That means it is not treating and disposing of sewage in a safe, sanitary manner. In a properly operating septic system, the solid material in the sewage is settled out in a septic tank and stored until removal by pumping. The effluent from the tank is still sewage. It has a strong odor and contains large quantities of disease-causing organisms. No matter what the cause, septic system failure is a nuisance and a health hazard that should be corrected promptly.
Failures can pollute wells, lakes, and streams.
Some of the more common reasons for septic system failure are discussed below. These failures can be attributed to several causes. A trained sanitarian should diagnose the problem and make recommendations for corrective action. Using Too Much Water Using more water than the soil can absorb is the most common reason for failure. The sewage is forced to the surface or backs up into the house.