This is one of the reasons why a septic tank is only a basic form of sewage treatment. What is left at the bottom of the tank is what needs to be periodically removed as part of general maintenance. The third and bottom layer consists of particles that are heavier than water and form a layer of sludge.īacteria inside the tank does it's best to break down the solid waste, which then allows liquids to separate and drain away easily. The middle layer contains wastewater along with waste particles. The top layer is oils and grease and floats above all the waste. When waste water has been collected after a while it will begin to, separate into 3 layers. This pipe moves out the pre-processed wastewater from the septic tank and spreads it evenly in the soil and watercourses. It is kept here long enough so that the solid and liquid waste is separated from each other. The inlet pipe is used to transport the water waste from the house and collect it in the septic tank. A local water company will maintain & manage this.Ī septic tank will be connected with two pipes (for inlet and outlet). Septic tanks are installed underground normally 50 metres away from the household.They are usually made up of two chambers or compartments and one tank that receives wastewater from an inlet pipe.įor those that live in cities and towns septic tanks are not needed as waste water will be transported and dealt with their sewage system. They work by collecting the excreta and wastewater in one big underground tank, they are predominantly used in rural areas. Septic tank systems are a type of simple onsite sewage facility (OSSF) and only provide a basic treatment.įor homes that have poor drainage or are not connected to the mains sewage network septic tanks allow a safe disposal of wastewater. The Compartments in a septic tank and normally a T-shaped outlet prevent the sludge and scum from leaving the tank and travelling into the drain field area. It is an underground watertight container (mostly rectangular or round) made of fibre glass, plastic or concrete. What Is A Septic Tank?Ī septic tank is an underwater sedimentation tank used for waste water treatment through the process of biological decomposition and drainage.Ī septic tank makes use of natural processes & proven technology to treat wastewater from household plumbing produced by bathrooms, kitchen drains,and laundry.Ī septic tank system has a relatively simple design. In this blog we will break down what a septic tank is and how they work. If you've always lived in a house that’s been connected to the mains sewage line, chances are you won’t even have heard of a septic tank let alone know what a septic tank is. But to those house holds that do use one they are of vital importance.

Septic tanks may be an alien concept to many people.

Septic system effluent