Author: Marikor Hidalgo
To achieve a healthy home, you have to pursue sanitary practices all the time. But before you can take up health-safety measures, you must have an initial knowledge as to how home systems work. To begin with, your septic system is the facility that accumulates perhaps the largest waste from your home. Focusing on learning about this system would be a good idea.
What are the components of the septic system and how do they work? There are four main parts that comprise a typical system. These are:
Waste water pipe – all the channels in your home that operate with water connect to this component. It carries the waste water and solid particles out of your house to the septic tank.
Septic tank – this holds about a thousand gallons of waste. The solid particles that come with the waste water would settle at the bottom of the tank, and later on form sludge when they deteriorate. Grease, oily substances and light particles would float at the top and form scum eventually. Baffles or liquid flow regulating flat plates are installed at the tank’s inlet and outlet. These help restrain untreated water, scum and sludge from escaping the tank. Newer types of tanks today have two compartments, which are created by a partial concrete dividing wall at the center.
Drain field – this is responsible for the initial water treatment. Microscopic wastes and bacteria in the waste water are trapped here, or seep slowly through the soil. They would also be decomposed by microorganisms. The most common drain field type is the trench system. For homeowners who have soil that is not suitable for having a drain field, a seepage pit or dry well is a good alternative. The pre-cast tank has sidewall holes, and is surrounded by gravel, brick or stone walls. The harmful elements in the water seep through holes into the soil around the pit.
Soil – this enables the final stage of percolating the water. Remaining harmful bacteria and nutrients except nitrogen and some salts are further decomposed by soil elements. Areas with soil unreceptive to perform efficient water treatment may have other systems involving wetlands, lagoons, aerators, disinfection devices, float switches and pumps. These options can only employed depending on local rules.
Where does the septic system in your home located? In most cases, the septic tank is usually the only system component that can be easily spotted, as it has inspection ports covered with secure caps. Other components might be harder to spot if they were not marked upon their installation.
If you want to find out approximate or exact locations of the waste water pipe and drain field, you have two options. First is to survey your backyard. Walk a few meters away from the septic tank marker to the direction of your home. The pipe might be protruding from one of your outside walls. Immediately put a marker once you find it. Locate the drain field using the length of the pipe from your house to the tank. The pipe from the tank to the drain field is of approximately the same length. Your other option is to consult the local health department or concerned agency that may have your structure records. Ask if you can access the file so you can place markers on the specific parts of your septic system.
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