When a septic system is used, wastewater goes to the septic tank, where bacteria eat away solid waste. The water that remains is called effluent. Sludge sinks to the bottom of the tank, and scum floats to the top.

Baffles separate the sludge and effluent layers in the tank. A septic tank should be pumped when the sludge layer rises above the effluent level. Contact Septic Tank Armadale now!

Usually made of concrete, fiberglass or polyethylene, a septic tank is a large buried container designed to hold wastewater long enough for solids to settle to the bottom (forming sludge) and oils and grease to float to the top (as scum). The septic tank also contains an effluent filter at its outlet pipe to keep solids from leaving the tank and clogging the leachfield.

Wastewater flows into the septic tank from household drains, through an inlet pipe. Solids sink to the bottom of the tank and undergo bacterial digestion, which reduces their volume and changes their composition. The liquid that remains, called effluent, exits the tank through the outlet pipe and flows to a dispersal system or leach field.

A septic tank is designed with two chambers, separated by a partial wall. As the waste from the house passes through, the heavier materials drop to the bottom of the tank and the liquids go over the partial wall into the smaller, second chamber. There, naturally occurring anaerobic bacteria begin breaking down the remaining waste. The gases produced by this process, such as hydrogen sulfide, are released through a vent pipe in the lid of the septic tank.

The bacteria in the septic tank work to break down waste and separate out floatable matter like oils and grease. This enables the wastewater to flow more easily through the pipe network. A filter at the septic tank’s outlet prevents most solids from entering the drainage field, and a baffle keeps the inlet pipes from becoming blocked by solids.

If the septic tank is not emptied periodically, solids will enter the drain field with the effluent and cause it to clog and overflow. This can be dangerous and unpleasant to the people living in the home, and it can also contaminate groundwater and surface water.

In addition, flushing non-biodegradable wastes into a septic system can kill the bacteria that digest and treat it. This includes cooking oil, baby wipes, cleaning products, sanitary items, cotton swabs and tampons, cat litter, cigarettes, pharmaceuticals, paint thinner and other chemicals. It is also important to only use toilet paper that can dissolve completely in water.

Sludge

Septic tanks are designed to keep wastewater from contaminating the environment. This is done by allowing solid waste materials to settle and rise, leaving a clear liquid layer at the top of the tank and a thick layer of sludge at the bottom. Sludge is created when heavier solid waste material cannot decompose and sinks to the bottom of the septic tank. The septic tank is also kept anaerobic, meaning that there is no oxygen inside the septic tank and bacteria are forced to break down the organic material in an anaerobic environment. This process takes a lot of time and can produce some unpleasant odors.

During the settling process, bacteria in the septic tank will break down biodegradable waste material into its component parts, including liquid and gaseous elements. However, the septic system is not designed to break down inorganic solids such as clay, sand, gravel, and concrete. These materials can clog the drain field, leading to sewage backups into the home.

The sludge layer is made of the heaviest waste materials in the septic tank, such as human waste and toilet paper. The sludge layer is also the location of any pathogens and other harmful organisms that survive in sewage. The septic tank sludge should be removed from the septic tank on a regular basis to prevent it from building up and becoming too dense.

As the sludge in your septic tank builds up, it will begin to overflow into the leach field, where it can clog the septic tank’s outlet pipe and contaminate the soil. This can cause bacterial overgrowth in the leach field and reduce soil porosity, which leads to costly repairs.

Some septic tank products claim to prolong periods between pumping by adding chemicals that act as tiny Pac-Men to hasten the microbial breakdown of sludge in the anaerobic septic tank. These additives may have some short-term benefits, but they can disrupt the natural ecosystem that has developed in your septic tank and introduce new bacteria to your septic system.

Absorption Field

Your wastewater from toilets, showers, bathtubs, sinks, washing machines and dishwashers (called blackwater) runs into a main drainage pipe that leads to your septic tank. Solid materials sink to the bottom of your septic tank where anaerobic bacteria start to digest them. Lighter materials, such as soap scum and greases, float to the top. The clear liquid between the sludge and scum is known as effluent and flows out through your septic tank outlet into your absorption field or septic drain field.

The absorption field is an area of soil that serves as a natural filter for the wastewater that leaves your home. Also called a septic field, a leachfield, a soil drainfield or a disposal field, the absorption field is made of a network of perforated pipes that are buried in trenches, surrounded by gravel and sand. The pipes allow the wastewater to seep into the soil, where the microorganisms in the soil destroy pathogens and break down organic waste pollutants and nutrients.

Since the absorption field is the final stage in your septic system, it’s important to have an abundant supply of healthy, uncompacted soil that can absorb the sewage waste that the septic system produces on a daily basis. If the soil is not suitable, it can lead to wastewater backups inside your home or sewage oozing from the absorption field into the ground.

To determine the capacity of your soil, a professional can dig several test holes called perc holes. They will measure the soil’s porosity and depth, and determine its ability to accept sewage. This information will help you size your absorption field, ensuring that it can handle the amount of wastewater your home generates.

Ideally, your septic tank and absorption field should be located a safe distance away from water sources such as wells, streams, lakes and rivers. Having your absorption field too close to a water source can result in pollution of the surrounding environment and contaminate the drinking water. Reduce the risk of contamination by limiting water usage, especially during times of heavy usage. This can be accomplished by using water-efficient fixtures and appliances, by fixing any plumbing leaks and by practicing water conservation.

Pumping

The septic tank is a water-tight container made of concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene. It holds the household wastewater long enough for solid waste particles to settle down, forming a layer of sludge, while oils and grease float to the top, forming scum. Bacteria inside the tank digest these materials, reducing them to liquid wastewater called effluent. An inlet baffle and a T-shaped outlet prevent sludge and scum from leaving the tank and entering the drainfield.

In order to keep wastewater moving through the system, it needs to be pumped regularly. Without pumping, the inlet and outlet tees fill with solid waste that can block the flow of wastewater to and from the home. This can lead to clogged drains and sewer backups.

Solids also build up in the absorption field, preventing it from filtering properly. When the soil in the absorption field becomes too thick with biomats, it is unable to absorb and process sewage and can cause it to back up into the house. Pumping removes the sludge from the septic tank and helps the drain field work as it should.

While the septic tank does most of the work to remove waste from wastewater, the drain field is where final treatment happens. The wastewater exits the septic tank into the drainage field through perforated pipes, which seep into the soil, passing through rocks, dirt, and sand to filter out remaining impurities. The wastewater eventually flows into groundwater and natural waterways.

Keeping up with septic tank pumping is one of the best ways to keep your septic system working well and avoiding costly repairs or replacement. By contacting a professional septic tank company in your area, you can schedule regular pumping and cleaning services to maintain your septic system.

If you are considering buying a new home with a septic system, be sure to ask about when the last time it was pumped and inspected. Most sellers will understand the importance of having this done before closing and will allow a contingency for inspections and maintenance to be completed prior to your purchase.