Operation and Maintenance

Amberjack Sanitation operates and maintains both commercial and residential treatment systems.  Our skilled technicians maintain a variety of treatment systems and technologies.

The goal of septic system management is to ensure long life for your system and to safeguard public health and the environment. Regular maintenance protects your investment by maximizing system life. Amberjack Sanitation offers customized maintenance service and onsite inspections that assure optimal waste treatment.

All conventional septic systems have a finite life. Even properly used, drain field rock becomes plugged with the by-products of treating sewage. Misuse can accelerate failure:

• Accumulation of solids in tanks not removed regularly can clog drain field soils
• Excess water use or leaky fixtures can cause overloading
• Use of medications and certain household products can inhibit proper function
• Inappropriate activities on the soil treatment area can cause compaction

All of these situations which shorten the useful life of a system can be detected through regularly scheduled maintenance and a plan can be implemented to correct them. Identified early, most problems can be corrected at little cost. Regular maintenance will save you money over the long run.

A management program, no matter how thorough, cannot overcome deficiencies caused by unsuitable soils or systems built too small for the amount of wastewater generated.  Our installation team can repair, upgrade, or install replacement systems.

To create your Customized Maintenance Plan, we begin with an Initial Site Assessment. We will:

• Conduct an interview so we can understand how you use your system
• Check current condition of all system components.
• Discuss with you the system condition and maintenance needs

Develop a customized maintenance plan, recommend frequency of regular inspections and septic tank pumping. 

 
Maintenance Services

Many newer homes have performance septic systems. These commonly include the use of an Aerobic Treatment Unit (ATU) such as a Multi-Flo. When the permitting authority approves a design for a performance system there are usually standards that this system must meet to stay within the compliance limits of the operating permit. Each operating permit is specific to each system based on site conditions, but most of them will have the same four parameters:

1. The system must be serviced semi-annually by a service provider.
2. The daily flow must be monitored and cannot exceed the limit that is set.
3. The treated water must be tested for fecal coliforms and cannot exceed the limit.
4. Yearly reporting must be done by a licensed service provider to show the customer and the permitting authority that the system is performing within its compliance limits.

1. Semi-annual Servicing

Amberjack Sanitation services your ATU once in the spring and once in the fall. As part of this servicing we check all of your system components to make sure they are working properly.  The pump vault in the septic tank is inspected and cleaned if needed, and the ATU is opened and cleaned per the manufacturers specifications.    We also check solids build up within the ATU and septic tank.  By monitoring the solids build up we can determine when it is necessary to pump your tanks and schedule pumping to coincide with your next service visit. 

2. Water Use Monitoring

Daily water flow may be monitored to assure it is within permit limits. This is important because most septic systems cannot handle excess volumes of water for long periods of time.  This is why all of the performance systems Amberjack Sanitation installs have timed dosing.  A timer controls a pump thus eliminating surges into the system.  Since the average household uses large amounts of water in the morning then again in the evening, timed dosing will even out those high flow times.

3. Fecal Coliform Testing

Fecal coliform samples may be tested to assure compliance with permit limits. Since each site is different,  fecal coliform limits can vary.  We typically test your system twice in the first year of operation, and once per year thereafter.

_______________________________________________________________ 

Multi~Flo Care Guide

The Multi~Flo Aerobic Wastewater Treatment Plant is one of the finest mechanical sewage treatment systems available today. It receives sewage and uses naturally occurring bacteria to produce clear, nearly odorless liquid. This care guide will help you keep your Multi~Flo operating at peak performance with routine service.

The Multi~Flo Treatment Plant utilizes felted polyester filters, an electric motor to pump air through the system and keep the sewage in motion, and an alarm that monitors air flow and liquid level. Under normal loading, two service visits per year are sufficient for proper performance. Ideally the only materials entering the system are human waste and toilet tissue, but in these modern times many other products are used in the typical household. Some of these affect system operation and should be avoided or have minimal use because they can cause bacterial die off or filter clogging. In addition, some items can cause motor failure.

Do not flush any of the following items down toilets or sinks: