9
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE
TANK PUMPING PROCEDURE
Only qualified service staff should open access ports and/or covers. Infectious organisms exist
in a septic tank. If any contact with wastewater, immediately wash and disinfect all exposed
areas and contact personal physician. Failure to do so could result in severe sickness or death.
Avoid pumping down a tank after periods of heavy rain or when the ground water is likely to
be above the bottom of the concrete tank. Emptying the tank under these conditions could
cause the tank to float up and become dislodged.
As the FAST® system processes the raw domestic waste (producing sludge and sloughed-off bacteria), the dead bacteria
and non-biodegradable waste settle and accumulate in the bottom of the septic tank for periodic removal. The periodic
removal time interval will change depending on the size of the system and varying load conditions.
Measuring sludge depth
The Service Provider should measure the sludge or residual level in the FAST® system every service visit. When the sludge
level exceeds the limits set by BioMicrobics (see Service Manual), the Service Provider will recommend that the FAST®
system be pumped out by the Septic Tank Pumper. The Service Provider should provide the owner with a recommendation
for the Septic Tank Pumper, but any Pumper who is certified by the local authorities can pump the tank. In contracting
with a Septic Tank Pumper, make sure that the Pumper knows there are two compartments of the FAST® system that
need to be pumped.
The basic procedure for pumping is given below for your information.
Always pump out both zones of the system even if only one zone requires it.
Open the access ports/cover(s) and insert the hose. Be sure to pump out both settling and treatment chambers.
Note: The “settling chamber” may also be called the “primary zone”, “trash tank,” or “settling tank.”
The “treatment chamber” may also be called the “secondary zone”, “FAST® tank”, or “ATU tank”.
1. Once the unit has been pumped out, immediately refill the tank with clean water to reduce the risk of the tank
floating and to minimize the impact on treatment. Close the access ports/cover(s) making sure it is watertight.
2. Properly dispose of the solids in compliance with local and state regulations.