In locations without access to municipal sewer systems, septic tanks are crucial parts of many residential and commercial buildings. People use septic tanks for processing and disposing of wastewater. The most popular small-scale decentralized treatment unit for treating gray and blackwater from cisterns or pour-flush toilets is probably a septic tank.
It’s a tank for sedimentation. It might have a cylindrical or rectangular shape. And it is perhaps the perfect illustration of an anaerobic suspended growth system. Yet, for correct maintenance and effective operation, it is essential to comprehend the inner workings of septic tanks and all of their parts.
This piece provides you with comprehensive information on the types, functions, benefits, drawbacks, and design of septic tanks. Have a read.
The Septic Tank
It will be easier for you to understand the septic tank parts if you start by understanding the value of the septic tank itself.
Septic tanks are underground, waterproof structures. They feature materials like concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene. A septic tank’s sole job is to contain the wastewater long enough for the oil and grease to float to the top and create scum. This allows particles to settle to the bottom and produce sludge.
As a user of the septic tank, you fill your septic tank with raw sewage.
Then, you give a sufficient amount of time to allow organic suspended particles to settle and form sludge at the bottom of the tank. For six to twelve months, anaerobic microorganisms further break down this sludge.
If there is oil or grease in the sewage, it rises to the surface and forms a layer of scum. This layer of scum serves as a heat insulator. The scum further contributes to keeping the area surrounding the tank hygienic.
You can then discharge the liquid, known as effluent, from the septic tank into a network of perforated pipes buried in a leach field, or chambers. Or you could drain it into other unique units made to release the effluent into the soil in conventional or soil-based systems, otherwise known as the drain field.
Alternative systems work in a more advanced manner. They remove pollutants such as disease-causing microorganisms, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other contaminants.
This neutralization or removal of toxins occurs by allowing septic tank effluent to trickle through sand. It could also happen by passing the effluent through organic matter like peat and sawdust, artificial wetlands, or other media using pumps or gravity.
In other instances, before releasing the wastewater into the soil, you can employ different techniques to evaporate it or disinfect it.
Now that you understand the value of a septic tank, explore how mysteriously all septic tank parts collaborate to achieve the key role of a septic tank.
The Inner Workings of Septic Tanks Parts
Here are the essential components of a septic tank and their roles in the system:
1. The Inlet Pipe
The inlet pipe is an essential conduit that helps move wastewater from a house or business into the septic tank.
2. Septic Tank
A septic tank is an underground, waterproof container. It is typically made of concrete, fiberglass, or plastic. Its main objective is to hold on to and process the wastewater for a predetermined amount of time.
3. Baffles
Acting as internal walls or barriers, baffles are crucial components of the septic tank. With their excellent separation and direction of wastewater flow, these barriers make sure that solid waste does not quickly come out of the tank. They help the solids settle more easily.
4. Outlet Pipe
The liquid effluent leaves the septic tank through the outlet pipe after the wastewater has been treated and the solids have settled. This pipe inclines toward the top of the tank. This strategic placement ensures that only the treated effluent can escape.
5. Distribution Box (D-box)
To transmit the effluent from the septic tank to the drain field or leach field uniformly, some septic systems rely on a distribution box. The D-box has several outlets that attach to distribution lines or perforated pipes.
6. Drain Field/Leach Field
A system of interconnecting trenches or perforated pipes buried in dirt or gravel makes up a drain field or leach field. This field acts as the recipient of the septic tank’s treated wastewater.
Final Thoughts
All the septic tank parts contribute to its efficiency. It is also noteworthy that the number of users and the frequency of removing sludge from the septic tank determine its design and capacity.
For instance, experts recommend you clear sludge every two years. The estimated liquid capacity of the tank is 70–130 liters per head. Meaning, each person uses 70 liters for a few users and 130 for many users.
So, understand the components of a septic tank. This way, you can undertake upkeep and extend the system’s life. Remember, effective wastewater treatment can prevent expensive repairs. Above all, inspect your septic systems regularly and follow best practices to maintain optimal performance.