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- Operation Maintenance & Monitoring
Operation Maintenance & Monitoring
If you have a supplemental treatment system that was permitted after January 1, 2005, you are required to have a service provider perform annual maintenance on your system. You should receive a reminder from Placer County every November, and you must have the service performed by the end of February. Billing for the Operation Maintenance and Monitoring (OM&M) program is mailed out in January.
View the sand filter service provider list (PDF). All septic systems require a lot of care to ensure that they function properly. Please refer to the following recommendations and Frequently Asked Questions to keep your system running properly for as long as possible.
Care & Maintenance Recommendations
Improper care for your septic systems, can result in expensive failure. The following are recommendations that every homeowner should follow in order to maintain the longevity of their system.
Sewage can make you sick! Anyone performing maintenance on a septic system should wear protective eyewear and disposable gloves and should thoroughly wash/disinfect their hands, tools and any objects that may come in contact with sewage.
Have the system inspected by a qualified service provider to determine if the septic tank needs to be pumped. Pumping frequency can vary depending on use of the septic system.
Annually inspect the effluent filter (if you have one) in the outlet sanitary T of the septic tank. Any scum and buildup should be removed.
Have the system inspected by a qualified service provider to determine if the septic tank needs to be pumped. Pumping frequency can vary depending on use of the septic system.
Contact a qualified maintenance specialist to perform a thorough inspection and maintenance of your system annually. The inspection and maintenance should include:
- Pump and float alarms should be manually activated to verify proper operation. Alarm should be both visible and audible.
- Record the reading on the pump cycle counter.
- Clean any scum or buildup on the effluent filter.
- Flush the laterals of the disposal field to remove any accumulated scum and reset the lateral head properly.
- Inspect monitoring/observation wells for water. Record date and observations.
- Visually inspect the septic tank and pump tank risers, valve box covers and observation well covers for any signs of deterioration or damage.
- Visually inspect the disposal field for any signs of deterioration or damage.
Have the system inspected by a qualified service provider to determine if the septic tank needs to be pumped. Pumping frequency can vary depending on use of the septic system.
Contact a qualified service provider to perform a thorough inspection and maintenance of your system annually. The inspection and maintenance should include:
- Pump and float alarms in pump tank and treatment unit should be manually activated to verify proper function. Alarm should be both visible and audible.
- Control panel should be checked to insure that it is functioning properly and that the timer and settings are consistent with the system design. The control panel readings for the pumps and alarms should be recorded.
- Clean any scum or buildup on the effluent filter.
- Inspect monitoring/observation wells in the disposal field for water. Record date and observations.
- Visually inspect the septic tank, pump tank and treatment unit, valve box covers and observation well covers for any signs of deterioration or damage.
- Visually inspect the disposal field for any signs of deterioration or damage.