Your septic system includes a tank that digests and separates waste. Solids sink to the bottom and natural bacteria feed on them into a sludge layer. Grease and lightweight materials float to the top to become scum.

The wastewater (effluent) exits the tank through pipes to a drain field or an advanced treatment system. Maintaining your septic tank and system helps prevent groundwater contamination and costly repairs. Contact Septic Tank Armadale now!

The septic tank is the heart of a decentralized wastewater treatment system that removes solids from wastewater before sending it to a soil absorption field (or drain field). It also treats and disposes of the liquid wastewater. The process prevents environmental and health hazards associated with improper wastewater disposal.

The septic tanks are large, water-tight containers made of concrete, fiberglass or polymers that hold wastewater for a short period of time while bacteria break down the contaminants in it. The septic tank is usually located under the ground, but it can be above-ground as well. The septic tank is designed with compartments to separate the solid waste from the liquid wastewater. The heavier solid waste sinks to the bottom, forming a layer called sludge. The fats, oils and grease float on the top and form another layer called scum. The middle layer is mostly water. Bacteria break down the solid waste in the sludge and scum layers, reducing their organic content. The resulting liquid wastewater is known as effluent. The liquid exits the septic tank through an outlet pipe connected to a baffle. The effluent then flows into a drainfield or absorption field, a network of perforated pipes buried in the soil. The soil acts as a natural filter, further treating the effluent as it seeps through it.

During the treatment phase, gases that are produced by the microorganisms in the wastewater — such as hydrogen sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs — must be released. To prevent a buildup of pressure that could stop or reverse the flow of wastewater, the gases are vented out through a vent in the tank lid, which is typically shaped like a mushroom and can be fitted with a charcoal filter to reduce odors.

The septic tank must be properly maintained to ensure that it operates effectively. In addition to preventing the overflow of solids from entering the drainfield, the tank must be free of clogs and leaks. A septic tank clogged with debris can lead to wastewater overflow, which exposes humans and pets to disease-causing bacteria in the sewage. The septic tank should be inspected periodically by professionals to ensure that it is working correctly and efficiently.

The Drain Field

When the wastewater from your toilets, showers, sinks, washing machines and dishwasher leaves the house, it enters a drain pipe that leads to your septic tank. Inside, solid waste sinks to the bottom of the tank where it becomes sludge. Fats, oils and grease float to the top of the tank where they are broken down by bacteria. The remaining liquid is known as effluent. Liquids flow from the tank into a network of perforated pipes that penetrate and soak into the soil in your septic system’s drain field (also called an absorption field).

The leach field is designed to treat the sewage by allowing the waste to seep into the ground where it undergoes natural filtration processes. Because the drain field is so important to your septic system, it is vital that you protect it by limiting water usage. You can do this by installing low-flush toilets and other water-conserving fixtures and by avoiding flushing chemicals, hazardous materials and non-biodegradable materials down the toilet. You should also have your septic tank pumped regularly. Regular septic tank pumping ensures that only the liquid portion of your wastewater flows to the drain field, reducing the chance that it will clog and encouraging efficient filtration.

Your septic system’s drain field needs to be large enough to handle the amount of water your household uses. The best way to determine the size of your drain field is to hire a professional to conduct a septic system evaluation and soil test.

If your septic system is not functioning properly, you may notice signs such as a foul odor in the basement or crawl space of your home, a wet or soggy area over the drain field or slow-to-drain kitchen and bathroom plumbing. You should also avoid driving or parking vehicles over the drain field as this can crush or damage the underground pipes.

Keep in mind that your septic system will eventually reach the end of its useful life and will need to be replaced. By having your septic tank pumped regularly, you can extend its lifespan and prevent costly repairs and replacements.

The Pump

Septic tanks are large concrete containers that connect to the waste pipes leading out of your home. Wastewater from toilets, bathtubs, showers and dishwashers travels into a tank where it is broken down by bacteria and yeast. Solids sink to the bottom forming sludge, while oils and grease float to the top forming scum. Liquid wastewater (effluent) exits the tank through a T-shaped outlet.

A pump is needed to move wastewater from the septic tank to the drain field. The pump is located in a concrete, fiberglass or polyethylene tank that collects the effluent from the septic tank and directs it to the septic system’s drainage receptacles. The pump is driven by a series of control floats or timer controls that activate the pump to pump liquid from the tank in controlled doses. The amount pumped is dependent on the number of people living in your home and your septic system’s size.

Once the wastewater leaves your septic tank, it travels to a drain field or absorption field. This is an area of your property that allows the septic system to sieve wastewater into the soil through a series of gravel-filled trenches and then into a deep bed of sand where it is treated by filtration into groundwater and absorbed by the grass above.

The drain field is an essential part of your septic system and must be protected to prevent it from being clogged or overflowing. If you have a large family and/or use your septic system heavily, the drain field may become overloaded and require additional treatment.

In order to avoid this, you should limit your water usage as much as possible. For example, you can take shorter showers and wash clothes less frequently. You should also avoid flushing non-biodegradable waste items like cigarette butts, cotton buds/swabs and menstrual hygiene products.

Your septic tank should be inspected once every five years. The inspection is done by a qualified technician using a special camera and high-pressure water to clean your tank and remove the sludge layer. The camera can see any problems such as a cracked or leaking tank, a clogged septic system pipe and a septic tank baffle that needs repair.

The Inspection Ports

During the sewage treatment process, solids settle to the bottom of the tank and oils and greases rise to the top. Eventually, the partially treated wastewater exits into the drain field through a series of pipes. To ensure the system works effectively, it is important that this sewage is evenly distributed throughout the soil treatment area. Normally, this is accomplished by using a distribution box that receives the septic tank piping on one side and the series of pipes that lead to the drain field on the other.

A distribution box is a small, round or rectangular watertight containment that is installed underground near the septic tank. It connects the septic tank piping on the one side to the septic tank outlet pipe and the septic tank to drain field piping on the other. The box also has a series of holes through which the water flows. This allows it to be pumped and cleaned without removing the septic tank lid or disturbing the baffles and tees that line the septic tank.

When the septic tank is pumped, it should be done through the manhole opening on the septic tank cover and not through the inspection ports. Using the inspection ports does not provide full access to the tank and can result in incomplete waste removal, which can damage the septic system and lead to expensive repairs.

It is possible to install a septic tank with either type of cover, but the manhole opening is the preferred method of pumping and cleaning the septic system. This is because the manhole provides full tank access and allows technicians to visually check the condition of the baffles, tees, and other components.

The rate at which sludge and scum accumulate in a septic tank varies from household to household. A septic tank should be pumped and cleaned regularly to reduce the accumulation of solids. Incorrectly handling septic waste can lead to clogs, overflows, and costly repairs.

When a home has a septic system, it is recommended that the septic tank be pumped at least every three years and the septic system be inspected annually. When a septic system is properly maintained, it can last as long as 30 years or more.

Ebony Donlon