Septic Tank Drain Field Options

The solids stay in the tank while the wastewater is discharged to the drainfield for further treatment and dispersal.

Septic tank drain field options.

Heavy solids settle to the bottom of the tank while greases and lighter solids float to the top. Over time leach fields can build up sludge or tree roots can grow into them to form clogs which causes your septic tank to back up or leak into your yard. Placing the drain field leach field on undisturbed soil is a standard specification for conventional septic systems and many alternative systems such as mounds. A buried watertight tank designated and constructed to receive and partially treat raw domestic sanitary wastewater.

The effluent seeps into the gravel from the perforated pipes and then the soil. The assumption is that the soil under and around the drain field will absorb filter and provide the final treatment of the effluent as it flows through the gravel trenches of. There the waste water and solids separate and sludge eventually forms from the solids. A standard septic tank carries wastewater from the home via a pipe which directs the waste into a storage tank.

Conventional drain fields are by far the most common category but some homeowners may have one of the following types of drain field installations. Having too many solids accumulated and too much water entering the tank at once like doing several loads of laundry in one morning can cause the solids to be flushed out into the. The main operating expense comes from getting the tank pumped out these units require more emptying than conventional systems. Of course you could consider eliminating your need for a large septic system altogether.

The wastewater is directed to a large drain. Understanding the various types of drain fields used in modern systems can help you to identify problems in these vital areas of your household septic system arrangement. A number of septic tank options exist other than the conventional system. In the septic tank only about 50 percent of solids are broken down by bacteria the rest accumulate in the bottom of the tank until they are pumped out.

Less space than traditional septic systems is needed. If you find you have some space for a drain field you could also check into recirculating sand filter rsf or peat systems. The effluent flows from the house to perforated pipes within a layer of gravel filled trenches. Due to this method s lasting effects on your drain field s ability to filter and absorb wastewater it is not a good option for the long term care of your septic tank system.