When you buy a home with a septic system, find out the location of the tank, distribution box and absorption field. Keep these areas clear to avoid soil compaction and damage from vehicles and play structures.
The microorganisms in your septic tank digest and separate solids from wastewater. These solids sink to the bottom as sludge and lighter materials float on top as a scum layer. The clarified liquid between the scum and sludge is called effluent. Connect with Septic Tank Armadale for reliable help.
A septic tank is a large, buried, water-tight container that holds wastewater long enough to separate the solid waste. Heavy masses sink to the bottom forming sludge while oils, grease, and lighter substances float to the top forming a scum layer. Compartments and a T-shaped outlet prevent sludge and scum from leaving the septic tank, traveling down the drainfield, and polluting nearby drinking water wells or groundwater. Once the septic tank achieves this primary treatment, the liquid wastewater (called effluent) flows through a series of pipes into an absorption field for final treatment.
During the tank’s storage period, anaerobic bacteria begin digesting the sludge and breaking down organic waste. The clear liquid that results is known as effluent. An air vent in the septic tank allows for the escape of gases that form as a result of this process. These gases, mostly hydrogen sulfide, can be odoriferous.
The septic tank also contains a baffle that blocks the flow of sludge to the drainfield. This is a very important function because solid waste left in the septic tank can clog the drain lines, leading to expensive repairs and sewage leaks from your home.
Once the wastewater leaves the septic tank, it flows into a line or multiple lines made up of perforated pipe. At one end of the line is a soakaway area that cannot be used for anything else. This area of soil helps to further treat the effluent by removing impurities and pathogens.
The soakaway also provides an environment that promotes the growth of healthy bacteria that can break down the remaining organic materials in the effluent. This completes the wastewater treatment, and the clean water is then filtered through the soil into underground aquifers.
A failing septic system that isn’t regularly pumped can leave behind a thick layer of sludge in the septic tank. This can clog the drain pipes and cause sewage to overflow from your home into the surrounding soil and groundwater. It can also allow pathogens to enter drinking water wells and contaminate the food supply. Excess nutrients from untreated sewage can also pollute waterways by encouraging algae to overgrow, using up the oxygen that fish and other organisms need.
Sludge Removal
Septic tanks collect household wastewater — from toilets, kitchen and garbage disposal — from the home and hold it until solid waste sinks to the bottom of the tank, and liquids exit into a buried drain field. The septic system must be routinely inspected and pumped to avoid system failure.
Most residential septic systems have a single- or dual-chamber tank. The tank has inspection ports so that tools, cameras and people can look inside the septic system to ensure it is functioning properly. It is also important to regularly remove the septic tank lid and have it cleaned.
A septic tank is designed to encourage the heavier particles in the waste water to sink to the bottom of the septic tank, creating the sludge layer. The septic tank also allows lighter waste, such as paper and FOGs (fats, oils and greases), to rise to the top of the septic tank. The septic tank is designed to allow these lighter materials to be retained by the scum layer, while still allowing the anaerobic bacteria to continue working in an oxygen free environment.
The liquid at the center of the septic tank, called effluent, is clarified wastewater that flows out through the septic tank outlet into the drainfield. The sludge layer continues to grow with continued use of the septic tank until it reaches about 30% of the total volume of the septic tank.
A general rule of thumb is that the septic tank should be pumped when the sludge layer is 25% of the total volume of the tank. However, the septic tank manufacturer and the county health department may recommend that the septic tank be pumped before this level is reached.
If the sludge layer reaches 30% of the total tank volume, it will be too thick to be removed by a pump truck. This is when the tank will require cleaning out by a septic professional.
Keeping the sludge level down is the best way to reduce the frequency of septic tank pumping. Doing so will extend the life of your septic tank. It will also help protect nearby drinking water wells and local waterways from harmful pathogenic bacteria, as well as excess nutrients that can lead to cyanobacteria or algae blooms, which deprive the water of oxygen for fish and other organisms. This can lead to illness in humans and animals.
Venting Gases
The natural decomposition of sewage produces gases that need to be vented out of the tank. These gases include methane, hydrogen sulfide and a few others that can be toxic in high concentrations or when inhaled for long periods of time.
The vent also helps control unpleasant odors that are produced during the anaerobic breakdown of waste. It directs these odors away from living spaces so they don’t affect indoor air quality.
It also helps prevent the septic system from becoming overloaded and clogged, which can lead to problems like wastewater backing up into a home or drain field failure. A properly functioning septic tank vent will keep the pressure just right, so everything works correctly.
Septic systems are required to have a properly sized vent pipe, and homeowners should check it regularly. A professional septic contractor can inspect the size of a septic system’s vent to ensure that it meets local regulations and is working properly.
If you notice unusual odors near your septic tank, there is likely a clog or other problem with the plumbing vent system. A septic tank technician can use a power pump to clear a clogged vent or other type of septic system ventilation problem.
Other signs of a septic vent issue include strange gurgling sounds or septic tank drains that are draining more slowly than usual. If these issues are not addressed promptly, it could cause serious damage to your septic system and lead to costly repairs.
You should also be cautious around your septic tank, especially if you have small children and pets. A septic tank is filled with toxic waste and should only be entered by qualified professionals wearing personal protective equipment.
If you notice a strong odor around your septic tank, there may be a problem with the absorption field. A failing absorption field will allow water to flow back into the septic tank and cover the inlet and outlet pipes. A failing septic tank can cause wastewater to back up into a household and lead to health problems. Have a septic tank professional inspect your septic tank and absorption field to determine what the best course of action is for fixing it.
Pumping
In most cases, a pump is used to move wastewater out of your septic tank into the septic system drain field or absorption field. The wastewater is pre-treated by the septic tank before flowing into the drain field. This is done to reduce the amount of solids that are discharged into the drain field.
The septic tank is a large underground, watertight container that receives all of your household sewage. All of the waste flows into this container from your toilets, showers, and faucets. The weighty masses sink to the bottom of the tank where bacteria reduce them into sludge and gasses. The lighter masses, including oils and grease, rise to the top of the septic tank where they form a layer of scum.
To keep the septic tank operating effectively, you should do all you can to limit the amount of wastewater it receives. This can be accomplished by directing downspouts away from the tank, washing clothes over several days rather than back-to-back, and using efficient showerheads and faucets to reduce the amount of water that is used.
You also need to have your septic tank pumped periodically to remove the solids that build up and overflow into the drain field. Solids that don’t decompose inside the septic tank can enter the leach field and clog pipes, causing them to fail.
When it comes time to pump your septic tank, you need to have an experienced septic system professional do the work. They will have the proper equipment to safely and quickly pump your septic tank. When you’re working around a septic tank, it is important to wear personal protective gear. You should wear rubber gloves, safety goggles, and a dust mask to protect yourself from harmful bacteria.
Before a contractor pumps your septic tank, they should cover the septic tank with tarps and securely attach them to the septic tank. Then, they should uncover both the tank lids and inspect the septic system for problems. If your septic system has 2-compartment tanks, both compartments should be inspected and pumped. Attempting to pump only one tank will result in the other compartment filling up with solids and creating a problem later on.
