Septic Pumping During COVID-19
Septic pumping is one of the most fundamental things that you can do to keep your septic system functioning properly. With residents spending more time at home to abide by local COVID-19 shelter-in place orders, it’s important to be conscious of the increased use of your residential septic system. Household members being home more contributes to the production of more waste water along with increased home activities that impact your septic system.
As you increase use of your septic system, you’ll need to increase the frequency in which your septic system is serviced. The good news is that waste management services have been deemed essential by Federal and State governments and septic service can be completed without contact, abiding by social distancing practices.
As a homeowner, proper septic management practices are essential to help keep your septic system in peak operating condition. Here are some key things you should understand about your septic system and take into consideration during these high use times.
WHAT IS A SEPTIC SYSTEM?
A subsurface sewage disposal system, commonly known as a septic system, consists of two main components: the septic tank, also known as the treatment tank, and the drainage area, often referred to as the leach field. The system also includes a main sewer line, which connects all plumbing fixtures to the septic tank, as well as a distribution box that connects
the septic tank to the drainage field. The septic tank is buried approximately 10 to 15 feet from the dwelling.
The purpose of a septic system is to treat and dispose of wastewater generated by the occupants. When properly installed and adequately maintained, septic systems are more
economical than sanitary sewers and just as efficient.
HOW YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM WORKS
All wastewater generated from the dwelling enters the septic tank where primary treatment occurs. Anaerobic bacteria (bacteria found in environments without oxygen) thrive in the septic tank where they organically break down solids, creating sludge. Lighter materials such as grease and soap float to the top of the tank and form a layer called scum. This simple settling process allows virtually all of the wastewater (effluent) to flow out of the septic tank free of grease, soap and solids. It is important to remember that the septic tank inlet and outlet pipes are near the top of the tank. Thus, the septic tank always appears full.
The relatively clear wastewater exits the septic tank outlet and flows into the distribution box (D-box). The purpose of the distribution box is to evenly distribute the wastewater flow throughout the drainage field. Once in the drainage field, the wastewater passes through perforated lateral pipes, a layer of crushed stone and finally through several feet of unsaturated soil. As the treated wastewater travels through the soil, bacteria die off and the water is purified.
SEPTIC SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
Periodic maintenance is the key to extending the life of your septic system and preventing costly repairs. When the combined depth of the sludge and scum layers equal one-third of the septic tank capacity, the tank should be pumped. The accumulated sludge and scum from the septic tanks should be pumped a minimum of every three years, or more frequently if your household consists of four people or more.
A general rule for locating your septic tank is to probe with a shale bar or steel rod 10 to 15 feet from where the main sewer line exits the foundation of the dwelling. Patience and determination will help you locate the outer edges of the tank. Once located, dig a hole toward the center to expose the main cover only, usually 24" in diameter.
Russell Reid, A United Site Services Company offers septic pumping services in the greater Tri-State area. Schedule septic pumping services today or call 1.800.356.4468 to speak with a customer service representative today!
Russell Reid Converts Rutgers Food Waste to Renewable Energy
Russell Reid has been recognized on My Central Jersey News for reusing fats, grease and oils from Rutgers University Dining Halls to help curb the fuel costs and client footprint at the Joint Meeting of Union and Essex Counties Waste Water Treatment Plant in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
Representatives of Russell Reid and Joint Meeting explained how the leftover food particles and oil and waste makes its way down to the outdoor grease trap, where the separation occurs. Russell Reid technicians prevents clogs by sucking out the fat and waste from the trap, so that the system operates well. At the Waste Water Treatment Plant at Union and Essex, the water gets discharged off the truck and through the facility. The fats, oil and grease material serves as a food source to various microorganisms that produce methane gas, which is used as a fuel in the cogeneration process for electricity and heating.
You can also watch the video on My Central Jersey here.
New Locker Room: Safety at our Core!
Russell Reid is the best name in the nonhazardous waste management business for plenty of reasons, but the one we’re most proud of is our emphasis on safety. Since the company’s founding in 1981, Russell Reid has enforced a strict safety policy to ensure the happiness of customer and employee alike. From monthly STOP (Safety, Training, Operation, and Professionalism) meetings, to DriveCams installed on all of our trucks, to a uniform consisting of mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE), we take safety seriously.
With that in mind, Russell Reid is particularly proud to announce our newly renovated locker room at the Keasbey location. This brand new feature is double the size and steps away from the yard and shop. Each employee has an individual locker to safely store PPE when they’re off the clock and personal belongings during the day. The locker room also boasts a newly installed eye wash station in case of emergency, new lighting and ventilation, and an ADA compliant toilet and lavatory.
When Russell Reid relocated our headquarters to Raritan Center, the corporate services and warehouse spaces were converted into a air-conditioned truck shop that now acts as a new, safe office space for mechanics, a proper storage space, and a facility for new servicing equipment. Each of these features allows Mr. John to be more efficient and work with care and precision.
Every day, Mr. John is working to be the best we can possibly be in the portable sanitation business. But we can’t get there unless we know that our staff are safe and feel secure in their workplace, so they can deliver on what you need most.
Celebrate the 4th of July with Russell Reid!
Happy 242nd, Uncle Sam! Nothing says Summer like the 4th of July – so put on your red, white, and blue and get ready to celebrate America with Russell Reid! All over the country, Americans will be covered in stars and stripes, barbecuing and watching fireworks. We want to be there to ensure that your patriotic party goes smoothly.
As you spangle your house with flags and banners, Russell Reid will provide you with the services you need to make sure everything runs just right. Your septic system might not be the first of your worries when planning a 4th of July Party, but Russell Reid is here to help.
Make sure to remind your guests who are using your bathrooms not to flush anything down the toilet that doesn’t easily decompose. This includes the small stuff too, like matches, tampons, cigarette butts, wipes, and diapers.
While preparing for your party, try to limit your water use as to not overload the tank with liquids to drain. You can be prudent by sweeping your driveway and sidewalks instead of hosing them down, limiting shower time, and perhaps taking a look at our sister company, United Site Services, to rent some portable toilets instead of having everyone flushing all night long!
If it’s time for a pump before the 4th, give us a call! No one wants a septic emergency on their big night. Russell Reid is here to help you celebrate the right way. Kick back, watch the fireworks, and have some bbq – in the spirit of the 4th of July!
Place your order here!
It’s Easy to Digest Sustainability with Russell Reid
The Russell Reid Company prides itself on being a company with its goals set toward the future. Our projects, services, and team keep sustainability in mind, particularly in our work with grease trap pumping. We don’t blame restaurant owners for not thinking twice about where their grease goes after it’s out of the tank. But the truth is that the greasy leftovers from your favorite guilty pleasure are just at the beginning of its life –– and purpose.
In a typical month, the team at Russell Reid can deliver up to 300,000 gallons of grease trap waste, or what is known as FOG (fats, oils, & grease) to our partners at the Joint Meeting of Essex and Union Counties (JMEUC), a Publicly Owned Wastewater Treatment Works (POTW). It is received in the Scum Collection System and later pumped into an anaerobic digester that uses the grease as a food source for the organisms that live inside. These organisms use the process of anaerobic digestion to metabolize and therefore breakdown the lipids and proteins that makeup the grease. The waste products of this digestion include carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, methane, and water vapor.
While those gases are waste for the organisms that break down the grease, they are actually vital resources to the process that unfolds at Joint Meeting. The gas from the digester is cooled, and the methane is separated from the rest of the byproducts so it can be used as fuel for generators. Using solely the methane produced from the grease that Russell Reid pumps, a.k.a. the food scraps from your favorite restaurants, JMEUC is able to sustain 75% of their electrical demand.
The chain of sustainability doesn’t stop there though –– the waste heat given off during the process is used to heat water in a boiler system for both comfort and the heating of the digestion process itself. Through the grease delivered by Russell Reid from our grease trap service, the diets of anaerobic organisms, and the innovation of our partners at POTW, JMEUC is nearing a closed system of energy conversions.
So go ahead, eat out for dinner tonight! The leftovers will live on as a meal for some other living thing, and help lead us down a path of sustainable recycling and energy consumption!
Planning a Party this Summer? Russell Reid Can Help Ensure Things Go Smoothly!
Even though the weather in the Tri-State area hasn’t been picture perfect this spring, Mid-May means that we at Mr. John and Russell Reid have one thing on our minds: Summer. Once these clouds clear up, some sunshine calls for celebration. May and June are the perfect time for outdoor summer parties, and while you and your guests are celebrating Memorial Day, a graduation, or a just indulging in a reason to have some fun, we’re your one-stop shop for the party details that are a little less fun to plan.
While you choose your color scheme and decor, Russell Reid will provide you with the services you need to make sure everything runs smoothly. You may not choose to make small talk about it with the guests, but the truth is that everyone needs a place to go.
Does your home run on a septic system? If you’re suddenly expecting all of your daughter’s high school graduating class over for a party, the last thing anyone would want to handle on their special day is a septic emergency. Russell Reid offers pumping service to ensure your system is up to capacity for the grads!
Should you choose to close the doors to your home’s bathrooms, our sister company Mr. John has a wide variety of portable toilets and deluxe trailers for you to provide for your guests instead.
Whatever your reason for celebration, the Russell Reid Company wants to be there to provide you with reliable, efficient, and clean service. Let’s kick off summer together!
President Gary Weiner Steps On-site with Habitat for Humanity
Kudos to our sister company, Mr. John, for working so closely with Habitat for Humanity over the past few years. This past month, Habitat for Humanity Suffolk County celebrated its 30th anniversary by having CEOs from across Long Island participate in building two homes.
Among the participants was Gary Weiner, President of Mr. John and Russell Reid and active donor to the non-profit. "I thought it was an opportune time to get out and pitch in and actually do the work. Rather than just making a donation in kind, it’s where the rubber hits the road, swing the hammer, bang some nails, and build a house" Weiner said.
There seems to be something special about getting out of the office to participate in real work that makes a difference in the community. Habitat for Humanity has built over 190 homes in the past 30 years, providing affordable homeownership or families in need.
To read the full article on FiOS1News, click here.
Two Signs It's Time to Clean Your Grease Trap
If you’re a restaurant owner, you know the grease trap is one of the most important parts of your commercial kitchen. Grease traps catch the fats and oils that come off of plates to prevent the pipes in your building from being clogged. It’s also the toughest reservoir to manage, as it is hard to know the level of waste unless the trap is disassembled. Regardless, when the sludge reaches a 25% occupancy of the tank, you are required by law to pump out the trap.
It can be a nightmare to clean out a grease trap yourself— consider hiring a reputable waste management company to pump out the trap quickly and efficiently. Russell Reid is a reputable choice, view a list of their services here.
So, how do you know when it is the right time to call the pros? We have all the warning signs below to keep you on your toes.
Do you smell a scent that just won’t go away?
All the leftover food waste sitting in the grease trap is going to smell after it’s been sitting for quite some time. Any bad odor coming from the grease trap area is a dead giveaway it's time to tend to the grease trap quickly.
Is there a buildup of water coming through your sinks?
Grease and water don’t sit too nicely together— when grease builds up, it creates a barrier that stops water from easily draining through. If you’re seeing this don’t wait too long— a significant enough drainage buildup can hinder your dishwashers and other equipment from doing its job.
In other words, pay extra attention to your grease trap. Tune into these two problem areas and try to have a technician in once every 90 days to avoid any issues from interfering with your kitchen.
An Unusual Approach to Generating Electricity
In early April, Russell Reid was recognized on NBC New York news as one of the leading waste management companies to be generating electricity in truly innovative way. It turns out leftover fat, oil and grease from restaurant food remains may not be so useless after all.
Leftover restaurant waste turns into a layer of scum that eventually goes down the drain and into grease traps. However, there are only a few companies that pump out the grease and then bring it into a wastewater plant to create electricity. At the Joint Meeting of Essex & Union County Wastewater Treatment Plant, the grease goes into a closed digester tank to make a cleaner methane gas. With this process, we are using less oil, less coal and an overall smaller carbon footprint. This methane gas provides three-fourths of the plant’s electricity, saves about one million dollars per year, and simultaneously helps restaurants become more environmentally sustainable.
Check out the video segment below to watch the full clip:
You can also watch the video on NBC NY here.
Our Fleet is Expanding
We are very excited to announce that our convoy of vehicles will be growing, due to our recent purchase of four fantastic Presvac Vacuum Tank trucks. One of these trucks was showcased at the 2018 Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport Show in Indianapolis this past February. This show, also known by its initials WWETT, is the leading trade show for wastewater and environmental service worldwide.
When Waste Advantage Magazine reached out to our president, Gary Weiner, for a statement, he announced that “these trucks will enhance our operations and make us better able to serve our customers. He also added that “we are constantly upgrading our fleet to offer the best service and reliability for our customers in New York, New Jersey, and greater Philadelphia. We can’t wait to get these trucks on the road.”
These new vehicles are completely state of the art and will begin to streamline our efforts to provide our customers with the best service possible.
We would also like to offer our gratitude to the New Jersey companies who helped supply us with these trucks. The models, themselves, were supplied by Hunter Jersey Peterbilt in nearby Clarksburg, while the Presvac units were supplied by Vacuum Sales, Inc. in Lindenwold.
You will be seeing these new trucks out on the road very soon! Be on the lookout for them!
For the full story, see here:
