Understanding Commercial Septic System Needs

Do you manage a large commercial property? Perhaps it’s an apartment complex or a multi-story office building. If you are on a septic system, it’s vital that you know exactly what that entails and how to maintain it. With that concept in mind, here is a guide: Understanding Commercial Septic System Needs. Read on to find out what is involved.

Your Commercial Septic System

A commercial septic system works much like a home septic system but a larger version. It’s a substantial sewage facility that manages waste from places like industrial complexes and retail locations. Your commercial septic system is comprised of two parts:

The Commercial Septic Tank

Your commercial septic system’s tank is a subterranean watertight container that will be made from concrete, fiberglass, or plastic. The septic tank is the most crucial part of your septic system. It takes in the flow of waste from your business. A biochemical process occurs inside your commercial septic tank; dense particles settle on the bottom and create sludge. The lighter particles, like fats, oil, and grease, will rise to the roof of the septic tank—the layer of water in between flows out of the septic tank into a drain field.

The Commercial Septic System’s Drain Field

A drain field is a rudimentary but effective system. A number of perforated pipes run down gravel-populated trenches underground. The wastewater from the septic tank slowly seeps out through the perforated pipes. Bacteria in the soil and the soil itself filter out harmful bacteria and viruses before wastewater combines with your groundwater. If there were no drain fields, toxic wastewater would cause outbreaks of things like e-coli in well water. This fact is especially true for an extensive commercial septic system.

Keeping Your Commercial Septic System in Good Shape

Now that you understand how a septic system works, here are a few pointers on how to keep it in good shape.

Don’t Flush Things Down the Toilet That Shouldn’t Be

It may be that your tenants want to treat your toilets like garbage cans, which is a leading cause of commercial septic system issues. Make sure that your tenants are informed on this issue. A number of things seem flushable but aren’t. Among these seemingly flushable items are baby wipes, cleaning wipes, Kleenex’s, and paper towels. A simple way to stop this is to place a sign over the toilets that reads, “Please only flush toilet paper,” which can help avert some unsanitary messes. You can also email your tenants or leave a flyer on their doors explaining what can and can’t be flushed in the toilet. Unfortunately, it’s inevitable that there will be those who flush things other than toilet paper, so keep your septic service company’s contact information where you can quickly find it. This issue may be the biggest challenge you will face with your commercial septic system as tenants will move in and out, and with each new tenant, they will need to be educated, so make sure you include information on what can be flushed in the new tenant paperwork package.

Frequently Service Your Commercial Septic System

Common sense dictates this tip, so much so that it should be an axiom. Your commercial septic system handles more wastewater than a single-family residence, so the septic tank needs to be flushed out frequently. Having your commercial septic system serviced every six months is ideal to keep it in good working order and to avoid septic emergencies.

Install Low Flow Toilets and Urinals to Use Less Water

Flushing toilets and urinals can account for most of the water usage in things like office complexes and medical campuses. Installing efficient toilets and urinals can reduce water usage and keep your commercial septic system from becoming oversaturated.

Never Flush Oil or Grease in the Toilet

There are a number of reasons not to flush oil or grease down the toilet. Grease and oil can congeal in your pipes and drain field, leading to both requiring repairs. Grease and oil are flammable, and if ignited in a toilet, the fire can spread at a blinding speed.

Lakeland Septic Knows Central Florida Commercial Septic Systems

Avoid a septic emergency with your commercial septic system that will bring about expensive cleanup and repairs; contact us today. We will inspect and service your commercial septic system, ensuring it won’t become a headache that monopolizes your time. Get in touch if you are in the greater Lakeland, Polk County, or Northern Hillsborough areas. We will be happy to come out and inspect and service your commercial septic system so that you have peace of mind it won’t cause you any issues.