Septic Tank System Functions

A septic tank is an underground chamber made of concrete fiberglass or plastic through which domestic wastewater flows for basic treatment.

Septic tank system functions.

The line exiting the tank takes the water out to the secondary treatment area which could be a filter bed or leach trenches depending upon the age of the system. How a septic tank functions. The septic tank digests organic matter and separates floatable matter e g oils and grease and solids from the wastewater. The heavier solids sink to the bottom forming the sludge layer the lighter solids fats oils grease etc rise to the surface and form the scum layer.

But septic systems don t have to be scary with a solid maintenance record and a good inspection a septic tank and the associated parts can easily last for decades. Septic tank users usually live in areas where that is not an option. Soil based systems discharge the liquid known as effluent from the septic tank into a series of perforated pipes buried in a. These residents tend to live in suburban areas small towns and rural areas with centralized sewer systems.

First it acts as a holding tank and allows the solids to settle out. Just about 25 percent of north america residents rely on septic tanks. The tank s function is to receive the wastewater from the house separate the solids from. The tank is located so that gravity sends the water into the tank.

The septic tank performs two functions.