What is one potential reason for a failed on-site sewage facility (OSSF) system?

A failed on-site sewage facility (OSSF) system can often be attributed to various factors, with the excessive volume of water being a significant concern. When an OSSF system is overwhelmed with too much water, it can exceed the capacity of its components such as the septic tank, absorption field, or drain field. This excessive volume can lead to improper treatment of sewage, surface water contamination, or even system backups, which may result in complete system failure.

Inadequately managing the amount of water entering the system—whether due to high usage, rainwater infiltration, or leaks—can disrupt the natural processes essential for breaking down waste and can saturate the surrounding soil, diminishing its ability to filter and process effluent effectively.

In contrast, while insufficient ventilation, lack of regular inspections, and improper location may contribute to performance issues in an OSSF, they are generally not as directly impactful on the immediate operational capabilities of the system as the excessive volume of water. These factors can lead to problems over time or exacerbate existing issues, but the immediate failure due to overload is more common and observable.