Septic Tank Armadale offers homeowners independence from centralized wastewater systems. However, they require regular on-site maintenance and attention. Keep in mind that septic systems are only as good as what is put into them. Avoid flushing coffee grounds, cigarette butts, facial tissues, non-flushable wipes and other trash.
Inside your septic tank, a natural dance unfolds as solids take a bow and settle while liquid wastewater waltzes into the drain field for a VIP treatment.
Most unsewered homes rely on private wastewater systems, or septic tanks, to treat and dispose of household sewage. These systems are designed to treat wastewater from toilets, sinks, showers, washing machines and dishwashers so that it can be safely absorbed into the soil and groundwater without contamination, health hazards, or odor. Septic tank systems consist of two main parts: the septic tank and the drain field.
The septic tank is a large concrete container that serves as the first step in the treatment process. Domestic sewage (called blackwater) and graywater from sinks, washing machines and bathtubs run into the tank. Heavier solid matter settles to the bottom of the tank, forming sludge. Lighter solids, oils and greases float to the top of the tank, forming a layer known as scum. Anaerobic organisms in the septic tank feed on these organic waste pollutants and convert them to inert material. The septic tank also contains an effluent filter that traps suspended solids before they enter the drainage field.
As liquid wastewater exits the septic tank, it enters a series of carefully constructed trenches called a drain field. The water percolates through a bed of gravel and absorbs into the surrounding soil. The septic system’s bacteria further break down any remaining pollutants in the drainage field. The resulting effluent is then naturally discharged into nearby waterways and groundwater supplies.
A septic tank system requires regular maintenance, including septic tank pumping and desludging, and the servicing of other components, such as the effluent filter and baffle wall. Keeping your septic tank free of contaminants is the best way to protect your home’s septic system and ensure that it continues to function properly.
In addition to maintaining the septic tank and other components, homeowners should avoid flushing non-biodegradable products or materials into their septic system. These include feminine hygiene products, condoms, paper towels, chemicals, pet waste, cigarette butts and other debris. Planting trees or shrubs too close to your septic system is also discouraged because roots can grow into and clog the drain lines. A professional septic service can advise you on proper distances.
How Does a Septic Tank Work?
When wastewater from toilets, sinks and drains enter a house plumbing system, it passes to a septic tank. These tanks, which range from 1,000 to 2,000 gallons, are located underground and are made of concrete, heavy plastic or metal. Many modern septic systems have two chambers to increase efficiency.
After entering a septic tank, solid waste settles to the bottom, while oil and grease floats to the top. The remaining liquid wastewater, called effluent, exits the tank into the drainage field.
During the treatment process, bacteria break down most of the pollutants in wastewater. This reduces their size and helps prevent them from entering the environment. However, some pollutants, such as heavy metals and antibiotics, are too large to be broken down by bacteria. These pollutants must be removed from the water through a process of tertiary treatment.
A septic system consists of an underground tank, a drainage field and perforated pipes that transport partially treated wastewater from the tank to the soil for final treatment and disposal. A septic tank can be categorized by its method of treatment: aerobic, anaerobic or a combination of both. A septic system can also be divided into several parts: primary, secondary or tertiary.
The first part of a septic tank is the inlet chamber. Its wall is designed to retain the heaviest solid waste, including human waste and toilet paper. The inlet chamber has an opening at a middle depth so that the wastewater entering the tank passes to the next chamber.
This second part of the septic tank is the digestion chamber. Here, bacteria further break down the organic material in the wastewater and produce methane gas that floats to the surface. The digestion process is similar to what happens in the human gut. The gases produced by the bacterial digestion of the waste in the septic tank are expelled through a vent pipe that protrudes from the lid of the septic tank.
After leaving the septic tank, wastewater soaks into the drainage field, which may be a series of trenches, a sand mound or a perforated pipe buried in sand. The soil and micro-organisms in the drainfield treat and eliminate viruses, bacteria and other contaminants from the wastewater.
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Septic Tank Maintenance
Domestic sewage from toilets and wastewater from showers, bathtubs, sinks, washing machines, and dishwashers (also known as greywater) travel through a drainage pipe to the septic tank. Heavier solid matter sinks to the bottom of the septic tank and forms sludge. Lighter matter such as oils and fats float to the top of the tank and form scum. Anaerobic organisms in the septic tank partially break down these organic waste pollutants and transform them into inert matter that can be absorbed by soil in your drain field.
Having your septic tank pumped periodically is essential to keep your septic system working properly. The frequency depends on how many people live in your home and the size of the septic tank. More frequent pumping is needed if you use a garbage disposal.
A septic system requires special care to avoid problems such as clogging or contamination of ground water. To protect your septic tank, keep vehicles, heavy equipment, and livestock away from the septic system. Planting and building structures like sheds, gardens, and pools should also be kept clear of the drainfield area.
It is also important to avoid using chemical drain cleaners, as these can kill the good bacteria in your septic tank and cause it to overflow. In addition, don’t flush cat litter, sanitary products, or paper towels, as these will clog your toilets and can contaminate the septic system.
To help prevent septic tank clogs, keep garbage disposals and other appliances away from the septic tank, and maintain a healthy population of bacteria in your septic system by adding a bacterium culture every six months. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
It is also necessary to keep the septic tank lid and inspection ports closed when not in use. This helps prevent insects, small animals, and children from entering the septic tank. You should never enter the septic tank, except when a professional is cleaning it. If you must, enter only if you are wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). If anyone is overcome by toxic gases or lack of oxygen and a SCBA is not available, call 911 immediately.
Septic Tank Repair
The septic system operates according to a delicate balance of often volatile and unpredictable factors. If a single one of these factors goes awry, your septic tank and drainfield could fail. That’s why regular septic tank inspections and maintenance are essential. Here are a few things to look out for:
First and foremost, it’s important to know where your septic tank is located so that you can locate it quickly in the event of a failure. You should also have a good idea of its size. That way, you can determine how frequently it will need to be pumped and whether or not it will need repairs.
If the septic tank is too small for the number of people living in the home, it may need to be enlarged. It’s also important to have the septic system regularly inspected for cracks and leaks. If the baffles are damaged or missing, they can lead to a pump failure and subsequent wastewater backup in the home.
During the wastewater treatment process, bacteria generate gases that must be released to avoid creating a build-up of pressure that could stop or reverse the flow of sewage. The gases are primarily hydrogen sulfide (which smells like rotten eggs). It’s important that the septic tank be continuously vented. The vent stack, typically on the roof of the house, is the conventional route, but a separate gas release valve is also available.
Another important consideration is the frequency of septic tank pumping. A septic tank should be pumped every three to five years to remove the solid waste that has accumulated. Failure to do so can cause the septic tank to overflow and allow solid waste to seep into the drainfield, clogging it and potentially contaminating groundwater.
The septic tank’s baffles help keep solids in the tank and prevent them from escaping to the drainfield. Homeowners can help with this by being careful about what they flush. They should never flush non-flushable wipes, cooking oil, diapers, sanitary products, cat litter, cigarette butts, or paint and paint thinner.
If a septic tank is damaged, it’s worth considering repair versus replacement. The cost of repairs may be lower than the cost of a new tank and can offer a long-term solution. However, if the tank is nearing the end of its lifespan or suffering significant structural damage, replacement may be more practical in the long run.