A healthy population of anaerobic bacteria digests organic waste in the tank. After the bacteria break down the contaminants, wastewater exits into a drain field.
Keep your septic system free of obstructions and cover the absorption field with grass or other low-growing plants. Avoid driving or parking on the drain field, which can damage it. Also, look for clogs, leaks, and other problems. Click Here to learn more.
Septic tanks are an important part of a home’s wastewater treatment system. They help prevent waste from entering groundwater and protect the soil absorption field (drain field) from clogging and early failure. The septic tank removes solids from the wastewater before it drains into the field. Then, bacteria in the drain field can fully treat and dispose of the liquid sewage.
Wastewater from your home’s plumbing flows into the septic tank through an inlet pipe. A septic tank’s inlet baffle directs most of the surface scum toward the mid-level of the tank, where it can be biologically digested. This prevents scum from draining into the outlet pipe and clogging the septic tank vent and septic system drain line.
The weight of the septic tank’s contents causes it to sink to the bottom, where the sludge becomes a concentrated layer. The heavier solids float on top of the sludge, creating a scum film. The bacteria in the septic tank digest these contaminants. The resulting liquid sewage is called effluent. The septic tank also stores the sludge until it can be transported to a sewage treatment plant for disposal.
As the bacteria in your septic tank break down the sewage, they produce gases. The most common gas is hydrogen sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs. This and other waste-related odors are vented to the outside through a pipe in your septic tank’s lid. Your septic tank may have a mushroom-shaped vent or another ventilation device to reduce odors.
Some septic systems have a second septic tank where the digested sludge is stored until it can be transported to a septic tank farm for disposal. This reduces odor and water pollution and extends the drain field’s lifespan.
Even with proper care, septic tanks eventually need to be pumped out. This is usually done once every three to five years. However, if you use a garbage disposal or use an excessive amount of water, your septic tank may need to be pumped more often. Signs that you need to have your septic tank pumped include unusual odors, sludge buildup on the surface of your septic tank, and slow drainage from your plumbing.
What Does a Septic Tank Do?
Whenever you flush your toilet, shower, wash laundry or dishes, wastewater flows through pipes into your septic tank. This septic tank treats this waste to prevent sewage from contaminating soil and waterways. The tank is one of the most important components of your home septic system.
The septic tank collects all household wastewater and provides time for the solids to settle or float. Heavy solids sink to the bottom of the tank and are broken down by bacteria into a thick layer of sludge. Lighter solids, such as oils and grease, float on top of the wastewater and form a layer of scum. Liquids then flow out of the septic tank through perforated pipes and seep into the drainfield’s soil, which naturally filters it before it enters bodies of water.
While most of us are familiar with the function of a septic tank, many people do not understand how the entire system works. If you’re looking to buy a home with a septic tank, it is wise to request a professional inspection before closing. The inspector will be able to give you more insight into the system and help you understand how to keep it in good working condition.
All of the plumbing in your house connects to a sewer line that slopes toward your septic tank. This system also includes a sump pump that lifts the wastewater to your septic tank. Depending on your household’s needs, the size of your septic tank will vary.
In order to avoid septic tank failure, you should always be mindful of what goes down your toilet and into the septic tank. This means being careful not to flush baby wipes, disposable diapers, paper towels or sanitary products. This will not only reduce the amount of sludge in your tank, but it will also keep harmful viruses from entering local waterways.
It’s also important to not block access to your septic tank or drainage field with driveways, parking lots or storage buildings. These can interfere with proper operation and cause septic tank failure. Finally, you should keep animals and kids away from the septic tank, absorption field and drainage ditch.
How Does a Septic Tank Work?
All wastewater from your home runs through one main drainage pipe into a septic tank underground. The septic tank holds the waste water long enough so that solids and oil can separate from the liquid, known as effluent. The sludge sinks to the bottom, where microorganisms decompose it, while the scum, composed of oil and fats, floats to the top. Compartments and a T-shaped outlet prevent the sludge and scum from leaving the tank and traveling into your drainfield, where they would clog it and pollute groundwater.
The liquid wastewater, known as effluent, exits the septic tank through the outlet. It travels through a system of perforated pipes, which are then buried underground. As the effluent seeps into the soil, bacteria in the soil filter out any disease-causing pathogens and other contaminants. The soil also helps to disperse the wastewater so it doesn’t clog the drain field or contaminate surface water.
If you want to keep your septic system working properly, it’s important to never flush anything but toilet paper and human waste into it. Items such as cooking oil, baby wipes, kitty litter, feminine products, chemicals, and cigarettes can kill the bacteria that break down and treat the wastewater. It’s also important to have your septic tank emptied and cleaned regularly. Most experts recommend having it emptied every two to three years.
Bacteria in your septic tank generate gases as they break down the wastewater, including hydrogen sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs. These gases are vented out of the septic tank through a vent pipe that typically has a mushroom shape and can be fitted with a charcoal filter to reduce odors.
In addition to sewage, your septic system treats other types of household waste, such as paper towels and food scraps. However, these items shouldn’t be dumped into the septic system because they can clog and destroy the pipes, the drainfield, and the surrounding soil. To avoid this, most people throw their garbage into a large bin that’s disconnected from the plumbing and away from the drainfield. Your plumber can advise you on the best way to dispose of non-sewage wastes.
How Do I Maintain a Septic Tank?
If you live in a home with a septic system, you have certain maintenance duties that you need to keep up with. Like it or not, your actions directly affect how long the tank lasts and how well your septic system works overall. If you neglect your septic system, it could cause a lot of damage and put your family’s health at risk. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy things you can do to help your septic tank last longer and avoid clogs.
First, only use toilet paper that’s designed for septic systems. You should also limit the number of times you wash your laundry each week, as excessive water usage hurts the septic system.
You should also avoid flushing anything down the drain that’s not supposed to be there, including paints, flammable cleaning products, or grease. You should also never pour any toxic chemicals down your drains, as these can destroy the good bacteria that eat up waste and help the septic tank stay in balance.
The septic tank contains three layers of wastewater: the top layer, known as the scum layer, is composed of any floating material, such as fats and grease. The bottom layer, the sludge layer, is made up of solid waste that sinks, such as food particles and soil. The middle layer, called the effluent, is made up of liquid that flows from your drains and is partially treated by the bacteria inside the septic tank. The effluent then empties into a seepage pit or leach field, where it’s absorbed by the ground.
It’s important to pump the septic tank regularly. A professional service provider can tell you how often it needs to be pumped, but in general, every five years or so is a good rule of thumb. The tank should be pumped before the solids in the septic system begin to reach the outlet and enter the drain field, which can cause premature failure of the septic system.
When you have a septic tank, you’ll also want to have the drainage field checked regularly for clogs and leaks. You should never try to repair or dig up a septic system without a permit, as you could end up damaging your yard and potentially contaminating groundwater. If you notice any signs that the septic system is failing, such as slow drains or a sewage smell, call a professional right away.
