If you are buying a home that has a septic system, it may be a whole new concept for you. Considering that only a quarter of the homes in the U.S. still have septic systems, the rest of the population can flush their toilets without ever having to worry about where it all goes. On the contrary, homeowners with septic systems must be educated on the wastewater treatment process, because it takes place on their property. Here is a quick breakdown of how it works.
For the average home, domestic wastewater is flushed down the toilet (or the drain) and sent through major sewerage pipe lines to various treatment plants. Domestic wastewater includes all household liquids from sinks, showers, kitchens and baths. Septic systems are built for homes that do not have a connection to the main sewerage pipe lines. These homes can be in suburbs, small towns, or rural areas.
There are many different types of septic systems, but the most common system has four parts: a pipe, a septic tank, a drain field and the soil. When household wastewater leaves the home it is sent through a pipe to the septic tank. A septic tank is a large container on the homeowner’s property that is usually buried under ground. A septic tank is designed to hold the wastewater until the solids settle out (sludge) and the oil and grease float to the surface (scum). During this holding period the solid materials partially decompose. After this process the wastewater leaves the septic tank and is poured into the drain field. The drain field is a designated area of soil on the homeowner’s property. As the wastewater settles into the soil it enters the final stage of treatment. The soil removes bacteria, viruses and nutrients from the wastewater. Microbes in the soil successfully remove these contaminants before the wastewater reaches groundwater. Other types of septic systems exist for homeowners who do not have the proper kind of soil on their property.
Homeowners are responsible for keeping this system working properly. If the wastewater is not properly treated before it enters the groundwater, the groundwater will become contaminated. Responsible homeowners avoid serious human health hazards such as disease and infection from spreading.
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