The Pumper's Wife

This week, I'm going to dive into the subject of toilet paper.  Now, earlier this year, toilet paper became the new object of obsession.  Of all things people would stock pile, who knew it would be toilet paper? Personally, until I knew I was out and in trouble, I was buying more chocolate to survive the homeschooling, quarantine, and all the other nonsense inflicted upon us this spring!  I guess to each his own! But what about toilet paper?  Is there something a septic-living-homeowner needs to know?  You bet there is!   Unfortunately, all toilet papers claim to be “septic safe.”  This can be really confusing to the “new to septic” homeowner.  I’m sure all toilet papers will eventually break down once they get to the tank, but here’s the problem – if they are thicker, 3 ply, quilted toilet paper, they struggle to make it to the tank.   Here’s why…   When you use cheap, single ply toilet paper, the minute it hits the water and ...

  So, if you read my previous ever-so-eloquently-written-wastewater-post from last week…You’ll notice the first thing I mentioned when avoiding septic system “messes” was WATER USAGE.     Today, I’m going to elaborate on that.   I had written how septic systems are sized according to the number of bedrooms.  It is assumed that there is at least one person per bedroom using approximately 100 gallons of water a day when sizing a system.  Obviously, there is no way to know exactly how much water will be used in the home, but to date this is the most logical way to assume approximate water usage.   One thing septic systems are good at, is showing you when you’ve used too much water.  (Think about trying to fit 20 gallons of water in a 5 gallon bucket…)  Typically, you’ll see standing water over your drainfield first, but sometimes too much water can lead to a back-up in the house as well.  Below, I have listed the most co...

SEPTIC SYSTEMS 101 If I were still in college and needed an elective, I doubt this class would make my top 10.  However, if I were a new homeowner LIVING on a septic system you can bet I would sign up!  I wouldn't want to misuse the system designed to take my wastewater AWAY from my house!   Join me (won't you?) for your very own "class" on septic systems! As I have stated before in previous posts/blogs/articles, so many people don’t really know how their wastewater systems work.     Because they don’t know how they work, they don’t understand simple “dos” and “don’ts” of a septic system.       I totally get it!     Until I got drug into this business I never pondered what happened every time I flushed.     I doubt you do either.     However, when it comes to your own on-site wastewater system (i.e. septic systems) if you don’t ponder it just a little bit, it can lead to big, messy, gross, disgusting, expensive proble...

  So, I tend to write about traditional septic items – how about something septic related but on the side of “new” or “advanced”?     (Technically it’s not really new…but it is new to Nebraska!)     Did you know technology exists to clean up your wastewater better than ever?     For years, the main treatment of septic wastewater has been in the tank.     The water drains in the tank first and because it is typically air tight, the bacteria in the tank conduct anaerobic respiration to break down all the nasty stuff that is in the water.     After the tank treatment, the water slowly drains out to your lateral field where the soil performs a final treatment.     In the drainfield, water is either absorbed into the ground or evaporated through the plants (transvaporation).   So why would an alternative to this treatment that has worked for years be necessary you ask?  Well, there are several reasons!   1) ...

  If you’re building in the country, something you might not know is you have to install a wastewater system – or a place for all your wastewater to go.     In town, there is plumbing and city sewers to take care of all that, but if you build in the country you have to provide your own sewer system!     The most popular types of wastewater systems are septic systems.   Septic systems work in conjunction with Mother Nature.  The largest part of a septic system is the drain field (also known as a lateral field or leach field).  The drain field is the portion of your septic system that uses the soil to absorb ALL of the water that comes out of your house.  Every time you flush, do a load of laundry, take a shower, run the dishwasher, wash your hands, etc., the water drains out of the house and eventually ends up in the soil right outside.   But there’s actually a little more involved with where your septic system is placed an...