Septic System Anatomy Video
VIDEO SUMMARY
Am I glad you are here today! Guess what I discovered? I found a septic system that is being installed and it hasn’t been covered over with dirt. The inspector is coming tomorrow, so it is a great opportunity for me to show you the basic components of a septic system. The septic system consists of the septic tank, the distribution box and the leach field.
This is the actual septic tank. It is a precast, concrete structure that a crank lowers into place. This particular one is about 750 to 1,000 gallon capacity. The waste water from the house comes directly into this tank. The tank has lids that allow you to inspect the inside of the tank. They also serve a very important service. Every three to four years, you need to have a company come in and pump out all of the solids, that have collected inside the septic tank.
The distribution box takes the waste water from the septic tank and directs it out to the leach field through four different pipes.
The leach field in this system looks a little weird because of all the concrete covering. This leach field will actually be underneath the road leading to the house. The waste water enters the leach field from the distribution box. The leach field consists of a foot thick layer of sand. The waste water filters down through the sand, where it gets cleansed of all the bacteria and pathogens. And then it flows back into the water table.
That is how simple septic systems work.
Tim Carter
COMMENTS
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FSykes 27 Oct 2008, 06:03
I have a septic tank in front of my yard. Should a septic tank have a
sump pump in it?
Felicia Sykes 27 Oct 2008, 06:13
I have a tank of some sort in my basement, someone told me it a grease
trap, don't know much myself, but I believe it a sump pump. When I have my
inspection the person said that it was my sump
pump. But no sump pump was in it and no hook up for electicity. Pls explain if possible.
Rance 18 Nov 2008, 06:24
Tim,
I ran across this waste removal system, (DAAB) Deployable Aqueous Aerobic Bioreactor for use in situations like Katrina. It seems that there are more and more requirements for 'alternative septic' systems with new rural building sites. It seems like there should be less expensive systems that could be installed than being tied to having to use a 'licensed septic crew'. I just want a DYI version that I can build and install myself, that meets the requirements for an 'alternative septic' system. I realize that each system would need a design based on the location but come on, septic systems are not rocket science.
Charles Schnepf 22 Feb 2009, 20:13
My leach field of my 1 1/2 year old septic system leaks waste water to the
surface when the lift tank pump turns on.There is 12 to 15 inches of dirt
over the field and the septic co. says they istalled it to code and the
county inspector OKed it, thus no warranty or liability for them. I
purchased the house 1 year ago during a dry period and the home warranty
excludes septic. I have limited space due to a woods with ravine behind the
house. Any ideas?
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