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Experience and Integrity in Business... Respect and
Concern for the Environment
What is a septic system?
A septic system is a
highly efficient, self-contained, underground wastewater treatment
system. Because septic systems treat and dispose of household wastewater
onsite, they are often more economical than centralized sewer systems in
rural areas where lot sizes are larger and houses are spaced widely
apart. Septic systems are also simple in design, which make them
generally less expensive to install and maintain. And by using natural
processes to treat the wastewater onsite, usually in a homeowner's
backyard, septic systems don't require the installation of miles of
sewer lines, making them less disruptive to the environment. A septic
system consists of two main parts-a septic tank and a drain field. The
septic tank is a watertight box, usually made of concrete or fiberglass,
with an inlet and outlet pipe. Wastewater flows from the home to the
septic tank through the sewer pipe. The septic tank treats the
wastewater naturally by holding it in the tank long enough for solids
and liquids to separate. The wastewater forms three layers inside the
tank. Solids lighter than water (such as greases and oils) float to the
top forming a layer of scum. Solids heavier than water settle at the
bottom of the tank forming a layer of sludge. This leaves a middle layer
of partially clarified wastewater. The layers of sludge and scum remain
in the septic tank where bacteria found naturally in the wastewater work
to break the solids down. The sludge and scum that cannot be broken down
are retained in the tank until the tank is pumped. The layer of
clarified liquid flows from the septic tank to the drain field or to a
distribution device, which helps to uniformly distribute the wastewater
in the drain field. A standard drain field (also known as a leach field,
disposal field, or a soil absorption system) is a series of trenches or
a bed lined with gravel or course sand and buried one to three feet
below the ground surface. Perforated pipes or drain tiles run through
the trenches to distribute the wastewater. The drain field treats the
wastewater by allowing it to slowly trickle from the pipes out into the
gravel and down through the soil. The gravel and soil act as biological
filters, cleaning the liquids that have traveled through the system.
Information on this page is
from
National Small Flows
Advanced Environmental Excavation,
Inc.
475 Crane Ave South
508-880-1920 Fax 508-880-3044
Email us
now!
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