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A septic tank before installation
A septic tank before installation
The same tank partially installed in the ground
The same tank partially installed in the ground
Septic tank and septic drain field
Septic tank and septic drain field

A septic tank, the key component of a septic system, is a small scale sewage treatment system common in areas with no connection to main sewerage pipes provided by private corporations or local governments. Septic drain fields are used to remove contaminants and impurities from the liquid that emerges from the Septic tank. Sewage treatment, or domestic wastewater treatment, is the process of removing Contaminants from Wastewater, both Runoff ( Effluents (Other components, typically mandated and/or restricted by local governments, optionally include pumps, alarms, sand filters, and clarified liquid effluent disposal means such as a septic drain field, ponds, or peat moss beds. Septic drain fields are used to remove contaminants and impurities from the liquid that emerges from the Septic tank. Sphagnum is a Genus of between 151-350 species of Mosses commonly called peat moss, due to its prevalence in Peat bogs ) Septic systems are a type of On-Site Sewage Facility (OSSF). On Site Sewage Facilities ( OSSF) are Wastewater systems designed to treat and dispose of effluent on the same property that produces the wastewater In North America approximately 25% of the population relies on septic tanks; this can include suburbs and small towns as well as rural areas. South San Jose (cropjpg||thumb|A suburban development in San Jose California. Rural areas can be large and isolated (also referred to as "the country" and/or "the countryside over the course of time In Europe they are generally limited to rural areas only.

The term "septic" refers to the anaerobic bacterial environment that develops in the tank and which decomposes or mineralizes the waste discharged into the tank. Anaerobic digestion is a series of processes in which Microorganisms break down Biodegradable material in the absence of Oxygen. Adding a supplemental bacterial agent to the tank may accelerate the digestion of solids in the tank. Septic tanks can be coupled with other on-site wastewater treatment units such as biofilters or aerobic systems involving artificial forced aeration. On Site Sewage Facilities ( OSSF) are Wastewater systems designed to treat and dispose of effluent on the same property that produces the wastewater Biofiltration is a Pollution control technique using living material to capture and biologically degrade process pollutants Aeration is the Process by which Air is circulated through mixed with or dissolved in a Liquid or substance [1]

Periodic preventive maintenance is required to remove the irreducible solids which settle and gradually fill the tank, reducing its efficiency. Preventive maintenance (PM has the following meanings,The care and servicing by personnel for the purpose of maintaining equipment and facilities in satisfactory operating In most jurisdictions this maintenance is required by law, yet often not enforced. Those who ignore the requirement will eventually be faced with extremely costly repairs when solids escape the tank and destroy the clarified liquid effluent disposal means. A properly cared-for system, on the other hand, can last for decades and possibly a lifetime.

The hose used to remove the waste solids from the septic tank to the truck's tank is called the "honey dipper". The trucks which carry the removed materials away are euphemistically called "honey trucks". A cesspool emptier is a type of specialized Tank truck which can suck contaminated water out of hollows such as Cesspools and Sewage tanks and

Contents

Description

A septic tank generally consists of tanks between the size of 1,000 and 2,000 gallons (4000 - 7500 litres) which is connected to an inlet wastewater pipe at one end and to a septic drain field at the other. Septic drain fields are used to remove contaminants and impurities from the liquid that emerges from the Septic tank. These pipe connections are generally made via a T pipe which allows liquid entry and egress without disturbing any crust on the surface. Today the design of the tank usually incorporates two chambers (each of which is equipped with a manhole cover) which are separated by means of a dividing wall which has openings located about midway between the floor and roof of the tank.

Wastewater enters the first chamber of the tank, allowing solids to settle and scum to float. The settled solids are anaerobically digested reducing the volume of solids. The liquid component flows through the dividing wall into the second chamber where further settlement takes place with the excess liquid then draining in a relatively clear condition from the outlet into the leach field, also referred to as a drain field, or seepage field, depending upon locality. Septic drain fields are used to remove contaminants and impurities from the liquid that emerges from the Septic tank.

Septic tank lift pump alarm system located in a house.
Septic tank lift pump alarm system located in a house.

The remaining impurities decompose in the soil, and the water is eliminated through percolation into the soil, and eventually taken up through the root system of plants or added to the groundwater. In Physics, Chemistry and Materials science, percolation concerns also the movement and filtering of fluids through porous materials Soil, often typeset as SOiL, is a four piece rock band from Chicago Illinois United States founded by Shaun Glass Tom Schofield Tim King and Adam Zadel ROOT is an object-oriented program and library developed by CERN. Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Groundwater is Water located beneath the Ground surface in Soil pore spaces and in the Fractures of lithologic formations A piping network, often constructed in a stone filled trench (see weeping tile), distributes the wastewater throughout the field with multiple drainage holes in the network. A weeping tile is a porous pipe used for underground Drainage. The size of the leach field is proportional to the volume of wastewater and inversely proportional to the porosity of the drainage field. Septic drain fields are used to remove contaminants and impurities from the liquid that emerges from the Septic tank. The entire septic system can operate by gravity alone, or where topographic considerations require, with inclusion of a lift pump. For information on Wikipedia project-related discussions see WikipediaVillage pump.

An Imhoff tank is a two-stage septic system where the sludge is digested in a separate tank. The Imhoff tank, named for German engineer Karl Imhoff (1876–1965 is a chamber suitable for the reception and processing of Sewage. This avoids mixing digested sludge with incoming sewage. Also, some septic tank designs have a second stage where the effluent from the anaerobic first stage is aerated before it drains into the seepage field. Effluent is an outflowing of water from a natural body of water or from a man-made structure

Waste that is not decomposed by the anaerobic digestion eventually has to be removed from the septic tank, or else the septic tank fills up and undecomposed wastewater discharges directly to the drainage field. Not only is this bad for the environment, but if the sludge overflows the septic tank into the leach field, it may clog the leach field piping or the soil porosity itself, requiring expensive repairs.

How often the septic tank has to be emptied depends on the volume of the tank relative to the input of solids, the amount of indigestible solids and the ambient temperature (as anaerobic digestion occurs more efficiently at higher temperatures). In general some septic tanks tanks may need to be emptied every six months while others every year depending on use. When emptying a tank, only a small residue of sludge should be left in the tank. Anaerobic decomposition is rapidly re-started when the tank re-fills.

A properly designed and normally operating septic system is odour free and, besides periodic inspection and pumping of the septic tank, should last for decades with no maintenance.

A well designed and maintained concrete, fibreglass or plastic tank should last about 50 years. [2]

Potential problems

  1. Excessive dumping of cooking oils and grease can fill up the upper portion of the septic tank and can cause the inlet drains to block. Oils and grease are often difficult to degrade and can cause odor problems and difficulties with the periodic emptying.
  2. Flushing non-biodegradable hygiene products such as sanitary towels and cotton buds will rapidly fill or clog a septic tank; these materials should not be disposed of in this way.
  3. The use of waste macerators or grinders for disposal of waste food can cause a rapid overload of the system and early failure. A garbage disposal, waste disposal unit, or garburator / garbarator ( Canada) is a device usually electrically-powered
  4. Certain chemicals may damage the working of a septic tank, especially pesticides, herbicides, materials with high concentrations of bleach or caustic soda (lye) or any other inorganic materials such as paints or solvents.
  5. Roots from trees and shrubbery growing above the tank or the drain field may clog and or rupture them.
  6. Playgrounds and storage buildings may cause damage to a tank and the drainage field. In addition, covering the drainage field with an impervious surface, such as a driveway or parking area, will seriously affect its efficiency and possibly damage the tank and absorption system.
  7. Excessive water entering the system will overload it and cause it to fail. Checking for plumbing leaks and practicing water conservation will help the system's operation.
  8. Even well maintained septic tanks release mucous producing anaerobic gut bacteria to the drainage field. The mucous "slime" will slowly clog the soil pores surrounding the drain pipe and percolation can slow to the point where backups or surfacing effluent can occur. This slime is called biomat and such a failure is referred to as "Biomat failure"[3].
  9. If the system is damaged or malfunctions, contact your local health or environmental authority before attempting any repairs. Improper repair can result in costly mistakes and potential health hazards.
  10. Septic tanks by themselves are ineffective at removing nitrogen compounds that can cause algae blooms in receiving waters; this can be remedied by using a nitrogen-reducing technology. Nitrogen (ˈnaɪtɹəʤɪn is a Chemical element that has the symbol N and Atomic number 7 and Atomic weight 14 An algal bloom is a rapid increase in the population of Algae in an aquatic system [1]

Environmental issues

Some pollutants, especially sulfates, under the anaerobic conditions of septic tanks, are reduced to hydrogen sulfide, a pungent and toxic gas. Hydrogen sulfide (or hydrogen sulphide) is the Chemical compound with the formula H 2 S. Toxicity is the degree to which a substance is able to damage an exposed organism Likewise, nitrates and organic nitrogen compounds are reduced to ammonia. In Inorganic chemistry, a nitrate is a salt of Nitric acid with an Ion composed of one Nitrogen and three Oxygen atoms Nitro compounds are Organic compounds that contain one or more nitro Functional groups (-2 Ammonia is a compound with the formula N[[hydrogen H3]] It is normally encountered as a Gas with a characteristic pungent Odor Because of the anaerobic conditions, fermentation processes take place, which ultimately generate carbon dioxide and methane, both of which are known greenhouse gases. Fermentation is the process of deriving energy from the oxidation of organic compounds such as carbohydrates using an endogenous electron acceptor which is Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single Methane is a Chemical compound with the molecular formula. It is the simplest Alkane, and the principal component of Natural gas.

The fermentation processes cause the contents of a septic tank to be anoxic with a low redox potential, which keeps phosphate in a soluble and thus mobilized form. Redox (shorthand for reduction-oxidation reaction describes all Chemical reactions in which atoms have their Oxidation number ( Oxidation state A phosphate, an Inorganic chemical, is a salt of Phosphoric acid. Because phosphate can be the limiting nutrient for plant growth in many ecosystems, the discharge from a septic tank into the environment can trigger prolific plant growth including algal blooms which can also include blooms of potentially toxic cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, blue-green bacteria or Cyanophyta, is a phylum of Bacteria that obtain their energy

Soil capacity to retain phosphorus is large compared with the load through a normal residential septic tank. An exception occurs when septic drain fields are located in sandy or coarser soils on property adjoining a water body. Septic drain fields are used to remove contaminants and impurities from the liquid that emerges from the Septic tank. Because of limited particle surface area, these soils can become saturated with phosphate. Phosphate will progress beyond the treatment area, posing a threat of eutrophication to surface waters. Eutrophication is an increase in chemical Nutrients -- typically compounds containing Nitrogen or Phosphorus -- in an Ecosystem, and may occur [4]

In areas with high population density, groundwater pollution levels often exceed acceptable limits. Some small towns are facing the costs of building very expensive centralized wastewater treatment systems because of this problem, owing to the high cost of extended collection systems. Too often, the efficient and economical alternative of a properly-designed decentralized wastewater treatment system is not considered.

To slow pollution, building moratoriums and limits on the subdivision of property are often imposed. Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop usually via a Plat. Ensuring existing septic tanks are functioning properly can also be helpful for a limited time, but becomes less effective as a primary remediation strategy as population density increases. Once polluted, groundwater is very slow to clean - thus urgent action is appropriate.

The common expression the grass is always greener over the septic tank (which is also the title of an Erma Bombeck book) is technically incorrect. Erma Louise Bombeck ( February 21 1927 – April 22, 1996) born Erma Fiste, was an American Humorist who achieved The grass is greener over the leach field, which is better watered and has more nutrients than the surrounding land. However, it is not unusual to find better growth over the septic tank itself as well, particularly the end nearer the leach field.

"Septic tank" in slang

In Cockney Rhyming Slang (common in Britain and Australia) "septic tank" or, more commonly, simply "septic" or "seppo" is used as a pejorative word for an American, based on a rhyme for "Yank". Rhyming slang is a form of Slang in which a word is replaced either by another word or phrase that rhymes with it or by the first word of such a phrase in which For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Seppo is a given name and may refer to Seppo Evwaraye (born 1982 Finnish National Football League offensive guard Seppo Kääriäinen Words and phrases are pejorative if they imply disapproval or contempt There are a number of alternative adjectives to American as a Demonym for a person of the United States that cannot simultaneously mean any inhabitant of the The pejorative nature of the term is further underlined by its referral to a container for storing human waste. The use of the nickname "seppo" in Australia is also derived from the preconception that all Americans are full of shit (like a septic tank). Seppo is a given name and may refer to Seppo Evwaraye (born 1982 Finnish National Football League offensive guard Seppo Kääriäinen

In an episode of the British panel show "Q.I.", Stephen Fry mentioned the neologism "listerine", from a mouthwash whose antiseptic properties made it suitable for rhyming slang use to refer to anti-Americans. In traditional Chinese culture, qi (zh [[wikt氣 氣]] Pinyin qì, Wade-Giles ch'i Jyutping Stephen John Fry (born 24 August 1957 is an English Humorist, Writer, Wit, Actor, Novelist, filmmaker A neologism (from Greek neo = "new" + logos = "word" is a word that although devised relatively recently in a specific time period has been

The term Honey wagon is a euphemism originally referring to a horse drawn wagon carrying a tank of liquid manure or sewage. Today a tanker truck equipped with a sludge pump to empty septic and conservancy tanks is also euphemistically known as a "honey sucker" or "honey dipper. SLUDGE (Scripting Language for Unhindered Development of a Gaming Environment is a open source adventure game engine developed by Hungry Software "

The term "stink pipe" is a euphemism originally referring to a vent pipe used to remove odour from the septic tank piping system. Stink Pipe is a colloquial name for a sewer vent pipe Joseph Bramah received a patent for the toilet float and valve flushing system in 1778.

See also

References

  1. ^ Septic Systems for Waste Water Disposal. Biofiltration is a Pollution control technique using living material to capture and biologically degrade process pollutants Biochemical engineering is a branch of Chemical engineering or Biological engineering that mainly deals with the design and construction of unit processes that A cesspit, or cesspool, is a pit conservancy tank or covered Cistern, which can be used for Sewage or Refuse. Ecological sanitation, also known as ecosan or eco-san, is a new paradigm in sanitation that recognises human excreta and household wastewater not as waste but as Grease traps (also known as grease interceptors, and grease recovery devices) are Plumbing devices designed to intercept Greases and solids A latrine (from Latin lavatrina a privy is a structure (usually small holding a single person for Defecation. A mound system is an alternative to the traditional rural Septic system Leach field. An outhouse, usually refers to a type of Toilet in a small structure separate from the main building which does not have a flush or sewer attached A percolation test (from Percolation, colloquially called a perc test) is a test to determine the absorption rate of Soil for a Septic drain A pit toilet or compost toilet is a method of collection of Human waste used for Composting controlled decomposition, or Waste disposal A plumber is a Tradesperson who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for potable (drinking Water, sewage Drainage, or industrial Plumbing, from the Latin plumbum for Lead, is the skilled trade of working with pipes, tubing and Plumbing fixtures for Tap water ( running water) is part of indoor Plumbing, which became available in the late 19th century and common in the mid-20th century A building's waste-disposal system has two parts the drainage system and the venting system Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from a given area For other uses see Pipe. Within Industry, piping is a system of pipes used to convey Fluids ( Liquids and Sepsis is a serious medical condition characterized by a whole-body inflammatory state (called a Systemic inflammatory response syndrome or SIRS caused The partially treated waste store in a Septic tank is called Septage Sewage treatment, or domestic wastewater treatment, is the process of removing Contaminants from Wastewater, both Runoff ( Effluents Stink Pipe is a colloquial name for a sewer vent pipe Joseph Bramah received a patent for the toilet float and valve flushing system in 1778. Waste management is the collection Transport, processing, Recycling or disposal of Waste materials Distinguish from Wastwater (a lake in the Lake District in northwest England American Ground Water Trust. Retrieved on 2008-05-20. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 325 - The First Council of Nicaea &ndash the first Ecumenical Council of the Christian Church is held
  2. ^ Septic Tanks: The Real Poop. University of California Extension. Retrieved on 2006-07-11. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 911 - Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple and Rollo of Normandy.
  3. ^ Impacts of Septic System chemicals on public health, wildlife, and habitats/ ecosystems:
  4. ^ Craig G. Cogger. eb1475 Septic System Waste Treatment in Soil. College of Agriculture and Home Economics, Pullman, Washington. Retrieved on 2006-07-11. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 911 - Signing of the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple and Rollo of Normandy.

External links

Dictionary

septic tank

-noun

  1. A small-scale watertight treatment system for domestic sewage in which the flow is slowed to allow sedimentation and sludge digestion by bacteria to take place
  2. Australian rhyming slang for yank, American.
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