A Waste Water Management Company

What is a Perk Test?

A percolation test is simply method of determining soil suitability for a septic disposal system. First, the Designated Representative DR 's (are licensed by the Health Department to perform percolation tests, design systems and fill out the paperwork for a Septic System Permit).plots the location of the house, drive way and water wells. Then the DR determines plots the location of the septic tank and field lines. The percolation test will be performed at the proposed location of the field lines. A soil bore dug with a back hoe will then reveal a profile of the subsurface from grade to 48 inches. Based on the colors of the soil and physical texturing, the DR can determine the suitability for subsurface field lines.

Should the soil be suitable, then three post hole size holes will be saturated for a period of time. The rate at which water is absorb in the hole will determine the number of field lines necessary.
If the test is successful, the DR will place marker flags to note the location of the tank and the field lines. The DR will then design, sketch and submit a permit to the land department. This becomes an application for a permit to construct an individual sewer disposal system. The Arkansas Department of Health has the authority to approve or disapprove the application.

If the test is not successful (if it didn't perk), a DR can then submit a drawing for an alternate sewage disposal system. Alternate systems include aerobic treatment plants (ATP), and sand filters.

We at Clear Flow conduct percolation tests and can help you with all your septic needs!

 

 

The Septic Tank and How it works!

The septic tank is the primary treatment component in the septic system, and the field lines constitute the secondary treatment component. From the first day of use, the septic tank is 100% full. However, most of the contents of the septic tank is water. This allows the septic tank to separate solids from the waste water. Some waste elements float (this is called scum) and other elements fall to the bottom of the tank (often called sludge). For every gallon that goes into the tank, one gallon goes out to the field lines. Over time, solids in the tank overwhelm the system, allowing solids to be injected into the field lines . This not only causes unrepairable damage to the field lines, it is environmentally hazardous.

There are many septic tank additives on the market that claim to improve septic conditions in the tank. However, periodic pumping (every three to five years) is still required to ensure that the system lasts a lifetime and does not fail. For more information about maintaining your septic system, please visit the Clear Flow
Do's and Don't's web page.