There are four main components of a septic tank system, and all of these components must work together for the septic tank to function properly. A septic tank is a large, buried tank that collects wastewater from an individual home. The tank may hold upwards of 1,000 gallons of water depending on the size of the home. Wastewater flows into the tank at one end and leaves the tank at the other end. The water inside the septic tank separates into layers: the top layer is the scum layer, the bottom layer is the “sludge” layer, and in between these two layers is fairly clear waste water. All three of these layers inside the septic tank are important and must function properly in order for the septic tank to continually displace water into the drain field.
A drain field is an area beyond the septic tank where the fairly clear wastewater is passed and treated. The drain field is made of perforated pipes buried in trenches filled with gravel. As the water passes through the perforated pipes, water escapes through the holes in the pipes and is filtered through the gravel and dirt that is within the trenches. As the water is passed through these natural filters, contaminants and impurities are removed from the wastewater. This ensures that the wastewater that has left the house and entered the septic system is safe to enter the supply of ground water.
Although many people typically do not put a lot of thought into their septic systems and drain fields until there is a problem, a properly functioning septic system is a work of art. It performs strictly on the basis of gravity, and it naturally functions to clean the water so that it is safe to reenter the ground. With proper installation and care of a septic system, a drain field will function efficiently 25-30 years.
Posted on behalf of Septic Service Pro
