UNDERSTANDING HOW A SEPTIC SYSTEM WORKS

In urban and suburban areas there are sewers to carry household waste to municipal wastewater treatment plants.  In more rural areas, however, septic tank systems provide the functions of both sewers and treatment plans.  The purpose of a home's septic system is to dispose of the water generated by the occupants in such a manner that the soils on the property can disperse it without causing an adverse effect on ground water and, in turn, on public health and the environment.

If you could look inside your septic tank, you would find three layers.  The top layer is the "scum" layer where organic material floats to the surface.  Bacteria in the septic tank biologically converts this material to a liquid.  The middle layer is the "effluent" layer where mostly clear water will be found.  This clear water is the only layer that should enter the distribution/absorption area.  The bottom layer is the "sludge" layer.  This layer is where the inorganic solid materials and the byproducts of bacterial digestion sink.

For the septic system to function properly, it must (1) provide enough application area; (2) be surrounded by natural soil conditions which will be able to dissipate and disperse the discharge without becoming over saturated; and (3) provide enough capacity to store effluent during periods of unusually heavy use or when rainful or subsurface flooding reduces the ability of the system to disperse the liquid.

Once a septic system has been installed, the only factor that can be controlled by the homeowner is how much water is actually being discharged to the system.

The proper operaton of the septic is essential to health, property value, and the ecology.  The simple fact is that a neglected system "will" become blocked; it "will" have an obnoxious order, it "will overflow; it "will" contaminate and polute.

Some common symptoms that a septic system is experiencing difficulty are: 
o   Plumbing fixtures exhibit difficulty in releasing their contents (slow draining, bubbling, backups, etc.)
o   Large volume discharges (such as washing machines, diswashers and bathtubs) cause either a backup or an overflow of sewage above the septic tank or leaching field
o   Foul septic ordors 

Any sewage system, whether aerobic or septic, should not have inorganic materials (plastics, cigarette butts, throwaway diapers, feminine napkins, condoms, etc.) discharged into the system that the bacteria cannot consume.

Call your pumper regularly to clean out the organic and inorganic sludge in your septic tank.  The frequency of pumping will depend on the size of your system, the number of people in the household, the previous care the system has received. etc.  Rely on your pumper's knowledge and experience to set up a pumping schedule.


                                                     JACK TRIMBLE, OWNER
                                                                713-252-8804

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                                            Email:    Jack@TexasHomeCheck.com


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