The size of your septic tank will vary depending on the size of your home the estimated number of inhabitants. Local regulations will dictate the size of tank required for the home based on this estimated number of inhabitants. A 1,000-gallon tank is a very common size for a standard size home.
The tank is built to be watertight and may be constructed of concrete, steel, fiberglass or plastic. The tank will also have an access cover on the top of the tank. The cover is generally buried until access is required for septic tank pumping or other maintenance issues. The tank will located several feet away from the home, as per local codes. It will also be located a proper distance from the home’s well as dictated by local health regulations.
The tank will be gravity fed through sewage lines from the house. As the waste fills the tank, the solid waste settles to the lower portion of the tank where bacteria immediately begin the decomposition process. The wastewater that has separated from the solid waste continues its journey downward through the septic system via gravity to the distribution box. From their the water is dispersed into the numerous trenches of the drain field of a conventional septic system.
The most critical purpose of the septic tank is the separation and decomposition of the solid waste. If the solid waste is not able to separate and settle to the lower part of the tank, solid waste can end up clogging the distribution box and/or drain field. The active work of bacteria in the tank to decompose the solid waste is also critical. When operating properly, bacteria can eliminate up to 90% of the solid waste that comes into the tank.
