The
septic system
is a natural method of treatment and disposal of household
wastes for homeowners who live in an area where there
is no municipal sewage disposal system. It is estimated
that there are about 30 million residences in the U.S.
that fall into this category. If your home has a septic
system it important for you to know something about
how it works. This often-overlooked part of your home
can be very expensive to repair or replace. A little
knowledge has the potential to save homeowners thousands
of dollars.
A
Brief Overview
Although individual designs vary, a typical gravity
fed septic system is composed of three parts:
1.
septic tank -- 2. distribution box -- 3. drain field
or leach field
Wastewater
and solids exit the home through toilets and drains
and end up in the septic tank. The function of the septic
tank is to separate solid material from the wastewater.
The solids are broken down by naturally occurring bacteria
that inhabit the tank.
Septic tanks
usually contain two chambers. Scum is the material,
which floats on the top of the water in the tank where
aerobic (air breathing) bacteria digest it. Sludge is
undigested solid matter, which settles to the bottom
of the tank. Here anaerobic bacteria digest some of
the matter, the undigested part must be removed periodically
by a licensed septic system pumping service. Effluent
is the clarified partially treated liquid portion, which
makes its way from the tank to the distribution box
where it is distributed to the various lateral lines
in the drain field.
A typical
drain field consists of several trenches filled with
gravel and a perforated pipe, which sits near the top
of the trench. Effluent flows through these lateral
lines and makes its way into the soil through the perforations
in the pipe. Once in the soil the effluent is treated
further courtesy of the billions of anaerobic bacteria
living in the biomat. The biomat is a tar like substance
that forms on the sides and bottom of drain field trenches.
It acts to slow down the passage of water to the soil
allowing a longer period of contact with the beneficial
bacteria living there the anaerobic bacteria feed on
nutrients contained in the effluent. This action filters
out viruses, harmful bacteria and parasites before the
effluent is returned to the water table.
The treated
water is full of nutrients and enriches the earth. It
benefits plant growth and helps in maintaining healthy
composition and structure of the soil.
Did you know?
Very little new water is ever created on earth. All
water is recycled, evaporating into the atmosphere from
the soil, rivers, lakes and oceans and returning to
earth as rain.
Remember:
Septic tanks should be pumped by a licensed professional
pumping service every 2 to 5 years depending on the
size of the tank and the size of the family. Check your
local telephone book yellow pages for a company in your
area.
www.SepticSeep.com
is an information packed web site, which explains
how septic systems work and how to restore failing drain
fields.
Septic
Seep Is the Choice of Professionals
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