Harmful coliform bacteria is found in human waste. There are several types of tank designs. Which one a household uses depends on factors such as the number of bedrooms, soil condition, lot size, and more. The most common setup includes a septic tank, a distribution box, a drain field, and the network of perforated pipes connecting the two.
The septic tank is connected to the house by a single main drainage pipe also called inlet pipe. The water waste from your home goes through it and into the septic tank where solid and liquid waste are separated from liquid. Most septic tanks these days are made of two compartments. This essentially forces wastewater through two separate treatment cycles, removing the scum layer more effectively before sending water to the drainfield. Both chambers are watertight and separated by a thick wall.
A small baffle allows liquid waste water to flow in a single direction. Like the inlet and outlet pipes, this baffle is often T-shaped to prevent solids from entering. When wastewater enters via an inlet pipe, materials like grease and oil float to the top, while solid waste and sediment sinks to the bottom.
This is to keep them out of the effluent when it reaches the drainfield. Solids can block up the perforated pipes there, while oils can cause damage to the leached soil. At the bottom of the septic tank, a healthy population of anaerobic bacteria feeds on and digests organic waste.
This helps keep the tanks from overflowing prematurely and removes certain contaminants from the mix. At the other end, an outlet baffle prevents sludge and scum from leaving the septic tank and entering the drainfield.
Once effluent exits the septic tank, it seeps into the soil via perforated pipes. The drainfield is a shallow area of uncovered land close to the house that filters untreated wastewater through rocks, dirt, and sand to remove impurities naturally.
Eventually, gravity forces the water back down into underground aquifers. A good septic system is underground and out of sight. There are usually inspection ports over each baffle, and most septic tanks also include a manhole access port, which allows pumping the tank. From the outside, an underground septic tank usually looks like a large metal or plastic box.
You can usually distinguish these septic systems by the distinct inspection pipes on top of the box, often covered by green caps.
Most tanks have one or two inspection pipes and larger manhole covers for pumping. Gases are released through a vent pipe. Portable Toilet Hire. Event Hire. Tanker Services. Contact us now. Toilet Hire Calculator. Our Coverage Area. In this blog we will break down what a septic tank is and how they work. What Is A Septic Tank? Christian Heritage After joining the business at the end of its first year of trading, Christian has been involved in all aspects of the business.
Portable Toilet Servicing. Anglian Road, Aldridge, West Midlands. WS9 8EP. Heavy solids will settle to the bottom of the tank, where bacteria will reduce them into gas and sludges. Lighter solids, like grease, will rise to the top and form a layer of scum. Anything that does not decompose will remain in the tank unless it is pumped.
If pumping does not occur, this waste can overflow. Wastewater that leaves the tank, known as effluent, flows through the drain field and into the gravel and soil underground, which treats the material further, as well as giving nutrients to the earth.
The first thing to know is that you are responsible for the maintenance of your septic tank, as well as the quality of its discharge and the impact it has on the environment. When it comes to looking after your septic tank, more specifically cleaning it, there are steps that need to be taken for effective and safe cleaning. View an animated, interactive model of how a household septic system works created by the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority.
You may already know you have a septic system. If you do not know, here are tell-tale signs that you probably do:. A foul odor is not always the first sign of a malfunctioning septic system.
Call a septic professional if you notice any of the following:. Skip to main content. Septic Systems. Contact Us. How Your Septic System Works. A typical septic system consists of a septic tank and a drainfield, or soil absorption field. Specifically, this is how a typical conventional septic system works: All water runs out of your house from one main drainage pipe into a septic tank.
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