Septic tank maintenance

What is a septic tank system?

Households and communities have long been established and with their progress emerged the septic tank system. When there are people and animals living in an area, you can be sure that there are wastes that are produced on a regular basis. To properly dispose of these wastes, the septic tank system was conceived and built.

What is a septic tank system? A septic tank system is a very effective means of recycling and treating wastes or sewage that come from suburban and rural areas. It has long been used in majority of households to keep households safe and healthy. The septic tank system is used in areas where you can’t have access to sewage treatment plants. This is a personalized waste water treatment system that is why it is the homeowner’s responsibility to maintain and care for it. It’s important for septic tank systems to run properly because if they don’t diseases and contaminants will spread all throughout the household and the entire community.

The tank and the drain field are the two main components of the septic tank system. The tank collects and stores the household waste water until the solid wastes are separated from the liquid effluent. When the clear liquid effluent is ready, it disperses into the drain field where the final phase of treatment takes place. If the tank has anaerobic bacteria to break down the solid wastes, the drain field has aerobic bacteria to digest the minute traces of solid wastes and the bio-mat to purify the effluent before it returns to the surrounding environment.

What is a septic tank system? A septic system is designed and built according to the number of people that live in your household. Its tank should be large enough to accommodate the entire household. Its components should fit the system as well. The drain field should have up 2-5 trenches that should be about 3 feet in width, 9 feet away from each other, and 2-3 feet in depth. There should be a layer of gravel that is a foot thick, surrounding perforated pipes. The drain field is vital because it purifies the effluent before it reaches the surrounding water systems like the estuaries, ponds, lakes, and rivers. The soil in the drain field holds onto the pathogens and contaminants until they are killed off. It could also store nitrogen and phosphorous.

The septic tank system should only be installed in soil that has good percolation rate. If the soil is not able to readily absorb and purify the effluent, then there would surely be a pooling of wastewater on the property and in the home. When this happens, there will surely be health and environmental problem to deal with. There may also be cases when the soil could absorb the effluent too fast that it won’t be purified anymore. As a result, the effluent will contaminate the groundwater. Soils that are best for septic tank systems are those that are thick, sloping, and permeable. They should be red, yellow, or brown with gray spots that are not to soft and not to sandy. To be sure that your property has the right kind of soil for the septic tank system, you could have the local health or environmental sanitation department test the soil.

To have a septic tank system installed in your property, you have to secure a permit from the local health department. It should meet the standards of the department to make sure that the surrounding water systems will not be contaminated.

When you finally have your own septic tank system installed, you have to make sure that it is well-maintained and cared for. You can do this by:

  • Not dumping non-biodegradable materials and grease into the system
  • Lessen your water load
  • Lessen the use of the garbage disposal unit
  • Know the exact location of your septic tank system
  • Follow the regular pump out schedule
  • Do not plant trees or woody plants over the area
  • Do not place vehicles or constructions over it

Now you know what is a septic tank system? Work with your septic expert to care for your septic tank system. You need it to have the ideal living environment for your family for decades to come.

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