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Home Buying - Septic Systems, page2

How it works:
A septic tank system contain two major components, a septic tank and the absorption field. The septic tank is usually made of concrete, fiberglass, or plastic. Therefore it is resistant to corrosion and decay. All septic tanks should have baffles, internal slabs that insure proper flow patterns.

While typically designed to hold 1,000 gallons of liquid, the size of the tank varies depending upon the number of bedrooms in the home. The primary purpose of the septic tank is to separate the solids from the liquids. The solids, in the form of sludge that collects on the bottom of tank, and scum, which floats on the top of the water, remain in the tank and are pumped out periodically.

The wastewater is passed on to the absorption field through a connecting pipe. The absorption field is also known as the soil drainfield, the nitrification field, or the leachfield. The absorption field contains a series of underground perforated pipes that are usually, but not always, connected in a closed loop system.

The perforated pipes ensure that the wastewater can reach the entire absorption field. The absorption field treats the wastewater through an aerobic (oxygenated) digestion process and filters out the remaining impurities (germs and chemicals) before the wastewater returns to the ground water.

The wastewater (effluent) coming out of the septic tank is a cloudy liquid that still contains many disease-causing germs and pollutants. When this water flows into the perforated pipe in the absorption field, the effluent exits through the holes in the pipe and trickles through the gravel where it is stored until it is absorbed by the soil. In some systems, subsurface chambers store the effluent. As the effluent enters and flows through the unsaturated soil, many of the bacteria that can cause diseases are filtered out. Some of the other smaller germs, such as viruses, are trapped and held by the soil molecules (absorbed) until they die. The soil can also retain certain nutrients such as phosphorus and some forms of nitrogen.

Summary
In summary, do not dispose of items that will destroy the natural digestion process of your septic tank, or overtax the drainfield with excessive water. Have your septic tank inspected regularly (every two to three years) and pump out the sludge as necessary. If you adhere to these few simple rules, your septic tank system will prove to be a safe and economical onsite method for disposing of your rural home wastewater.

Operation of the Cesspool:
The operation of a cesspool is similar to that of a two part septic system, with the exception of the leaching area which is usually immediately adjacent to the cesspool. During the use of a cesspool, the clogging of the surrounding soil occurs to some degree, and this slows down the leaching ability of the soil and a back-up can occur. Other common notes are as follows:
1.) The cesspool is usually built of loose set blocks or stone, and resembles a beehive in appearance.
2.) It was a common practice to pipe a series of cesspools together, or use a leaching field when the soil around the tank has been saturated.
3.) If a cesspool is located close to the side of a hill, and a second pipe is evident in the cesspool, an overflow area on the side of the hill may be present, which may provide some clue as to how the system is functioning.

Maintenance of the Cesspool:
The maintenance of a cesspool is similar to that of a septic tank system, except more frequent pumping will be needed as the system ages. There are treatments that will clean the soil of oils and grease, but these have limited results, and should only be viewed as a temporary measure.




	Home Buying - Septic Systems, page2 How it works: A septic tank system contain two major components, a septic tank and the absorption field. The septic tank is usually made of concrete, fiberglass, or plastic. Therefore it is resistant to corrosion and decay. All septic tanks should have baffles, internal slabs that insure proper flow patterns. While typically designed to hold 1,000 gallons of liquid, the size of the tank varies depending upon the number of bedrooms in the home. The primary purpose of the septic tank is to separate the solids from the liquids. The solids, in the form of sludge that collects on the bottom of tank, and scum, which floats on the top of the water, remain in the tank and are pumped out periodically. The wastewater is passed on to the absorption field through a connecting pipe. The absorption field is also known as the soil drainfield, the nitrification field, or the leachfield. The absorption field contains a series of underground perforated pipes that are usually, but not always, connected in a closed loop system. The perforated pipes ensure that the wastewater can reach the entire absorption field. The absorption field treats the wastewater through an aerobic (oxygenated) digestion process and filters out the remaining impurities (germs and chemicals) before the wastewater returns to the ground water. The wastewater (effluent) coming out of the septic tank is a cloudy liquid that still contains many disease-causing germs and pollutants. When this water flows into the perforated pipe in the absorption field, the effluent exits through the holes in the pipe and trickles through the gravel where it is stored until it is absorbed by the soil. In some systems, subsurface chambers store the effluent. As the effluent enters and flows through the unsaturated soil, many of the bacteria that can cause diseases are filtered out. Some of the other smaller germs, such as viruses, are trapped and held by the soil molecules (absorbed) until they die. The soil can also retain certain nutrients such as phosphorus and some forms of nitrogen. Summary In summary, do not dispose of items that will destroy the natural digestion process of your septic tank, or overtax the drainfield with excessive water. Have your septic tank inspected regularly (every two to three years) and pump out the sludge as necessary. If you adhere to these few simple rules, your septic tank system will prove to be a safe and economical onsite method for disposing of your rural home wastewater. Operation of the Cesspool: The operation of a cesspool is similar to that of a two part septic system, with the exception of the leaching area which is usually immediately adjacent to the cesspool. During the use of a cesspool, the clogging of the surrounding soil occurs to some degree, and this slows down the leaching ability of the soil and a back-up can occur. Other common notes are as follows: 1.) The cesspool is usually built of loose set blocks or stone, and resembles a beehive in appearance. 2.) It was a common practice to pipe a series of cesspools together, or use a leaching field when the soil around the tank has been saturated. 3.) If a cesspool is located close to the side of a hill, and a second pipe is evident in the cesspool, an overflow area on the side of the hill may be present, which may provide some clue as to how the system is functioning. Maintenance of the Cesspool: The maintenance of a cesspool is similar to that of a septic tank system, except more frequent pumping will be needed as the system ages. There are treatments that will clean the soil of oils and grease, but these have limited results, and should only be viewed as a temporary measure.									Home Buying Septic page1 Septic page2 Radon Agency Relationships Buyer Links
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