Septic Tank Drain Field Options

A buried watertight tank designated and constructed to receive and partially treat raw domestic sanitary wastewater.

Septic tank drain field options.

In the septic tank only about 50 percent of solids are broken down by bacteria the rest accumulate in the bottom of the tank until they are pumped out. Over time leach fields can build up sludge or tree roots can grow into them to form clogs which causes your septic tank to back up or leak into your yard. The effluent seeps into the gravel from the perforated pipes and then the soil. Placing the drain field leach field on undisturbed soil is a standard specification for conventional septic systems and many alternative systems such as mounds.

Conventional drain fields are by far the most common category but some homeowners may have one of the following types of drain field installations. A number of septic tank options exist other than the conventional system. A septic leach field also known as a drain field disperses wastewater from your septic tank and removes contaminants before it soaks deeper into the soil. Having too many solids accumulated and too much water entering the tank at once like doing several loads of laundry in one morning can cause the solids to be flushed out into the.

Due to this method s lasting effects on your drain field s ability to filter and absorb wastewater it is not a good option for the long term care of your septic tank system. Understanding the various types of drain fields used in modern systems can help you to identify problems in these vital areas of your household septic system arrangement. Less space than traditional septic systems is needed. There the waste water and solids separate and sludge eventually forms from the solids.

The effluent flows from the house to perforated pipes within a layer of gravel filled trenches. Heavy solids settle to the bottom of the tank while greases and lighter solids float to the top. The assumption is that the soil under and around the drain field will absorb filter and provide the final treatment of the effluent as it flows through the gravel trenches of. A leach field operates similar to a leaching system connected to a septic tank without a tank.

If you find you have some space for a drain field you could also check into recirculating sand filter rsf or peat systems. The solids stay in the tank while the wastewater is discharged to the drainfield for further treatment and dispersal. The wastewater is directed to a large drain. A standard septic tank carries wastewater from the home via a pipe which directs the waste into a storage tank.