How does a septic tank work?
How septic tank works A septic tank is a tank and maybe made of steel, fiberglass and concrete where sanitary waste coming from the toilet are being stored. Residential houses use tank made of reinforced concrete. Another term for a septic tank is septic vault. Houses in the urban area make use of the installed sanitary sewer lines that can be found along the main and secondary roads. Water coming from the use of toilet lavatory and kitchen sink is not allowed to go to the septic tank. They go directly to open or closed canal and after discharge in the storm drainage. Septic tank is meant just for the storage of sanitary waste. The standard and common septic tank has three (3) compartments namely main tank, digestive chamber and the leaching chamber. You can find this type of septic tank in most residential houses. To give you a clear picture of how ordinary septic tank looks please see the second page of this blog. This sketch was done using MS Excel program. The septic tank works lik
Wastewater from the house usually flows by gravity through a building sewer pipe into the septic tank as shown in figure 1. In some types of systems wastewater is pumped from the house to the tank. The tank is designed to store the wastewater for a day or more before discharging it to the disposal field or to further treatment. During this time, the heavier sewage solids settle to the bottom to form a sludge layer. Lighter solids, fats, greases, and oils float to the top to form a scum layer on top of the water. This leaves a middle layer of partially clarified liquid wastewater as shown in figure 2. A septic tank The storage time serves two purposes: It allows the solids and liquids to separate, which prevents the solids from being carried into the disposal field and clogging the field and surrounding soil. It allows time for bacteria naturally found in the wastewater to break down or digest the solids. This process takes place without the presence of oxygen and produces gases that mu
A septic tank is a storage tank where sewage is digested by bacteria. There are three levels in the tank: sludge, liquid and scum. Sludge, the bottom layer consists of undigestible matter and heavy solids that will not float. The top layer is a scum that contains grease and lightweight solids that float. In between the sludge and the scum is the critically active liquid layer that contains water and dissolved materials, such as sugar, detergent and small amounts of suspended solids. Solids and scum are digested or decomposed in the tank by bactria that are active in the absence of oxygen (anaerobic bacteria). This process turns up to 50 percent of the solids and scum into liquid and gas. The liquid is carrried out into the drainfield, and undigestible solids remain in the tank as sludge.
A typical septic system contains two major components: a septic tank and the soakaway. The septic tank is usually made of concrete, fibreglass, or plastic, is typically buried and should be watertight. All septic tanks have dip pipes at the inlet and outlet to ensure solids are retained in the tank. Most septic tanks are dual-compartment, although a number of single compartment tanks are also used. While typically designed to hold a minimum of 750 to 1000 gallons of sewage, the size of the tank may vary depending upon the number of bedrooms and occupants in the home or to comply with local regulatory requirements. The primary purpose of the septic tank is to separate the solids from the liquids and to promote partial breakdown of contaminants by micro-organisms naturally present in the wastewater. The solids, known as sludge, collect on the bottom of the tank, while the scum floats on the top of the liquid. The sludge and scum remain in the tank and it is this that requires regular rem
A septic tank is a storage tank where sewage is digested by bacteria. There are three levels in the tank: sludge, liquid and scum. Sludge, the bottom layer consists of undigestible matter and heavy solids that will not float. The top layer is a scum that contains grease and lightweight solids that float. In between the sludge and the scum is the critically active liquid layer that contains water and dissolved materials, such as sugar, detergent and small amounts of suspended solids. Solids and scum are digested or decomposed in the tank by bactria that are active in the absence of oxygen (anaerobic bacteria). This process turns up to 50 percent of the solids and scum into liquid and gas. The liquid is carrried out into the drainfield, and undigestible solids remain in the tank as sludge.
