What is a septic system?
The septic system is basically an on-site sewage treatment and disposal system buried in the ground. A properly working system will treat the wastewater coming from the house and distribute the resulting cleaner water safely back into the environment. A failing system, however, can harm the environment by polluting waterways and wells or contaminating the ground surface.
Most homes in rural areas are serviced by a septic system rather than a sewer system. Septic systems are small onsite wastewater treatment systems. They have a lifespan of approximately 30 years if they are properly maintained and cared for. They do not require much in the way of maintenance. The septic tanks can range in size from 750 gallons to 1500 gallons or larger based on the size of the home. Most modern septic tanks are concrete. Plastic is used in some harder to install locations because of its lighter weight and ease of installation. Every “septic” tank has at least 2 compartments, the liquid side and the solid side. All of the drains in the house including the sinks, showers, toilets and laundry enter the septic tank. They enter on the inlet side or solids side of the tank. There is a baffle or center wall inside the tank that separate these two sides. This baffle wall has a hole in the middle to allow the liquid effluent to flow across to the outlet side or liquid side of t
A septic system is a method of dealing with household wastewater in areas where public sewers are not available. The standard type of septic system involves a septic tank (to hold wastewater from toilets and drainpipes until solids settle out in the tank), and a system of pipes that distribute the remaining liquid waste underground over a large area –the leach field–where the wastewater “percolates” through the soil, which helps to clean the water. The goal is to make sure that this filtration though the soil is sufficient to clean the wastewater before it reaches drinking water well sources or surface waters.
A sub-surface sewage disposal system, commonly known as a septic system, consists of two main components: the septic tank also known as the treatment tank, the distribution box and the drainage area, often referred to as the leach field. The system also includes a main sewer line which connects all the plumbing fixtures to the septic tank and a distribution box which connects the septic tank to the drainage field. The septic tank is usually buried approximately 10-20 feet from the dwelling. The purpose of a septic system is to treat and dispose of waste water generated by the occupants. When properly installed and adequately maintained, septic systems are more economical than sanitory sewers and just as effecient.
