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How deep your septic system needs to be into the ground depends on several factors. In extremely cold environments, the tank needs to rest below the maximum frost line, which can be up to six or eight feet deep. The standard burying depth for most systems is between a few inches and four feet below ground level. Depth can also depend on the slope of the landscaping and other property variables. 

Ideally, you should conduct a mechanical inspection and a bacterial or well water inspection yearly. While you might be able to push it off to every other year, it’s best to have peace of mind, especially when it comes to something that you use so frequently. 

If you experience repeated gastrointestinal illness in the household, it's important to test the well water more regularly for quality and cleanliness to check for bacteria.

A household of four can easily fill a 1,000-gallon septic tank within a week. It may be 10 to 14 days for smaller households. But the reason why you don't need weekly pumping is because the tank's contents eventually reach the overflow pipe. They flow down this pipe to the absorption area whenever water is used in your home. The tank keeps working at this full level until it's pumped again.

With proper maintenance, most types of septic systems—including mound, evapotranspiration, and constructed wetland systems—can last up to 40 years. To keep your system running as long as possible, follow basic septic tank upkeep guidelines, like pumping your septic tank every three to five years and only flushing human waste and toilet paper.