When your septic tank needs updated, you can't ignore it. What's worse is when you find out that your system needs an update because a leak has occurred. This can be rather irritating, but the good news is that it is something that can be done. You can do it yourself or you can call a specialist to do it for you.

So what are some things to consider when updating your septic tank at your cottage?

-If you have done any building onto your cottage, make sure your septic tank is large enough to accommodate the waste leaving the home. Septic tanks must be sized to fit the size of the house. Otherwise wastewater treatment is going to become a mess for you if it becomes overwhelmed. If a home has 3 bedrooms, the tank should be 900 gallons. If the tank has 4 bedrooms, then it needs to be 1000 gallons. This is the best way to gauge what size you need.

- You need to check your distribution system. This is a part of septic tanks that has a series of disposal lines leading out from a distribution point. This is a very important function of your system, so you have to make sure it is working correctly. If it isn't, then the sludge that collects at the bottom of the tank will find its way into your yard instead of where it needs to go.

- Make sure you clean out the sludge that has accumulated and not decomposed over time. If you wait too long to clean out your sludge or you just ignore it, that can cause a tremendous issue.

- You can use natural bacteria activators to decompose the sludge in your septic tank. However, this does not replace the need to clean it out manually every 2 to 4 years. It is a good idea to make sure that everything is as clear as possible.

- All systems need to be checked out, cleaned, and any parts that look like they are wearing out need to be replaced with newer components.

However, you may find that regular maintenance and making changes to your existing system is not enough. You may need a new system. One great way to do that is to look into what is called a FAST system. This is wastewater treatment at its finest for the fact that it uses bacteria to decompose all of the sludge within your system.

It is true that you still need to clean out these systems and keep them updated, but you can stretch the time between cleanings. So this is something to consider when you are updating your septic tank. You don't want to let it go because the consequences can be great.

For example, not updating your system could result in you being the bad smell in your neighborhood. Neglected septic tanks have a tendency to leak. When they leak, everything inside of them floats to the surface. It can be very difficult and very expensive to clean up the mess and the smell may hang around for quite some time. You've probably heard of someone's septic tank "blowing up" and causing them problems.

So you do have options when it comes to your septic tank. You can do regular maintenance every couple of years, make modifications to it to make it function better, or you can replace the entire system so that you have a new system that is environmentally friendly. It is amazing the difference that an up-to-date septic treatment can make in your wastewater treatment and in your life.