Septic 101:
On-Site Sewage Treatment - is necessary when you operate
outside the P.O.T.W. (Publicly Operated Treatment Works).
This means that you need to treat your own sewage. In order
understand how to do this one needs to understand how a septic system generally works.
The Conventional Septic System:
This system has 3 Main Sections that are
installed and technically a 4th (the soil which cleans the effluent before it reaches the water table).
The First Section is the Main Line,
which transports the sewage from the home to the Septic Tank.
The Second Section is the Septic Tank:
The Septic Tank's job is to separate the solids
from the liquids. Once separated, the tank holds the solids for digestion and periodic removal.
Septic tanks are called "septic" because they work in an anaerobic state.
How this separation takes place: When the sewage enters the septic tank, it enters via the inlet or "front" baffle T.
The solids then either fall to the bottom or float on top while the
wastewater (septic effluent) enters the Outlet or "Rear" Baffle T.
The septic wastewater (effluent) then drains or flows into the field lines. Conventional field lines are
little more than a trench with gravel to allow the water to disperse and be absorbed by the soil.
Field Line Problems - can develop due to the forming of an excessive bio-mat.
The bio-mat forms in the field lines where the anaerobic water makes contact with the aerobic soil.
The majority of field line problems occur due to the bio-mat
excess and the bio-mat's overgrowth can be easily prevented by adding an Aerobic Treatment Unit to your septic system.
See Septic Remediation as one possible solution.
Most other Conventional Septic System problems can be
solved by professional servicing and maintenance of the system.
For example, Septic Pump Package Specials can take care of this problem for you and get your system working
properly.
Un-Conventional Septic Systems
The Aerobic Treatment Unit adds air to the anaerobic effluent - turning the effluent aerobic
so that it is more easily absorbed into the soil. This also prevents the forming of the bio-mat,
which is the cause of most field line problems.
Chambers Systems - The new technology of "chambers" replaces conventional field
lines. Chambers allow bottom and side-wall exposure without the hindrance of aggregate fill. "Click here" for pictures of a chamber system.Mound Systems - are used when you need your field lines above ground in order to keep the
proper distance from the water table. These lines are generally laid on top of the ground and covered with soil and appropriate
landscaping. See Geo Textile Sand Filters.
Peat Moss Systems - in place of conventional field lines, Peat
Moss, contained in containers above or below ground, can be used to filter and disperse the effluent naturally.
Please Note: All of the above systems require
gravity.
