Safeguarding your septic tank is vital when facing the possibility of flooding or if a flood has already occurred. Excessive water infiltrating your septic system can lead to overload. The septic system’s functionality may slow down or come to a halt. In such circumstances, there’s a significant risk of septic waste making its way into your home. During wet and flooded conditions, drain fields can become too saturated, hindering proper percolation of effluent through the soil. Taking proactive steps is essential to prevent these issues and protect your septic system.
Prevention
To effectively deal with a flooded septic tank, take preventive measures to avoid the situation altogether. Direct stormwater runoff away from your system to prevent potential flooding. Divert water from roads and driveways away from the septic tank’s drain field. Ensure that downspouts are not aimed directly at the drain field. Gradually elevate the soil covering your system, encouraging stormwater to flow away from it rather than toward it.
Maintain Your Septic System
Regular maintenance enhances your septic system’s ability to withstand the stresses imposed by heavy rain and flooding. Schedule an annual inspection by septic system professionals. They can identify any signs of clogging or improper emptying.
Indications of a problematic septic drain include wet spots, unpleasant odors, or sewage backup. During a professional check, the technician will assess scum levels in the tank and verify that the baffles are not severely corroded.
An inspection is an opportune time to discuss with your septic professional the advantages of waterproofing electrical connections to the pumps in your system. The last thing you want in case of a flood is an electrical hazard.
Professional Septic Tank Pumping
Regularly schedule septic tank pumping. In the event of a flood-induced septic tank overflow, water will seek the path of least resistance, possibly resulting in sewage backing up through sinks, showers, and toilets. If you reside in a flood-prone area, have a plumber install a backflow preventer to safeguard your home from sewage backup during a flood.
Choose the Right Site for Your Septic System
Collaborate with your septic tank professional to select an appropriate location when installing a new septic tank. Ensure adequate distance from wells and streams to prevent potential water contamination or flooding issues. Choose a location that prevents surface stormwater runoff from collecting on top of your tank.
What to Do During and After a Flood
During a flood, refrain from utilizing your septic tank. Turn off the electricity to your septic tank, especially if it involves wastewater-moving pumps. Allow your septic system to act as a holding tank, keeping wastewater in place until floodwaters subside. Using pumps during flooding risks introducing solids and sediments into the system, potentially causing clogs.
After the flood, avoid utilizing your septic system until the drain field is below your home’s level, which could take days or weeks. If you suspect septic tank damage, refrain from using it until a professional has inspected it. If the flood has caused sediment and soil to fill your tank, avoid actions that could displace this material into the perforated pipe in your drain field, potentially leading to severe clogs and other problems.
If your property has a private well or spring, do not use the water for drinking until it’s tested for contaminants like E. coli bacteria and nitrates that could seep from your septic system. If you’re pumping water out of your home, direct the pump away from your septic system and drain field.
Resist the temptation to clean or repair your septic tank yourself. Due to potentially dangerous gases within septic tanks, only trained specialists should undertake this task. In the event of sewage backup in your basement, clean the area and disinfect using a mixture of half a cup of chlorine bleach to each gallon of water.
Work With a Team That Knows What to Do
At Salina Septic Service, we are constantly looking for ways to provide the best possible service to our customers. We do this by offering the cleanest portable restrooms and stellar septic and ATU services. Our attention to detail is what sets us apart from our competition. We understand how important it is to be available when our customers need us. That is why we offer 24/7 emergency service for urgent repairs.
Our services include septic pumping, tank cleaning, repair, installation, maintenance, and lateral fields. We provide portable restrooms for weddings, construction sites, events, and long-term rentals. We also offer roll-off dumpster rentals. Contact us at Salina Septic Service today and see for yourself why we are the preferred destination for septic services by customers throughout Salina, KS.
