When abandoning a septic system, it’s not enough to deal with the tank and distribution components

It may take some investigation, but deterioration can usually be tracked down to a few specific problems.

It's been 15 years since the U.S. EPA did a comprehensive study on the impact of additives in septic tanks. A more recent study helps, but perhaps it's time for some fresh facts.

Installers who know and practice the basics of soil and texture study can help ensure the onsite system design is correct and construction is done under optimal conditions.

Be careful to avoid mistakes in soil sizing that are often the root of premature onsite system failure or poor performance.

After a good soil evaluation and design, there are many things an installer can do to ensure a high-quality, long-lasting system.

Proper installation procedures can help ensure a soil treatment area provides effective and long-lasting performance

Good practice calls for the soil treatment unit of an onsite system to be kept natural, level and shallow

A key principle of soil treatment unit installation is to avoid working the soil when it is too wet, avoid saturated soils, and consider runoff on the property

A fundamental knowledge of the soil treatment process is the starting point for installing effective onsite systems