Septic Tank Systems
A septic tank is part of a small-scale sewage treatment system often referred to as a septic system. Septic systems consist of the tank itself and leach field. Depending upon regional terminology, the leach fields may be referred to as a drain field, or seepage field. Through out the rest of this article we will refer to this part of the septic system as a leach field.
Waste water enters the tank where the solids settle and the scum floats.
Anaerobic digestion occurs on the settled solids, reducing them. Excess liquid drains from the relatively clear portion of the tank into the leach field where the remaining impurities naturally decompose. A piping network, often constructed in a stone filled trench, distributes the wastewater throughout the field with multiple drainage holes in the network. Wastewater is eliminated through percolation into the soil, and eventually taken up through the root system of plants or added to the groundwater.
The size of the leach field is proportional to the volume of waste water and inversely proportional to the porosity of the leach field. The entire septic system normally operates by gravity. However, in some areas where the system would be located higher than the plumbing system, a lift pump is needed. An Imhoff tank is a two stage septic system. In this system, the sludge is digested in a separate tank. This avoids mixing sludge, or digested waste with incoming sewage. Some systems go another step farther by having a second stage where the effluent from the anaerobic first stage is aerated, before draining into the leach field.
Waste that does not decomposed by anaerobic digestion eventually has to be removed from the septic tank, if not, the septic tank fills up and waste water discharges directly into the leach field. Not only is this is bad for the environment, but could prove costly as well. If the sludge overflows the septic tank and runs into the leach field, it may damage the leach field piping requiring expensive repairs. How often the septic tank has to be pumped out 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).
Users of septic tank systems must be careful not to put excessive waste (e.g. through a kitchen food disposal unit) or non-biodegradable waste through their sewers. Excessive waste overloads the system design capacity, requiring them to be pumped out more frequently. Likewise, users of septic systems should limit water usage to the maximum extent, to avoid exceeding the capacity of the leach field. This will cause improper dispersing of the water portion of the waste.
If you have questions about installing a septic tank system or are experiencing problems with your current septic tank, call the plumbing professionals at K. Kelly, Inc. for assistance.
Waste water enters the tank where the solids settle and the scum floats.
Anaerobic digestion occurs on the settled solids, reducing them. Excess liquid drains from the relatively clear portion of the tank into the leach field where the remaining impurities naturally decompose. A piping network, often constructed in a stone filled trench, distributes the wastewater throughout the field with multiple drainage holes in the network. Wastewater is eliminated through percolation into the soil, and eventually taken up through the root system of plants or added to the groundwater.
The size of the leach field is proportional to the volume of waste water and inversely proportional to the porosity of the leach field. The entire septic system normally operates by gravity. However, in some areas where the system would be located higher than the plumbing system, a lift pump is needed. An Imhoff tank is a two stage septic system. In this system, the sludge is digested in a separate tank. This avoids mixing sludge, or digested waste with incoming sewage. Some systems go another step farther by having a second stage where the effluent from the anaerobic first stage is aerated, before draining into the leach field.
Waste that does not decomposed by anaerobic digestion eventually has to be removed from the septic tank, if not, the septic tank fills up and waste water discharges directly into the leach field. Not only is this is bad for the environment, but could prove costly as well. If the sludge overflows the septic tank and runs into the leach field, it may damage the leach field piping requiring expensive repairs. How often the septic tank has to be pumped out 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).
Users of septic tank systems must be careful not to put excessive waste (e.g. through a kitchen food disposal unit) or non-biodegradable waste through their sewers. Excessive waste overloads the system design capacity, requiring them to be pumped out more frequently. Likewise, users of septic systems should limit water usage to the maximum extent, to avoid exceeding the capacity of the leach field. This will cause improper dispersing of the water portion of the waste.
If you have questions about installing a septic tank system or are experiencing problems with your current septic tank, call the plumbing professionals at K. Kelly, Inc. for assistance.
