A septic tank is an underground watertight container that holds your waste. The bacteria inside break down the sewage that flows into it.
Heavier solids sink to the bottom of your septic tank and form sludge. Oils and grease float to the top, creating a layer of scum. Visit Website to learn more.
Anaerobic bacteria (without oxygen) digest the remaining organic wastewater pollutants. The partially-treated wastewater drains through perforated pipes into your absorption field or leach field.
Your plumbing from your bathroom, kitchen and laundry drains all run into one main pipe leading to the septic tank underground. Here the wastewater is held long enough for natural and technological processes to break it down into three layers. Solids that cannot break down sink to the bottom as sludge, oils and grease float to the top as scum and the liquid is then released into the drainage field.
A septic system is designed to manage wastewater from household plumbing for homes and properties that do not have a municipal sewer connection. Currently more than one in five households rely on this decentralized system to treat and disperse their wastewater. This is done with a combination of natural and technological processes, starting with solids settling in an underground septic tank and ending with treatment in the soil in the drain field (or lateral field).
To start the process the wastewater in your septic tank is pumped into the first layer where it is aerated to increase the number of aerobic bacteria that digest suspended solids. Once this happens the aeration process continues as bacteria digest the solids leaving only water in the second layer called the effluent. This water flows out the septic tank outlet into your absorption field or lateral field where soil bacteria and sand filtration finish the treatment.
When the bacteria are working as they should, septic tanks do not require pumping very often. However, if your home uses large amounts of detergents, paint and stains, motor oil, pool chemicals and other harsh products that can be toxic to bacteria, the septic tank may need to be pumped more frequently.
If your septic system is on a slope or in an area with rocky or clay soil, then gravity alone may not be enough to move wastewater through the septic tank outlet pipe. In this case, the septic system needs to be fitted with a septic tank pump station which pressurizes the flow.
Installation
A septic tank system is one of the most basic onsite wastewater treatment facilities. It is an underground watertight container (square or rectangular) that contains separate layers of liquid and solid waste. Solids that are heavier than water settle to form a sludge layer while solids that are lighter than water float to the top and form a scum layer. A septic tank also contains anaerobic bacteria that break down the organic matter in the sludge and scum layers. Once the anaerobic bacteria have done their work, only the liquid layer of wastewater leaves your septic tank through an outlet pipe to the absorption field.
A tank should be constructed of either concrete or fiberglass. A concrete tank is a more durable option, and with proper maintenance, can last 30-40 years or more. It’s a great choice for areas with stable soil conditions, while a fiberglass tank is better suited for locations that may experience a lot of ground movement over time.
Once the wastewater enters the septic tank, it flows through the inlet chamber into an outlet pipe, which is typically located below the level of the scum layer in the tank. The wastewater exits the tank into the absorption field, where it percolates through a network of perforated pipes and then into the native soil. The wastewater is treated as it seeps into the soil.
When it comes to septic tank installation, the best bet is to hire a professional company that understands the laws and regulations and has the expertise to install and inspect the entire system. There are a lot of risks involved with DIY septic system installation, and the costs of fixing mistakes and unforeseen problems far outweigh any initial savings.
The septic tank must be located on a low-lying area of the property, at least three feet from any building, driveway or water well. It is also not permitted to place a sidewalk or structure over the septic tank, as this can prevent proper function and cause hazardous situations for people using the property. The septic tank must be designed, installed and maintained in accordance with Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Title 124: Rules and Regulations for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems. Local health, environmental and zoning departments may have additional requirements.
Maintenance
A septic system that is well maintained should last 20-30 years or more, and the leach field even longer. However, improper care can mean that it will need to be replaced sooner than you might expect. Keeping the system running properly requires watching what you put into it and having it pumped at the recommended intervals. The tank should also be inspected annually and the pipes and tank lids should be checked for leaks. If the septic system is near a lake or other water source, you will need to install a backflow preventer in order to keep sewage from polluting drinking water wells and surface waters.
Wastewater from your home runs into one main pipe that leads to the septic tank. Once there, it stays in the tank for a day or so to let the solids sink down and the oil and grease float up. Once this happens the wastewater (effluent) is able to exit the septic tank and enter the drain field.
Heavy solids will form a layer of sludge at the bottom of the tank, while the grease and light solids will float to the top and make up a layer of scum. It is this scum that needs to be pumped out as part of regular maintenance, and the frequency will vary depending on how many people live in the house and what kinds of things they put down the drains.
In order to reduce the amount of sludge in the tank, homeowners should avoid putting any food scraps or coffee grounds down the drain. They should also be careful about what they flush, such as paper towels, tampons, kitty litter and plastics, and only use toilet paper that is designed to be disposed of in the system.
The septic tank should be equipped with an access port or lid at the top of it. This allows waste removal professionals to get inside the tank in order to remove sludge from the top of it. The access port should also have a riser installed so that the waste removal professional can reach the high water alarm and the septic system inspection panel, which will help them determine whether your septic tank is overflowing or not functioning properly.
Pumping
Approximately one in five homes that aren’t connected to a municipal sewer system rely on septic systems to manage their wastewater. Septic systems, also known as on-site sewage treatment systems, utilize natural and technological processes to break down wastewater from sinks, toilets, and showers before it drains into the soil drain field or leach field in your yard.
A septic tank is usually a large concrete box that holds all of the waste and wastewater that your home produces. As waste enters a septic tank, bacteria begin to decompose some of it. Oils and grease float to the top, while heavier solids settle at the bottom of the tank in a layer called sludge. The water in the middle is referred to as the “semi-treated” water.
As the bacteria continue to break down the waste, they release a gas that forms hydrogen sulfide. The hydrogen sulfide is released through an opening on the top of the septic tank, commonly known as an access port or lid.
Eventually, the bacteria will create a liquid that is fully treated and ready to be released. This is referred to as the “effluent”. The effluent is then directed through a pipe into an absorption field, also called a drain field or leach field.
An absorption field consists of perforated pipes that are set in gravel trenches. As the semi-treated wastewater makes its way through these pipes, it is absorbed into the soil underground and filtered through natural processes including soil bacteria and sand filtration.
Depending on how many people live in the home and the size of the septic tank, the system should be pumped out every two to four years. Getting the septic tank pumped on a regular basis will help ensure that the bacteria and enzymes can continue to work as effectively as possible. If the septic tank isn’t pumped regularly, the sludge and scum layers can start to build up, which will lead to a less-efficient process.