A septic tank collects wastewater from a home. It separates waste into sludge, scum, and effluent.
Scum is floatable waste that is lighter than water, like grease, oils, and fats. Sludge is solids that sink to the bottom of the tank, and effluent is clarified wastewater that flows through the outlet pipe into the absorption field. Click the https://www.septictankarmadale.com.au/ to learn more.
A septic tank is a buried, watertight structure that receives, stores, and partially treats domestic sanitary wastewater. The process of septic tank treatment uses natural bacterial action to digest organic solids. Larger solids settle to the bottom of the tank, grease and lighter floatable waste rises to the top layer of sludge, while liquid wastewater discharges out the outlet pipe to an absorption field or soil wastewater infiltration system.
The septic tank is constructed from materials like concrete, fiberglass or plastic and is buried underground. As wastewater enters the septic tank, it is collected in the center of the tank and undergoes anaerobic digestion, which means the waste decomposes without oxygen. The process breaks down the organic solids in wastewater, such as human and animal waste, food scraps, paper products, and wood. Eventually, the wastewater is clarified to become a liquid effluent.
As the septic tank continues to fill, solids slowly sink to the bottom of the tank and begin to form a sludge layer. As the sludge layer grows, more and more bacteria enters the tank to begin digesting the sludge. This process is called septic tank aeration, which helps break down the solids and allows liquid to drain away more easily.
When the septic tank reaches about two-thirds of its capacity, the liquid effluent flows through a distribution box or other septic tank component that evenly distributes the pre-treated wastewater into your drainfield. The wastewater will percolate into the soil, where microbes in the different layers of the soil will further treat it.
The process is very similar to the way a water treatment plant filters and disinfects drinking water. As the wastewater passes through the soil, it is further filtered and decomposed by soil microbes before it is naturally cycled back into groundwater. While some septic systems use biological additives to help the process, these additives are not necessary since bacteria already reside in human feces and other organic matter. Using them can actually harm the environment, as they can kill healthy soil microbes. In addition, these additives can be expensive to install and maintain.
Pumping
The septic tank is a large, underground container that holds the wastewater and solid waste from your home. It’s a crucial component of any residential sewage system and is designed to treat the sewage before it leaves your house into the environment. Having a septic tank that is not properly maintained can lead to clogs, backups, and environmental contamination. That’s why it’s important to regularly pump your septic tank and schedule regular inspections.
During a septic tank pumping, your plumbing professionals will remove the floating solids and sludge from your septic system. Once this is done, your septic tank should work more efficiently, and you should no longer notice any gurgling in your toilets or drains.
How often you need to have your septic tank pumped depends on the size of your septic tank and the number of people in your household. The recommended frequency is every three to five years, but some households may need more or less frequent pumpings.
Once the septic tank has enough solid waste, the bacteria in it begins to break it down. This allows the heaviest materials to sink to the bottom of the tank and the lighter ones to float on top. The liquid that is left in the middle is called effluent. The effluent flows out of the septic tank and into the absorption field.
When solid waste accumulates too much in a septic tank, it can block the inlet and outlet baffles. Then the septic tank cannot accept any more wastewater. The resulting sewage would flow into the drain field, where it could clog and contaminate the groundwater.
Keeping your septic tank pumped prevents these problems and extends its lifespan. It also minimizes the risk of unpleasant odors, which can be caused by an overflowing tank or by untreated sewage leaching into the soil and waterways.
It’s important to note that you should always approach the task of removing the septic tank lid with caution. It is heavy, and it can crack if it’s handled incorrectly. It’s also possible for a person or animal to fall in and become seriously injured. You should only use a licensed professional who is familiar with septic tanks and the safety precautions that are necessary to avoid injury.
Absorption Fields
When sewage leaves your septic tank, it flows to an absorption field or drain field, also known as a leach field. This is a large underground area of gravel trenches where the wastewater seeps slowly through a soil medium, with microorganisms breaking down and digesting contaminants. This natural filtration process protects the environment and groundwater, keeping it free from harmful bacteria and viruses.
The absorption field is connected to the septic tank by watertight 4-inch pipes through a distribution box and then into the home through perforated plastic pipe. The watertight piping should have a slope of about 1/4 inch per foot and the holes in the plastic pipe should be about 1/2- to 3/4-inch in diameter. A septic tank system that is too small or that is poorly built may result in sludge and scum entering the absorption field, plugging the pipe and creating irreparable damage.
Before wastewater reaches the absorption field, it enters your house plumbing through sewer inlets or a toilet tank baffle. The tees extend into the septic tank, and hydraulic pressure from your household plumbing forces wastewater up the inlet tee into the scum layer and out through the outlet tee to your septic tank drain line. The tees ensure that no solids make it to the absorption field.
A septic tank’s internal baffles and tees prevent scum, oil and grease from leaving the tank with the sewage. This helps extend the useful life of the septic tank and absorption field. However, soil clogging and improper maintenance can shorten the lifespan of a septic tank/drain field system.
Keeping trees and other long-rooted plants away from the absorption field and limiting water usage can reduce the need for maintenance. It is important to schedule regular septic tank pumpings and inspections by an on-site professional. The septic tank’s internal baffles should be cleaned and the float switches checked regularly. An untreated septic tank can leak sewage into the drain field, damaging the soil and contaminating groundwater. It is also a good idea to have the house sewer vents checked and enlarged when necessary.
Inspection
If you own a home or plan to buy one in the future, it may be required by local law to have a septic tank system. While septic tanks are more costly than sewer systems, they can save you the cost of paying for city waste services. A properly installed and maintained septic tank is also more environmentally friendly.
The septic tank gathers waste from your toilets and other plumbing fixtures and holds it until solids separate from the liquids. The liquid waste then exits through a buried drain field on your property. The drain field filters the wastewater before it enters soil where bacteria further purify it.
When the septic tank is full, the solids, known as sludge and scum, take up about 35% of the total volume. Bacteria break down the solids into a form that can be easily pumped out of the tank into the disposal field. Septic tanks are not designed to hold human waste indefinitely, however, and must be inspected regularly and emptied as needed.
You can check your septic tank for its condition by looking for inspection ports or pipes and a manhole. If you see these, they allow for small tools and a camera to be used inside the tank. You can also contact a plumber to inspect your septic tank if you notice any problems.
Generally, your septic tank will have an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe. The inlet pipe allows water waste to enter the tank, and the outlet pipe sends the pre-processed wastewater out of the tank into the drain field. The wastewater in the drain field flows through a network of perforated pipes that extend into the soil of your property.
The bacteria in the soil can further purify wastewater from the septic tank. This helps reduce pathogens, which are bacteria and viruses that can cause illness in humans and other animals. It can also help reduce excessive nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which can encourage the growth of algae that use up oxygen in waterbodies causing fish kills.
You can protect your septic tank by only flushing biodegradable waste, such as white toilet paper and human waste. Non-biodegradable waste items can clog the tank and cause it to fill quickly. It is important to check for signs of a failing septic tank system, such as unusual odors, slow drainage and sewage backups. Contacting a plumber can ensure your septic tank is properly inspected and pumped.