Septic Tanks - How They Work

is it safe to have a vegetable garden in or close to the septic drainfield?

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?

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.

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

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

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

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?

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

Hi Tim,
In the article you mention that a septic tank must be sized according to the number of people in the home, how is this done?, what size and lenght must the pipes be, amount of pipes used and how many holes of what size per pipe, size of the stones used in the trenches, your help will be most welcome.

Regards

Andrew

Hello, I have a home that sits on 1 acre. This home has not been lived in for 4 years. No activity at all, no water etc. I am planning on moving into the home. I need a recomendation. Shout this tank be cleaned first or should I use it and add water etc for 6 months or so before having it cleaned. I do not want any prob;ems with it. 2 adults will be living there and I just disconnected the washer from the tank. Best regards Ken

I am buying a house in Ireland, which has a septic tank about 7 years old. Today there was a noticeable odour coming from what I assume are the ventilation shafts of the tank. Do septic tanks normally have ventilation shafts? Also, is it normal for them to have an odour? Don