Trusted Septic Tank Services in Chilliwack, BC

Individual septic systems or onsite wastewater disposal systems are required for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings that are not connected to municipal or public wastewater systems/treatment plants. The onsite systems function to receive and treat wastewater (from toilets, showers, sinks, dishwashers, washing machines, etc.) and return the treated effluent into the groundwater system. Designed and installed correctly, an onsite waste disposal system will treat the waste stream to a very high degree and return effectively clean water back to the ground.

On some lots, site inspection finds that high seasonal groundwater is an issue. This can be actual standing water just a few feet or even inches below the surface or signs that the water table has been close to the surface at some point during the year. These signs usually show up as mottling in the soil from the iron deposits being soaked and literally rusting like an old car. Other indicators are found in the soil colour and lack or presence of root growth.

We often find, if there are high groundwater issues, there is often a corresponding requirement to have a home built up at an elevated predetermined geodetic height. This means that fill material is brought in to build the house on. If size allows, the sand mound can usually be built into the edge of the fill and completely disappear from view. In cases where this is not possible, a sand mound can be made less obvious by adding extra width to the toes to create a gentler slope which is less noticeable to the untrained eye.

Most early septic system failures are related to inappropriate design and poor maintenance. Some soil-based systems (with a leach or drain field) have been installed at sites with adequate or inappropriate soils, excessive slopes, or high groundwater tables. These conditions can cause hydraulic failures and water resource contamination. Failure to perform routine maintenance, such as pumping a septic tank at least every 3 to 5 years, can cause solids in the tank to migrate into the drain field and clog the system.

Each level of treatment (type 1, 2, 3) produces a different strength of effluent. Each additional level of treatment allows you to reduce the overall footprint of your dispersal field and, when designed by an engineer, may also allow you to reduce your minimum horizontal setbacks to watercourses.