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LECTURE 11 - Septic Tank PDF

The document summarizes key information about septic tank systems. It explains that a septic tank is an underground concrete or plastic box that separates solids and liquids from wastewater and allows bacteria to partially treat the effluent. The partially treated water is then discharged to a drain field for further treatment before absorbing into the soil. It also describes the multi-step process of how septic tanks and drain fields work together to treat wastewater using bacteria. Signs that a septic tank may need pumping include slow drains, odors, or sewage backups.

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213 views26 pages

LECTURE 11 - Septic Tank PDF

The document summarizes key information about septic tank systems. It explains that a septic tank is an underground concrete or plastic box that separates solids and liquids from wastewater and allows bacteria to partially treat the effluent. The partially treated water is then discharged to a drain field for further treatment before absorbing into the soil. It also describes the multi-step process of how septic tanks and drain fields work together to treat wastewater using bacteria. Signs that a septic tank may need pumping include slow drains, odors, or sewage backups.

Uploaded by

kaye carranceja
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ARC 1419

Building Utilities 1
Plumbing and Sanitary System
Topic:
SEPTIC TANK
Reterieved from: FLEA 2011 Review
A SEPTIC TANK is a below ground watertight
box (concrete, plastic or fiberglass), often
about 9 x 5 x 6 feet.

It separates the liquids and solids, provides


digestion of some organics (mainly by bacteria
which live without oxygen) and storage.

It discharges partially filtered and clarified


effluent to the drain field for final treatment.
SEPTIC TANK SERVES TWO PURPOSES:

1. It holds wastewater for bacterial break


down
2. It stores undigested solids for future
removal-Removing this undigested waste
is done through the method of pumping
the septic tank.
A gradual build-up of undigested waste can
lead to problems that make pumping your
tank a necessary task.
Pumping removes the build up
of sludge and scum, which
slows down bacterial action in
the tank.
Your tank may need pumping
each year, but it’s possible to go
2-3 years between pumping,
depending on the size of your
tank and the amount of waste
you run through the system.
Ask your inspector to make a
rough recommendation for how
often your tank should be
pumped.
A Cross Section of a Typical SEPTIC TANK
A Cross Section of a Typical SEPTIC TANK
Who has a Septic Tank System?

If a building (with plumbing facilities) is


not on a city sewer system, then in most
cases it has a septic tank system (also
known as an On-site Wastewater Disposal
System, or Subsurface Wastewater
Disposal System) to dispose of the
wastewater.
What is an On-site
Wastewater System?

An On-site Wastewater
Disposal System collects,
treats and disposes all the
wastewater produced in a
building.
A conventional system
includes a Septic Tank, a
Distribution Device and a
Drainfield
What does an On-site Wastewater
Disposal System do?

It avoids the spread of disease by preventing


human sewage from contaminating the
ground surface, well water supplies and
streams.
What is a Drainfield?

The DRAINFIELD (also known as the


nitrification field) is the area which contains
the pipes (and/or other approved materials).

It receives the effluent (partially treated


cloudy liquid) from the septic tank for
distribution, treatment ( mainly by bacteria
that need oxygen) and absorption into the
soil.
Signs That Your Septic Tank Is Full

1.Slow drains. When water begins to drain


slowly in your home, it could just be as a
result of a clog.
2.Bad Odor. When your septic tank gets
filled up, the odor-causing gases have
nowhere to go and can end up coming
out from your drains
3.Gurgling pipes
4.Sewage backing up.
Signs That Your Septic Tank Is Full

4. Gurgling pipes- Do not ignore gurgling


sounds in pipes
5. Sewage backing up- the most obvious
and damaging
6. Pooling Water- pools of water
forming around your septic tanks
drain field
7. Trouble Flashing-all WC are struggling
to be flushed
HOW THE SEPTIC TANK WORKS:
Bacteria are what makes a septic system work. They
break down waste, leaving water clean enough to safely
percolate down into the earth. The whole system is
designed to keep bacteria healthy and busy. Some live in
the tank, but most do their work in the drain field.
1. Allwaste flows to the septic tank.
2. Watery waste, called “effluent,” fills most
of the tank. Anaerobic bacteria begin
breaking down the organic material in the
effluent.
3. A layer of sludge falls to the bottom.
Sludge is composed of inorganic solids and
the byproducts of bacterial digestion.
4. A layer of scum floats to the top. Scum is
primarily composed of fats, greases and oils.
The septic tank acts like a settling pond.
Greases and oils float to the top. Heavier solids
sink to the bottom.
5. A filter prevents most solids from entering the
outlet pipe.
6. Effluent flows to the drain field.
The drain septic field provides a large area
where bacteria can thrive and treated water can
seep into the ground.
7. Holes in the drain septic field pipe allow
effluent to seep into surrounding gravel.
Gravel around pipes allows water to flow into soil
and oxygen to reach bacteria.

8. Aerobic bacteria in gravel and soil complete


decomposition of the waste.

9. Clean water seeps down into the groundwater


and aquifer.
Reference: FLEA 2010
REVIEW

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