Where the magic happens! Simplified explanation of how Septic Systems work.

 

Demystifying Septic Systems: What You Need to Know

If you've only ever lived with municipal sewer systems, the concept of a septic system can be a bit puzzling. Many people are surprised to learn that their waste is actually going into the ground, often just a short distance from where they're drawing their drinking water.

The truth is, septic systems are a necessity in areas without access to municipal services. These self-contained waste treatment systems are relatively straightforward, though it's essential to understand how they work to ensure they function correctly.

At the heart of a septic system is the septic tank, which can be made of concrete or plastic. This is where the magic happens - a biological process breaks down the solid waste into a liquid effluent. This effluent then flows out of the tank and into a drain field, where it percolates through layers of sand and gravel to be naturally filtered back into the groundwater.

However, septic systems aren't infallible. Homeowners can easily disrupt biological processes by introducing substances like chlorine, grease, excessive water, or even excessive toilet paper. Tree roots can also invade and clog the drain field pipes. That's why it's crucial to be aware of local guidelines on septic system sizing, setbacks, and absorption area requirements.

With a basic understanding of how septic systems work, homeowners can take steps to maintain their systems and avoid costly repairs down the line. By respecting the natural process, you can ensure your septic system functions as it should for years to come.

Maintenance tip: One of the most essential maintenance tasks for a septic system is regular pumping of the septic tank. This removes the accumulated solids and prevents them from overflowing into the drain field, which can lead to clogs and failures. Additionally, homeowners should be mindful of what they flush or pour down drains, as certain chemicals and products can disrupt the delicate bacterial balance within the tank. By staying proactive with septic system maintenance, homeowners can extend the lifespan of their system and avoid costly repairs.

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Royal Heritage Realty

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Find Out What You Don’t Know-Septic Systems

 Find Out What You Don’t Know-Septic Systems

If you have been on municipal sewer systems all your life a septic system can be very foreign topic. I have had clients exclaim “it goes into the ground?” When you explain what happens to human waste. I usually can’t help myself put immediately state, yep, it goes into the ground and on the other side of the cottage you pull your drinking water from the same ground! People can’t believe this all until you take a few minutes to explain how it all works. First you have to know that since municipal services are not available everywhere in the province there has to be individual systems to deal with human waste. These systems are septic systems, composing toilets, holding tanks and just a hole in the ground with a building overtop called outhouses. We can discuss the other systems at another time. Today lets talk septic systems. Septic systems are fairly simple. The system is a series of pipes caring the waste to a tank called a septic tank. The tank can be concrete or plastic. The tank is where the magic happens! It is a biological process that reduces the solids to a combination of sludge and liquids called effluent. The effluent flows from the tank to the drainfields from distribution pipes. The soil around the distribution pipes are layers of sand and gravel that helps filter the effluent into clean water If all that goes down the drain was human waste, these systems would work great forever. But users can easily alter the biological process by introducing things that stop or slow down the process, like chlorine, grease, excessive amount of water, soap, large amount of toilet paper. Trees can be unfriendly as well to a septic system as well. Roots can find their way into the distribution pipes and clog them. Effluent does not flow through a pipe that is filled with roots very well! Every municipality has guidelines on minimum sizes of systems, setbacks, clearances and absorption area. Be sure to know these guidelines.