Septic Tank Effluent Filters
Effluent filter installation is required for all POWTS where a State sanitary permit has been issued on or after July 1, 2000. The exception to this rule would be holding tank installations.
The septic tank effluent filters will most often be installed within the septic tank. Septic tanks may have a single chamber or 2-chamber design.
The primary function of the septic tank is to allow a period of 24 hours for solids and suspended solids to settle out and facilitate digestion of the organic material within the wastewater stream. With this in mind, then you can understand the function of the effluent filter. All effluent filters must filter out particulate that is larger than 1/8 of an inch in size.
With the primary purpose of the effluent filter in mind, to filter solids, it is therefore going to require periodic maintenance. Periodic maintenance intervals are determined based on the effluent filter manufacturers instructions and individual homeowners wastewater generation habits. Some homeowner’s wastewater generation habits may require maintenance intervals of every 30 days and some others may be every 3 years. It is important to keep in mind that every household is different and therefore the effluent filter maintenance cycle will also be different.
If the effluent filter service schedules are not kept and are not of a regular scheduled frequency, the filter will eventually clog and potentially cause a backup of wastewater into the lower plumbing fixture in the home or structure being served by the POWTS.
There are effluent filter high water alarms that are currently available that you may purchase and have installed to help you avoid such an undesirable event from happening. You should consider contacting the licensed installer of your POWTS to have the alarm installed if it hasn’t been already. To have this done, it may cost approximately $200 - $300 for material and labor.
If you do not know who your Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (POWTS) installer was, you can contact this department and speak to one of the sanitarians for that information.
The effluent filter alarm may help remind you of the required effluent filter maintenance that needs to be performed.
There are several proposed methods to perform filter maintenance. They are:
1) Call a properly State-licensed waste hauler (pumping company) and have them pump the septic tank out. After the tank is pumped out the filter cartridge can be removed from its housing. Wash the residue from the filter with a garden hose back into the septic tank. Reinsert the filter cartridge into the filter housing while properly locking it back into place. This procedure will vary depending on the brand of filter you have. Usually it will consist of a slight turn to lock and unlock the filter from its hold position.
2) The second alternative method for filter service may be to remove the filter without pumping the septic tank but being very slow with removal of the cartridge so as to minimize the amount of solids and suspended solids that may leave the tank. The servicing process of the effluent filter cartridge will be the same as mentioned in #1 above. Please remember that the more careless you are about servicing your filter, the greater the likelihood that your POWTS will end up with some undesirable solids in your piping network and drainfield. Too many of these solids (organics) in your drainfield may cause premature failure.
Always keep in mind proper hygiene must always be followed when servicing your effluent filter. Thorough cleansing of exposed body parts and clothing must be properly sanitized to maintain your health and others around you. Pathogens will be present in this environment within which you will be working.
In most cases a two-chamber septic tank will reduce the number of times your filter will require service which results in greater benefit and convenience to the owner. The larger the two-chamber tank, the greater the benefit. You should consider sizing your septic tank a minimum of 1.5 times the minimum code required size.
If you are thinking about having a new POWTS installed or an existing POWTS replaced, you should check with your POWTS installer what the minimum required septic tank size is and what size he is proposing to install. You may also want to discuss the size of the proposed effluent filter as well.
Always keep in mind to practice safe handling methods when servicing the effluent filter. Prolonged exposure to the gases contained within the treatment tank can be lethal and cause death. Always be careful when performing effluent filter maintenance.
Two-Chamber Septic Tank with Effluent Filter
