Most of the septic systems we service around Alpharetta and Milton are the classic setup. A tank, a pipe, a drain field, and gravity doing the heavy lifting. But every week we also pull up to homes where the system has a little more going on. A green lid with a humming box next to it. A control panel on a post. A grassy hump in the side yard that the kids like to roll down.
If that sounds like your yard, you probably have what Georgia calls an alternative system. Nothing is wrong with it. It just asks a little more of you than the old-school kind, and knowing what it needs keeps it running for decades.
Why Some Homes Need Something Different
A conventional system depends on the soil to finish the cleaning job. When the lot is steep, the soil is tight North Georgia clay, the water table sits high, or the house sits lower than the drain field, gravity alone can’t get the job done. So the system gets help. We see a lot of these on the hillier lots in Milton, Cumming and the north end of Roswell, and on newer builds tucked onto tighter parcels in Johns Creek.
The Three We See Most
- Pump systems. A second tank holds a pump and float switches that push treated water uphill or out to a field the pipes can’t reach by gravity. There’s usually an alarm panel that sounds if the water climbs too high.
- Aerobic treatment units (ATUs). These blow air into the tank so oxygen-loving bacteria can break waste down further before it leaves. The EPA notes they rely on electricity to run the aerator and pumps, and most come with an alarm to flag a mechanical breakdown.
- Mound and other engineered fields. When the native soil can’t treat the water well, a raised bed of sand and fill does that work above ground. That hump in your yard is doing a real job.
What Alternative Systems Need From You
The habits that protect any septic system still apply. Spread out laundry, keep grease out of the sink, and don’t treat the toilet like a trash can. On top of that, moving parts need attention.
- Keep the power on. If a breaker trips on the pump or aerator circuit, the system quietly stops doing its job. Know which breaker it is and check it after storms.
- Respect the alarm. A beeping panel means something mechanical needs a look. Cut back on water use and get it checked. Don’t just silence it and forget.
- Stick to a service schedule. The EPA recommends regular professional checkups for aerobic units, often several times a year, since blowers, pumps and controls wear out and solids still need to be pumped.
- Go easy on harsh chemicals. Heavy bleach use, drain openers and big doses of antibacterial cleaners can knock back the bacteria an ATU depends on.
- Protect the mound. Keep cars, sheds, pools and heavy equipment off of it. Grass is its best friend.
The Paperwork Side in Georgia
Some advanced treatment systems in Georgia come with strings attached. Depending on the county, you may need an operating permit, a current service agreement with a contractor certified for your brand of unit, and inspection reports turned in at renewal time. Rules vary from county to county, so the best move is to check with your county environmental health office and keep copies of every service record in one folder. If you ever sell the house, that folder makes the buyer’s inspector very happy.
Fall Is a Good Time to Check In
Before the holidays bring a full house and winter rains soak the ground, we like to see alternative systems get a once-over. We test the floats and alarm, look at the pump and aerator, check the control panel for corrosion, and pump the tanks if they’re due. A little attention now beats a pump that quits on Thanksgiving morning.
Our owner, Matt Banta, is a licensed, state-certified Georgia septic contractor with more than 20 years in North Fulton yards, and alternative systems are a regular part of our week. Whether yours is a single pump tank in Sandy Springs or a full aerobic setup in Milton, we’ll walk you through what you have and what it needs.
Call Action Septic Tank Service at 770-922-1434 or visit actionseptictankservice.com to schedule service.