As is the case with public utilities, septic systems deteriorate over time. All infrastructure requires maintenance, if left too long without; restoration upgrades or total replacement is often required.

Unfortunately, due to a lack of enforcement and or homeowner education, septic systems often go for years without proper or any maintenance at all. The effects of this are very obvious and too often found during an inspection.

Depending on the stage of deterioration found, there is often maintenance, repairs (restoration) and improvements that can bring the system back on line to function as was intended by its design and the regulations of its day.

A proper (a) maintenance assessment (b) restoration (c) maintenance plan (d) then ongoing maintenance & monitoring can often add an estimated 50% increased lifespan to a system. This is truly an area of life where a couple thousand dollars spent today can save ten(s) of thousands tomorrow.

When it comes to restoring aging septic systems there are various techniques & technologies often used, some of which may be no more than a Band-Aid. It’s important to start by properly assessing the system to gauge its state and make informed decisions as to the likelihood of continued success.

The restoration techniques that we believe in are simply used to bring the system back on line and help it function as it was intended.

Restoration can be split into three categories:

1. Maintenance – standard with modern systems, maintenance such as cleaning filters, monitoring tanks, flushing laterals, etc. Every system should have a maintenance plan, tailored to the unique system, outlining tasks that need doing with intervals.
2. Repairs - over time, deterioration will cause the need for repairs. Distribution boxes decay, components fall apart and roots cause problems. Often simple repairs can get things flowing as intended and save thousands of dollars over the long term.
3. Improvements – simple things that are standard on today’s modern systems like risers with lids to the surface, effluent filters and flow equalizers can often be retrofitted onto older ones. These simple improvements can significantly increase the longevity of the system and save you money.