If untreated sewage comes out on the surface of the ground or if it backs up into the house it means that the septic system is not working properly. This is known as a failure. Septic systems are also not working properly if contaminants such as bacteria or nitrate from those systems are reaching groundwater or surface water in excessive amounts. A system is close to failure if the leach field inspection risers show that the leach field is completely full of a sewage. This condition also limits adequate treatment.
Following are some of the factors that contribute to septic system failure or improper function:
Age - As a septic leach field ages, the soil surfaces in the leaching device become clogged with an organic scum layer which limits the ability of the sewage to soak into the soil. The trench or pit fills up and untreated sewage comes out on the ground surface or backs up into the drains in the house. This clogging process usually takes place over a period of 10-40 years and works from the bottom of the trench up to the top. Standing effluent levels in the riser can give an indication of how much usable trench is left. The clogging process is sped up by system overloading, saturation by groundwater, or lack of septic tank pumping which allows solids to enter the leaching device. Once a leaching device is clogged, it generally needs to be replaced, although some temporary or partial restoration may be gained by resting a leach field or treating it with an oxidizing agent. In addition to the aging process, older septic systems tend to be undersized and too deep because they were installed prior to development of septic standards.
Poor Maintenance or Overloading - Inadequate pumping of the septic tank, use of damaging chemicals, or overloading the system by excessive wastewater discharge can inhibit the treatment process and/or contribute to premature system failure.
High Groundwater can cause septic failure or contamination of groundwater and surface water. In many parts of Santa Cruz County, groundwater levels rise significantly during the rainy season, often coming within 1-6 feet of the ground surface for at least several weeks. If a leaching device is flooded by groundwater, it greatly limits the ability of the sewage to soak into the ground and a failure may occur. If sewage enters groundwater before it has been adequately treated in the soil, bacteria, virus, and pathogens can contaminate wells or nearby streams. Studies in the San Lorenzo Valley have shown very high levels of bacteria within 25-50 feet of leach fields that penetrate groundwater. In some studies, pathogenic viruses have been shown to travel several hundred feet under high groundwater conditions. However, where soils are not saturated, it has been found that bacteria and virus are reduced to safe levels within only 2-5 feet of a leach field.
Poor Surface Drainage - If roof runoff or surface runoff is allowed to flow into a leach field area and soak into the ground, it can rapidly saturate the soil and cause the leach field to fail.
Clay Soils cannot absorb sewage as rapidly as sandy or loamy soils and they become saturated more easily during winter months. Leach fields must be much larger in clay soils or they will become saturated, overloaded and fail.
Sandy Soils absorb effluent more easily and are less prone to sewage failures. But the sewage moves through very rapidly and does not receive as much treatment. Studies in the San Lorenzo Valley have shown that septic systems in sandy soils contribute 10-15 times as much nitrate to groundwater as systems in other types of soils.
Steep Slopes and Cuts – Leach fields cannot be located too close to cuts or on steep slopes as there is a danger that the sewage can seep laterally out of the slope or cut before it has a chance to be fully treated. Septic systems can also cause slope failures if located in unstable slopes.