Rehab 1

THE PROBLEM - Typical manifestations of septic system failure are
sewage backing up into the house, and/or surfacing effluent over the septic
tank and/or leachfield. While many people believe their failure to be the
septic tank, it seldom is the source of the problem. The majority of septic
system failures can be attributed to the leachfield.

THE CAUSE - There are several causes for the leachfield to fail. First, and
foremost, is that a leachfield is a living thing. Just as each of us will die,
eventually the soil in the leachfield will become so full of clogging
microscopic creatures that it, too, will die. This demise is hastened by slowly
permeable soils (like clay), high seasonal groundwater(generally
accompanying clay soils), and undersized as well as over loaded systems

THE REPAIR - The most common mode of repair is to replace the
leachfield with a system sized the same as the existing system.
Unfortunately, few realize that if the existing system failed, the new one
eventually will fail, too. With small parcels this is not possible. Many health
agencies recognize the problems inherent with such a repair, and require
that the new system comply with the current technological advances
recognized by code. Systems with wood tanks always have to have the
septic tank replaced with either a concrete or approved fiberglass tank.
Some of these repair system are briefly discussed under the Air System
portion of this web site. Such repairs can be costly.

EEA's Mitigative Efforts - Since the middle of 2000, EEA staff has
recommending two succinct efforts to mitigate failed system. Both are
substantially less costly than that of a new system. EEA's repair concept is
two fold. The first effort is to break up the biomat which has feasted for so
long on the organic matter in the sewage, and now clogs the soil in the
immediate vicinity of the leachlines. This is done with the patented
SEPTECH process. SEPTECH is a trailer mounted unit composed of an air
compressor, hydraulic ram, and a steel injection tube. Using this proven
method, compressed air is pumped into the ground - to depths of six feet,
followed by the distribution of tiny plastic spheres which keep the newly
created fissures in place. Typically, once this soil is aerated using this
method, one can see the level of the septic tank drop as effluent is again
able to pass through the soil. It appears that this method is effective
approximately 80% of the time. The cost for this effort is less than that to
install 100 feet of leachline, but without damage to the existing landscaping.