Are Septic Systems Bad?

If you have never lived in an area or in a home that has a septic system, there may be some questions going through your mind about septic systems. One of those lingering thoughts may be "are septic systems bad?". Side note - if you are unsure on how a septic system works, check out this post to learn more about how they function and how they can help the environment if functioning properly and maintained regularly. Now, to answer this question, no, septic systems are not bad as long as they are functioning properly and not posing a potential health hazard. What do I mean by this?

First off, septic systems last anywhere from 15-40 years, with an average number being just below 30 years. The reason why septic systems don't last forever is because the receiving soil that is being saturated by the effluent cannot take on liquid every single day for more than around 30 years. If you want to learn more about signs of a failing / failed system, read this.

Secondly, a functioning septic system will be able to move waste water efficiently from your home to your septic field. The process of aerobic bacteria breakdown in the field is where the magic happens and can actually benefit the surrounding area to provide nutrients and to filter the waste water back into the earth.

The third reason why septic systems are not bad is the fact that prior to waste water treatment regulations, many people living in rural communities focused on waste water disposal, as opposed to treatment. This meant untreated sewage was entering bodies of water, rising to the surface and causing health hazards for themselves and surrounding properties / communities. The addition of regulatory bodies mandated that sewages needs to be treated and systems must be built to code in order to be a "legal" system.

Septic systems are an essential part of rural living and must be built to regulations to ensure proper functionality and longevity. Not only does it protect our environment, but it also can negate potential repair / replacement costs if a system is put in incorrectly. Contact us today if you would like to learn more about septic systems!