Tips:
It is important to follow a few guidelines for proper maintenance and health of your system
- When putting a system into place, be aware of access to the drain field and tank. Can a pumping truck easily back into the area?
- Know where your tank cover is and make it accessible for inspection and pumping. (By the way, did you know there are attractive ways to decorate or conceal your drain cover.)
- Try to conserve water so there is less wastewater to be treated and disposed of. Less going in, means you can go a little longer before it has to come out.
- If you have a leaky faucet, get it repaired.
- Be careful what you put into the system—keep it to biodegradable substances. (In other words, don’t put sanitary napkins, tampons, diapers,wipes and other non-disposable items into your system).
- Avoid putting grease into your system, as it will surface as scum in your tank.
- Make sure downspouts from your house are diverted away from your drain field. It is important to not flood the drain field from other sources.
- Inspect your tank for cracks or leaks and have it serviced regularly
- Compost garbage or put it in the trash.
- Avoid using a garbage grinder/garbage disposal. This will cut down on the amount of scum in your tank.
- Be careful not to put oils, paints, thinners, disinfectants, cleaning agents, pesticides or poisons in your system as it can affect the treatment process and contaminate groundwater. Treat your drain field with care—do not plant anything but grass on it, don’t drive over your drain field and do not compact the soil.
Tankfully Simple
What You Need to know about holding tanks, septic systems, drain fields and grease traps.
First of all, VPS, Inc. can service and empty your septic system, holding tank, grease
trap and provide expertise and education to maintain your waste management systems
for household or commercial waste.
- Pump out residential and commercial holding tanks
- Pump and service residential and commercial septic systems
- Clean out commercial (restaurant, school kitchen) grease traps
What Goes In, Must Come Out
Wastewater from your home or business includes, sink, bath, shower, washing
machine, dishwasher and also toilet flushings. These waters can also contain disease-
causing germs or other pollutants which are discharged back into our environment.
With proper management and a good system in place, wastewater, germs and pollutants can be treated and disposed of safely. That’s where septic systems, holding tanks and grease traps enter in.
Proper Maintenance of Your Waste Systems Will Help Solve Problems Before
They Happen
Holding Tanks
If you have holding tanks, these will need to be pumped every 4-6
weeks depending on how conservative your home usage is. The size of your holding
tank will determine how often it needs to be pumped out. VPS team members can help
assess your needs for a pumping schedule.
Mound Systems and Septic Systems
- If you have a Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (POWTS) you will have a tank or set of tanks (made of concrete, fiberglass or plastic) based on the size of your home or business and the number of people there.
- The watertight main tank collects waste/wastewater including solids that settle to the bottom of the tank. Liquids flow into a pump chamber. Bacteria in the tank help to break down the solids that remain in the tank, creating a sludge that can be pumped out. Lighter weight scum floats to the top of the tank and collects there.
- Liquids eventually get pumped onto a septic drain field or mound where they are absorbed into the field and may also evaporate. In the absorption or drain field area, liquids gradually move down through the ground where germs and chemicals are naturally filtered out.
VPS Pumps It Out
When it is time to pump out your septic tank, VPS brings a truck to pump out and
transport sludge, scum and waste from your tank. In order to make sure your tank is
empty, we will flush (back flush) out the system after pumping to make sure all solids
from the bottom are removed. We also inspect your tank, looking for cracks or leaks.
Waste that is pumped is then transported to a local wastewater treatment facility for
processing.
Did You Know:
The State of Wisconsin requires that a septic system be pumped out at least once
every three years.
Grease Traps
A grease trap or grease interceptor is a receptacle that is placed between a restaurant’s
drain lines and the sanitary sewer lines. As water and grease flow through the line and it
gradually cools, the grease coagulates allowing for separation and collection of fats, oils
and grease (also known as “FOG”) from the used water.
A grease trap keeps fat, oils and grease out of the sewer system. Municipalities have ordinances about collecting grease and oil to keep the sewer system operating effectively. A grease trap can either be located inside of an establishment or on the outside. Typically large restaurants or school kitchens will have their grease traps/ grease interceptors located outside.
De -“Fogging”
VPS has a collection truck that can service area grease traps; emptying your “FOG” and
properly disposing of the waste. Again, our trained staff can work with you to set up a
regular schedule to empty and maintain your grease trap.