Frequently Asked Questions

"Do I really need a filter in my septic tank?"
An effluent filter keeps solids in the septic tank, so they won't damage your treatment or disposal system. A filter is relatively inexpensive. Replacing a plugged-up sand filter or drainfield can be very expensive. Choose a filter that's made of corrosion-resistant materials; then make sure it has a large flow area so that you minimize maintenance. Our patented Biotube® Effluent Filter has 2-7 times the flow area of other brands, so needs much less cleaning.

"Why does the septic tank have to be watertight?"
If the tank isn't watertight, groundwater and surface water can make their way into (infiltrate) the tank, and untreated sewage can make its way out of (exfiltrate) the tank. With infiltration, your pump(s) will run more often than normal, which can lead to flooding of (and destruction of) your drainfield. Infiltration also reduces detention time of wastewater in the tank, which interferes with the beneficial primary treatment of wastes that occurs there. Exfiltration also interferes with the primary treatment of wastes. Even worse, untreated sewage can flow into your groundwater.

"Do you sell septic tanks?"
Yes. Orenco now sells its patented, injection-molded fiberglass tanks through a network of trained and authorized tank assemblers, who test every tank for watertightness after it is assembled. For the location of an authorized tank assembler in your region, click here.

"What size septic tank do I need?"
That depends on the size of your household. Typically, you'll need a 1000-gallon tank, at minimum, for a two-bedroom house, and a 1500-gallon tank for a three- or four-bedroom house.

"Can we put water softener backwash into our septic system?"
No. Water softener backwash does not need wastewater treatment, and the salts and chlorides in it can cause problems with your system. Water softener backwash may be directly discharged to the ground in many locations (though it may damage plant life). Check with your local regulator for the requirements in your area. Click here for more Homeowner Tips.

"Do pumps use a lot of electricity?"
No. The typical household septic system uses a 1/2 hp high-head effluent pump, which uses about $1/mo in electricity, depending on local rates.

"Do pumps have to be repaired or replaced frequently?"
No. We estimate our high head turbine pumps last an average of more than 25 years. And unlike pump stations for conventional gravity sewers, maintenance is rarely required.

"My pump seems to be running more than normal. Why is that?"
You may have a leaky faucet or toilet, which can add several hundred gallons to the septic tank each day. And if your tank isn't watertight, there could also be infiltration of groundwater or surface water into the system. If you eliminate these possibilities, then you can easily evaluate the performance of your pump. All you need is a five-gallon pail. Call one of our customer service representatives for more information: (800) 348-9843.

"Can your products be used with gravity systems?"
Yes. We even have a mechanical product (dosing siphon) for dosing sand filters without a pump.

"I just found out I need a sand filter. Can you design it for me?"
We don't provide "stamped" plans, but we provide design review and design assistance for our distributors and for engineers. Use the Distributor Locator on this site to find your nearest Orenco distributor. Someone there will get you started in the right direction.

"Can I plant over my sand filter?"
Yes. Your ISF will be tucked neatly underground and you can landscape right on top of it, with lawn or flowers.

"Do onsite systems smell?"
No. Not if properly designed and installed. Any wastewater collection system will smell if not properly designed and installed.

"What if something goes wrong?"
Your system will have a control panel with an alarm, and the alarm will alert you. Then you can call a local septic system installer or service provider. (Look under "Septic Tanks" in the Yellow Pages.) Your septic tank has a 24-hour "reserve" space, so you'll have time to get your system checked out. You can also purchase a telemetry unit for your control panel. Telemetry units come with a phone line, to automatically call or page your service provider.

"My control panel alarm is going off. What should I do?"
If the alarm goes off once, press the “Push to Silence” button; the system may just be alerting you to a temporary overload. If it goes off again within a few hours, call your Service Provider. If you do not have a contract with a Service Provider, look in your Yellow Pages under “Septic Tanks & Systems.”

If your alarm periodically chirps, there may be a problem with the electrical circuit to your panel. Contact your Service Provider.