The septic tank is a simple onsite sewage system that provides basic wastewater treatment. Waste reaches the tank, where it is absorbed by bacteria and then enters the drain field. Click https://www.septictankarmadale.com.au/ to learn more.
When waste decomposes in the septic tank, it creates methane gas. This is flammable and explosive. Ventilation is essential around the septic tank.
The septic tank is the heart of your septic system. It’s a large, underground concrete or plastic tank that holds waste and wastewater from your house. Its one end is connected to an inlet wastewater pipe, and its other end connects to a septic drain field.
When you flush your toilets or use your sinks, bathtub, shower, washing machine, and dishwasher, wastewater (called gray water) runs into the septic tank from your house’s plumbing. Solid materials, such as feces and cooking fats, sink to the bottom of the tank, where microorganisms decompose them. Liquids, such as water and washing detergents, float to the top of the tank, where bacteria create a layer called scum.
Bacteria in the septic tank break down organic wastewater pollutants, creating a liquid stream known as effluent. The effluent then exits the septic tank through perforated pipes into the drain field, where it flows through gravel and soil that act as natural filters and purify the water before it seeps back into the groundwater.
In some cases, septic tanks can overflow or clog. If you suspect this is happening, call a plumber. You may need to have the tank pumped. The tank is usually inspected at least once every three to five years.
A septic tank that needs to be properly maintained can pollute soil and surface water. It can also cause wastewater to enter household plumbing, leading to sewage backups in sinks and toilets.
You can help your septic system work better by not disposing of items that are too large or heavy to decompose in the tank. Some of these include coffee grounds, cigarette butts, cat litter, facial tissues, paper towels, dental floss, and plastics. You should also avoid using strong chemicals and bacteria-destroying products, such as drain cleaners, solvents, paint thinners, floor cleaners, motor oil, antifreeze, and pesticides. These can disrupt septic tank and absorption system operation and can be harmful to humans, pets, and the environment.
The drain field
After solids have settled and decomposed inside the septic tank, liquid wastewater (known as effluent) leaves via an outlet pipe toward your drain field. The drain field is also called the absorption field, and it contains a network of pipes in trenches filled with gravel. The pipes are perforated to allow wastewater to flow through them. This allows soil to naturally treat and filter the water.
The drain field is designed to allow effluent to slowly seep into and through the soil, where it is further treated by bacteria. This process is important for the overall health and functionality of your septic system. A septic system that isn’t treating wastewater properly can lead to sewage backups, unpleasant odors, and even groundwater contamination.
To help keep your septic system functioning properly, never flush non-flushable wipes, cat litter, cooking oil, pharmaceuticals or other toxins down the drain. These substances can kill the organisms in your septic system that digest and treat household waste. They can also clog and damage your septic tank and drain field.
Regularly checking and cleaning your septic tank baffles and other parts of the septic system is also necessary. These parts can become worn out or damaged over time due to normal use, as well as by tree roots and other debris. Keeping these parts of your septic system clean can prevent them from failing or becoming clogged, which can reduce the efficiency of your septic system and increase the frequency of pumping.
You should also have your septic tank pumped at least once every three years. If you don’t have it pumped regularly, the solid waste in your septic tank will not have sufficient time to settle before being sent to the drain field. This can clog the drain field and cause wastewater to overflow, exposing you and your family to disease-causing bacteria.
The drain field is the last step in your septic system’s filtration process. It is very important that you do not plant any plants that have deep roots over the drain field, as they will interfere with its filtration. Instead, plant grass and other shallow-rooted plants over the area of the drain field.
The pipes
In addition to a lid, septic tanks should have an inlet baffle and outflow pipe. The inlet baffle slows wastewater, helping it to settle and not stir up the sludge inside the tank. It also prevents odors from being carried by the sewer line into the home or building. The outflow pipe, which is commonly referred to as the drain field, moves pre-processed sewage from the septic tank into the soil below. The wastewater enters the drain field through watertight 4-inch diameter pipes, or a series of 6-inch-diameter perforated plastic pipes, that are placed in a trench filled with stone. The piping network is often laid in a grid pattern across the drainfield to ensure even distribution of the sewage.
Depending on the septic tank volume, daily household usage and local environmental conditions, the raw sewage in the tank will decompose for between 48 and 72 hours. The indigestible solid waste forms a layer of sludge and the dissolved substances form a liquid called effluent. The effluent is pushed into the drainfield by a pump or, in some cases, by gravity.
The septic system in a home or commercial building usually consists of an underground drainfield that is surrounded by gravel and covered with a geofabric or similar material to keep sand and dirt out of the clean stone. The effluent drains through the gravel and into the soil, where microbes treat it further.
To reduce the risk of clogging, a septic tank’s inlet and outlet pipes should be made from acid-resistant concrete or cast iron. The inlet and tank drainfield pipes should be protected by a series of baffles or sanitary tees and have 6-inch-diameter inspection pipes for checking for sludge levels and clogs. The absorption field should be a minimum of 15 feet away from the home or structure.
Never flush cooking grease, chemical drain openers, non-flushable wipes (including baby and makeup removal), coffee grounds, bones, cigarette butts or other organic chemicals down the toilet or drain. These can upset bacterial digestion and pollute groundwater. Likewise, don’t use additives that claim to enhance bacterial action. They don’t work and could cause clogs.
The pump
When it’s time to have your septic tank pumped, the waste is removed by a truck with a large suction hose. This hose literally sucks the sewage into the truck, where it’s then taken to a sewage processing site to be safely disposed of.
The septic system disposes, filters, and treats household waste for homeowners not connected to municipal sewer systems. Wastewater leaves your house through a series of pipes that first transport it to the septic tank. Once there, it undergoes a settling process. Solid waste and sediment sink to the bottom of the tank while oil and grease floats to the top of the liquid layer. Over time, bacteria digest the sludge that settles in the tank.
Once the liquid level rises to the top of the septic tank, it exits the tank through a pipe into the drain field. The septic system’s main function is to remove solids from household wastewater, so the wastewater can more easily filter through the soil absorption field. Without the removal of solids, the septic system could become overloaded and fail.
Keeping your septic tank and the surrounding soil in good condition is essential for maintaining proper septic system function and protecting the environment. Routine pumping of your septic tank helps prevent overflow, clogging of toilets and other household drains, and ensures that the wastewater is properly treated in the soil absorption field.
In addition, routinely flushing non-biodegradable items like coffee grounds and paper towels can cause a buildup of solids that will clog the drain field and septic tank. Only biodegradable toilet paper and human waste should be poured down the drains.
Signs of a clogged septic system include foul odors, slow draining or backed-up toilets, and gurgling sounds from sinks and toilets. If you’ve noticed any of these signs, contacting your local septic system professional for routine pumping is the best course of action.