In the news recently there was a story about an 80-year-old man who fell into his septic tank while cleaning it. He was rescued after his neighbor’s dog wouldn’t stop barking in direction of the septic hole. The neighbor found the man in the hole and called 911. This elderly man was trapped in his septic tank for over five hours.
For those of you unfamiliar with a septic tank, it’s a system for disposing of sewage where public sewage systems are not available. Typically, it’s a buried watertight holding container in which waste solids settle to the bottom and become sludge. Enzyme and bacterial action break down liquid waste before it is discharged into a drain field for further treatment by the soil to remove harmful bacteria and viruses. Septic tanks require periodic pumping and cleaning of sludge in order to ensure proper water levels and treatment of wastewater. Flooding and drain backups can occur if the sludge is not removed and the water level gets too high.
Periodic inspections and regular pumping are important factors in maintaining a septic system. Septic systems should be inspected at least every three years by a professional who will check for leaks, measure the sludge level and recommend a pumping schedule based on the size of the system and number of people using the system. Failure to properly maintain a septic system can be expensive if the entire system has to be replaced and dangerous to humans and the environment if untreated wastewater leaches into the ground.
The man mentioned above was fortunate that he was rescued with only minor injury. He was swimming in wastewater—full of bacteria—and could have been overcome by toxic gases or been seriously injured in the fall. He is not the only person to become trapped in a septic system.
Lessons to be learned:
- Septic system cleaning and maintenance should be performed by a professional with proper equipment.
- Septic tanks should be kept covered with an approved lid.
- Never enter closed spaces without proper safety equipment.
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