Households that are not served by public sewers usually depend on septic tank systems to treat and dispose of wastewater. A well designed, installed, and maintained septic system can provide years of reliable low-cost service. When these systems fail to operate effectively, property damage, groundwater and surface water pollution, and disease outbreaks occur. Therefore, it makes good sense to understand and care for your septic tank system.
There are many different types of septic tank systems to fit a wide range of soil and site conditions. The following information will help you to understand a simple type of septic system, and keep it operating safely at the lowest possible cost.
A "conventional" septic tank system has three working parts:
- The septic tank.
- The drainfield with its replacement area.
- The surrounding soil.
