A properly designed and installed septic system is an excellent way to treat and dispose of household wastewater. However, a septic system needs to be used properly and regularly maintained or the septic system can fail and require expensive septic tank repairs or replacement.
A septic system works by accumulating household wastewater in the septic tank and holding it there long enough for most solid material to settle to the bottom of the tank where it forms the sludge layer. Greases and other materials float to the top of the tank and form the scum layer.
The wastewater in between the sludge layer and scum layer is called the effluent and is allowed to flow into the drain field where it leeches into the soil and is purified through a natural organic process. Baffles inside the septic tank prevent the scum layer from flowing into the drain field. Bacterial action helps break down the solid material at the bottom of the tank
Septic systems usually fail because the septic field becomes clogged with solid material that prevents the wastewater from seeping into the soil. Avoid flushing too much inorganic solid material down the drain such as from a garbage disposal or paper products. Failure to have the septic tank pumped when necessary can also lead to septic system failure. The level of solid material in the tank rises so high that there is no room in the tank and the solid material flows into the septic field.
Septic system failures seem to occur suddenly, but in fact the cause of the failure has usually been building up over a period of months or years. Most septic system failures can be averted through regular septic tank inspections and septic tank pumping when needed.
