What is A Septic Tank System?
A septic tank system consists of a large, watertight tank that receives wastewater from the home plumbing system. The tank is followed by an underground drainfield consisting of a network of perforated pipe or chambers for distributing partially treated water from the septic tank to the soil for final treatment and disposal.
A septic tank system consists of an underground tank and leach field. A well designed and maintained concrete, fiberglass or plastic tank should last about 60 years. Because of corrosion problems, steel tanks may only last a decade or less. Most common is a two compartment septic tank. The size of the tank will vary depending upon local codes, but a typical tank for a family of four would have a liquid capacity of 1,500 gallons. On the left is the input pipe from the dwelling, on the far right is the output pipe to the leach field. The tank itself is water tight and divided into two semi-compartments. This division allows for improved digestion of the waste materials. When the waste flows into the tank, the heavy solids sink to -the bottom to form a layer of ‘sludge’. Lighter materials such as grease, fats, small food particles etc. float on the surface forming a layer of “scum’. Between these two layers is a soup of suspended materials and water soluble chemicals. The division into tw
