Mini-Digger Hire

1. All water runs out of your house from one main drainage pipe into a septic tank.

• The septic tank is a buried, water-tight container usually made of concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene. Its job is to hold the wastewater long enough to allow solids to settle down to the bottom forming sludge, while the oil and grease floats to the top as scum.
  
• Compartments and a T-shaped outlet prevent the sludge and scum from leaving the tank and traveling into the drainfield area.
  

1. The liquid wastewater (effluent) then exits the tank into the drainfield.

• The drainfield is a shallow, covered, excavation made in unsaturated soil. Pretreated wastewater is discharged through piping onto porous surfaces that allow wastewater to filter though the soil. The soil accepts, treats, and disperses wastewater as it percolates through the soil, ultimately discharging to groundwater.
  
• If the drainfield is overloaded with too much liquid, it can flood, causing sewage to flow to the ground surface or create backups in toilets and sinks.
  

1. Finally, the wastewater percolates into the soil, naturally removing harmful coliform bacteria, viruses and nutrients. Coliform bacteria is a group of bacteria predominantly inhabiting the intestines of humans or other warm-blooded animals. It is an indicator of human fecal contamination.

VIDEO: Watch this video for a quick rundown on the workings of a standard septic tank system

SEPTIC TANK MAINTENANCE

Read our online guide to maintaining your Septic Tank System

Click here for details on Septic Tank Maintenance

A septic tank, or sewage treatment plant, is installed for any property where there is no access to a main sewer system. The septic system is a critical part of your infrastructure, it is essential that it is built & installed correctly to ensure trouble free long-term use and operation.

How much does a Septic Tank System Installation cost?

It’s a common question…

…and it’s not an easy question to answer. It depends on a number of variables specific to each property/project and customer needs.  One size does not fit all.

The variables can include: The size of the property? The type & size of septic tank?  The location and type of leach field, the ground conditions at your property etc etc.

Here is an example to give you an idea of cost.  This example is based on:

• 2 bedroom property - 4 person usage
• Basic septic tank & filtration system
• Standard leach field design/lay-out
• Supplied & Fitted in 1-2 days

Many buildings and homes have on-site wastewater management systems, commonly called septic systems. Because septic systems are buried, it is easy to forget about them as they quietly, elegantly and efficiently maintain human and environmental health. Septic systems are the norm in rural areas, but they can be quite common in urban areas as well. It is important to know if your building is on a septic system.

These are signs of a failing system:

• Sinks and toilets drain slowly
• Backed-up plumbing
• Gurgling sounds coming from the plumbing
• Sewage odors in the house or yard
• Wet or mushy soil in the yard
• Standing water that is greyish in color
• Grass growing faster and greener in one particular area of the yard
• Bacteria in well water

HOW TO: Calculate the size of Septic Tank you need

The most important calculation you need to know is the size of septic tank you need specific to your expected household water usage.

•  This video example is based on a 2 bedroom property
  
• 5 person usage of the system
• Average water usage per person, per day