Septic Pump Out Guide

 

Household waste from toilets, sinks, showers, washing machines, etc. goes into either a city/county sewer system or a septic system attached to each house.  “Out of sight, out of mind,” is not a prudent way to handle waste. The septic system needs regular maintenance, just like gutters needs cleaning, siding/trim needs painting, lawns need mowing, etc.

 

The septic system contains two main parts: the septic tank and the soil drain field/leach field. The septic tank is basically a settling tank where the solids sink to the bottom and the water (effluent) goes to the drain field.

 

Certain types of bacteria normally live in the septic tank. These bacteria “eat” the solids and convert them into liquid and gas. In an efficiently operating system, up to 50% of the solids can be eaten by the bacteria. Because these bacteria eat waste, they cannot digest fresh fruits and vegetables, meat scraps, etc. normally put through a household garbage disposal. Therefore, more solids build up in the septic tank quicker in a home with a garbage disposal than in a home without one.

 

Eventually, the solids will build up. This can cause serious problems:  house plumbing backs up; drain field gets clogged, which means finding a suitable site for a new drain field (not always an easy task); effluent drains to the surface of the ground; and effluent contaminates that household’s or a neighbor’s well water.

 

In this case, an ounce of prevention is certainly worth more than the pound of cure. What to do?  Have a licensed pumper & hauler come and pump out the septic tank at least once every 5 years.  Donald B. Hackler, REHS, Environmental Health Manager, Commonwealth of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson Health District was kind enough to provide a list of Sewage Handlers licensed in Nelson and Albemarle Counties. (Please see list.)

 

According Mr. Hackler,  “Most of these Sewage Handlers use the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority sewage treatment facilities in Charlottesville to dispose of the pumped material. For the handlers that are located around Waynesboro and Staunton they will use a permitted sewage treatment plant to dispose of the material in that area.”

 

 

 

Nelson & Albemarle Co. Licensed Sewage Handlers

 

Absolute Plumbing & Drain Cleaning, Inc.                     Bryant=s Septic Service

1701 Allied St.                                                             4883 Lee-Jackson Hwy.

Charlottesville, VA 22903                                            Greenville, VA 24440

434-977-6989

Mainline Solutions

Crozet Sanitary, Inc.                                                     109 Commerce Rd.

P.O. Box 6915                                                             Ruckersville, VA 22968

Charlottesville, VA 22906

434-981-0416                                                             Roto Rooter

9836 Seminole Trail

Kingrea Septic Service                                                 Ruckersville, VA 22968

2565 Buck Island Rd.

Charlottesville, VA 22902                                            A & L Septic Service

434-295-4190                                                             Rt. 2, Box 4779

Scottsville, VA 24590

R.W. Owen                                                                  434-286-4597

1314 Carlton Ave.

Charlottesville, VA 22902                                            J.C. Trash & Recycling Service

434-293-5738                                                             6869 Albevanna Spring Rd.

Scottsville, VA 24590

Sanitary Septic Service                                                 434-286-3769

2491 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy.

Charlottesville, VA 22902                                            KPD, Inc. dba Roto-Rooter

434-295-5450                                                             66 International Ln.

Staunton, VA 24477

Speedy Rooter Plumbing & Drain

1438 Dudley Mountain Rd.                                           Campbell’s Septic Tank Cleaning, Inc.

Charlottesville, VA 22903                                           

434-296-5385                                                            

 

Time Disposal Trash & Recycling                                  Campbell=s Septic Tank Service

3890 Seminole Trail                                                      771 Howardsville Tpk.

Charlottesville, VA 22911                                            Stuarts Draft, VA 24477

434-973-1788

 

Cavalier Septic Service                                                 Crawford & Sons Septic Cleaning

6900 Blackwells Hollow Rd.                                        Rt. 2, Box 770

Crozet, VA 22932                                                       Troy, VA 22974

434-973-8160                                                             434-589-2966

 

Rives Genry & Sons, Inc.                                             Allied Ready Mix Co.

900 Madison Dr.                                                          P.O. Box 280

Earlysville, VA 22936                                                   Waynesboro, VA 22980

434-293-4318

 

 

 

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This paper prepared by Diane L.W. Easley on June 27, 2002 for Friends Of Rockfish Watershed, P.O. Box 115, Lovingston, VA 22959, Web Site: www.forwatershed.org

 

FOR Watershed seeks to safeguard the health, scenic beauty, and cultural heritage of the Rockfish River and its Watershed which includes both surface and ground waters.