What is a Septic Tank/Drain Field System?
Conventional septic systems have traditionally been the most commonly used technology for treating wastewater. These systems work on demand and gravity to treat and distribute wastewater into the soil. The systems consist of a septic tank, a distribution box, and a drain field. The system collects all of the household waste into the septic tank, where heavier solids and scum are allowed to separate from the wastewater. This is referred to as “primary treatment”. As additional waste enters the tank, the partially treated wastewater exits the tank, flowing through a distribution box and out into a drain field. This distribution of wastewater relies on perforated pipe to drain effluent into the soil and is driven by demand. This means that the intake of the system has peaks and lulls depending on activity in the house. As such, wastewater entering the drainfield could exceed the percolation rate of the soil during periods of heavy use, causing surfacing of effluent. Because the system is
