What Are Septic Tanks and How Do They Work?

A basic understanding is essential to anyone wishing to steer clear of future issues with their septic tanks.

What is a septic system?

Septic systems are little-scale sewage therapy systems that are utilized in areas not connected to a sewage system operated by the government or a private business. They are often used by houses and farms in rural areas exactly where it is too pricey to connect to faraway sewage mains. Septic systems work by pumping wastewater from bathrooms, kitchens and laundry facilities into effluent tanks, which procedure the waste and then disperse it onto a septic drain field.

What is a septic tank?

A septic tank is an essential component of the septic system. It is basically a water tank that holds between 4000 and 7500 litres of wastewater. These usually get buried underground and are connected to an inlet pipe on one end (for sewage to flow in) and a septic drain field on the other (for filtered wastewater to flow out). Modern septic tanks usually have two chambers, separated from every other by a dividing wall that has openings midway in between the top and bottom of the tank.

What goes on in the septic tank?

First, the wastewater enters the first chamber of the effluent tank. The solids settle to the bottom, and scum floats to the leading. Some of the solids at the bottom will decompose and float into the water. The liquid will move from the initial to the second chamber via the openings in the dividing wall, leaving the solids and scum in the first chamber. In the second chamber, much more settlement occurs. The liquid is now almost clear from the settlement procedure and drains from the tank to the septic drain field (also known as a leach field or a seepage field).

What is a septic drain field?

Septic drain fields are produced up of trenches containing perforated pipes and some sort of porous material (like gravel). This is then covered by a layer of soil, which prevents animals from creating get in touch with with the wastewater. The wastewater is dispersed via the perforated pipes and runs via the gravel, which additional removes contaminants and impurities. The purified water is introduced back into the atmosphere via the roots of plants and evaporation.

What powers a septic system?

A septic method can run completely on gravity, if the conditions are correct. If the topography is not conducive to a gravity-powered septic method, a pump can be introduced.

What occurs to waste that doesn't decompose?

Some of the contents of the effluent tank will not decompose consequently it is important to empty the tank occasionally. If tanks are not pumped the septic tank can fill with undecomposed substances that will be pumped into the drainage field. This can result in environmental issues as well as expensive repairs. How frequently the tank needs to be pumped clean varies depending on its size, the quantity of individuals utilizing it and the outdoors temperature. Because there are so many variables, there is no rule of thumb for how frequently the tanks should be pumped: some require it every couple of years whilst other can go between ten and 20 years with out pumping.