How the Septic System Works

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Septic systems are located under the ground. They are wastewater treatment structures that are used in rural areas that don’t have a centralized sewer system. They use advanced technology and nature to treat wastewater from household drainage by kitchen drains, bathrooms, and laundry. A standard septic system is made up of drain field and a septic tank or soil absorption field. All of that belongs to septic system parts.

The organic matter in the tank is digested and then separated from grease and oil, and other solid particles from the water. Soil-based systems release the liquid called effluent from the tank into perforated pipes found in leaching chambers, a leach field, or other units built to gradually release the effluent into surface water or soil.

 Other systems use gravity or pumps to aid the tank to effluent trickle via organic matter, sand, constructed wetlands and other alternatives to neutralize or get rid of the pollutants such as nitrogen, disease causing pathogens, phosphorus as well as other elements. Certain systems are built to disinfect it or evaporate the water before it is released to the surface waters or soil. 

Generally, the water runs out of the house from one of the drainage pipe into the tank, the tank is made of concrete, fiberglass, and a water tight container. Its main function is to accommodate wastewater for some time for the solids to settle down at the bottom, while the grease and oil floats as scum on top of the tank. There is a T-shaped outlet and compartments that prevent the sludge and scum from getting out of the tank and getting or get into the drain field area. The effluent gets out of the tank and into the drain field, which is shallow. The pretreated wastewater is released via the piping into the surfaces that let the wastewater filter via the soil.