This article is designed to help the average consumer understand what is a sand mound system and how do they work. Wastewater is regularly produced by your household. With all the activities that happen in your home, there should be a system that takes care of the waste products that result from them. This is where the septic system enters the scene. But not every household is set on a property that’s ideal for a septic system. There are households that should have a sand mound system. But what is a sand mound system?
It can be taken literally. It is a mound that’s actually found above the surface of the soil. It is not like the conventional septic system that is installed under the surface of the property. There are some soil conditions that are not very friendly with septic systems. Sand mound systems are the only ones that could handle the fast or slow soil percolation and the high water table as well. If the soil’s percolation rate is too fast, the wastewater will reach the water table before the bio-film treats it. This instantly results to a serious contamination of the ground water and the surrounding water supply systems. If the soil’s percolation rate is too slow, then there would most probably be a pooling of untreated effluent on that area of the yard.
What is a sand mound system? The sand mound system is equipped with the bio-film that takes care of the fast percolation rate of the soil. It still works fine in a soil with slow permeability. With the presence of bio-film, the wastewater is treated and purified thoroughly before it reaches the surrounding soil area and water supply systems.
Three main areas in the sand mound system are responsible for the actual treatment of wastewater—the tank, the dosing chamber, and the mound. The tank is where the wastewater from your household is collected. It stays there for a while until the solid waste products settle at the bottom. The clear liquid effluent is then channeled into the dosing chamber to be dispersed in to the mound. The effluent is slowly treated as it enters the mound, where the final phase of treatment takes place. The slow dosing of the effluent allows thorough purification. This prevents the mound from failing.
Also known as the raised mound, the sand mound system was developed in the 1960s by specialists in the University of Wisconsin. It is a versatile system that can also be used in special soil conditions. But you should remember that there are three things that cause the sand mound to fail:
Solid particles in the flowing effluent block the smaller pipes that are found in the pumps of the sand mound system. These soli particles plug and burn out the pumps and holes. These particulates also block the soil pores. It’s advised that the filters in the washing machine and in the tank should be regularly cleaned. You could spend about 300 USD on the filter replacement and 300-600 USD on the pump replacement.
- High water load can be brought about by excessive water use and unattended leaks. If you suspect leaks within the system, then you should immediately see to it that they are repaired.
- Harsh chemicals kill off the resident bacteria in the sand mound system. If this happens, the primary digesters of the solid waste materials are eliminated and the entire system fails.
The sand filters, peat filters, and recirculation sand filters in the sand mound system are costly to maintain and replace. But you have to see to it that they are always in optimal condition because they’re also prone to clogging. In cases where in the issue of replacing such components is given much fuss by homeowners, the choices of either paying for the maintenance and replacement fee or paying for the total replacement of the system are often presented. Of course, the more logical and more practical choice of maintaining the sand mound components would be the best to consider.
It would be better if you ask the guidance of your septic expert in caring for your sand mound system. It would cost you less if your avoid an aggravated system after all. We hope we helped you in determining what is a sand mound system?
