Septic tank systems are wastewater treatment systems which are used mainly in rural settlements where there's an unavailability of centralized sewer systems.
It is made up of a combination of technological and natural treatment for wastewater used in the kitchen, for laundry, and in bathrooms.
A complete system would have a septic tank and it's drain field, also known as the soil absorption.
The mode of operation of a Septic tank involves drawing organic waste and other materials which float on the surface of the liquid such as grease or any form of oil. Next, it pulls out any solid components out of the wastewater and then flushes the water into the soil.
Systems that are soil based remove any liquid in the tank through pipes with holes in them that are buried in some chambers which are designed such that they release the liquids into the soil.
Other alternative systems may pump the liquid in the septic tank to slowly pass through the sand and all organic materials like sawdust and other materials such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and pathogens which may cause contamination or disease if left unhandled. Other more complex septic systems may be designed to cause the wastewater to evaporate or even disinfect it before releasing it into the soil.
- Water used in the house flows from a general drainage plumbing pipe to the septic tank.
- The septic system tank looks like a rectangular container that is watertight and made from either polyethylene plastic, fiberglass or concrete. Its primary function is to ensure solid wastes rests at the bottom, while the floatables, like oily wastes and scum, stay on the very top.
- Several compartments, some of which are shaped like Ts, help stop any grease and oil from escaping from the tank to enter the area of the drain field.
- The drain field area is covered, not deep and is made with soil that's unsaturated such as engineered septic sand. Wastewater that has been pre-treated is released through a pipe unto surfaces with tiny holes that filter the wastewater into the soil.
- The soil takes the wastewater, treats it and then distributes it by percolation into the soil and in the end, releases it as groundwater.
- Whenever the drainage is too full of liquid, it can overflow into the ground and make sinks and toilets overflow and flood.
- Then the wastewater slowly bubbles and mixes with the soil, effortlessly eradicating any harmful viruses, bacteria or nutrients. Bacteria (coliform) lives in the intestines of all warm-blooded animals and humans.
To really be on the cutting edge and know what you are talking about with regard to septic tanks and systems it would behoove readers to take a gander at our main news website for more broad information on the septic industry.
Your septic tank should work without any problems for years, but if you notice a foul smell that's constant, your drains don't flow out, producing a spongy green grass-like substance that flows out with your water and soil that looks wet around your septic tank area. You most likely need to have it treated.
To have a properly functioning septic tank, proper precaution to maintain proper flow should observed and in cases where there are blockages the appropriate repairs and maintenance personnel should be contacted to avoid any unpleasant situation such as; the foul smells, flooding or the health hazards. The septic tank pump should also be checked on a yearly basis to make sure it's functioning properly and doesn't require any repair work.
Knowing how a septic tank works really is only one small part of understanding how an entire septic system performs as designed, by keeping effluent and septage solids where they belong, out of groundwater and artesian wells. To really understand how drain fields and other components of an onsite wastewater system work please read our daily updated news blog.