Got Septic?

We have answers!

  • To name a few:

    Do you know where your effluent filter is, and when it was last rinsed? (Most don't know it exists).

    Are you using "septic-safe" cleaners, or are you accidentally killing your tank's microbial life?

    Is your family practicing hydraulic balance, or are you overloading the system on laundry days?

    To reduce frequency of costly pump-outs.

    To manage small and larger repairs that wear out, break, get misaligned, malfunction, or go missing (i.e. valves, floats, baffles, pumps, risers, filters, control panels…).

    Get to know us and you’ll learn more reasons!

  • Assuming “no news is good news” or thinking “out-of-sight” means “out-of-mind” can lead to costly problems.

    Think of it like a ‘medical check-up’ for your system. You system is a biological treatment plant, not a trash can.

  • Have a professional check your type 1 system (basic system) once a year for the first 3 years then a more detailed plan can be made. If you have a more advanced system it needs annual maintenance and reporting to remain in good standings with the government.

    The Maintenance Provider will advise you one when to pump and when to save that money.

  • Time, money, and interest keep oil change shops busy! but if you are interested we can definitely walk you through these things.

    If you know where your system is and you expose it that helps (saving you money if we don’t need to dig or use equipment to locate it).

    Another is cleaning filters (if you can stomach it). Rubber gloves, garden hose, quiet dignity.

    See below for Tips and other Fun FAQs to learn more ways to steward your system.

  • Servicing is by-the-hour. Our goal is to prevent the incidentals and to stretch the time between pump-outs(they’re getting more expensive).

    There could be a travel surcharge if booking is urgent, and far from Courtenay but I try to book in an area to reduce these extras. So schedule well in advance and save.

    Value-added add-ons exist, such as signed regulations-compliant reporting (with photos), or simply a non-certified service-record.

    Urgent call-outs are costly to incentivize preventative Maintenance schedules, per an Initial System Evaluation’s Report that includes a non-biased, realistic Maintenance Plan.

General FAQs

Some more serious than others.

  • Kind of. Invite friends over, fire up the BBQ, feed them that beef, and don't let anyone leave until they've personally deposited digested-matter in your loo. The pre-digested part is the helpful part, not the ‘beef’ specifically.

    On the same note, no need to add extra enzyme products into your tank. Your tank is already a thriving microbial festival. Let the tank handle itself. There are some exceptions to this, but that is with lab testing and engineers.

  • Unfortunately, yes. Medications pass through the body and into your tank, where they can disrupt the bacterial balance that keeps everything working. Chemotherapy drugs and certain heart medications are common culprits.

    There's no easy fix here — but it's worth knowing, and worth mentioning to your Maintenance Provider so they can keep a closer eye on things.

    Your tank is a demonstration of your gut health so if your doctor is ok with it eating gut health promoting foods could help but no promises.

  • For legal reasons, we're not naming names in any written way. But here's a simple test: drop a few sheets in a glass of water and leave it overnight. If it starts breaking apart(becomes fragile), it's generally septic-friendly. If it's still holding together like a life raft in the morning — maybe reconsider.

  • Most standard dish soaps are fine in modest amounts.

    Heavy-duty degreasers will break down the Fats, Oils, Grease and ‘FOG’ your tank. That is when they are in water suspension and will carry throughout your entire system causing eventual problems.

    Another is anti-bacterial soaps are the ones to watch - they can wipe out the healthy microflora needed to digest solids, leading to a dead tank.

    Natural and plant-based or enzyme-based soaps are generally the gentler choice.

    Local examples: ATTITUDE Living, Eco-Max, and Nature Clean.

  • A kitchen introduces FOG (Fats, Oils, and Grease) and high chemical loads that can disrupt the distinct layers in the septic tank, kill the beneficial bacteria required for waste breakdown, and prematurely clog the effluent filter.

    AKA, you're signing up for more frequent system backups and emergency pump-outs. Undigested food will overwhelm your tank because the microbes and dissolved oxygen can’t process it fast enough. Gut pre-digested food is loaded with your helpful gut flora that keeps things moving(see what I did there).

    Compost those scraps and feed the worms and your garden instead.

  • Similar answer to the dish soaps question above.

    Here’s a tip: if you have a good dishwasher pre washing actually doesn’t help. scrape off the little bits and let the soap do the rest. Imagine taking your, lazily, wand washed truck to an auto wash vs leaving the road grime or mud on it for the auto wash. the soap and water will soak into the gunk and it’ll come cleaner. there is also the benefit of using up the soap in the wash instead of sending it to the tank.

    A septic-safe dishwasher soap relies on simple chemistry that cleans dishes but breaks down rapidly into harmless components before exiting the tank. Look for:

    • Plant-based, vegetable-derived surfactants (like coco-glucoside or decyl glucoside) instead of harsh petroleum-based variants.

    • Enzyme-based formulas for automatic dishwashers. Natural enzymes act like tiny pac-men that pre-digest food starches and proteins right inside the pipe and tank, assisting the natural biology rather than killing it.

    • Highly biodegradable, low-foaming properties. High suds/foam create a thick, artificial scum layer that can interfere with the tank's baffles and quickly blind the effluent filter.

    Sample options (pods, powders, gels): Bio-Vert, AspenClean, Nature Clean gel or tabs.

  • Moderation is your friend here — both for your washer and your septic system. Excess detergent doesn't just mean more suds; it means a shorter bearing life for your drum and more stress on your tank's biology. Use the recommended amount(less is more), spread laundry loads through the week rather than all on one day, and your system will thank you quietly — which is exactly how you want it.

    And FYI: Bleach is a mass layoff for your tank's bacteria. Eventually HR shows up — in the form of a pump truck — and it can get ugly.

  • Technically you could but… The tomatoes will be extremely well-fertilized. Explaining that to a dinner guest or a Farmer’s Market patron might be a problem. And the potential damage to the system wouldn’t be worth it.

  • Please take into consideration someone will have to access the tanks. Hawthorns and roses are no fun and can make an otherwise simple visit take more time and make a sometimes difficult job even more difficult.

    There is also the possibility of root intrusion depending on what is planted. Roots will find the smallest bit of moisture and find the source breaking into your tank. Root mats are a real thing.

Tips for Septic Stewardship:

  • What to Keep Out of Your System

    Tip: Fats, oils, grease, and anything from a garburator — including coffee grounds — overload the beneficial bacteria your system depends on. Keep them out even if they seem liquid or fine going down.

    Tip: Antibacterial products are hard on your system. That includes every-flush toilet deodorizers, harsh solvents, medications, pesticides, antifreeze, and rinse water from latex paint.

    Tip: Skip the enzyme treatments and organism-growing additives. A healthy system doesn't need them, and the wrong ones can do more harm than good.

  • Water Usage

    Tip: Low-flow toilets, specifically, can cause more problems than they solve. Your system needs a good gush of water periodically to flush out the line — think flash flood vs. a trickle.

    • If your field is already under stress, go with "if it's yellow, let it mellow; if it's brown, flush it down."

Tip: Avoid laundry ‘day’. Running several loads back-to-back hits your system hard.

  • Spread loads out throughout the week.

  • Adjust your washing machine's water level for smaller loads.

Tip: Run your dishwasher only when it's full.

  • If you pre-rinse/wash, the soap doesn’t get used up in the wash and you will often find dirty dishes coming out.

  • Instead, try scraping off the dishes, leaving some gribbly bits that the soap will stick to. Use the auto sensor(turbidity) so it will go as long as needed.

  • Cleaning the screen in the bottom of the dishwasher and using a dishwasher-safe cleaning pod once a month will significantly improve the time per wash.

Tip: Check your toilets regularly. A running toilet can stress your field significantly over time. The offending part is cheap and relatively simple to replace.

Tip: Avoid running taps unnecessarily.

  • Instead, fill the sink for rinsing dishes rather than letting the tap run.

  • Place a jug of water in the fridge to keep it cool.