The septic tank is the first stage of treatment for wastewater that leaves your house. It collects household waste and separates solids from the liquids that flow into a buried drain field or soil absorption system.
The bacteria inside the septic tank generate gases that escape through a vent in the lid. The liquid effluent flows into a second chamber. Oils and grease float on top as scum while sludge sinks to the bottom. Contact Septic Tank Armadale now!
A septic tank’s inlet and outlet tees allow wastewater to enter and exit the septic system. They are designed to be at different heights to ensure that incoming sewage clears the baffle and enters the tank correctly while outgoing effluent does not carry floating solids or scum into the absorption field.
The inlet pipe leading into the septic tank has an inlet baffle that forces incoming sewage downward. This helps solids settle in the tank more effectively,ely and prevents wastewater from skimming across the top of the septic tank and exiting untreated, where they are further broken down a septic tank is a layer of floating scum that contains fats and other solids that are lighter than water. Household toilets and kitchen form this layer sinks that produce large amounts of scum. It is a waste product that must be removed regularly to avoid clogging the septic tank inlet and outlet pipes.
Below the scum layer is a layer of sludge that is denser than water. This is where the majority of solids in a septic tank reside. The sludge layer is removed with a septic tank pump periodically to reduce the size of the sludge layer and keep it from clogging the septic tank inlet or outlet pipes.
In between the scum and sludge layers is a clear zone of liquid that contains dissolved organic materials and bacteria. As the liquid passes through a septic tank, these materials sink or float depending on their density, and a healthy population of anaerobic bacteria eat the organic waste and decompose it into less dense material such as carbon dioxide and water.
The septic tank outlet is located below the sludge and scum layers in the center of the tank. The septic tank has an outlet baffle that keeps the sludge and scum from flowing directly into the drainfield where they could clog the leach field or septic tank. The outlet baffle also ensures that the septic tank can treat all of the incoming wastewater.
Most new septic tanks are constructed with plastic instead of concrete, and the inlet and outlet tees are connected to this plastic with specially shaped metal or polyethylene fittings. The tee fittings should be angled or curved to reduce the risk of septic tank inlet and outlet clogs. A straight tee or an elbow pointing up will force the septic tank inlet to rise higher and increase the likelihood of these clogs. It is important to install the tees correctly and maintain them as needed to keep the inlet and outlet of the septic tank at the correct levels.
Pumps
Many people dream about moving away from the city to a quiet farm in the country. When they do they may not be thinking about how their septic system will handle all the wastewater coming from the house. In order to ensure that wastewater is not backflowing into the home, it is necessary to have a pump in place to help out. There are a variety of pumps that can be used in this situation and knowing what to look for can make the difference between success or failure.
Septic tanks are buried, water-tight containers usually made of concrete or fiberglass. They are shaped to be large and rounded so that debris does not collect on the top. Inside the tank, waste particles sink to the bottom forming sludge and oil and grease float to the top forming scum. Compartments and a T-shaped outlet prevent the sludge and scum from leaving the tank and traveling into the drainfield area. The liquid wastewater, known as effluent, travels through a network of small, perforated pipes to the absorption field’s soil.
Once the liquid waste enters the absorption field, it is treated naturally by the surrounding soil. The bacteria in the soil break down contaminants so that the liquid can be absorbed into groundwater. As a result, the absorption field must be properly sized and constructed.
Most septic systems use an effluent pump to get the wastewater to the absorption field. These pumps are usually driven by a septic tank vent, an inlet pipe and a baffle. There are many different kinds of septic tank pumps, but all have the same function. Most of these are powered by electricity and have three floats, the middle one being the pump enable float that when in the up position allows the pump to run. The lower float is the float that keeps effluent in the pump chamber, when this float goes down the pump stops running.
If you ever notice that your septic tank pump is not working the way it should it is time to call a professional septic tank service company to come and inspect and possibly repair the pump. They can also perform a septic tank cleaning using their giant truck with a suction hose that literally sucks the sewage out of your tank.
Absorption Fields
A septic tank is an underground, watertight receptacle that receives sewage wastes from household plumbing. It provides primary treatment by separating solids and liquids and partially biodegrading the sludge. It is important to maintain proper septic tank maintenance. If too much sludge and scum accumulate in the tank, the wastewater will not have enough time to settle before exiting through the drain field. This can clog the drainfield and expose humans and animals to disease-causing bacteria.
Septic tanks have special compartments to separate the scum and sludge from the wastewater. The scum layer floats on top of the wastewater, and the sludge sinks to the bottom. A septic tank also has a liquid layer called effluent, which is the clarified wastewater that flows from the tank outlet. The scum and sludge are separated from the effluent by watertight baffles and sanitary tees made of acid-resistant concrete, cast iron or plastic. Six-inch inspection pipes extend through the baffles to allow for periodic checks of solids levels and clogs.
After leaving the septic tank, wastewater travels through a distribution box and enters an absorption field (also known as a leach field or a septic system field). The effluent passes into soil totally underground, where it seeps into gravel trenches and is treated by the natural environment. The filtration of the soil and further bacterial action purify the wastewater to groundwater quality standards.
The absorption field is a series of pipe with holes in the bottom placed in gravel-filled trenches. The wastewater percolates through the soil and grass above to further treat it, destroying pathogenic organisms and making the wastewater acceptable for reuse as a drinking water source. The soil is a natural biological, chemical, and physical filter.
The absorption field should be constructed on a slope to promote drainage and prevent waterlogging. The absorption field should also be surrounded by uncompacted, unsaturated soil to ensure that it is not buried or covered with structures such as driveways, patios and pools. During construction, care should be taken not to damage the distribution box, pump and absorption field. Make sure to map the location of these components with permanent stakes or use a septic system diagram in your home so that you can locate them when doing yard work or other home maintenance.
Maintenance
The wastewater from your bath, kitchen and toilet flows into a septic tank where microorganisms break down the waste. The resulting sewage effluent then percolates into the soil for treatment and absorption. The septic tank requires regular maintenance to keep it functioning properly.
Keeping good records will help you know when your septic system needs to be pumped or inspected by a septic professional. Ideally, you should have the tank inspected annually and pumped at least every three years. A full septic tank can clog and overflow the drainfield, and if it leaks into the ground, it can expose you, your family, and pets to disease-causing bacteria and other toxic substances.
To avoid clogs and overflows, you should never flush anything other than human waste, paper towels, and white toilet tissue. Flushing these materials can disrupt the delicate balance of sludge and scum layers within your septic tank. Chemical and biological additives can also upset the way your septic tank works by speeding up the breakdown process or adding extra bacteria.
If you do add chemical or biological cleaners to your septic system, you will need to have it pumped more often. When your septic system is fully loaded, the heavier solids will sink to the bottom of the tank and the lighter masses will rise to the surface as scum. The scum layer on the top contains fats, oils, and greases and other less dense material that the microorganisms eat to create digested sludge.
The liquid that overflows from your septic tank and into the drain field is a form of liquid fertilizer that your grass, flowers, and other vegetation will use to grow strong and healthy. However, if the liquid starts seeping back up to your home or a concentration of dandelions and other lush plants forms in the area around your tank, it’s likely that the tank is leaking or has a clog.
The nitrates and phosphates that are carried out of your septic system can cause problems for local waterways and drinking water wells. They can contribute to excessive algal blooms that choke out oxygen in waterbodies, which harms fish and other aquatic life. Excess nutrients can also cause cyanobacteria or harmful algae to develop and release toxins that affect humans, animals, and plants.
