It has certainly been a harsh winter for many of us! Every time you turn on the news you see it…reports of record snowfalls and bone chilling temps. We’ve all become a little too familiar with winter this year which has most of us dreaming about spring. Well that dream isn’t to far off as […]

Residents of the Pleasure Point Park and Marina development have until the end of June to vacate their homes after Alabama Power refused to renew the lease agreement with Pleasure Point management for the new fiscal year. Septic system failures within the development are blamed for the company’s action, which comes after Alabama Power was […]

Local, state and federal environmental officials across the country are cracking down on homeowners with poorly functioning septic systems in efforts to prevent contamination of streams, rivers, lakes and other bodies of water. Some areas are offering matching funds and loans for repairs and remediation, while other counties are taking steps to enforce laws currently […]

California’s State Water Resources Control Board recently revised the statutes governing onsite wastewater treatment systems, more commonly known as septic tanks. These new rules are intended to provide added guidance for homeowners, home builders and septic tank repair companies in managing the installation and upkeep of these household waste treatment systems. Existing septic tank systems […]

Public schools are facing critical budget shortages in many areas of the country. For Tiverton High School in Tiverton, Rhode Island, that financial stress was considerably worse this summer as school officials scrambled to ensure that a much-needed septic tank system replacement was in place by the first day of school this fall. The septic […]

A failing septic tank system is creating legal issues and neighborhood conflicts for one resident of York, Maine. In July of 2013, the septic tank system belonging to John Parkhurst developed a leak and spilled effluent over the surface of his property. The raw sewage quickly spread downhill to encroach upon land belonging to Parkhurst’s […]

Failing septic systems are not solely the province of homeowners. Washington County Public Works in Stillwater Township, Minnesota, is currently weighing options on how to deal with a flooded drain field and a failing septic tank at one of their field offices. Portable toilets have been deployed as a temporary measure, but the county has […]

A do-it-yourself attempt at repairing a failing septic system has landed one Buffalo-area homeowner in hot water with legal and health department authorities. Jeffrey Karalus blames poor health and temporary disability for his failure to address the situation more promptly. Karalus is now facing steep fines from the city of Elma and could receive further […]

Although home systems account for the largest percentage of septic tank installations across the U.S., businesses are also at risk for serious problems that affect these waste treatment systems. A Circle K gas station in Louisville, Kentucky, was recently cited by the local health department for septic system failure after patrons noticed a pool of […]

Growing families and added responsibilities can present new challenges for many homeowners. One area that may be overlooked among these challenges is the home septic system. As tanks and drain fields age, they can become less efficient and more prone to failure. More people can put more stress on this vital home system and may […]

Garbage disposals can put an added strain on home septic tank systems by adding significantly to the organic material that these small-scale waste treatment plants must process. Most plumbing and septic system experts recommend against installing a garbage disposal in conjunction with a tank and leach field system because the added organic material in the […]

Most homeowners with septic tanks and drain fields understand the basics of maintenance for these waste treatment systems. Minimizing the chemicals that reach the septic tank, performing routine pumping once every few years and inspecting mechanical elements on a regular basis can generally keep newer septic tanks performing at optimal levels. However, other activities can […]

The average cost of replacing a septic tank in the U.S. is just under $5,000. Drain field replacements can range anywhere from $5,000 at the low end to well over $20,000 for complex or difficult installations. For most homeowners, these expenses can be financially devastating and may simply be out of reach for those on […]

Most homeowners already know that the cost of replacing a septic system can amount to thousands of dollars even before inspections and fees are included in the total. However, one Oregon couple is facing equally steep fines for failing to maintain their home septic system properly and allowing it to overflow onto their Cottage Grove […]

Homeowners with sluggish or aging septic tank systems may take some cues from remediation efforts currently taking place in Greenwood Lake in New York. The growth of weeds in the lake prompted the Greenwood Lake commission to hire harvesters to cut back the excess vegetation. The submerged weeds, however, were not collected and were left […]

A malfunctioning septic system was responsible for the closure of a Malibu beach and could cost one Los Angeles County homeowner the right to their property. The beach, located at 19830 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, was closed from June 13-19, 2013, as county officials attempted to locate the source and severity of a sewage […]

Homeowners with damaged septic tanks or septic system problems due to recent floods may find financial help from an unexpected source. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, better known as FEMA, has announced that it will provide disaster assistance for homeowners who experienced damage or problems to their well or septic system during this spring’s […]

Septic tank risers are convenient, easy to install, and seal out groundwater infiltration

Recent floods have created overflows and other septic tank issues for many homeowners across the U.S. One elderly Dover, Tennessee, man even found himself facing misdemeanor charges for his attempts to remediate his flooded septic system with the help of a local contractor. E. D. Barnes, an 87-year-old homeowner and veteran of the Korean War, […]

Septic field problems may land one unlucky Minnesota man in jail. Jim Kimble recently received a criminal complaint from the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Department regarding the property Kimble owns on the north bank of Ballantyne Lake. According to the authorities in Blue Earth County, Kimble is subject to prosecution for improperly installing five septic […]