 | Braden Peak is the manager of Roto-Rooter Sewer, Drain, Septic and Grease Trap Service in Pittsburg, KS. A Girard native and a graduate of Pittsburg State University, he is a licensed sewer contractor and has been with the company since 2002. He can be reached at 620-231-5630 or by emailing kpp_rotorooter@yahoo.com. You can also become a fan of Roto-Rooter of Pittsburg on Facebook.
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Plumbing
2012-04-20 08:26:17
Septic system care
Q: We have a septic system. How does it work and how do we maintain it?
A: First of all, I understand these wastewater topics aren’t the most appetizing and can even be humorous to some, but they are real and can be vital to a smoothly running plumbing system. With that said, a septic system is an onsite waste water system. Last month we covered systems draining to a municipal sanitary sewer system. The waste water in those systems eventually flows to a treatment facility or series of lagoons where it is digested and then dispersed. A septic system takes in the waste water and then digests and disperses it on the property. It’s actually a very simple process but the system itself is usually out of sight and out of mind and sometimes that can be a problem.
Structures on a septic system are plumbed very similar to structures plumbed to a sanitary sewer main. The only difference is rather than flowing to a sewer main, the waste water drains into a tank. These tanks vary in sizes and shapes and are measured in gallons. The most common size is 1000 gallons, but some of the older systems utilize smaller tanks. Also, large homes may use a 1500 gallon tank. There are other unique setups but for now we will stick to the basics. Once the waste water flows into the septic tank, the process of digestion begins. The solids fall to the bottom and form the sludge layer. Liquid waste stays in the middle and the left overs including fats and oils help to form the scum or bacteria layer at the top. Septic tanks contain millions of bacteria that are a healthy part of the system. Obviously, the tank has to have a way to release the excess water. This is accomplished in most cases via a leach field or sometimes referred to as a lateral field. This is an area on your property that contains a series of buried pipes with several small holes in them surrounded by a special rock bed. This system safely disperses and filters the effluent water into the ground that flows out of the tank. Again, certain systems utilize different methods to disperse this water. Some contain just one pipe that open ends on the surface, but keep in mind, these systems are no longer legal. The leach field is a very important component of the septic system. If it can’t filter and disperse the water, the entire septic system will fill up and you will either have waste water standing in your yard or the waste will stop draining out of the structure.
There are many myths involved with septic systems. Next month we will discuss and debunk those myths, as well as some “do’s and don’ts” concerning maintenance
to your system.
