#SEPTIC TANK AND DRAIN FIELD LAYOUT SERIES#

There are three (3) resulting layers: the top layer is composed of oil, fat, and grease that float above all the waste. The collected wastewater inside the septic tank needs to undergo the separation of solid and liquid wastes. To reiterate, water and waste from every toilet and drain in your home or building make their way into your septic tank, where it remains long enough for a crucial process to be completed. Wastewater comes into the septic tank through the main sewer pipe from the home or facility, as shown in Illustration 1. The inlet pipe is basically the tank’s connection to the house or building it serves. It is fitted with two main pipes (as inlet and outlet). Made of concrete, plastic, fiberglass, or steel, septic tanks are the first and most important component in a septic system’s treatment process. Overview of a Typical Septic System Call Septic Service Pros 1.85 For Service or Request a Quote The Septic Tank: A Closer Look Putting it all together, below is a simple diagram of a typical domestic septic system: If a drainfield is overloaded with excessive liquid (from rainwater or surface run-off), it can flood, causing sewage to flow to your ground’s surface and/or sewage back-ups in your toilets, sinks, or drains. The soil receives, treats, and disperses this further-treated wastewater as it percolates through it, naturally removing harmful bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens, before finally discharging to groundwater.īelow is an overview of a simple drain field:

#SEPTIC TANK AND DRAIN FIELD LAYOUT SERIES#

The pretreated effluent is discharged through a series of perforated pipes onto porous surfaces that allow the effluent to filter through the soil. The drain-field is a shallow (covered) excavation ideally in unsaturated soil. The middle liquid layer (effluent) then exits the tank and into the drain field. Illustration 2: Wastewater Inlet Flow into Septic Tank how septic system how it works – diagram 1 Illustration. Its function is to store the wastewater long enough to allow solid wastes to settle down to the base of the tank (sludge layer) and lighter wastes, like oil and grease, float to the top (scum layer).Ī T-shaped outlet prevents the sludge and scum from exiting the tank and traveling into the drain field. The septic tank is a water-tight container usually made of concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene typically buried underground. Call Septic Service Pros 1.85 For Service or Request a Quote How Your House Flows into your Septic System – Understand the parts of a septic system Illustration 1. The relatively clearer middle layer, referred to as effluent, is then discharged from the septic tank into a series of perforated pipes buried in the connected drain field, chambers, or other special units designed to slowly release the treated effluent into the soil.Īll wastewater runs out of your house or facility through one main drainage pipe connected to your septic tank. It is also in the tank where the primary digestion of organic matter is affected. Heavier solid waste settles to the bottom of the tank as sludge and the lighter waste (like grease, fat, etc.) floats to the top to form the scum layer. It is in the septic tank where the separation of solid and liquid wastes present in wastewater happens. In a nutshell, a conventional septic system consists of a septic tank and a septic drain field (also known as a leach field or soil absorption field). Call Septic Service Pros 1.85 For Service or Request a Quote How Does a Septic System Work? Simple yet effective, these tank-and-soil absorption systems remove solid matter from wastewater and send the treated wastewater into the ground, where filtration, helpful microbial activity, and time all work together to render clean water safe for release to the environment. These systems use a combination of nature and reliable technology to treat wastewater from the household’s or building’s plumbing coming from its bathrooms, kitchen drains, and laundry. Septic systems are dedicated on-site wastewater treatment structures, typically relied on by properties situated in rural areas with no centralized sewer system access available. How does your septic tank work? - A Guide to How A Septic System Works What is a Septic System? Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning we may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post if you purchase a product through one of our links.

Septic tank and drain field layout