Septic systems are typically unable to degrade the bio-solids that accumulate in the tank and leach fields. While indigenous microorganisms are present in most septic systems, they are not capable of degrading the waste at a sufficient rate to keep the system in proper operating order. The end result in the best case is that the tank must be pumped out at a cost of approximately $175 for a standard 500-gallon tank. The worst case would be that the system has fail to a point that it must be removed and replaced at a cost of approximately $2,500 for a 500-gallon tank up to tens of thousands of dollars for larger commercial systems.

Organic Products Company formed a relationship with a company in central Florida to conduct a field evaluation of Bio 10V in a failing septic system. This company installed and repaired commercial systems.

The system selected for the evaluation was a 900-gallon system with 429 square feet of leach field. The system had completely malfunctioned. There was no drain evacuation and water had penetrated through the soil above the drain field and was standing there. The accumulation of bio-mass in the bottom of the leach field had created a shield (much like a layer of petroleum jelly over sand) that prevented the wastewater from leaching into the ground as designed.

The repair/replacement cost the company had given the owner was broken down as follows:

• $1500 Excavation and disposal of old system
• $2300 New system and installation
• $750 Replacement of irrigation lines
• $700 Sod Replacement
• $1100 Landscaping
• $6,350 Total

Along with the expense, there would also be a period of six days that the owner’s property would be in a state of total disruption.

First, the septic tank was pumped out. Water began to backflow into the tank from the leach field. This was another indication that the leach fields were definitely not working. The decision was made to pump the system because there was total blockage in all drains and lines, and there was no other method to get adequate flow in system to carry the product throughout the system.

Bio 10V was added at an application rate of 1 gallon per 100 gallons of tank capacity directly into the septic tank (9 gallons for the 900 gallon tank). At the junction box, 1 gallon of Bio 10V was added for each 100 square feet of leach field in the system (4.3 gallons for the 429 square feet in the leach field). Note: If the leach system is a chamber type system, the product must be added into each chamber based on the square footage of each line.

Within three days after treatment, the drains from the building began to flow more freely. Ten days after treatment, drain evacuation was performing as good as new. Sixty days later the bio mass accumulated in the bottom of the leach fields was cleared and the wastewater began leaching as designed

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