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S&B Winter POWTS
Suggestions
| The
Safety and
Buildings Division of the Wisconsin Department of
Commerce has some suggestions for protecting private onsite
wastewater
treatment systems (POWTS) in winter. |
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Common
reasons private onsite
wastewater
treatment systems (POWTS) freeze are a lack of snow cover and cold
temperatures, combined with construction or “use”
issues. These can include a waterlogged system, cold air entering the
system, compacted soil, or lack of plant cover. Others include
irregular
use of the system, leaking plumbing fixtures or a pipe that does not
have the proper change of elevation.
Low
snowfall amounts can mean potential danger for
your POWTS. For some recent winters, there has been a pattern of
sub-zero weather arriving before major snowfall. This may cause a
deeper than usual frost level in the ground.
If the soil over a pipe is compacted, or the pipe
is not properly bedded when it is installed the elevation of the pipe
may shift, causing a loss of gravity flow. This results in water left
standing in pipes, and the water can easily freeze. The risk
of water freezing also increases if cold air is allowed to enter the
system and if there is a lack of vegetative cover over the system.
For
more information contact a Safety and Buildings Division Wastewater
Specialist or POWTS plan
reviewer. |
Here are some
precautions:
- Stop mowing the grass over the drainfield in
early fall. Let it grow stronger to trap more snow.
- Add
a layer of mulch (8-12 inches) over the pipes, tank and soil treatment
area to provide insulation. A mulch of loose hay or straw works well,
as do leaves. The key is to keep it loose to form air pockets, which
act as the insulators. This is particularly important if your system is
new, and vegetative cover has not been well established. If
you live in an area without a natural windbreak, you may want to
consider installing a snow fence to help keep the mulch in place and to
trap snow.
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Use normal amounts of water; the warmer the better. Spread out your
laundry schedule to one warm/hot load per day, year around.
(Spreading you laundry schedule out is something that should
be done all year.)
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Don’t leave water running all the time to prevent freezing. A
slow trickle could freeze, while a steady stream could overload the
system with water.
- Don’t add antifreeze to the
system.
- If you will be gone for more than a day or
two, plan accordingly. Have someone visit and use water regularly. If
you are going to be gone for an extended period (weeks or months),
pumping the tank before leaving may be the best option. But
make sure to consult with a professional before having a tank pumped to
make sure that leaving an empty tank for an extended period of time
will not cause damage to the tank or other parts of the system.
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Fix any leaky plumbing. The small trickles of water going into the
system can freeze as thin ice layers within pipes, and eventually close
them.
- Keep all vehicles (including ATV’s and
snowmobiles) and high-traffic (people orr animal) activities off the
system, all
year.
- Make sure all risers, inspection pipes and
manholes have tight covers. Adding insulation is a good idea. Check for
any cracks in the covers in the fall. All access opening
covers must be properly secured to prevent unauthorized or accidental
entry. There is grave danger in unsecured covers.
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Keep an eye on
your system. If any seeping or ponding occurs, contact an onsite
professional. |
Links --
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Web sites ||
City/Town/Village Web sites || State Portal ||
Licensing and Permitting || Build Your
Business
Email this page's manager, Todd Taylor, Todd.Taylor@Wisconsin.gov
or 608-267-3606
The
Department of Safety and Professional Services Safety and Buildings Division is an equal
opportunity service provider and employer. If you need assistance to
access services or need material in an alternate format, please contact
us, 608-266-3151, TTY 608-264-8777, or Todd.Taylor@Wisconsin.gov
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