WHEN WAS YOUR SYSTEM’S LAST CHECKUP?

When was the last time your on-site sewage disposal system had a checkup? Neglecting the routine maintenance and upkeep of an on-site sewage disposal system can mean a shorter life span, or eventual failure of the system. On-site sewage disposal is a necessity in many areas of Humboldt County where no city or community service district maintained (public) sewer systems are available, including portions of the Fortuna, Rio Dell, Ferndale, Loleta, Freshwater, Fieldbrook, Willow Creek and Trinidad areas, just to name a few. Proper care and maintenance of your system can mean dollars saved in the long run. Failed septic systems often show up as surfacing ground seepage or backup in the septic tank, but may go unnoticed as polluted ground water. The cost of repairing or replacing a failed leach field can range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, not to mention the destruction of the area where the system is located (usually your yard). To help lengthen the lifespan of your system, schedule a routine maintenance checkup each year. Choose an easy to remember significant date (birthday, holiday or anniversary) by which to remember your annual maintenance day. The most common type of on-site sewage treatment system, usually referred to as a septic system, is a septic tank-leach field system. Many of these systems in Humboldt County are designed with two sets of leach lines (dual leach field areas), with a valve in between. Locate the valve, usually positioned between the septic tank and the dual leach field areas, and switch it once each year to allow the leach lines previously used to rest and recuperate for a year, thus lengthening the life span of your leach lines and minimizing the chance of system failure. The valve is frequently buried with no obvious indicator of its location at the ground’s surface, leaving landowners unaware of its existence and/or location. There are septic system inspectors and servicers that can assist in locating valves, or determining if your system requires cleaning or maintenance. The Humboldt County Division of Environmental Health can be of assistance in determining your system type and/or how it is laid out. Call (707)445-6215, with your Assessor’s Parcel Number (found on your property tax bill) as a reference, to determine if a plot plan is on file for your site’s on-site sewage disposal system.