When are sewage disposal (or sewerage) systems used?
Any home or other building that is not connected to a municipal or city sewage system needs a method for getting rid of human wastes. Some people, usually in rural settings or camps, use an outhouse or privy. However, all buildings with indoor plumbing need to have a sewage disposal system that is properly designed and filed with the local public health authority. A typical sewage disposal system has two basic parts: • A septic tank, or a treatment plant and; • A dispersal area – usually a series of underground pipes that evenly distribute the partially treated liquid into the ground for final treatment. How does a septic tank or treatment plant work? Septic tank: A septic tank is a watertight, underground container for receiving, treating, and settling human wastes. The solids settle to the bottom of the tank and become sludge, while oils and other light material float to the surface, forming a scum layer. Within the tank, anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that do not need oxygen) break do
