What is an absorption field and what is the purpose of an absorption field?
The absorption field is also called a drainfield, leachfield or subsurface disposal field. The absorption field consists of a series of trenches containing an approved drainfield media into which effluent is discharged from the septic tank. The approved drainfield media consists of either clean drainrock with the rock ranging in size from 3/4 inches to 2 1/2 inches, gravel-less PVC chambers or Styrofoam bundles. Trenches utilizing drainrock or Styrofoam bundles discharge effluent through a perforated pipe into the drainrock or the Styrofoam bundles and then into the soil. Trenches utilizing gravel-less PVC chambers discharge effluent directly through the chamber to the soil. The purpose of the absorption field is to utilize the unsaturated portion of the soil to provide aerobic (with oxygen) treatment of the effluent through the chemical, physical, and biological properties of the soil. Viruses, parasitic worms, pathogenic microbial organisms and various chemicals and chemical compound
