The Septic Tank and Its Components
The septic tank is the heart of your home’s wastewater treatment system. Aerated, clean water (effluent) flows into a tank where bacteria and other microorganisms treat it. Heavy solids settle to the bottom, forming sludge, and oils and grease float to the top. Contact Septic Tank Armadale now!
Compartments and a T-shaped outlet prevent these materials from traveling to the drain field, which can clog pipes and reduce their effectiveness. Regular septic tank pumping is important.
Located adjacent to the septic tank, the drain field is an underground array of perforated pipes responsible for dispersing wastewater throughout the soil. It contains a layer of gravel that helps prevent the liquid effluent from seeping out too quickly. The gravel acts as a filter and also protects the surface of the soil from damage caused by vehicles or heavy equipment.
Solid waste sinks to the bottom of the septic tank where natural bacteria break it down, while lighter materials like grease and soaps rise to the top where they are broken down further. Everything else that enters the tank is known as effluent (liquid waste). The septic system relies on this natural process, and no chemical or biological additives are used.
As liquid waste (effluent) passes through the septic tank, it is treated by aerobic bacteria in the leach field. This is a much more efficient and environmentally friendly way of treating the waste water than using chemicals or sewer treatment plants.
A well-maintained septic tank and drain field can function for decades without problems. However, problems can occur if the septic tank is overloaded with more wastewater than it is designed to handle. This can be caused by using the washing machine, dishwasher and toilets all at once, or by not having a professional pump out the septic tank regularly.
Avoid planting trees or shrubs over a septic tank drainfield, since their roots can grow into the pipes and clog them. It’s also important to avoid dumping household wastes down the drain, including pet wastes, cigarette butts, diapers, paper towels and pharmaceuticals. Always follow the recommendations of your septic system professional for maintenance and upkeep.
Intake Pipe
The wastewater from the drains in your home enters your septic tank through an inlet pipe. The tank is a large, water-tight, corrosion-resistant structure that stores the raw sewage for a day or two to allow solids to settle out and partially digested by anaerobic (oxygen-lacking) bacteria.
Heavy solids sink to the bottom of the tank to form a sludge layer, while lighter waste rises to the top to form a scum layer. Bacteria break down the organic matter in the sludge and scum layers into carbon dioxide and methane. The clarified liquid left over after the scum and sludge have settled is known as effluent.
Effluent leaves the septic tank through an outlet pipe into a distribution box, which in turn connects to a network of perforated plastic pipes buried underground, known as a septic drain field or leach field. The septic drain field is surrounded by stone and covered with sand, so the water that flows into it has time to infiltrate the ground and be filtered naturally by the microbes in the soil.
The inlet and outlet pipes of a septic tank should be made from acid-resistant concrete, fiberglass or polymers to withstand corrosion. They should also be fitted with baffles or sanitary tees to prevent solid materials from entering the absorption field and to reduce the amount of solids that reach the outlet pipe. Inspection ports should be located above the baffles or tees and extend to the surface of the ground. The access ports are used to allow a professional pumper to clean out your tank and should be big enough for the pumper’s hose to move around inside the tank thoroughly.
Outlet Pipe
The outlet pipe carries wastewater from the septic tank to the drain field for additional treatment and absorption into the soil. A filter installed on this tube prevents solid waste and debris from entering the drain field, which can damage or clog it. This is why it’s important to ensure that the outlet pipe and its associated components are free of clogs or other problems.
The inlet baffle, which is placed near the inlet of the septic tank, helps to keep scum and other solids from collecting inside the septic tank and preventing proper settling and separation of liquid and sludge. It also helps to prevent odors from entering the house. A gas deflector and effluent filter are often added to the septic system to prevent the flow of gases carrying solids into the outlet pipe, which would then enter the drainfield.
Once the liquid effluent leaves the septic tank, it flows through a distribution device to ensure that equal amounts of water enter each pipe in the absorption field. The absorption field is a network of perforated pipes in the soil that receives and treats the wastewater, removing disease organisms, breaking down organic materials and making the effluent safe for groundwater.
The outlet pipe should be watertight, 4-inch diameter PVC pipe and have a slope of 1/4 inch per foot to avoid clogging. It should also have cleanouts (see Figure 3) every 50 feet or so along the line and wherever the pipe turns a corner sharper than 45 degrees. Do not pour grease, chemical drain openers, paint, solvents, fuels, waste oil, photographic solutions or pesticides into the septic system. These substances interfere with bacterial action and can pollute groundwater.
Pump
The pump of a septic tank is a very important part of your septic system. It is responsible for relocating the liquid wastewater from the tank to the absorption field and drain fields. The septic tank pump is usually a large, submersible sewage or grinder pump that can be buried in the ground.
The liquid wastewater, known as effluent, that enters your septic tank is partially treated by bacteria. As the bacteria digest the contaminants, they move to the bottom of the tank and are trapped by the sludge layer. Lighter masses, such as grease and oils, rise to the surface of the water and form a scum film on top of the effluent.
When the septic tank reaches capacity, a float switch inside the tank trips and activates the pump to remove the wastewater from the septic system. The wastewater is pumped into the drain field, where it is further treated by soil microbes. It then percolates into the groundwater, where it is filtered and completely treated.
Your septic tank can be protected from failure by limiting the amount of solid waste you add to it. Reduce the amount of slowly biodegradable organic solids (like toilet paper, kitty litter, etc) and non-biodegradable solids that you put into it. This will also minimize the amount of sludge that accumulates in the tank over time.
The solids that remain in the septic tank and the absorption field can clog and lead to failure of the entire system. To prevent this, limit the amount of solids you add to your septic tank and regularly inspect and pump it. Also, avoid planting deep-rooted trees and shrubs over the absorption field, as their roots can clog the drain field.
Inspection Ports
A septic system is responsible for treating wastewater when city sewer systems are unavailable. It’s a watertight chamber that holds waste until bacteria break it down into more manageable components. Solid matter sinks to the bottom of the tank, becoming sludge. Sediment and sludge are broken down by bacteria, which release a liquid effluent that exits the top of the tank into the drain field. This process keeps the solid matter out of the drainfield and prevents the sewage from clogging and flooding the area.
A typical septic tank is underground and out of sight. It looks like a large metal or plastic box with distinct inspection pipes on top and a manhole access port for pumping. The inspection pipe is a small tube, usually around 4″ in diameter. Septic tank service companies insert cameras through this pipe to evaluate the inside of your septic tank.
The manhole is a larger opening designed for full tank access and cleaning. Pumping through the manhole ensures a complete, thorough cleaning of your septic tank. It’s essential that this practice be followed rather than pumping through the inspection ports, which only provide limited access and can lead to incomplete waste removal.
Inspect your septic tank and septic system regularly. Maintaining these key components will ensure that your septic system functions effectively and reliably. It’s also important to keep septic tank and drainfield components clear of obstructions that can block the flow of water waste or reduce bacterial activity in the drainfield. Don’t plant trees or build structures over the septic tank or drainfield, and always avoid driving or parking vehicles or equipment over the septic system. Lastly, map out the septic tank and other components of your septic system so you can safely access them for home maintenance or yard work without damaging the absorption field.
The septic tank is the heart of your home’s wastewater treatment system. Aerated, clean water (effluent) flows into a tank where bacteria and other microorganisms treat it. Heavy solids settle to the bottom, forming sludge, and oils and grease float to the top. Contact Septic Tank Armadale now! Compartments and a T-shaped outlet prevent these…