If you are living within the city limits, you might be having access to the centralized sewer systems your city provides. This means you do not need a septic tank to be built in your property. However, people who are living in rural areas, who do not have access to these sewer systems usually build their own septic tanks as it is essential for managing the wastewater produced at their home.
As you know, many regular household activities such as doing the dishes, taking care of the laundry and using bathrooms generate a significant amount of wastewater. Have you ever wondered where this huge amount of sewage goes, and what happens to it? How is this wastewater treated so as not to pose an environmental threat to you and others? This is why septic tank systems come in. Following is a brief description of how does septic tank work.
How does a Manassas, VA, septic tank work?
To understand does a Manassas, VA, septic tank work, you should first understand the way it is designed and constructed. Septic tank systems are generally divided into two parts. The first part is an underground septic tank, and the second is a drain field.
Let us see how your septic tank processes all the wastewater your household produces safely. The wastewater enters the septic tank from the main drainage pipe of your house. Septic tanks generally have two chambers for processing wastewater. The main drainage pipe of your home is connected to the first chamber of the septic tank, and so all the wastewater expelled from your kitchen and bathrooms first reaches here.
Once the wastewater enters the first chamber, the solid part of the sewage called sludge, is allowed to settle down to its bottom. At the same time, the oil or grease particles present in the wastewater will float inside the chamber and form a top layer called scum. In between the sludge and the scum remains whatever liquid part of the wastewater. This portion is called the effluent.
The two chambers of the septic tank are separated by a wall which has a T shaped outlet towards its middle portion. This outlet prevents sludge and scum from entering the second chamber. It only allows the effluent to exit to the second chamber. Once reached the second chamber, the effluent will be further allowed to settle down there and will ultimately get released to the drain field. The drain field usually has rock-filled gutters where effluent slowly gets absorbed and dispersed into the soil and reaches the groundwater. This completes the treatment of wastewater.
If you are still curious about septic tank systems and have doubts regarding how they function, give SES Mid Atlantic a call. We offer all septic tank related services, including their installation and maintenance.