One of the dreary tasks of modern living is
making sure that every now and then, work is done to have an empty septic tank.
This humble receptacle is responsible for taking in everything that is
discarded from your sink, bath tub, shower, bath tub, washing machine and
toilet. However, there is a limit to what it can accommodate and things can be
really messy when that limit is exceeded.
How the Septic Tank Works
All the water drained from different parts of
a house come together in a single pipe which leads to the septic tank. Once the
combined water gets to the tank, the heaviest particulate matter in the waste
water settles down to the bottom and forms sludge. The oil, fats and proteins
rise to the top to form scum. In the middle is the relatively clear liquid
which is called effluent or gray water. Only the middle part, the effluent or
gray water, gets to leave the septic tank. It is discharged through pipes with holes
drilled in them. Through these holes the degraded effluent water is released
into the ground and into the leach field.
