What Are My Septic Solutions?

Septic systems are wastewater treatment systems that collect, treat, and disperse of wastewater generated by your home or business. The wastewater is treated onsite, rather than collected and transported to a centralized community wastewater treatment plant. A typical septic system consists of two main parts: a septic tank and a soil absorption system, also known as a drainfield, leachfield, or disposal field. Underground pipes connect the entire system.

The septic tank is a buried, watertight container usually made of concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene. It holds the wastewater long enough to allow the solids to settle out and the fats, oil, and grease to float to the surface. It also allows partial decomposition of the solid materials. Effluent from the middle layer flows out to the drainfield for further treatment in the soil. Septic systems can contribute to source water contamination for various reasons including improper location of the system, poor design, faulty construction, incorrect operation, and poor or no maintenance of the system. By following the basic recommendations previously mentioned, you can help ensure that your system continues to function properly.

As many of us migrate further from central cities and occupy homes served by decentralized treatment systems, septic system care is more important than ever. By keeping your onsite system in top working condition, you can save money, increase the value of your home, and also feel good that you’ve helped your community both now and for future generations.

What is a Septic System? (Sub Surface Sewage Disposal System)

A septic system is a highly efficient, self-contained, underground wastewater treatment system. Because septic systems treat and dispose of household wastewater onsite, they are often more economical than centralized sewer systems in rural areas where lot sizes are larger and houses are spaced widely apart. Septic systems are also simple in design, which make them generally less expensive to install and maintain. And, by using natural processes to treat the wastewater onsite, usually in a homeowner's backyard, septic systems do not require the installation of miles of sewer lines, making them less disruptive to the environment.
A septic system consists of two main parts -- a septic tank and a drainage field. The septic tank is a watertight box, usually made of concrete or fiberglass, with an inlet and outlet pipe. Wastewater flows from the hom e to the septic tank through the sewer pipe. The septic tank treats the wastewater naturally by holding it in the tank long enough for solids and liquids to separate. The wastewater forms threelayers inside the tank. Solids lighter than water (such as greases and oils) float to the top forming a layer of scum; solids heavier than water settle at the bottom of the tank forming a layer of sludge. This leaves a middle layer of partially clarified wastewater.

The layers of sludge and scum remain in the septic tank where bacteria, found naturally in the wastewater, works to break the solids down. The sludge and scum that cannot be broken down are retained in the tank until the tank is pumped. The layer of clarified liquid flows from the septic tank to the drainage field or to a distribution device, which helps to uniformly distribute the wastewater in the drainage field. A standard drainage field (also known as a leach field, disposal field, or a soil absorption system) is a series of trenches or a bed lined with gravel or course sand and buried one to three feet below the ground surface. Perforated pipes or drain tiles run through the trenches to distribute the wastewater. The drainage field treats the wastewater by allowing it to slowly trickle from the pipes out into the gravel and down through the soil. The gravel and soil act as biological filters.

Septic tanks are required to be large enough in capacity to accommodate 2 days of waste factoring in 2 people for each bedroom, over 2 days before it is released in the absorption field. This allows for the waste to be properly separated through natural processes before being discharged. The tank is usually located 10- 20 feet away from the housing structure commonly where the main sewer line leaves the foundation of the structure. When properly installed and maintained, more efficient and economical that being connected to public sewers.

Three main components:

The purpose of on-site disposal systems is to provide for the treatment of household wastes using natural processes. A septic system is the most common method for treating waste from a rural residence.

Waste exits the house and enters the septic tank where solids settle out and grease and scum floats to the top. This is the first stage of treatment.

Next, liquid effluent flows through the distribution box. A hydraulic pump is sometimes needed if the absorption site is higher than the septic tank or if an elevated mound is used.

Finally, the effluent arrives at the absorption field where it is eventually distributed to the soil for treatment. Under ideal conditions, microorganisms on the surface of the soil particles consume the organic pollutants in the effluent.

Septic System Dynamics

A typical household sewage treatment system consists of a house sewer, septic tank, and distribution box and absorption field or seepage pit.


House Sewer: The pipeline connecting the house and drain and the septic tank.

Septic or Treatment Tank: Untreated liquid household wastes (sewage) will quickly clog your absorption field if not properly treated. The septic tank provides this needed treatment. When sewage enters the septic tank, the heavy solids settle to the bottom of the tank; the lighter solids, fats and greases partially decompose and rise to the surface and form a layer of scum. The solids that have settled to the bottom are attacked by bacteria and form sludge. Septic tanks do not remove bacteria and, therefore, what is discharged cannot be considered safe.

Distribution Box: serves to distribute the flow from the septic tank evenly to the absorption field or seepage pits. It is important that each trench or pit receive an amount of flow. This prevents overloading one part of the system. If system is older than 10 years, it is strongly considered that you clean it on a regular basis.

Absorption/Drainage Field: A system of narrow trenches partially filled with a bed of washed gravel or crushed stone in to which perforated or open joint pipe is placed. The discharge from the septic tank is distributed through these pipes in the trenches and surrounding soil. The subsurface absorption field must be properly sized and constructed to assure satisfactory operation and long lifetime.

Seepage Pit: A covered pit with perforated or open-jointed lining through which the discharge from the septic tank infiltrates in to the surrounding soil. It is generally installed in sandy or gravel type soils. Like the absorption field, the seepage pit also must be properly sized and constructed. While seepage pits normally require less land area to install, they should be used only where absorption fields are not suitable and well water supplies are not endangered.


In most rural areas and in many suburban residential areas, individual household sewage treatment systems are relied upon for the disposal of household wastes. Wherever possible, sewage should be collected in community sewers connected to a central treatment plant.

A household sewage treatment system will serve a home satisfactorily only if it is properly located, designed, constructed and maintained. The purpose of this brochure is to explain how your system works and how it should be operated and maintained.

Baffle: The liquid in the tank settles into three distinct layers. The bottom layer is sludge, which accumulates between services. The middle level is the clearest effluent, which is directed to the drainage system. The top layer is scum, which is where the bacteria works to break down solids into sludge. The baffle prevents the scum layer from leaving the tank through the outgoing line, which is also located near the top of the tank. Over time, the baffles may corrode, fall of, or be rendered ineffective. Regular septic inspections should include an examination of the baffles. (Part of CJS Mini Inspection during regular routine maintenance). If the baffles are in need of replacing you should contact a licensed septic contractor in your area like CJS. (GAS DEFLECTION BAFFLE: anaerobic bacteria release gas from the sludge layer during the treatment process. The production of gas can disturb the settling solids, re-suspending them and causing them to exit the septic tank. A gas defection baffle is a simple element that attaches to the end of the outlet device to ensure that gas bubbles carrying solids do not exit the septic tank.

Effluent Filters: Attaches to the septic tank outlet tee. Allows for easy access and cleaning of solids with a garden hose to prevent solids from entering the absorption field. It is important to clean the filter regularly because a clogged filter will cause the effluent to back up in to the house. How often the filter needs to be cleaned is a function of septic tank use and the surface area. A filter with a larger flow area will not need to be cleaned as often.

Layers of A Septic System

Head Space: The incoming (house) pipe and the outgoing (drainage) pipe are both near the top of the septic tank. The small airspace below the lid and above the normal liquid level is the head space.

Scum: Floating layer, normally 1” to 6” thick. Here, bacteria breaks this layer down to a sinking sludge

Effluent: Cleanest liquid level between scum and sludge layers and leaves the septic tank through the baffle as effluent.

Sludge: Dead, heavy liquid that accumulates on the bottom of the tank. Sludge must be removed periodically to protect the drainage system from clogging.

Operation and Maintenance

• The contents of the septic tank should be pumped every two to three years or when the total depth of sludge and scum exceeds one-third of the liquid depth of the tank. If the tank is not cleaned periodically, the solids are carried into the absorption field; rapid clogging occurs; premature failure follows; and finally, the absorption field must be replaced. Pumping your septic tank is less expensive than replacing your absorption field.
• Detergents, kitchen wastes, laundry wastes and household chemicals in normal amounts do not affect the proper operation of household sewage treatment systems. However, excessive quantities can be harmful.
• Avoid the disposal of cigarette butts, disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, plastics, trash, etc., into your household sewage system. These items are not readily decomposed.
• Septic tank additives are not recommended. Additives are unnecessary to the proper operation of household systems and may cause the sludge and scum in the septic tank to be discharged into the absorption field, resulting in premature failure. Some additives may actually pollute groundwater.
• Garbage grinders substantially increase the accumulation of solids in the septic tank, as well as the solids entering the absorption fields and pits. Their disadvantages outweigh the convenience they provide and are not recommended for households with their own sewage treatment systems. If used, the septic tank size should be increased.
• Connecting your laundry wastes to a separate waste system (dry well or seepage pit), while not normally necessary, will reduce the load on the regular system and permit the survival of a marginal system.
• All roof, cellar and footing drainage, and surface water must be excluded from the system. This drainage water can be discharged to the ground surface without treatment; make sure it drains away from your sewage treatment system.
• Roof downspouts should not drain toward the absorption field.
• Backwash from water softeners and/or iron/manganese removal equipment may be discharged to the septic tank and absorption system or to a separate system.
• Roots from trees in the immediate area of the absorption lines may clog the system.
• Keep swimming pools (above or in-ground) away from the absorption field.

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Caution

• Avoid entering your septic tank.
• Individuals have died from gas asphyxiation.
• Never permit heavy equipment to pass over the absorption field.
• Conserve your water usage; this can prolong the life of your sewage treatment system. Check defective toilet tank valves, repair leaky fixtures, install appliances and fixtures that use less water and avoid wasteful practices.
• Your sewage treatment system is normally designed to accommodate two persons per bedroom. If your household is larger than this, or if you add additional bedrooms, enlarge the system.
• If surface water from higher ground is flowing onto your absorption field, install a ditch or berm to intercept this surface water.

How do you take care of your onsite system?

Your onsite treatment system represents a significant investment, which you will want to protect. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" was never more true than it is with onsite system care. With proper operation and regular maintenance, your system will function much better and last longer.

In addition, hazardous household chemicals like paints, varnishes, waste oils, and pesticides pollute the groundwater and should never be disposed of through a septic system. They can also kill the microorganisms in the system that break down the waste.

By educating everyone in your household about what is and is not good for septic systems, they can begin to develop good maintenance habits.

In a typical household, most of the water used indoors is used in the bathroom and there are a lot of little things that can be done to conserve water there.

For example, try to avoid letting water run while washing hands and brushing teeth. Avoid taking long showers and install water-saving features in faucets and shower heads. These devices can reduce water use by up to 50 percent. Low-flush toilets use one to two gallons per flush compared to the three to five gallons used by conventional toilets. Even using a toilet dam or putting a container filled with rocks in the toilet tank can reduce water use by 25 percent.

It is also important to avoid overtaxing your system by using a lot of water in a short time period, or by allowing too much outside water to reach the drainage field. Try to space out activities requiring heavy water use (like laundry) over several days. Also, divert roof drains, surface water, and sump pumps away from the drainage field.