What do I do if my septic tank is flooding?

Flooding is one of the most common problems with septic tanks and there are many reasons which may cause a septic tank to flood. These can range from something as simple as an outlet ‘dip pipe’ being blocked to more serious problems involving the receiving soakaway system.

The effluent level inside a septic tank should be at the level of the outlet pipe.  In some instances either the inlet or outlet pipes for a septic tank can become blocked with materials such as fat or tissue.  If the inlet ‘dip pipe’ becomes blocked this would result in the foul drainage to the tank flooding, and this is more common in older traditionally built septic tanks.  If the outlet ‘dip pipe’ becomes blocked this would result in both the septic tank and incoming foul drainage pipe work flooding.  In some cases it is only necessary to clear the blockage with drainage rods.

The most common cause for a septic tank flooding is due to the receiving soakaway and not the septic tank.  If a soakaway fails and prevents the effluent from percolating through the ground this will result in the soakaway, septic tank and the foul drainage pipe work surcharging. In some cases having a soakaway ‘jetted’ can resolve the failure of a soakaway, but in our experience it is often necessary to have the soakaway replaced.

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Excessive draining of cooking oils and grease can cause the inlet drains to block.  Oils and grease are difficult to degrade and can cause difficulties with the emptying.

Disposing of non-biodegradable items such as nappies and baby wipes will rapidly clog the septic tank and these items should not be discharged to the tank at any point.

Certain chemicals should not be discharged to septic tanks, including pesticides, herbicides, paint, solvents or high levels of bleach.

Septic tank failure signs

• Drain or sewage backup;
• Discharge of effluent to surface or watercourse;
• Effluent level above the septic tank inlet;
• Septic tank being emptied frequently;
• Depression area over the septic tank or soakaway.

Older drainage fields / soakaways can fail due to a build-up of sludge solids.  The level of sludge solids passing through the septic tank are due to a number of reasons, including size of the tank, nature of the wastewater and emptying frequency.

Excessive use of detergent based products i.e. dishwasher tablets, washing powders etc. will lead to eventual failure of the soakaway.  This is caused by a process called sodium binding where the sodium present in detergents cause any silt or clay particles in the sub soil to bind together to form am impervious layer.  The same effect occurs if a water softener is present as the softened water will have relatively high sodium content.

You should monitor any additional waste water entering the septic tank.  A septic tank and the receiving drainage field / soakaway are designed to cater for a certain volume of flow per day.  If the flow being discharged to a septic tank increases and the tank is not designed for this additional flow then problems can be experienced with both the septic tank and drainage field / soakaway system.

Physical damage to the drainage field / soakaway.  In some cases a septic tank can flood due to the receiving soakaway pipe work becoming damaged and broken.  This can often be due to heavy machinery moving over the soakaway and crushing the pipes.  Older ‘but-jointing’ soakaway systems were constructed using clay wear pipes and it is common for these clay wear pipes to become dislodged due to ground movement, resulting in soil entering the pipe work and blocking the soakaway.

The drainage field / soakaway being constructed in close proximity to trees and shrubs.  Roots of trees and shrubs planted too close to a drainage field / soakaway can enter the drainage pipe work and block the pipes.  Root ingress into drainage fields / soakaways is the cause of many systems blocking and as a result flooding of the septic tank system.

Mantair works in partnership with the UK’s leading drainage insurance claims management company to offer our customers a unique insurance claims management service. Providing expertise in managing insurance claims for the costs of repairing or replacing damaged drainage systems, we work on behalf of property owners helping them to save thousands of pounds in resolving their septic tank problems.

Naturally High Water Table refers to the drainage field / soakaway being under the natural water table.  This can often be the cause for septic tank soakaway systems failing during winter months only.  When a drainage field / soakaway is operating underneath the natural water table the septic tank, soakaway and foul drainage pipework will be at the same level as the surrounding water table and as a result the flooding within the system can be moderate or severe.

Problems with septic tank systems operating in high water table areas can be overcome by installing a Mantair septic tank conversion system.

The soakaway being constructed in ground conditions which are non-permeable such as sandy clay, silt clay and clay.  This would result in the effluent that discharges to the soakaway filling the soakaway and subsequent flooding of the septic tank, or potentially effluent bursting out of the ground causing a health hazard.

It is important that the percolation characteristics of the ground are suitable in both summer and winter months.  To identify whether the ground conditions are suitable for a drainage field / soakaway and to determine the size required it is necessary to conduct a Percolation Test. Without the results of a Percolation Test there is no way of knowing the size of drainage field / soakaway required or if this disposal method would indeed work.

The effluent from a septic tank is disposed of to a drainage field / soakaway. Under no circumstances should it be allowed to discharge to a ditch, stream or river.  Such a discharge is an offence under the Public Health and Water Resources Acts and renders the offender liable to prosecution by the Statutory Authorities.

In many parts of the UK it is common to find older septic tanks discharging direct to a watercourse.  This is mainly due to septic tanks being installed in areas where the ground conditions do not favour a soakaway system, and as a result the original soakaway has been extended to a nearby watercourse.  No matter how long a septic tank has been discharging to a ditch or any other watercourse, it is still an offence.

Septic tanks can be upgraded into sewage treatment plants by installing a Mantair conversion unit which complies with the requirements of an Environment Agency Permit.

The process within a septic tank is called ‘anaerobic digestion’ which reduces the sludge volume.  During the digestion process methane, hydrogen sulphide and other gases are produced and these gases can in some cases cause a serious odour nuisance.

Septic tanks should be correctly vented to allow the noxious gases to escape to the atmosphere.

The majority of septic tank problems can be overcome by installing a Mantair septic tank conversion unit.  The Mantair unit is specifically designed to be installed within an existing septic tank or cesspool, converting the existing tank into a sewage treatment plant.

The Environment Agency recognises the Mantair unit as a sewage treatment system and provides Permit Certificates approving the discharge from these systems direct to ditches and streams, thus removing the need for a soakaway network.  All Mantair units are designed to ensure that the completed installation complies with the requirements of the Environment Agency and Building Regulations.  Read more