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~Environmentally Safe
~Digests & Liquifies Solids
~Prevents Costly Pumping Service
~Maintains Septic System at Proper PH
~Controls Total Suspended Solids
~Keeps F.O.G. Levels in Compliance
~Restores Drains to Original Diameter
~Removes the Source of Septic Odors
~Restores Clogged Inlets
~Effective on Mound Systems
~Reactivates Septic Systems
~Shocks Clogged Drain Fields
~Renews Leach Fields
~Solves Problems Before They Occur
~Restores Failed Cesspools
~Highest Bacteria Count Available
~Eliminates Food Source for Drain Flies
~Eliminates Emergency Pumping
~Restores Drain Lines
~No Need For Drain Jetting
~Eradicates Septic Tank Smell
~Controls Pollutant Discharge
~Extends Life of Drains & Fixtures
~Track Record of Success~Restores & Maintains Septic Systems
~Extends Intervals of Septic Service
~Extends Life of Septic Installations
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SEPTIC TANK 101
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A septic tank is a key component of the septic system, a small-scale sewage treatment system common in areas with no connection to main sewage
pipes provided by local governments or private corporations. (Other components, typically mandated and/or restricted by local governments, optionally
include pumps, alarms, sand filters, and clarified liquid effluent disposal meanssuch as a septic drain field, ponds, natural stone fiber filter plants or
peat moss beds.) Septic systems are a type of On-Site Sewage Facility (OSSF).
In North America, approximately 25% of the population relies on septic tanks; this can include suburbs and small towns as well as rural areas
(Indianapolis is an example of a large city where many of the city's neighborhoods are still on separate septic systems). In Europe, they are in general
limited to rural areas only.The term "septic" refers to the anaerobic bacterial environment that develops in the tank and that decomposes or mineralizes the waste discharged into the tank. Septic tanks can be coupled with other on-site wastewater treatment units such asbiofilters or aerobic systems involving artificial forced aeration.[1]
Periodic preventive maintenance is required to remove the irreducible solids that settle and gradually fill the tank, reducing its efficiency. Eventually
solids will completely fill the tank and enter the field drains and destroy their effectiveness leading to costly repairs.
Contents[hide] |
[edit]Description
A septic tank generally consists of a tank (or sometimes more than one tank) of between 4000 and 7500 liters (1,000 and 2,000 gallons) in size
connected to an inlet wastewater pipe at one end and a septic drain field at the other. In general, these pipe connections are made via a T pipe,
which allows liquid entry and exit without disturbing any crust on the surface. Today, the design of the tank usually incorporates two chambers (each
of which is equipped with a manhole cover), which are separated by means of a dividing wall that has openings located about midway between the
floor and roof of the tank.
Wastewater enters the first chamber of the tank, allowing solids to settle and scum to float. The settled solids are anaerobically digested, reducing
the volume of solids. The liquid component flows through the dividing wall into the second chamber, where further settlement takes place, with the
excess liquid then draining in a relatively clear condition from the outlet into the leach field, also referred to as a drain field or seepage field,
depending upon locality.
The remaining impurities are trapped and eliminated in the soil, with the excess water eliminated through percolation into the soil (eventually
returning to the groundwater), through evaporation, and by uptake through the root system of plants and eventualtranspiration. A piping network,
often laid in a stone-filled trench (see weeping tile), distributes the wastewater throughout the field with multiple drainage holes in the network. The
size of the leach field is proportional to the volume of wastewater and inversely proportional to the porosity of the drainage field. The entire septic
system can operate by gravity alone or, where topographic considerations require, with inclusion of a lift pump. Certain septic tank designs include
siphons or other methods of increasing the volume and velocity of outflow to the drainage field. This helps to load all portions of the drainage pipe
more evenly and extends the drainage field life by preventing premature clogging.
An Imhoff tank is a two-stage septic system where the sludge is digested in a separate tank. This avoids mixing digested sludge with incoming
sewage. Also, some septic tank designs have a second stage where the effluent from the anaerobic first stage is aerated before it drains into
the seepage field.
Waste that is not decomposed by the anaerobic digestion eventually has to be removed from the septic tank, or else the septic tank fills up and
undecomposed wastewater discharges directly to the drainage field. Not only is this bad for the environment but, if the sludge overflows the septic
tank into the leach field, it may clog the leach field piping or decrease the soil porosity itself, requiring expensive repairs.
How often the septic tank has to be emptied depends on the volume of the tank relative to the input of solids, the amount of indigestible solids,
and the ambient temperature (as anaerobic digestion occurs more efficiently at higher temperatures). The required frequency varies greatly depending
on jurisdiction, usage, and system characteristics. Some health authorities require tanks to be emptied at prescribed intervals, while others leave it
up to the determination of the inspector. Some systems require pumping every few years or sooner, while others may be able to go 10–20 years
between pumpings. Contrary to what many believe, there is no "rule of thumb" for how often tanks should be emptied. An older system with an
undersize tank that is being used by a large family will require much more frequent pumping than a new system used by only a few people.
Anaerobic decomposition is rapidly re-started when the tank re-fills.
A properly designed and normally operating septic system is odor-free and, besides periodic inspection and pumping of the septic tank, should last
for decades with no maintenance.
A well-designed and -maintained concrete, fiberglass, or plastic tank should last about 50 years.[2]
[edit]Potential problems
- Excessive dumping of cooking oils and grease can cause the inlet drains to block. Oils and grease are often difficult to degrade and can cause odor
- problems and difficulties with the periodic emptying.
- Flushing non-biodegradable items such as cigarette butts and hygiene products such as sanitary napkins, tampons, and cotton buds/swabs will
- rapidly fill or clog a septic tank; these materials should not be disposed of in this way.
- The use of garbage disposers for disposal of waste food can cause a rapid overload of the system and early failure.
- Certain chemicals may damage the components of a septic tank, especially pesticides, herbicides, materials with high concentrations of bleach or
- caustic soda (lye) or any other inorganic materials such as paints or solvents.
- Roots from trees and shrubbery growing above the tank or the drainfield may clog and/or rupture them.
- Playgrounds and storage buildings may cause damage to a tank and the drainage field. In addition, covering the drainage field with an impervious
- surface, such as a driveway or parking area, will seriously affect its efficiency and possibly damage the tank and absorption system.
- Excessive water entering the system will overload it and cause it to fail. Checking for plumbing leaks and practicing water conservation will help the
- system's operation.
- Very high rainfall, rapid snow-melt, and flooding from rivers or the sea can all prevent a drain field from operating and can cause flow to back up
- and stop the normal operation of the tank.
- Over time, biofilms develop on the pipes of the drainage field, which can lead to blockage. Such a failure can be referred to as "biomat failure".
- Septic tanks by themselves are ineffective at removing nitrogen compounds that have potential to cause algal blooms in receiving waters; this can
- be remedied by using a nitrogen-reducing technology,[3] or by simply ensuring that the leach field is properly sited to prevent direct entry of effluent
- into bodies of water.
- Not all varieties of toilet paper have been suitable for disposal in a septic tank, as some in the past did not deteriorate sufficiently (or, at least at
- some points in history, some toilet paper was specifically marked as suitable for use in septic systems and some was not).[citation needed]
[edit]Environmental issues
Some pollutants, especially sulfates, under the anaerobic conditions of septic tanks, are reduced to hydrogen sulfide, a pungent and toxic gas.
Likewise, methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is another by-product. Nitrates and organic nitrogen compounds are reduced to ammonia. Because of
the anaerobic conditions, fermentation processes take place, which ultimately generate carbon dioxide and methane.
The fermentation processes cause the contents of a septic tank to be anaerobic with a low redox potential, which keeps phosphates in a soluble and,
thus, mobilized form. Because phosphates can be the limiting nutrient for plant growth in many ecosystems, the discharge from a septic tank into the
environment can trigger prolific plant growth including algal blooms, which can also include blooms of potentially toxic cyanobacteria.
Soil capacity to retain phosphorus is large compared with the load through a normal residential septic tank. An exception occurs when septic drain fields are located in sandy or coarser soils on property adjoining a water body. Because of limited particle surface area, these soils can become saturated with phosphates. Phosphates will progress beyond the treatment area, posing a threat of eutrophication to surface waters.[4]
In areas with high population density, groundwater pollution levels often exceed acceptable limits. Some small towns are facing the costs of building
very expensive centralized wastewater treatment systems because of this problem, owing to the high cost of extended collection systems.
To slow development, building moratoriums and limits on the subdivision of property are often imposed. Ensuring existing septic tanks are functioning properly can also be helpful for a limited time, but becomes less effective as a primary remediation strategy as population density increases.
Trees in the vicinity of a concrete septic tank have the potential to penetrate the tank as the system ages and the concrete begins to develop cracks
and small leaks. Tree roots can cause serious flow problems due to plugging and blockage of drain pipes, but the trees themselves tend to grow
extremely vigorously due to the continuous influx of nutrients into the septic system.
[edit]See Also
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[edit]References
- ^
- ^
- ^ Residential nutrient reduction
- ^ Craig G. Cogger.
[External links
- The Septic Systems Information Website - Inspecting, Testing, Designing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems
- Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
- Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
- Septic System Educational Diagrams
• oracwa.org
SEPTIC INFO ARTICLES - Online Articles on Septic Systems - ST/SAS Septic Tanks & Soil Absorption Systems
We give in-depth information about conventional septic tanks, septic digesters, drain fields, soakaway beds, reed beds, seepage pits, cesspools, drywells, soakpits, and also septic pipes, and septic waste handling. We describe and explain the need for and how to install alternative septic system designs for problem sites where the need is to save water or where it is difficult to dispose of septic waste. We include tables for septic tanks: pumping frequency, septic tank size, septic tank design, and clearances between septic systems, wells, and other site features and boundaries.
This page organizes and links to our detailed septic system inspection, test, repair, and design articles, including our online septic systems book. Septic testing class presentations, septic system photos, septic system design sketches, septic care tables, links to products and consultants are provided.
"How-To" Articles at our Septic System Information Website are in these groups: (these links are also at page left)
- SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS, septic maintenance and septic care instructions for home owners and home buyers; steps to take when buying a home with a septic tank and septic fields, and basics septic system information about: |
Septic soil & percolation tests, septic tank size, septic tank depth, septic tank tees, filters, graywater, clearances septic system to other site features, drainfield size, drainfield shape, tank pumping frequency, tank pumping procedure, tank repair, septic treatments & chemicals, steep slope systems - SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN ALTERNATIVES, septic system designs, designers, suppliers & products for Aerobic, Alternating Bed, Biogas, Cesspools, Disinfection, Drywellos, Evaporation-Transpiration, Filters, Fixed-Film, Gravelless, Greywater, Lagoon, Latrines, Media Filter, Mound, Outhouses, Pressure dosing, raised bed, sand bed, sequencing batch reactor, sewage treatment, toilet alternatives, vegetative submerged bed, wastewater treatment, & wetland septic systems
- Septic System Design & Installation articles on how to design a septic system.
- Septic System Inspection & Testing, how to find and diagnose septic system problems
- Septic System Maintenance & Repair, septic system care, maintenance, repair or replacement procedures and products
- Septic Component & Product Suppliers provides lists of suppliers and repair experts for septic systems
- Septic Videos: "how to" videos describe how to find the septic tank, how to find the drainfield, dealing with septic pump alarms, and other septic system inspection, maintenance, and repair tutorials in short videos hosted at You Tube
We discuss just about every septic system topic and product at this website: septic tank and septic system drainfield or soakaway bed design, septic tank size, septic tank pumping frequency, septic tank cleaning, and septic tank inspection.
We also discuss cesspools and drywells, aerobic septic systems, septic system repairs, treatments, and additives or chemicals. If you find that something is missing from this website just CONTACT us and ask for it.
"Septic tanks" are what home owners or home buyers think of when buying or maintaining a home with a private septic system. But we should be thinking about the whole septic system - since the drain field or leach field makes up half of a typical septic system cost.
Septic tank care and septic tank cleaning need to be done on a regular frequency (we provide a septic tank pumping schedule table) in order to avoid ruining the drainfield.
Septic tank maintenance is not enough. Proper septic system design for the level of usage and soil conditions is critical if the system is going to have a long useful life. We are also quite concerned with septic system health and safety since there are potential collapse hazards which can be fatal, and there are bacterial and pathogen hazards for both site occupants and for the environment if a septic system is not working properly.
The articles listed at this website form an extensive guide to septic systems care, inspection, testing, and installation. We welcome questions and suggestions for content.
Information for Home Buyers or Owners
Septic System Basics - How Septic Systems Work, Septic Inspection, Septic Maintenance, Septic Repairs
- Abandoned or New Septic System inspection & testing suggestions
- Additives & Chemicals products for septic system maintenance. Are septic products needed? Are septic treatments legal?
- Alternating Bed Septic Systems may provide a retrofit repair for a failing drainfield or a means of extending drainfield life
- Alternative Designs for septic systems with problem sites, poor soil percolation, limited space: aerobic, dosing, evaporation, gravelless, greywater, lagoon, media filter, septic filters, mounds, raised beds, waterless toilets
- Abandoning a Septic Tank - Guide - how to safely find & abandoned unused septic tanks, cesspools, drywells
- AGE of PLUMBING MATERIALS & FIXTURES including piping, plumbing fixtures, septic systems, cesspools, drainfields
- Backups and Clogged Drains diagnosing septic backups and septic system failures versus clogged drains - key step in septic repair
- Backup Prevention: extra steps to avoid a septic backup such as during a party or when you anticipate heavy use of the septic system
- Backup Repair: what to do when the toilets or drains are backing up
- Basic Designs for septic systems, tank size, field size, design notes
- BIOGAS PRODUCTION & USE describes the production and use of methane produced by sewage or manure
- Buy Septic Books Online at Amazon.com - books for septic system design. septic system education materials
- Buyer's Guide Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems inspection & testing - what to do, step by step to inspect and test a septic system when buying a home
- Biomat Formation in the Septic System Drainfield Absorption System - what leads to drain field clogging and expensive drainfield repairs
- Blocked Drain Repair Methods - do-it-yourself steps you can try to clear a clogged drain before calling a professional plumber
- Cesspools home buyer's or Owner's cesspool maintenance advice
- Cesspool Safety warnings about cesspool, drywell, seepage pit collapse dangers
- Contaminants in Sewage which may be released from sewage spills from residential septic systems and wastewater disposal systems
- Curtain drains or intercept drains can protect septic drainfields in areas of wet soils or surface and subsurface groundwater
- Design Guide for Septic Systems complete list of detailed "how to" articles
- Distribution Box - Septic D-BOX Inspection provides for help in finding and inspecting the septic system drainfield distribution box Designs for Septic Systems - Master List of Septic System Designs & Types, named and described
- Distribution Box - Septic D-BOX Inspection provides for help in finding and inspecting the septic system drainfield distribution box
- Distances & Clearances from septic system components to other site features, property boundaries, waterways, etc. - Avoid property being declared insalubrious or uninhabitable due to septic system space or function problems.
- Don't Flush these things into a septic system: a list of what's ok and what's not ok to put into septic tanks and building drains
- Don't Pump Before Testing Septic Systems: warnings for home buyers about septic tank pumping
- Drain Clogs, Slow Drainage: how to diagnose & repair slow or clogged drains; find out if the problem is in a drain or in the septic system, a key step in septic repair
- Drain Noises: may indicate defective or clogged plumbing: how to diagnose and cure drain sounds
- Drain Line Replacement diagnosing a clogged drain leads to drain line replacement - step by step photo-illustrated guide to drain replacement
- Drainfield Layout: septic drainfield or leaching bed shape and placement considerations
- SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LOCATION: how to find the septic drain field or leaching bed
- Driving or Parking over Septic Components? is it ever acceptable to drive or park over septic system piping, tanks, or drainfields?
- DRYWELL DESIGN & USES home buyer's or owner's advice for drywell installation, testing, and maintenance Definitions of septic system terms, an online septic system dictionary
- Drawing Library © drawings of septic system components, fields, layouts. These are educational, not engineering drawings and are © protected. Sample engineering drawings and plans wanted for the website.
- Filters for Septic Tanks & Graywater to protect septic drainfields and reduce drainfield clogging
- FLOODED SEPTIC SYSTEMS, REPAIR - what to do after a septic system has been exposed to flooding, key septic maintenance and repair tips
- Garbage Grinders and garbage disposal units - effects on septic systems and septic maintenance requirements
- Gases, Septic Methane and other septic system gas hazards such as hydrogen sulfide
- Grazing, Animals Over Septic Fields, is it a problem?
- Inspection & Testing of Septic Systems complete list of detailed "how to" articles
- Septic Inspection Types & Levels - describes the parameters of visual inspections, tank and field inspections, dye tests
- Septic Inspection Worksheets for use with various types and levels of onsite septic inspection and testing
- Septic Inspection Book - online text describes septic system inspection, diagnosis, repair, design
- Septic Inspection Course - online documents
- Life Expectancy of Septic Systems and septic system components
- Maintenance & Repair of Septic Systems complete list of detailed "how to" articles
- Neighboring Septic System Problems - advice for dealing with a neighboring septic system producing odors or seepage
- OUTHOUSES & LATRINES - types, design, inspection, safety warnings
- Outhouse or Latrine Fire and Explosion - methane gas explosion and fire
- Planting Over Septic Systems: trees, shrubs, gardens, groundcover over or near the septic system: what can you plant over or near septic system components without causing a problem?
- Planting Gardens Near Septics, vegetables, fruits, other types of gardens
- Pumps Septic pumps, sewage ejector pumps, grinder pumps, effluent pumps, sump pumps, & septic pumping stations compared; pump alarms. Advice.
- Reference Books, Codes, Design Guides for septic system maintenance, repair, design, installation
- Septic & Cesspool Safety - septic system, septic tank, & cesspool safety warnings for septic inspectors, septic pumpers, and homeowners.
- SEWAGE & SEPTIC CONTAMINANTS - what contaminants are found in sewage or septic effluent
- SEWAGE CONTAMINANTS in FRUIT / VEGETABLES - is it OK for you eat fruits and vegetables grown over a septic drainfield?
- Septic D-BOX Inspection provides for help in finding and inspecting the septic system drainfield distribution box
- Septic Tank Abandonment Guide - how to safely find & abandoned unused septic tanks, cesspools, drywells
- Septic Tank Depth - how deep will we find or install a septic tank
- SEPTIC TANK GRASS or SNOWMELT - what is the significance of greener grass over the septic tank, brown grass over the septic tank, or melting snow over the septic tank or drainfield?
- Septic Tank Inspection Procedure - how to inspect septic tanks and evaluate the septic tank condition, baffles, sludge levels, damage, evidence of septic failure, etc.
- Septic Tank Leaks can prevent a valid septic loading and dye test and can damage the drainfield
- Septic Tank Location - How to Find the Septic Tank, how deep will the cover be, how to document its location
- Septic Tank Pumping Frequency Guide for septic tanks: when, how, what to watch for when pumping or cleaning septic tanks
- Septic Tank Pumping Reasons why relying on the septic tank pumping schedule table or advice from pumping contractors isn't enough
- Septic Tank Pumping Procedure step by step photo guideline of how to pump and clean a septic tank - septic tank care
- Septic Tank Size: septic tank size and capacity vs. usage determine the required septic tank size, calculate size of an existing septic tank
- Septic Tank Types: characteristics and inspection guide for steel, concrete, plastic, fiberglass, and home made septic tanks
- Sewage Odors in Wet or Cold Weather - Septic Odors or Sewage Odor Diagnosis & Repair Guide for diagnosing and eliminating cold weather sewer gas odors
- Sewage Levels in Septic Tanks - what are normal and abnormal sewage levels in septic tanks and what do they mean about tank condition, leaks, etc.
- Sewage Pump Clog Damage - list of items that clog and damage or destroy different types of sewage pumps, grinder pumps, and ejector pumps
- Sewer Gas Odors diagnosing, finding, and curing septic tank and sewer line smells
- Sewer Gas - Methane and other septic system gas explosion or asphyxiation hazards such as hydrogen sulfide
- Sewer Line Replacement diagnosing a clogged drain leads to drain line replacement - step by step photo-illustrated guide to drain replacement
- SINKHOLES, WARNING SIGNS - sudden collapses in soils or yards may be a sign of dangerous sink-holes as well as dangerous septic component collapses
- Steep Slope Septic Designs - how to install sewer lines from building to septic tank; how to install septic drainfields, leach field systems at steep or sloped sites.
- Swimming Pool Clearance distance to septic components
- Ten Steps to Keeping a Septic System Working, septic maintenance suggestions from the U.S. EPA, edits with additions by DJF
- TOILET ALTERNATIVES camping toilets, chemical toilets, emergency-use toilets, waterless toilets, graywater systems, composting toilets, home health care toilets, incinerating toilets, outhouses, and latrines.
- TOILET OVERFLOW EMERGENCY: how to stop a toilet from overflowing
- TOILET REPAIR GUIDE - how to diagnose and fix problems with toilets
- What is a Septic System? An Engineer's View & Septic System FAQ's
- When Not to Pump a Septic Tank to avoid damage, unsafe conditions, or wasting money. Don't pump the tank right before a septic test.
Directory Lists of Septic System Parts & Supplies
- Aerobic Septic System Products Directory List
- Filters, Septic Filters & Wastewater Treatment Systems Using Filtration Methods Products Directory
- Gravelless Leach Field Septic Systems Products Directory List
- Other Septic Wastewater Treatment Products List
- Plumbers & Septic Repair Companies List
- Septic Effluent Distribution Products Directory List
- Septic Tanks septic tank supplier
- Toilets, Composting Toilets, Biological Toilets, No-water/Low water toilets, Waterless toilets, Chemical Toilets, Incinerating Toilets and related products list
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