How Your Septic System Works

If you have a septic system at your home, you probably understand at least the very basics of your septic system. You know that it takes care of your wastewater. Here is how that system works, in more detail.

Drainage Pipes

Connected to every faucet, tub, and toilet in your home are drainage pipes. The drainage pipes are responsible for carrying waste water away from your home to your septic tank. Often, these different drainage pipes join together, so only one or two drainage pipes extends all the way out to your septic tank.

Septic Tank

Your septic tank is a solid structure that is buried in the ground. It is designed to hold hundreds of gallons of wastewater and sewage at a time. Your septic tank is where everything that comes out of your home is sorted.

Within your septic tank, the waste is sorted. First, the solid waste goes to the bottom of your tank. This is where the solid turns to sludge and is broken down by the chemicals inside of your septic tank. The wastewater is separated from the sludge, with some scum that floats at the top of the tank.

The sludge and the scum stay inside of your tank. This is what is pumped out of your tank when you get your septic tank pumped.

Distribution Box

The wastewater in your septic tank is pumped out of the septic tank and into the distribution box. The distribution box then spread the water out into the drainage or absorption field. The wastewater is spread out via a series of perforated pipes so that all the wastewater does not go the same place. When the wastewater exits the pipes, it goes into an area that is filled with gravel and rocks. The gravel and rocks help filter the wastewater before the soil takes over.

Absorption Field

The absorption or drainage field is where the waste water from your home ultimately ends up. The soil in your absorption field is where the wastewater is filtered. This is how the wastewater completes the process of becoming clean. Your soil helps filter out chemicals and physical elements from your water so that it is clean before it reaches your ground water.

When wastewater leaves your home, it goes through an entire process of filtration before the wastewater makes it way back to the ground and is able to be reused again. Contact your local septic services for more information. 

About Me

Keeping Your Septic System Clean and Tidy

Last Thanksgiving, the worst thing in the world happened. Our sinks and toilets started spewing raw sewage into our house because of an overloaded septic tank. It was devastating, and I didn't know what to do. Fortunately, we were able to find a professional plumber who was willing to come out right away to help us to fix the problem. After having that experience, I decided to make septic care a priority. I started having the tank pumped when I should, and I always pay attention to bad smells coming from my drains. This blog is here to help you to avoid septic problems too.