Your septic tank is the first treatment device for wastewater that leaves your toilets, sinks, and bathtub. Weighty masses, such as fecal sludge, sink to the bottom of the tank; fats, oils, and grease float to the top. Anaerobic bacteria in the tank digest these materials.

Liquids then enter a drain field of perforated pipes in a gravel-covered area. Regular maintenance helps your septic system work well for years. Visit Our Website to learn more.

Septic tanks provide a simple, effective pre-treatment before the water is evacuated to another treatment system. They offer an efficient treatment method that is also environmentally friendly. However, they must be constructed and maintained correctly to prevent contamination, foul odors, and other complications. They are often used in rural areas and small households. They are commonly located underground to avoid soil pollution and reduce maintenance expenses.

The waste from your home runs into one large drainage pipe that leads to the septic tank. The wastewater inside the tank is separated, with heavy solids sinking to the bottom and oil and grease floating to the top. The liquid wastewater (effluent) flows from the septic tank into your drain field for further treatment.

A septic tank has baffles that prevent the sludge and scum layers from washing out into your drain field. This is important because these solids can clog the soil and ruin your drain field and absorption system. The septic tank should be pumped regularly to keep it from overflowing.

In the septic tank, bacteria break down organic matter such as toilet paper and human waste to help decompose it more quickly. This biological process reduces the volume of solids in the sludge and scum layer, which in turn reduces the frequency of pumping.

When the liquid wastewater (effluent) exits the septic tank, it enters your drain field, which is a network of perforated pipes buried in the ground. The effluent is distributed through these pipes to treat the septic tank’s waste in the soil. The soil acts as a natural filter, removing most of the remaining contaminants from the effluent.

A well-functioning septic system is usually invisible to the homeowner, but it should be monitored for problems. Signs of a failing septic system include sewage back-ups into the house, swimming pools of wastewater in the yard, and foul odors near or around the septic tank. If you notice any of these signs, you should have your septic tank inspected immediately. The most common cause of a failed septic tank is excessive water usage, which causes the tank to fill faster than it can be pumped.

The Drain Field

Septic tanks are designed to hold the solid waste that floats in wastewater and sinks in the sludge layer, while liquid waste (called effluent) exits through the outlet pipe. A healthy population of anaerobic bacteria in the tank breaks down organic matter and keeps sludge from building up too quickly and overflowing the tank.

After exiting the septic tank, the liquid effluent seeps into a network of perforated pipes buried in gravel-filled trenches called a drainfield or absorption field. The soil surrounding the drainfield further treats wastewater by filtration and absorption. The grass above the drainfield acts as a natural filter to prevent wastewater from flowing into groundwater.

The soil in the drainfield contains a variety of microorganisms that further break down and absorb toxic materials, such as antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, paint rinses and excessive amounts of household cleaning chemicals. The microorganisms in the drainfield are a vital part of your septic system.

Your septic tank should be pumped regularly to remove the buildup of solids that will wash into the drainfield and clog the pipes, soil and distribution boxes. A professional plumber will use specialized equipment to pump the tank and check for clogged or damaged components.

If you don’t have your septic tank pumped regularly, the sludge and scum layers will grow and overflow the septic tank. When this happens, the sludge and scum will wash into the drainfield where they can clog the pipes, destroy the soil and ruin the septic system.

Getting your septic tank pumped will ensure that all of the organic material is removed from the tank and that no contaminated water washes into groundwater. The pumping technician will also inspect the condition of baffles and tees, which prevent sludge and scum from entering the drain field where it could damage the soil and pipes. A septic tank is an efficient method of treating household wastewater, but it requires proper maintenance. Contact your local septic tank service to schedule regular septic tank maintenance, including pumping, inspections, and repairs. They’ll also provide advice on reducing the risk of problems.

The Inlet Pipe

Whether wastewater enters the septic tank directly or through the conveyance system, it must first enter the inlet pipe. If a home’s plumbing drains are directing waste directly to the septic tank (an uninsulated septic tank), the inlet pipe must be properly designed and protected to prevent solids from entering the inlet baffle or tee area of the tank, where they could clog the septic tank or sewage lines in the house.

The inlet pipe must be designed and constructed to provide a calming flow, such as the small waterfall shown in this photograph, so that incoming waste is not disrupting the potential sediment at the bottom of the septic tank. The inlet should be watertight and made of either PVC or cast iron. It should be located at a point that is easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. This is usually located near the building that the septic system serves, but it may also be located in a yard away from the house.

The septic tank inlet baffle also helps to reduce the movement of gases from the septic tank backward into the building that it serves. This is especially important if the septic tank is located close to the building, as many are. This gas-reducing function is a major factor in keeping the septic tank odors down, and it is especially critical in newer homes where the plumbing venting system might be in place.

After the septic tank inlet pipe flows through the septic tank, it discharges to a septic tank outlet pipe. The outlet should be a minimum of 3 inches below the inlet pipe. This helps to prevent the sludge layer from overflowing and flowing into the absorption field where it would quickly clog the drain field and piping.

After the septic tank outlet pipe flows through a distribution box, it should be connected to the plumbing drains of the home by watertight 4-inch diameter PVC pipe. This pipe should be sloped 1/8 inch per foot toward the septic tank to minimize clogging. Cleanouts should be installed every 50 feet along the pipe and wherever the pipe turns a corner more than 45 degrees. A septic tank installer should inspect the septic tank and the plumbing drains, including the absorption field, periodically to determine the need for repairs or upgrades.

The Outlet Pipe

Septic tanks are usually made of concrete or fiberglass and buried underground. The wastewater inside a septic tank undergoes anaerobic decomposition and digestion, which breaks down the organic matter and separates the solid waste from the liquid. Heavy solids sink to the bottom forming sludge, while oils and lighter waste float to the top, resulting in a clear layer of effluent. The wastewater then exits the septic tank into a drain field, also known as a soil-based treatment system.

Effluent leaves the septic tank through a watertight pipe that moves into the drain field, which is a network of perforated pipes buried in the soil. The soil in the drain field acts as a natural filter, removing contaminants from the effluent before it enters groundwater or surface waters.

A septic tank with baffles reduces the volume of sludge discharged into the drain field and prevents sludge from mixing with the incoming sewage. Its size depends on the expected number of people using the septic tank and may be fitted with a vent to prevent odorous gasses from entering the house.

The septic tank needs to be cleaned and emptied every two to five years. Its contents are transported to a licensed and specialised company for cleaning and disposal. In addition, the septic tank is regularly checked to ensure it is watertight.

A septic system that is poorly designed or that is not adequately maintained can cause serious problems such as wastewater overflow, clogged and failing septic tanks, or polluting surrounding waterways and soil. Properly maintaining the septic tank, keeping tree roots away from it and the drain field, and having it inspected and desludged on schedule are the best ways to keep a septic system operating properly.

A septic tank should be constructed of a strong material that will resist corrosion and have an impermeable liner to protect it from groundwater. The tank should be buried at least six feet below the surrounding ground. It should be surrounded by gravel or another filler to allow the effluent to seep out gradually into the soil, which will treat it further.