What is a septic system?
A septic tank is designed to remove the solids found in wastewater from a Privately Owned Wastewater Treatment System (POWTS). These solids are what cause failure in most cases as they collect in the systems discharge bed and form an impermeable layer, known as a bio-mat. Once the bed is “clogged” with solids, costly renovations must be made. The more solids that can be held in the septic tank, the longer the system will function properly. The inlet and outlet in these tanks are located near the top of the units. Both the inlet and outlet are covered with a baffle that extends down to the effluent. these baffles help reduce solids output. Most solids will settle on the bottom of the tank. Then solids are then partially consumed by anaerobic bacteria. Remaining solids are removed by pumping. Greases, oils and suspended solids (solids held suspended in the waste water) form a scum layer at the top of the tank. This layer is held in the tank by the baffle over the outlet of the tank. In t
A – The septic system is more properly called an on-site wastewater treatment system. It is an extension of your home plumbing system that is designed to collect and treat wastewater from the home. It accomplishes this by separating the wastewater into solid and liquid components and sending the liquid portion to a soil absorption field or drain field where soil bacteria treat the liquid. The solids are retained in a septic tank and must be periodically pumped and taken to a wastewater treatment plant for final treatment. A system is working properly only if it is treating the wastewater, not merely disposing it.
Septic systems are underground sewage disposal systems. They depend on bacteria, good soil drainage and regular maintenance to work properly. When you flush a toilet or drain a sink, the water enters drainpipes under your house and flows to the septic system. In a typical system, the wastewater flows into a large concrete box buried in your yard. This is the digestion box. Solid material settles to the bottom while fat and grease floats on top of the liquid. Bacteria consume (digest) the organic matter and break it down. Bacteria reduce proteins to nitrates and starches to simple sugar and carbon dioxide. Whatever the bacteria cannot consume remains in the digestion box. As the liquid rises in the digestion box it enters a “distribution box.” This connects to drain pipes that are located in your yard. The “treated” wastewater flows through this drain field and percolates downward. It eventually enters the groundwater and moves away.
Wherever running water is supplied to a house or other structure, there must be a sanitary way to remove the used water. Where public or central sewage treatment works are not provided, sewage treatment becmes a do-it-yourself operation for the homeowner, who must give careful consideration to collecting, removing, treating and disposing of sewage right on the property where it originates. In other words: an “onsite”septic system. The most commons system of “on site” sewage treatment and disposal for a private home in a rural or suburban area consists of a septic tank, which provides a place for large solids to stettle and be decomposed by microorganisms, and a drainfield where fine solids are removed and accompanying bacteria are destroyed.
