Buried Septic Lids and Risers: Are They Worth Adding?

On most older systems around Marshalltown the tank lids sit anywhere from a few inches to a couple of feet under the lawn, and nobody remembers exactly where. That means every pumping and every inspection starts with probing and digging, which adds time to the bill and tears up the yard. A riser is a short concrete or plastic shaft fitted over the tank opening and brought up to ground level with a secure lid, so the next service starts right away. It's most worth adding when the tank is already uncovered, for a pumping, a repair or a Time of Transfer inspection, because the digging is already done. A riser also makes it easy to reach the effluent filter, which should be cleaned periodically, and to check the water level after heavy rain. Two things matter in an Iowa winter and spring: the riser joints have to be sealed so rain and snowmelt can't leak into the tank and overload the drain field, and the lid has to be secured so it can't be lifted by a child; a heavy or locking lid is the standard. Leaving the lids buried isn't against any rule, but if you're tired of digging up the same patch of lawn every few years, ask us to add risers at your next service.