Septic systems collect wastewater expelled from homes and buildings. The systems are large tanks that are buried beneath the ground. Depending on the manufacturer and the needs of the home owner, septic systems can be concrete or plastic.
Piping from drains and toilets carry waste to the septic tank. The baffled end ensures that the wastewater does not come back up the pipe and reenter your home or building.
The waste collects into the tanks and separate into three different forms:
- Fats, oils and greases float to the top of the holding tanks and form scum.
- Wastewater which comes from your shower, bathtub, sinks, laundry facilities and dishwasher.
- Solid materials sink to the bottom of the tank and form sludge.
Bacteria present in the tank feeds on the organic wastewater, helping to clean the harmful elements in the wastewater. The wastewater is then expelled through a filter and exits through another pipe with a baffled end into a septic field. Any existing impurities are then filtered through the soil in the septic field and become groundwater – returning to the Earth.