Every time you flush a toilet, wash clothes or turn on a faucet, all of the water and its waste flows and goes directly into the tank. The tank then digests organic matter and separates oil, grease and solids from the wastewater. All systems possess a polyethylene or concrete tank that generally consists of a large buried cylindrical container. All systems typically comprise of a tank and a soil absorption field or a drain field.
Over the years, you need to make sure that cleaning and tank repair is carried out from time to time. It is imperative to know when you have to have the septic tank serviced as pumping needs to be carried out effectively.
Knowing how your tank works is key to preventing associated problems. If you have any queries, you can always contact Liberty Septic and get answers to all your questions regarding the tank and tank problems.
How Does A Septic System Work?
If you are wondering how a septic system works, here is some information that will give you more knowledge about the working of your tank.
• All of the water from your house travels from the main drainage pipe into the tank.
• The tank holds the wastewater for a duration that is long enough to allow the solids to settle down at the bottom forming sludge. The grease and oil float right to the top as scum.
• The wastewater then proceeds to exit the tank and enter the drain field which is a shallow excavation formed in unsaturated soil.
• Pretreated wastewater is let out into porous surfaces through the help of pipes. It allows wastewater to filter through the soil.
• The wastewater seeps through the soil and discharges into groundwater. The wastewater goes into the soil and as it does so, it slowly does away with harmful viruses, coliform bacteria and other nutrients.
What Happens If Your Septic System Fails?
Septic tank problems can arise due to many reasons. If wastewater cannot seep into the soil under the drain field bed, the sewage may back up into the system and can cause sewage backing up into the house or wastewater lying in puddles on the ground.
This can occur as a result of:
• Too much water usage
• Improper soil conditions
• Septic system failures or a high water table
• Physical destruction to septic tank systems
• A change in the nearby landscape where the system is installed.
It is important to carry out septic pumping and septic tank service on a regular basis to avoid backflow of sewage or septic tank leaks.
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