Know the Parts of a Septic System: A Homeowner’s Guide

A septic tank is a crucial wastewater disposal system for homeowners in rural areas who lack access to municipal water treatment. The septic system is a complex system that helps separate wastewater and dispose of toxic materials generated from the waste inside the home. Understanding the different components of a septic system helps to detect problems and prevent costly repairs. It also helps you maintain the system effectively to sustain the longevity of the septic system. 

What Is a Septic System?

The septic system is an underground wastewater disposal system that collects waste liquid from a home and safely stores the toxic liquid. A septic system prevents the toxic and waste liquid from contaminating the nearby water resources, including groundwater. The wastewater from the kitchen and bathrooms is treated inside the septic tank with bacteria and then released into the soil using the drainage field system. 

Key Parts of a Septic System -
A standard septic system consists of four key parts: a pipe leading from the house, a septic tank, a drainfield, and the soil. Microorganisms in the soil break down or eliminate most pollutants from the wastewater before it reaches the groundwater.

• Conveyance Line

A septic system contains a conveyance line consisting of inlet and outlet pipes carrying the fluid from the house to the septic tank, and from the septic tank to distribution lines. This system is referred to as the primary drain field that maintains the primary flow for the septic system. The wastewater generated from the house in the kitchen, shower, and bathrooms is taken from the house to the septic through these conveyance pipes. Outlet pipes are located on the other side of the septic tank. Once the wastewater is treated inside the septic tank, the wastewater is carried through the outlet pipes into the distribution box. 

• Septic Tank

The septic tank is the central component of the septic system where the wastewater is stored, treated, and then released into the environment. The container is made from concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene. Inside the container, the fluid is separated into different layers namely, the liquid, sludge and the scum. The sludge is the viscous layer that settles at the bottom, and the oil and grease (scum) float at the top. The septic tank is built to retain the sludge and the scum and then the water is purified and released into soil. Sludge and scum can accumulate and clog the tank, therefore regular pumping is needed. 

• Drain Field

The drain field is the interconnected network of pipes where the final treatment of the waste liquid happens. The pipes are often called a leachfield and consist of perforated pipes laid in trenches filled with gravel. The drain field mainly gets its contents from the distribution box and spreads the effluent through the trenches and soil. An effective drain field even spreads the water in the soil. The soil acts as a biological filter that further treats the water. 

• Distribution Box

A distribution box in a septic system is a container that evenly distributes the effluent to various drainage pipes. This box ensures that the waste liquid is spread evenly throughout the drainage system, preventing any single trench from bearing the full pressure of disposing of all the liquid. It helps relieve pressure, prevents overloading, and is essential for maintaining the longevity of the septic tank. 

• Soil Absorption Area

Soil is the only natural component of the septic system that works with the man-made components to disperse and filter wastewater. After the drainage field releases the effluent, the soil drains the liquid and uses its biological processes to treat the pollutants to prevent contamination. The proper soil condition effectively absorbs the water and prevents it from becoming a public health hazard. 

Why Knowing These Parts Matters

• Proper maintenance: Knowing the different components and their functions is beneficial for proper maintenance. Understanding the parts helps you to detect what needs to be maintained and how frequently.

• Early problem detection: Familiarity with the components can help homeowners detect problems early. Noticing early signs such as slow drain, nasty smells, or soggy patches of land can help you detect problems early.

• Cost savings: Preventive maintenance through familiarizing oneself with the parts saves costs in the long run. Understanding how the system works helps with the repair procedure and saves costs in the process.

• Environmental Protection: A well-maintained septic system protects the surrounding ecosystem from the polluted effluent. An effective septic system saves the environment, including groundwater. 

Conclusion

Learning about the septic system is beneficial to any homeowner to keep it up and running. Understanding how the different components work with each other helps to detect problems early and save costs in the long run. Regular maintenance is imperative for enhancing the longevity of the septic system and preventing overloading. However, it needs to be understood that the mentioned components form the basic foundation of any septic system. Many homeowners add additional parts, either due to regulations or to upgrade the system. 

FAQs

How often should I pump my septic tank?

The standard frequency for pumping a septic tank is 3 to 5 years, but it depends on the
number of residents in the house. The more people, the more frequent the septic tank
pumping should be.

Can I use additives to improve the performance of my septic system?

Some additives are available in the market for increasing the septic tank's performance. However, results are inconclusive. Some additives have been rumoured to break down semi-solid substances. But there are no decisive conclusions, and these add-ons are not substances for pumping.