Septic System Services

Complete Septic System Services

Pacific Group Developments has been serving Victoria and outlying areas for over 30 years, providing complete septic system services including installation and inspection. We are knowledgeable in all types of septic systems and are eager to assist you with your questions, inspection, and construction needs.

About Septic Systems

A septic system is used to treat sewage and wastewater by allowing the solids to decompose and settle in a tank then letting the liquids to be absorbed by the soil in a drainage field.

The best method of handling residential sewage is through a properly designed and operated community or municipal sewage treatment system. But many areas of British Columbia have populations so low that installation costs prohibit using community systems. In these areas we must rely on individual onsite septic systems for sewage disposal.

Septic systems have improved in recent years and are a great way to treat sewage, provided they’re properly cared for. A septic system needs to meet your specific needs for current and future demands with the health of your family and environmental impact as a main focus. Septic fields can be hazardous to the environment, your family, pets, and costly to repair if not properly taken care of and inspected annually.

Types of Septic Systems

Conventional Septic Systems

Gravity Septic Systems are the most basic systems and use the force of gravity for drainage. The effluent is pulled from the building into the septic tank and from the septic tank into the septic drainage field where it is naturally filtered and further treated before returning to the environment.

Pressure Distribution Systems are the most common septic systems because of their ability to use the drainage field at optimum efficiency. The pressure distribution system can be used in places that gravity septic systems cannot be used due to topography. This system needs an electric pump in a pump tank/pump chamber to pressurize the field, providing 100% efficiency in drain field usage and prolonging system life.

Alternative Septic Systems

Aerobic Treatment Systems use oxygen to promote biological bacteria growth to accelerate decomposition. An acceleration chamber uses forced air to mix the wastewater, accelerating bacteria growth, which results in a cleaner septic system and extended drain field life.

Mound Septic Systems are used when there is not enough soil depth for a traditional septic system. A mound septic system is built above ground level using specific sand fill material for wastewater treatment.

Before installing a septic system, a design is required to be submitted to the Ministry of Health to obtain a permit to construct or alter a septic system.

Septic Tanks

There are many types, shapes, and sizes of septic tanks. A septic tank is a large concrete, plastic, or fiberglass container that’s buried in the yard. Tanks typically hold anywhere from 1,800 litres to 4,500+ litres of sewage.

Types of Septic Tanks

Concrete Septic Tanks are very strong, durable, and do not crack or break easily. The lids can withstand significant weight. Concrete tanks are available with multiple chambers, forced-sedimentation chambers, baffles, filter ports, and heavy-duty lids.

Plastic Septic Tanks are lightweight and easily moved, saving time and reducing crane-truck costs. They’re durable and resilient with ribs for strengthening. However, plastic tanks are not strong enough to drive over without risk of collapse. Many manufacturers include various sewage treatment methods in plastic tanks due to the benefit of being lightweight.

Fiberglass Septic Tanks offer the same weight benefits as plastic tanks but are more brittle in comparison. Like plastic tanks, vehicles and equipment must be kept away to prevent collapse. Many sizes and shapes are available with various internal setups including baffles, chambers, and filter assemblies.

Plastic and fiberglass tanks can only be used once it has been determined that the ground is well drained, as these tanks are lightweight and will float, creating problems. If the soil does not drain well, a drainage system may be installed around the tank to remove groundwater and hydrostatic pressure.

All tank types may be fitted with “risers”—columns with access lids that allow you to cover the tank with more dirt while still accessing the lids for pumping.

Septic Fields (Drain Fields)

A septic field, also known as a leach field, disposal field, or drain field, is a receiving area for effluent after it has broken down and been treated in a septic tank or septic treatment plant.

Types of Septic Fields

Gravity System uses 4” perforated PVC pipe laid in trenches approximately 30” deep and 16” wide, filled with drain rock. Trenches are typically spaced about 6 feet apart. This system is gravity fed and requires no pumping but can’t attain 100% efficiency.

Pressure Distribution System uses an electric sewage effluent pump to pressurize all pipes evenly. The pipe (usually 1” or 1.25” PVC) has 3/16” holes drilled every 2 to 3 feet from which effluent is discharged. This system uses the entire drain field evenly, enhancing treatment and prolonging field life. The dosing and resting cycles prolong retention times in the septic tank and field.

Sand Filter Septic System can be installed above or below ground. Effluent from the pump tank gets pretreatment by intermediate sand before entering the drainage field. This is a good alternative where soil is insufficient for wastewater treatment.

Mound Septic System is used where soil is not deep enough for traditional systems. The drainage system is raised above the natural soil surface with specific sand fill material placed on top of natural soil for effluent treatment.

Septic Treatment Plants

Septic treatment plants are a relatively new development in septic waste management. They have many benefits over conventional systems, treating effluent thoroughly and reducing particulate entering the field, which extends drain field life expectancy.

How Treatment Plants Work

All septic treatment plants use the aerobic (with oxygen) digestion process to treat sewage. Oxygen-using bacteria attack and break down organic portions of sewage into simpler inorganic compounds. Aerobic treatment is preferred because it’s rapid, relatively odor-free, and provides greater solids reduction.

Three Stages of Treatment

Stage 1: Raw sewage enters the system and large particles are settled out or broken up mechanically to increase surface area and make them more accessible to aerobic bacteria.

Stage 2: Mechanical aeration where oxygen-containing air is mixed and blended with mixtures of solids and liquid. Aerobic bacteria reduce the sewage into simple compounds.

Stage 3: Settling or clarification chamber where treated sewage settles. Heavier solids are returned to the aeration chamber for further processing. Clarified liquid flows or is pumped out to the drain field.

Treatment plants rely on mechanical parts, air pumps, and usually an effluent pump. An audible and visual alarm alerts homeowners to problems, preventing costly damage to the disposal field. All components require electricity.

Warning Signs of Failure

All septic systems have a limited life expectancy. Signs of failure include:

• Dark-green grass over leach field area
• Septic odor
• Backup in the house or gurgling noises/slow flush
• Septic water surfacing in the yard
• Sludge on top of baffles in septic tank

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact us immediately. Failing systems can expose you, your family, and neighbors to sewage containing pathogens and viruses that cause disease. Sewage can also contaminate groundwater and surface water, polluting wells, streams, rivers, or lakes.

Subdivisions & Land Development

Subdivisions of land in rural areas without municipal or community sewer service require larger minimum lot sizes to accommodate septic systems. Anyone wanting to subdivide land must prove the land’s ability to provide safe onsite sewage disposal and, in most cases, must prove both a primary septic drain field area and a reserve septic drain field area. This reserve area provides onsite sewage disposal in the future after the primary drain field fails or for expansion.

We offer site evaluations for septic system design, installation, inspection, and feasibility studies for subdivision of property.

Professional & Compliant

Our experienced technicians understand BC’s septic system regulations and ensure complete compliance with Ministry of Health requirements. We provide professional guidance throughout the entire process, from initial site evaluation through final inspection, ensuring your septic system is properly designed and installed for long-term performance and environmental protection.