WHAT IT IS
It is a collection system in which septic tanks are supplied by each individual home and primary treatment occurs before the wastewater enters the collection system.  A STEP system (Septic Tank Effluent Pump) requires the septic tank effluent to be pumped into the collection system and a STEG system (Septic Tank Effluent Gravity) uses gravity to move the effluent into the system.  Depending upon the location of your property you will have one of these systems.

These systems benefit the community by allowing for the use of smaller diameter pipes, fewer manholes, and less reliance on minimum slopes. These benefits can result in lower costs and are made possible by the removal of heavy solids at the source, thereby minimizing concerns about solids settling out in the collection system and creating blockages.


HOW IT WORKS 
It starts with your septic tank which gives the waste its primary treatment with scads of hungry little bugs (bacteria) that turn most of the "stuff" into gas.  What's left is liquid and sludge.  The nearly clear liquid moves by gravity or is pumped through a screen into a collection system.  The rest is sludge that stays in the tank until it is necessary to have it pumped out.  How often this needs to be done is dependent on how much and what you put down your drain and how healthy and efficient the "bugs" in your tank are.
 
All of this liquid, called "effluent" is gravity fed and/or pumped through the system to many acres of evaporation ponds located across County Rd. A1 at Spalding Road.  These ponds, nearly odor free, take oxygen from the air and use sunlight to keep millions of little green plants, algae, growing like crazy.  They remove carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, and other nutrients from the water.  At the same time there is enough evaporation to keep up with the inflow so that no water is discharged into the ground water.  It’s a great system and we want to keep it working well at a low cost to all of us. We don’t want to mess it up! 

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WHAT YOU CAN DO: 
 
CHECK YOUR FAUCETS & TOILET FLAPPER REGULARLY
Please see that your toilet does not continue to run or leak (up to 1500 gallons a day with a stuck flapper) and that faucets and other things don’t keep dripping.  In addition to insuring that our ponds and system can keep up with the demand, this precaution also protects your well pump against unnecessary operation, expense, and extra repairs. 
 

WHAT ARE YOU PUTTING DOWN THE DRAIN?
Make sure that you don’t kill the bugs in your tank or things will "pile up".  Believe me, no one else wants to do the work they do so keep them healthy and happy.  If you remember that they hate chemicals (cleaning solvents, paint, bleach, etc..),  fat/grease, and too much paper, you will know how to treat the little guys.  We also recommend not using a garbage disposal.  Cooking fats should never go down the drain.  

If you are gone all winter, you can kick start your system again by adding a packet or two of yeast or a commercial septic tank treatment.  Otherwise, what is "supposed" to go into the system should do the trick on it's own.


WHEN YOU'RE GONE  Winter or Summer!
If you are gone and a pipe should burst or a toilet flapper become stuck, it could flood your home or fill and overflow your septic tank in a relatively short period of time.  We've all heard stories of it happening to "somebody else" but it could happen to anyone.  Please consider turning off your well pump and hot water heater when you are going to be gone.  With the well pump off, the amount of water is limited to that which is in your tank and if your hot water heater should also drain. . . well, that's another kettle of worms.  If you are unsure if you should do this, ask a qualified person or call the District Office.
 

TROUBLES? 
Things can and do go wrong occasionally.  As a property owner you are responsible for your system from your property to the connection at the street.  If you are having problems have a qualified person check it and make repairs if necessary, or you can call the District at 825-3258 for a list of qualified people. 
IMPORTANT!  Any and all spills or Sewer System Overflows are to be reported to The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Board, attn: Rob Tucker.  Phone 530-542-5467 or 530-542-5432 or cell 530-721-0607.  Our office also reports spills electronically to the State Water Board.  Spills that may reach the lake are to be reported immediately to the Lassen County Health Department

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WHAT THE DISTRICT DOES:
With the cost of everything going up, the biggest job we have will be keeping the system running efficiently at a minimum expense to property owners.   To that end; the lift pumps are serviced regularly and the flow meters and pond levels are monitored regularly. 

Another area of importance is keeping up with the ever, and ever, increasing Regulations including Management, Planning for and Prevention of spills or pond leakages.  There are numerous reports required to the State Water Resource Control Board and the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Board. 

The District is also responsible for issuing permits for new hookups to the system and performing inspections at various stages of the installation process.