The inlet baffle to the tank may be clogged. Only flush human waste and toilet paper. Never flush coffee grounds, grease, chemical drain openers, paint, solvents, fuels, oil, cigarette butts or other trash.
Avoid planting fast-growing trees near the septic system. Maintain a regular pumping schedule. Keep a record of pumpings, inspections and repairs. Visit https://www.septictankarmadale.com.au/ to learn more.
All wastewater from your home’s toilets, drains, and washing machine flows into the septic tank. The septic tank is a buried, water-tight container made from concrete, fiberglass, or metal. It holds the wastewater long enough to allow solid waste, such as feces and toilet paper, to sink to the bottom of the tank and form sludge. Oil and grease float to the top of the tank and form scum. Most solids are broken down by anaerobic bacteria inside the tank. The cleaned liquid, called effluent, is then pumped from the tank into your septic system’s drainage field. The drainage field, also known as a leach field or absorption field, is a series of trenches with perforated pipes that are buried in soil. Bacteria in the soil break down the remaining wastewater pollutants and contaminants to clean the effluent, which returns to groundwater or natural waters.
Your septic tank contains a wall that separates the inlet chamber from the outlet chamber. The inlet chamber is the largest part of the tank. It is designed to retain the heaviest solids, such as feces and toilet papers, that enter the tank from your home’s plumbing. The inlet chamber has a small opening at the middle depth to allow the liquid portion of the wastewater to pass through from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber.
The inlet chamber has a wall that prevents the heaviest, densest part of the wastewater from reaching the outlet pipe connection at the top of the tank. This keeps the wastewater from overflowing into the absorption field, where it could cause damage to the pipes and the surrounding soil and grass.
A septic tank has one or two vents that release gases, such as hydrogen sulfide (which smells like rotten eggs). The vents ensure the septic system is functioning properly and does not overflow into your home.
Septic tanks need regular pumping. If you do not have your septic tank pumped regularly, the solid layer of sludge and scum can overtake the liquid layer, which causes sewage to back up into the house or into the drain field. Regular septic tank pumping removes the solid wastes that cannot be broken down by anaerobic bacteria, and it protects your septic system from failure or backup.
Design
Septic tanks are the heart of a home’s wastewater system. They are the big metal or concrete box underground that receives all of your household wastewater from toilets, sinks, showers and washing machines. Once the waste has drained into your septic tank, it separates into liquid and solids. Liquids travel to the drain field and are absorbed into the soil, while the heavier solids fall to the bottom of the tank as sludge.
Your septic tank needs to be properly sized to handle the number of people living in your house as well as how much waste each person generates. A septic tank sizer will visit your home and assess the amount of waste that goes through your toilets, sinks and showers on a regular basis to help you determine what capacity you need for your septic tank.
The tank itself can be made from concrete, concrete block, fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) or high-density polyethylene. The tank’s interior and exterior must be watertight to prevent surface or other water that does not need treatment from entering the septic system.
A septic tank’s design must also consider potential environmental constraints such as groundwater, wetlands, bedrock outcroppings and potential floodplains. In addition, soil conditions need to be investigated in the potential drain field areas and dispersal zones. Test pit excavations and percolation tests are required to determine if the soil can absorb and retain wastewater without becoming clogged or flooding.
Each septic tank must have baffles to ensure that settling and separation of solids occurs and to provide proper venting. These can be made of plastic, FRP or acid-resistant concrete. Partitions or baffles must be at least 9 inches (229 mm) above the liquid depth of the tank and should extend to the transfer ports.
A septic tank must be located away from buildings, wells, swimming pools, driveways, roads and streams. It must also be anchored to counter buoyant forces in flood hazard areas. The septic tank should also be designed to withstand the design flood elevation.
Installation
Septic tanks are designed to be buried underground, making them an important part of your home’s plumbing system. They are made from concrete, heavy plastic or metal. The type of tank you choose depends on your preferences, needs and budget. Septic tank installation should be completed by qualified professionals to ensure that the work is done correctly and your septic system works as intended.
Once the tanks are installed, the septic pipe lines must be connected to them. This includes the inlet and outlet pipes as well as any pumps or distribution boxes. It is very important to have these properly installed and sealed to prevent leaks or contamination.
While the inlet and outlet pipes may look simple enough, they require a lot of attention to detail. The inlet line should have a slope that is neither too steep nor too gradual. A proper slope helps the liquid to move slowly and evenly through the septic system and into the drain field. This is also important to help the solids settle and to avoid clogging of the inlet pipe.
The septic tank should be equipped with baffles to help sludge and scum layers separate from the liquid layer. This will reduce the risk of septic tank leaks and promote effective treatment of waste. Septic tanks should also have a vent to allow air to enter and exit the tank to keep it in operation.
Once the tank is in place, it should be backfilled with native soil to a grade that will minimize erosion and protect the surrounding area. The backfill should be placed in successive tamped lifts or depth increments of uniform gradation, free of clods, large rocks and frozen matter. Backfill should be compacted with the heel of the bucket in 12” lifts on all sides of the tank and around its base. Inlet and outlet tees and risers should be installed per plan or the manufacturer’s instructions.
It is also recommended that the site be seeded to minimize erosion, divert surface water and provide a suitable planting medium. Finally, a final safety inspection must be performed by a licensed professional. If you’re installing a new septic tank, it’s a good idea to inform your neighbors. They will be unable to use their toilets or showers while the tank is being installed and you’ll want to make sure they know about it ahead of time.
Maintenance
From the moment wastewater enters your home, it flows through several pipes to the septic tank. This underground chamber is commonly made of concrete, heavy plastic or metal and is considered a type of on-site sewage treatment system.
Water and waste passes through the septic tank into an anaerobic tank where bacteria begins to break down organic matter. Eventually the solid waste falls to the bottom of the tank and the scum rises to the top.
Over time, bacteria will digest most of the solid waste. This process reduces the volume of sludge and scum that needs to be removed. Liquid waste leaves the septic tank through the outlet baffle into a series of perforated drainpipes that are buried in a constructed absorption field (also known as a leach field). As the wastewater seeps through the soil, it is naturally filtered by the surrounding soil, which removes disease-causing microorganisms and toxic chemicals.
Keeping up with maintenance of your septic system is key to a healthy and efficient system. The tank should be pumped at least once every 3-4 years, although frequency depends on the size of the tank and the amount and type of materials that go down the drains. In addition, it is recommended that homeowners install a septic system riser around the openings to make it easier for septic professionals to access the tank.
It is also a good idea to have a septic tank filter installed in the outlet baffle. This will help prevent sludge and scum from reaching the absorption field where it could cause a clog and contamination of groundwater. A septic professional can clean the filter annually.
A septic tank can be inspected for leaks during a septic cleaning. A septic technician can also check the condition of the baffles during this visit, which are vital for keeping sludge and scum away from the inlet and outlet pipes.
It is also important to keep track of how much water and waste are used in your home. The more you use, the more frequently the septic tank will need to be pumped. Homeowners should also be careful about what they put down the drains and should avoid putting things down the drain that can damage or clog the tank. Items like non-flushable wipes, grease, cigarette butts and cat litter should never be sent down the drain.