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Division of Environmental Health
Frequently Asked
Questions About Sewage Systems
How often should a septic tank be pumped and what are the effects of additives? Your septic tank
may be constructed of steel, concrete, fiberglass or plastic, be between 500 and 2500 gallons in
capacity, be constructed with an internal wall, and your baffles may be made of concrete or plastic.
Click here for
more information about septic tank maintenance.
Generally, how does an aerobic treatment unit (ATU) function and what should be done to
maintain it?
This link
describes the function, operation and maintenance of one particular design of ATU. The
specific make and model on your property may operate and be maintained differently. Please check the
control panel to see what make and model your ATU is.
How do I get information on the operation and maintenance of my make and model of ATU?
Nyadic or Multiflow Aeration Units
If you have a Roll-Aire by Ashland Vault and would like to obtain additional operation and
maintenance
information on it, please contact our office.
How does an intermittent sand filter or filter bed work? These
sites, hosted by
The Purdue Research Foundation,
West Virginia
University, and
University of Minnesota Extension Service, provide general information. Your
sand filter or filter bed may be constructed a little differently.
What does a curtain drain
around a leach field look like?
See Diagram 7 in this link.
How are leach lines installed on sloping land?
See Diagram 8 here.
What is a Mounded Leaching System or a "Wisconsin Mound," and how is it operated and
maintained? A mound system is an alternative to conventional
subsurface soil absorption systems for wastewater treatment and disposal in
areas with soils with shallow depth over a limiting layer or soils with a high
percolation rate. Click
here for more information.
What is a Drip Distribution System, and how is it operated and maintained?
Drip distribution is a system that pumps pretreated wastewater to a soil
treatment site. The pretreated effluent "drips" out of tubing at regular
intervals over a large area. Drip distribution is often used in places where
standard trenches are hard to install.
Click here for more information.
What components make up an ETA
(Evaporation-Transpiration-Absorption) Mound?
An ETA Mound (see illustrations below) operates on the principles of evaporation and transpiration
through the use of the trees
and the grass, even during the winter months. When the relative humidity is below 100%, there is always
some evaporation taking place. The ETA Mound also percolates some of the treated wastewater into the
soil. Only Austrian Pine, White Pine, White Spruce, Black Spruce, Black Hills Spruce and Nigra and
Emerald Green cultivars of Eastern Arborvitae grown from sheared stock, and at least four (4') in height
may be used on top of the ETA Mound.
