Septic Tanks - How They Work
Summary: Your septic tank will work for years with proper septic tank care. Septic tanks need proper sizing and to be kept free of harsh chemicals.
DEAR TIM: I recently purchased a home with a septic tank. Prior to this, all of my houses had public sewers. How in the world do these things work? Should I be concerned with what I put down my drains? What about maintenance, is it required? Bea S., Sugartown, PA
DEAR BEA: Don't worry about a thing, septic tanks are fairly common. Your household as well as approximately 25 million others in the USA rely on these simple, yet highly efficient systems to treat household wastewater. Septic systems, when designed, installed, and maintained properly do a fantastic job of protecting your family's health and that of the environment.
A typical household septic system consists of two major components: the septic tank and the drainfield. Wastewater from your house travels, in most cases, by gravity to the septic tank. The tank's main purpose is to detain the wastewater for 1 - 2 days. It uses this time to separate solids, greases, oils, and floating objects from the wastewater. Bacteria within the tank starts to attack and break down the waste immediately.
Although the bacteria does a good job, it can't eat everything. Septic tanks develop a layered look. Scum floats on the top, partially treated wastewater is in the middle, and sludge settles at the bottom.
After its 1 - 2 day stay, the partially treated wastewater leaves the tank. If everything is working right, virtually all of the solids have settled out of the water. The wastewater now heads for the drain field. This area is comprised of a series of interconnected pipes that lie in sand or gravel filled trenches. The pipes are perforated. The wastewater exits the perforations and enters the soil. The soil acts as a biological filter. Oxygen and organisms in the soil combine to break down any remaining toxins, bacteria, or viruses in the wastewater.
Septic tanks must be sized in accordance with the number of people in the household. Tanks with too little capacity allow the wastewater to enter the drain field too quickly. Solid particles that were supposed to settle into the tank are inadvertently carried into the drain field. These tiny solid particles can clog the sand, gravel and soil filters in the drain field. If this happens, your septic tank can backup and/or the drain field can become flooded with untreated wastewater. Both of these situations are unsanitary and pose serious health risks to you and the environment.
The beneficial bacteria that break down waste inside the septic tank can be stimulated if they get a dose of oxygen every week or so. The oxygen enhances their growth and more bacteria simply means more rapid breakdown of waste particles. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to pour 4 ounces of powdered oxygen bleach into a toilet and flush it immediately. Do this two times a week and your septic system will silently thank you.
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from Tim: Years ago while researching a column about cleaning decks, I discovered the wonders of Oxygen Bleach. It is perhaps the 'greenest' cleaner I know of as it uses oxygen ions to break apart stains, dirt and odor molecules. There are no harsh chemicals, and it works on just about anything that is water washable. I decided to create my own special blend using ingredients made in the USA. In fact, the raw materials in the active ingredient are food-grade quality registered with the FDA. I call my product Stain Solver. I urge you to use it to help maintain your septic system. You will be amazed at the results! |
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Comments:
carol 27 Jul 2008, 09:56
is it safe to have a vegetable garden in or close to the septic drainfield?
bg 15 Aug 2008, 14:51
Tim:
if wastewater is the middle layer in the septic tank, how does it make its way to the drainfield when you have a top layer? Also, the purpose of the 1-2 days stay is so that the waste can separate into the layers, but isn't the layers constantly being stirred with new waste coming in?
Stan 16 Aug 2008, 19:31
No food scraps, coffee grinds or washing machine lint? Does that mean no
garbage disposal, kitchen sink or washing machine drainage? Where does
that water go?
How about the brine discharge from a water softener? We were thinking of buying a summer home in Washington, but after reading this we are going to be very limited to only those areas with sewers. Thanks.
Danie 17 Dec 2008, 19:03
Dear Sir,
I have a hot water cylinder with the inlet and outlet both at the top of the cylinder. How do I know were to fit the cold and hot water. There is now markings to indicate the hot or cold inlets. Thank You Danie
Sarah 27 Mar 2009, 19:52
We are inheriting an old property with a septic tank. In the yard a bit
away from the house is a large ugly pond with fencing around it and grown
over with brush and trees. My husband says he thinks that's where the
septic tank water comes out and that it has our waste in it. He called it a
lagoon... Is that supposed to be there?
Sarah
Richard 19 May 2009, 04:54
In reference to introducing oxygen into the septic tank, does this not
interefere with the anaerobic treatment procces in the septic tank? I
thought that the anaerobic process takes place in the septic tank, followed
by aerobic process in the drain fiedl.
Regards, Richard
Danielle 15 Jun 2009, 17:29
I am renting an old house that uses a septic tank. The first year i moved
in it had to be pumped. The lid is exposed and the solids in the tank
started pushing it off. I aksed the land lord and his brother next door but
they both said that they never need pumped. I called and had it pumped
anyway, ever year at around the same time, water starts coming out of the
top of the tank. Every year I have had it pumped, why does it do this? i
have been told I should only have to have it pumped every 5 years or so,
but I have had to have it done every year since I have lived there. Twice
one year right after the first time. Is there something wrong with the tank
or am i doing something wrong. I believe it is a 1500 gallon and i have 6
people living in the house. Myself and my 5 kids. I live next to a
creek.Could you please help me understand why it is doing this?
dave 22 Jun 2009, 15:16
hi tim\
we have the same problem as danielle above. is there an answer posted to danielles problem... we also live near a lake right beside the sea and sometimes ti expands when it rains a lot here [west ireland] -we took a lot of rocks outof the garden soil when we were 'landscaping it too...is the local drainage of the soil important [saturation of the land] as our tank seems to be very full all the time now and a year ago there were no problems [ps the local lake used to have a drain pipe to the sea whch has recently been destroyed [the lake is about 50m from the end of the garden and septic tank...we really'd appreciate any advice as looks like we're about to be fleeced for E5000 by some recommending a new tank...! thanks tim.. dave View all comments |
