What is my septic system comprised of?
The subsurface sewage disposal system, as it is properly called, consists of a septic tank, possibly a pump chamber, and a leaching field. All wastewater generated from a home discharges to the septic tank. The tank, usually located 25-50 feet from the house, is essentially a concrete box fitted with an inlet, outlet, baffles and access holes on top. All wastewater from the home, which contains both solids and liquids, is discharged to the septic tank. Solids settle to the bottom and liquids are pushed through the outlet as new wastewater enters the tank and displaces a corresponding volume. Where the leaching fields are at a lower elevation than the tank, gravity pulls the liquids to the fields. Where the leaching fields are actually higher in elevation, a pump, situated in a pump chamber quite similar in configuration to the septic tank, pushes the effluent up to the leaching fields. Leaching fields have a variety of structures to distribute the effluent, but the basic concept is to
