Septic Tank System Functions

How a septic tank functions.

Septic tank system functions.

These residents tend to live in suburban areas small towns and rural areas with centralized sewer systems. The tank s function is to receive the wastewater from the house separate the solids from. The septic tank performs two functions. A septic tank is an underground chamber made of concrete fiberglass or plastic through which domestic wastewater flows for basic treatment.

A typical septic system consists of a septic tank and a drainfield or soil absorption field. The septic tank digests organic matter and separates floatable matter e g oils and grease and solids from the wastewater. The tank is located so that gravity sends the water into the tank. Soil based systems discharge the liquid known as effluent from the septic tank into a series of perforated pipes buried in a.

Septic tank users usually live in areas where that is not an option. Septic tank systems are a type of simple onsite sewage facility ossf. First it acts as a holding tank and allows the solids to settle out. 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.