Sarona 715-469-3322
Spooner Area 715-635-8653
Stone Lake Area 715-865-2253
Open Monday - Friday 8am to 4:30pm
We are closed on weekends and all major holidays.
At Lynn’s Honeywagon we value our employees and their families. We believe they should be spending time with them together on weekends and major holidays
Why do we need a septic system?
Every time you flush your toilet, wash clothes, or empty something down the drain you create wastewater or, to us in the business, sewage. A question that people sometimes pose is, “Why can I not simply dump this wastewater outside someplace?” There are three main reasons why waste water is harmful to the environment and thus three main reasons why we cannot do this.
One reason is that it stinks! Things tend to get very smelly very fast when wastewater is dumped directly outside. This is due in part to reason two. Wastewater contains solids and other chemicals that influence the environment. Organic material that is contained in wastewater gets broken down by bacteria within the environment. This decomposition causes the smelly odor associated with wastewater.
Wastewater also contains nitrogen and phosphates that trigger the growth of algae in lakes and streams. Excessive algae growth can block sunlight and pollute water. Suspended solids make water appear murky and can affect how well fish and other aquatic animals can breath and see. Eventually wastewater will destroy a lake or streams ability to support life.
Reason number three is wastewater contains harmful bacteria. Human waste naturally has coliform bacteria (ex. E. coli) and other bacteria that can cause deadly diseases. If this bacteria reaches a water source (such as your drinking well) the results can be fatal over a large area. Children who play outside are at an even greater risk. As they may come in direct contact with any contaminates in the area.
In order to ensure that such things do not happen to our environment we have wastewater treatment plants, septic systems, as well as laws and regulations that prohibit the dumping of raw wastewater directly into the environment.
Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Brochures
Major components of a septic system
Your septic system has four (4) major components.
A house sewer line which carries the waste from the house to the tank.
A septic tank which prepares the waste for disposal into the drain field.
A liquid distribution “D” box may be used to distribute the wastewater evenly through the drain field.
A drain field which helps purify the wastewater by filtration through the soil.
How your septic system works
A septic tank is simply a large concrete or steel tank that is buried somewhere in your yard. A typical septic tank holds around 800 to 1200 gallons of water. Wastewater flows in one end and out the other. Within the tank there are three layers. Anything that floats rises to the top and forms a layer called the scum layer. Anything that sinks to the bottom forms a layer called the sludge layer. In the middle of these layers is typically clear water. However, this water contains bacteria and chemicals that act as fertilizers.
Wastewater enters the tank via sewer pipes from in the house. Since a septic tank naturally produces gases and since the gases smell, sinks have loops of pipe called P-traps which hold water in the lower loop and thus prevent the gases from flowing back into the house. The gasses flow up a vent pipe and out the top of your house. After the wastewater from the house enters the septic tank it displaces water that is already there. This water then flows out of the septic tank and into a drain field. A drain field is made up of perforated pipes buried in trenches filled with gravel. The water is slowly absorbed and filtered by the surrounding ground. The size of the drain field is directly determined by how well the ground absorbs water. In places where the ground is very slow in absorbing water (such as hard clay) the drain field has to be much larger to accomplish its task. If you have ever heard the expression “The grass is greener over the septic tank” it is true, sort of. The truth is the grass is greener, but it is over the drain field, not the septic tank. Grass takes advantage of the extra nutrients in the soil around the drain field.
How to take care of your septic system
Your septic system is designed to take care of household wastewater. However, most household soaps and cleaners should not cause a problem. It is also designed to take a limited amount of flow. Prolonged overloading can result in system failure. There are some things you can do to help make sure your septic system lasts as long or longer than you do!
Conserve water to reduce the amount of wastewater which has to be treated. This does not mean only flush the toilet once a day. What it means is don’t take six showers in a row or wash ten loads of clothes in one day. You have to give your system time to “catch up” with you.
Promptly repair all leaky faucets and toilets for the same reason.
Make sure only biological waste goes into your tank (more on this in the next section).
Make sure your down spouts and other surface water is far away from your tank and your drain field as this extra water will also tax your tank.
Have your tank pumped and inspected on a regular basis.
Keep all tank covers accessible for inspections and pumpings. This means the man hole cover, NOT THE INSPECTION PIPE. Pumping through the inspection pipe only removes the water, but leaves behind the sludge and crust that needs to be removed.
Do not use a garbage disposal. Compost your garbage or put it in the trash instead. If you have a garbage disposal, it is recommended to pump the septic tank twice a year.
Do not dig in your drain field or build anything over your septic system.
Do not plant anything besides grass over your drain field.
Do not drive over your drain field or compact it in any way. If you do you could cause pipe damage and reduce evaporation out of the drain field.
What NOT to flush
flushable wipes
cooking fats, greases,or oils
coffee grounds
kitchen waste (such as egg shells or bones)
paper towels
hair combings
dental floss
gauze bandages
condoms
disposable diapers
tampons (even the ones that claim they are flushable)
sanitary napkins
panty liners
cigarette butts
kitty litter
varnishes
paints
paint thinners
photographic solutions
waste oil
pesticides
With the exception of toilet paper, if you don't eat or drink it, it should not enter the septic system.
When to have your septic system pumped
Some materials in wastewater are not easily decomposed. You will need to have these materials pumped from your tank. If you have more than one tank or a tank with two compartments both should be pumped out regularly. If you fail to pump your tank regularly sludge may enter your drain field and cause serious problems. Wisconsin law dictates that septic tanks must be pumped out or inspected every three years to ensure your tank sludge level is less than one third. This time schedule is fine for a system that is working properly, but a failing system may need to be pumped out more frequently. Signs of a failing system include high surface water in the drain field, slowly flushing toilets, slow sink drains, or the backing up of wastewater into the house. If you notice any of these signs you should have your pumper inspect your system. Common causes of tank failure include failing to pump and inspect the tank regularly, lack of understanding on how your tank works, poor soil, or faulty design or installation.