Septic tanks are ideal waste disposal solutions for homes that aren't able to connect to municipal sewer lines due to distance or lack of availability. Septic tanks come in several styles of plumbing and drain fields to adapt to different environments and soil conditions, making them available to a wide range of homeowners. Here are some of the kinds of septic tanks available and their different characteristics.

What Kinds of Septic Tanks Can I Have?

1. Conventional

The standard septic tank relies on a drain field that’s composed of several wide pipes resting on a bed of gravel, each with openings along its length. The openings and gravel help disperse wastewater throughout the soil so it can be absorbed.

2. Gravelless

The gravelless or chamber septic system eliminates the gravel element from a conventional drain field to accommodate for high water tables or structures that are only used seasonally. They disperse water in other ways, including cloth, synthetic, or recycled materials wrapped around the pipes or open-bottomed chambers.

3. Recirculating

In areas where wastewater needs to be highly treated before getting released into the environment, such as near bodies of water, septic systems can include a separate sand chamber either above or below ground. The wastewater is filtered through this sand chamber before being released to the regular drain field.

4. Evapotranspiration

In hot and dry climates with shallow soil, a septic tank may be designed not to release wastewater into the ground at all. Instead, the drain field opens at the surface, allowing wastewater to evaporate.

5. Mound

When the soil is shallow and evaporation isn't practical due to the area's wetter climate, septic system installers may build a mound of sand and gravel topped with soil to filter the water. This is only possible with enough space above ground for building, so it isn’t generally used in residential properties.

 

To discuss the type of septic tank that would work best for your property, contact Holler Drilling & Plumbing in La Crosse, WI. Since 1952, they have provided the area with expert well drilling, plumbing, and sewer solutions to help make your home self-reliant. Send them a message online or call (608) 781-2342 to get a free estimate.