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septic

A septic tank is an underground chamber made of concrete, fiberglass, or plastic through which domestic wastewater (sewage) flows for basic treatment. Settling and anaerobic processes reduce solids and organics, but the treatment efficiency is only moderate (referred to as "primary treatment"). Septic tank systems are a type of simple onsite sewage facility (OSSF). They can be used in areas that are not connected to a sewerage system, such as rural areas. The treated liquid effluent is commonly disposed in a septic drain field, which provides further treatment. Nonetheless, groundwater pollution may occur and can be a problem.
The term "septic" refers to the anaerobic bacterial environment that develops in the tank that decomposes or mineralizes the waste discharged into the tank. Septic tanks can be coupled with other onsite wastewater treatment units such as biofilters or aerobic systems involving artificially forced aeration.The rate of accumulation of sludge—also called septage or fecal sludge—is faster than the rate of decomposition. Therefore, the accumulated fecal sludge must be periodically removed, which is commonly done with a vacuum truck.

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  1. kdrifter440

    Septic gases in crawl space from gap in pipe.

    A family member had a sewer line collapse, which brought to light several issues with their plumbing. There is a 1/4 gap in the sewer line where a 3 inch pipe and 90 sits on another 4 inch 90 going into the ground. How concerned should this family member be about septic gases in the crawl space?
  2. S

    Unusual Septic Drain Field Issue

    I found a concrete slab buried in my back yard where the drain field is supposed to be. It appears to be "L" shaped 22.5' X 21.5' on the long sides and 5' wide. It is about 8" deep, hollow with baffles. From the open ends I can see rocks inside, but have not gone too far into exploratory mode...
    • Stuck-in-the-Muck
    • Thread
    • america drain field issue septic unusual usa
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: USA
  3. J

    What kind of pump can empty a full septic tank in a remote area?

    I thought I could buy an external pump to pull out with a two inch pipe and send it away from the house.
    • jcochr
    • Thread
    • america empty pump remote septic tank usa
    • Replies: 2
    • Forum: USA
  4. S

    Was this lift system designed properly?

    I am looking to purchase a home in Colorado. It has a septic system with a lift system installed in the basement. We had the sewer line scoped and found interesting things. I am trying to determine if the force main line was installed properly (or not). During the inspection, a scope was...
    • sonniema
    • Thread
    • america designed lift properly septic system usa
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: USA
  5. townfanjon

    Drainage / septic tank advice

    Customer mega house , two soil pipes , both outside and around 5/6 meters apart . One vented to atmosphere, the other has an AAV fitted , the one with the AAV is starting to give drainage problems , blocked basin , pan nearly fills up and then falls immediately, shower waste gurgles . Didnt...
    • townfanjon
    • Thread
    • advice america drainage septic tank usa
    • Replies: 4
    • Forum: USA
  6. P

    Septic Tank Blockages

    I've had two blockages in the last 6 months in the drains leading to a septic tank which I unblocked myself with rods. The septic tank is a fibreglass Klargester and is about 30 years old. The drains are similar and are plastic. The blockage seems to be at the point where the drain enters the...
  7. S

    Condensate cannot go into Foul Drains when a Septic Tank is used

    Just a 'Heads Up'. Condensate from Condensing Boilers MUST NOT be drained into Foul Drains when a septic tank or sewage treatment plant is part of the foul drainage system. The condensate kills the bacteria in the tanks due to its high acidity and the sewage treatment stops working.
  8. C

    Very smelly soil system with septic tank.......Been told it's impossible to fix!

    Hi all, I'm come to you begging for advice, the tourist site I work for has had a long problem with a very smelly soil system. They've been told by many plumbers its impossible to fix, I've been asked to see 'what I can do'. Its a hotel complex site with a septic tank, 4000 litre. it has quite a...
  9. T

    Inspection Chamber & Stuck Rod Leading to Septic Tank

    Hi all, This is my first post as a new member. Thanks in advance for any help or guidance. Here's my situation... We recently moved to a smallholding in a rural location. First time we have owned a house with a septic tank. There are two routes to the septic tank, one round the back of the...
  10. T

    Desperate help needed

    Hi guys, for about a month or so now we have had a really bad smell in our house - it seems to start in the kitchen and bathroom on one side of the house (We have two bathrooms and the smell never seems to go in the second one). Now it's really hard to pinpoint where it's coming from, or why...
  11. ShaunCorbs

    Boiler condensate to septic tank

    (domestic) now i think your not supposed to run it into one because it will harm the system dynamics (bacteria) but the question is would you be able to run it into a septic tank if you use a Condensate Neutralizer ?? but my only worrie is it will require servicing every year (but what...
  12. P

    Septic Tanks Woes

    My sister recently bought a house with a septic tank. There was leakage out behind the tank and the tank itself was well overdue for a pump out so we got it emptied and excavated behind the outlet only to find a fairly crude soakaway which had failed leaving a foul smelling mess. We extended the...
  13. T

    Can i swap a air admittance valve for a bung with a septic tank?

    Hi, we have recently moved house and are suffering from a bad smell in our garden. We think this is coming from next doors soil pipe so have fitted a air admittance valve on it, however we are still getting some smells from it. Are we able to fit a bung? We have no mains sewers and have a septic...
  14. megsican26

    Septic Failure

    Hi! I hope I'm in the right place. I'm new to the forum world :) And the septic system world... Or nightmare. I was unaware my home ran on a septic instead of the city. Also unaware that it failed over 2 years ago. My entire yard is feet deep with septic overflow. It looks like I have a pond...
  15. R

    Ses pit ventilation needs

    On a ses pit how many vents need to go to air and can you dergo a ses pit? Do you treat a ses pit same as standard sewer vent needs
  16. S

    Should I have my septic tank emptied?

    I've researched this topic on Google and am inevitably confused by contradictory "advice", thus would welcome some expert guidance please. We've lived in our house (not in the UK) for around a year, but have only just discovered that our soil drains to a septic tank.:oops: We have done nothing...
  17. C

    Septic tank smell in house and outside!

    Hi I am new to the forum so excuse my unprofessional lingo! We moved into a new build house around 6 months ago and noticed a sewer smell coming from under the kitchen sink and outside the back door between the stack pipe and the manhole cover. The smell seemed to be worse first thing in the...
  18. L

    Septic Tank Ventilation Design

    Good Evening All, May I first start by offering my congratulations and thanks for a very informative forum and excellent research tool for all elements of plumbing; both professional and novice. Apologies for the lengthy first post, but I wanted to be as comprehensive as possible to gather...
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