Septic System Basics

• posted by Central Backhoe
• posted in septic tips

Households that are not served by public sewer usually depend on septic systems to treat and dispose of wastewater. Septic systems are a significant financial investment; if properly cared for, a well designed, installed, and maintained system will provide years of reliable service.

There are many different types of septic systems designed to address the unique site conditions, however there are a few main components that most systems have in common:

- The Septic Tank: A typical septic tank is a large buried rectangular or cylindrical container made of concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene. The purpose of this tank is to stores and separates solid waste from wastewater, enabling the solidwaste to decompose as much as possible.

- The Drainfield: The drainfield is a network of perforated pipes laid in gravel-filled trenches or beds. After solids settle in the septic tank, liquid wastewater is discharged to the drainfield where it is filtered and treated by the soil. The size and location of the drainfield depend on local soil conditions and water flow.

- The Soil: The soil below the drainfield provides the final treatment and disposal of septic tank effluent. After the wastewater has passed into the soil, organisms in the soil treat the effluent before it percolates downward and outward, eventually entering ground or surface water. The type of soil impacts the effectiveness of this treatment (clay soils may be too compressed to allow wastewater to pass through and gravelly soil may be too course to provide much treatment), therefore a proper soil analysis is essential for an effective and environmentally safe system.

The following maintenance tips can help your sytem provide long-term, effective treatment of household waste:

- Inspect and Pump Frequently: Generally, tanks should be pumped every 3 to 5 years

- Use Water Efficiently: Excessive water can 'drown' a system; leading to visible wastewater standing on the ground in your yard

- Keep Chemicals Out of the System: Toxic chemicals will enter your drainfield, not only harming the environment, but potentially rending helpful bacteria (needed to breakdown waste) ineffective

- Avoid Septic Additives: Adding a a stimulator or enhancer to a septic tank is not necessary; the naturally occuring bacteria needed for the septic system to work are already present in human feces.