If you live in Oklahoma, you likely have or know about septic systems. You may however, be wondering who regulates them.
The answer is, The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) are responsible for the regulation and oversight of septic tanks, septic systems and onsite wastewater treatment facilities in the state. ODEQ is responsible for registration, inspection and permitting of these facilities, while OWRB is responsible for developing standards for siting, design and construction of these facilities.
Why do you Pump out a Septic Tank?
The purpose of pumping out your septic tank is to remove accumulated solids from the bottom of the tank. This prevents them from settling on top of the bedding material (bedding refers to any material placed in a tank to facilitate absorption). If solids are allowed to settle on top of bedding, they can cause clogging that reduces absorption area and increases the risk of failure.
How Often Should you Pump out Your Septic Tank?
Septic tank pumping is something that most homeowners take for granted. The average person doesn’t think about their septic tank until it starts to fail. This is when they realize just how important it is to keep up with maintenance and inspections.
How often you should pump out your septic tank depends on several factors including:
- Size of the tank
- Age of the tank
- Number of people living in the house
As a general rule, if the tank is smaller than 1000 gallons, then it should be pumped every 3 years; if it’s between 1000 and 2000 gallons, then it should be pumped every 2 years; and if it’s larger than 2000 gallons, then it should be pumped every 1 year. You will also want to consider the climate of where you live to determine the best time of year to pump your septic system.
How to Care for Your Septic System
Septic systems are typically used in rural settings or in areas where municipalities do not offer sewer service. A septic system consists of a concrete tank buried underground, with an outlet pipe from the tank leading to an absorption area (leach field).
According the EPA caring for your septic system includes keeping up with septic maintenance, septic inspections and frequent pumping.
Septic Tank Maintenance
Septic tank maintenance is easy to forget about, but it’s necessary to keep your family safe. Here’s how to care for your septic system with septic system maintenance:
- Clean out leaves and other debris from the drain field at least once per year. If you live in a wooded area, this is something that should be done at least twice per year.
- Keep an eye on the pipes leading from the house to the septic tank. These pipes should never be blocked by leaves or other debris or they could freeze during cold weather causing major damage to your home’s plumbing system.
Septic Tank Inspection
Have your septic tank inspected annually by a professional plumber or septic service technician to ensure that everything is working properly and there aren’t any signs of leaks, cracks or other problems with the tank itself or its pipes leading out of it that could cause harm to people or property if left unchecked for too long (or ever).
The Importance Of Pumping Out Your Septic Tank: Broken Arrow, OK.
If you haven’t done so in a while—or ever—it’s time to call a plumber. That’s right, even if you’re not having any major issues with your septic system, it’s still important to have it pumped out on a regular basis, otherwise your system will eventually begin to have problems that could lead to costly repairs.
There are several signs that you may need your septic tank pumped. One of the most obvious is if your toilet is taking longer than usual to flush away waste, or if it begins running slowly or makes more noises than normal. If you notice any of these signs, and are looking for septic service near me, contact Mullin Septic. You can reach us 24/7 at (918) 922-7867.
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