You would think that all septic companies would be pretty much the same, but that is not the case. Believe it or not, not all companies dispose of, or recycle the waste they haul according to EPA regulations. These illegally operating companies may charge a slightly lower rate for their services and make more profit, but they are breaking the regulations that were put in place to protect the public. Illegally disposed of waste is a threat to public health and safety through possible contamination of streams, lakes, wells and ground water. The general public has a responsibility to help protect themselves and others from these threats, yet these illegal practices by unprofessional, unethical, so called businessmen often go unreported and un investigated. To be a responsible consumer, when you have your septic system pumped, you should always ask the service provider how he plans to dispose of your waste. At Mike’s Sanitation, Inc. we own and operate our own EPA licensed sewage treatment facility, so our customers can rest assured about our disposal practices. You should also be sure to ask questions when getting a quote for having your system pumped. One tactic used by some septic pumping companies is to quote a price for pumping your tank, then only pump one compartment instead of the entire system. If you question them, you may be told that there are solids only in the first compartment, so you don’t need the entire system pumped out. They often charge extra for pumping the remaining compartments. Don’t be mislead, insist on having the entire system pumped out and make sure the price they quote includes all compartments. Some companies may not remove enough of the solids from the tank. Removing the solids requires more time and effort than simply removing the water. Some companies and service people may not have adequate equipment to properly remove the solids. After the tank is pumped, it is normal for there to be a couple of inches of water and sludge left in the bottom of the tank to build up the bacteria. There should, however, not be more than a couple of inches left in the tank.