Septic Systems

Installation - Inspection - Repair - Cleaning

Overview of On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems
Wastewater Treatment Systems

About ISI

Infiltrator Systems Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of plastic leachfield drainage chambers for environment onsite wastewater solutions. Our chambers, a direct replacement for stone and pipe leachfields, have revolutionized the septic industry. They provide cost effective, efficient methods for handling residential and commercial wastewater.

ISI is the only chamber that both manufactures its own products and sells to its customers through national distribution. Our trained sales reps work in the field to provide product installation and technical support.

Our systems are approved in all 50 states, 45 states with up to a 50% smaller footprint. There are over one million systems installed and more than 27 million units in-ground in the U.S. and 13 other countries. Our systems have stood the test of time with a history of performance since 1987. Today, one in four septic systems in the U.S. is an Infiltrator chamber system.

Recommended Number Of Years Between Pumping of Septic Tanks
According to Size Of Tank and Household

Household Size (Number of People)

If your home or business uses an on-site wastewater treatment system, commonly known as a septic system, you need to know how to operate and maintain the system properly to prevent pollution and sewage backups.

Different types of on-site wastewater treatment systems require different maintenance procedures. However, all systems need maintenance: Yours will fail if you do not maintain it.

These general tips can also help you keep your on-site wastwater treatment system operating:

• Do not treat an on-site wastewater treatment system as if it were a normal centralized sewer system. Items flushed down the toilet do not disappear. They must be treated by the on-site wastewater treatment system.
• Do not use in-sink garbage grinders excessively or disgard too much grease. Garbage grinders can cause sludge or scum to build up rapidly, making it necessary to clean the septic systems more frequently and possibly causing it to fail because the wastewater is too strong for the system to handle.
• Do not use the toilet as a trash can. Do not dispose of cleaning tissues, cigarette butts, diapers or other trash in the toilet. This wastes water and loads too many solids on the treatment system.
• Have the septic tank cleaned before sludge accumulates almost to the bottom of the tank's outlet device. If sludge or scum accumulates to this point, solids will leave the tank with the liquid and possibly clog the soil in the drain field. Sewage will then surface or back up into the house through the plumbing fixtures.
• Because it is impractical for an average homeowner to inspect a septic tank to see if it needs to be cleaned, establish a regular schedule of cleaning the septic tank every 2 to 3 years. Septic tank pumpers are equipped to clean septic tanks. Only people registered with Texas Natural Resource Conservation may pump and transport septic tank sludge.
• Do not build driveways, storage buildings or other structures over the treatment works or its disposal field. These solid surfaces prevent access to the system for maintenance, reduce the ability of water to evaporate from the soil, and restrict air movement into the soil.
• Do not drive heavy equipment over the components of a waste water treatment system. The equipment can crush them. The components are designed to support the soil over the top of the system, not equipment driving over it.
• Natural bacteria are present in the wastewater to decompose the waste. Chemical additives are not necessary for a septic tank to operate. Some additives may even harm the tanks operation. Remember:  The septic tank is supposed to collect solids. If you flush solids out of the tanks and into the drain field by adding chemicals, the solids will plug the drain field and you'll have to replace it.
• Soaps, detergents, bleaches, drain cleaners and other household cleaning materials very seldom affect the operation of the system. However, use the materials in moderation. Excessive use of cleaning materials or using continuous disinfectants in the toilet bowl or disinfecting soaps and detergents may harm the microbes living in on-site wastewater treatment systems.
• If you have a water softner, do not send the back flush water into your on-site wastwater treatment system.
• Do not come into contact with the liquid from the on-site wastewater treatment system unless is has been disinfected. Non-disinfected wastewater may contain pathogens that could make you sick. Do not allow electrical service to be interrupted to an on-site wastewater treatment system that has mechanical components or alarms.
• Maintain a grass cover over the drain field. Plant warm-season grasses that use much water and overseed with cool-season grasses during the winter. Grasses remove a significant portion of the water from a system and grass cover must be maintained. Trees also remove water and can be planted around the drain field.
• Divert away from the land application area any rainwater coming off driveways, other hard surfaces and the roof. The land application area is designed to manage a specific amount of water. Rainwater could fill the system, leaving no room for wastewater. Design landscaping to carry runoff water away from the land application area.