can help remove
water from the soil and keep the system working
properly.

COSTS

Subsurface Infiltration

Land and earthwork are the most significant capital
costs. Where fill must be used to bed the primary

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infiltrative surface, the cost  of transporting the
material also becomes significant.   Other costs
include  pretreatment  and   transmission  of
wastewater to the treatment site.

Other factors that affect septic tank costs include
subsurface site conditions, location of and access to
the site, and the type of tank used. Costs of tanks,
including installation, typically range from $1.00 to
$4.00 per gallon of tankage. Pumping septic tanks
ranges from  $150 to $200 per 2,000 gallons. If a
tank  is pumped  once every  3  1A  years, the
maintenance  cost will be about $50 per year, with a
pump and haul cost of $175.

REFERENCES

Other Related Fact Sheets

Mound Systems
EPA 832-F-99-074
September 1999

Pressure Sewers
EPA 832-F-00-070
September 2000

Small Diameter Gravity Sewers
EPA 832-F-00-038
September 2000

Other  EPA  Fact Sheets  can  be found  at the
following web address:
http://www.epa.gov/owmitnet/mtbfact.htm

1.      Barret, Michael E. and J. F. Malina, Jr.
       Sep.  1,  1991.   Technical  Summary of
       Appropriate   Technologies for  Small
       Community Wastewater Treatment Systems.
       The University of Texas at Austin.

2.      Corbitt,  Robert  A.  1990.    Standard
       Handbook of Environmental Engineering.
       McGraw-Hill, Inc.  New York.

3.      Community Environmental Services, Inc.
       Septic Tank. Fact Sheet. City of Austin, TX.
4.      Crites, R. and G. Tchobanoglous.  1998.
       Small  and  Decentralized  Wastewater
       Management Systems. WCB McGraw-Hill,
       Inc. Boston.

5.      Robillard, Paul D.  and Kelli  S.  Martin.
       Septic  Tank  Soil  Absorption Systems.
       Agricultural and  Biological Engineering
       Fact  Sheet.  Penn  State,  College  of
       Agriculture.     Site   accessed   2000.
       http://www.klinesservices.com/psl.cfm.

6.      Schultheis, Robert A. and Gwen Hubble. A
       Homeowner's   Guide:    Septic
       Tank/Absorption Field Systems. Extension
       Service,  U.S. Department  of Agriculture,
       Project   Number  90-EWQI-1-9241,
       publicationWQ0401.

7.      Texas On-Site Insights, Volume 2, Number
       1: Spring 1993, Measuring the Impact of
       Septic Tanks on  Lake  Granbury. Texas
       Water Research Institute.

8.      Texas On-Site Insights, Volume 2, Number
       2: Summer 1993, LCRA Receives Grant to
       Study On-Site Systems in Colorado, Lavaca
       Coastal  Basins.  Texas Water Research
       Institute.

9.      Texas On-Site Insights, Volume 4, Number
       2:  Spring   1995,   Managing   On-Site
       Wastewater  Programs at Eagle Mountain
       Lake. Texas Water Research Institute.

10.     Texas On-Site Insights, Volume 6, Number
       2: June 1997,  Texas Panhandle is Site of
       Many Innovative  On-Site  Systems. Texas
       Water Research Institute.

11.     U.S.  Environmental Protection Agency.
       1980. Design Manual: Onsite Wastewater
       Treatment & Disposal Systems. EPA Office
       of Water.   EPA Office  of Research &
       Development.   Cincinnati.  EPA 625/1-
       80/012.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Lower Colorado River Authority
Burt Carter
P.O. Box 220
Austin, TX 78767

Tarrant County WCID
David Jensen
10201 North Shore Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76135

Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
Lezlie Cooper or Steve Green
3918 Cany on Drive
Amarillo, TX79109

Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
Wilson Snyder
6801 Sanger Avenue, Suite 2500
Waco, TX 76710

David Venhuizen, P.E.
5803 Gateshead Drive
Austin, TX 78745

The  mention  of  trade  names  or commercial
products  does not  constitute  endorsement or
recommendations  for use by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
                                                         For more information contact:

                                                         Municipal Technology Branch
                                                         U.S. EPA
                                                         Mail Code 4204
                                                         1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
                                                         Washington, D.C. 20460
                                                           MTB
                                                         Excelence fh tompfance through optfhial tethnltal solutfons
                                                         MUNICIPAL TECHNOLOGY BRANCH

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