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Home septic systems are essential in rural areas, many of which aren’t serviced by municipal sewer systems. These small wastewater treatment systems may seem simple, but they use a sophisticated combination of basic technology and natural processes to filter waste and return clean water to the environment. Below is a brief overview of how these reliable, simple systems clean the wastewater that exits your home.

How Do Septic Systems Work?

The Essential Components of a Septic System

While there are a variety of designs, most underground septic systems consist of two primary components: the tank and the drainfield. The septic tank is a watertight container, made out of concrete, steel, or high-grade plastic, which stores all the wastewater from your home. The drainfield is an underground arrangement of perforated plastic pipes that spread out underneath part of your lawn. This is how the wastewater exits the tank and is filtered back into the ground. 

How Septic Systems Treat Wastewater

septic systemThe septic tank collects all the wastewater from your house, where it sits long enough for solid matter to settle to the bottom. Liquid waste, grease, and oil float to the top. In most tanks, a series of T-shaped junctions or compartments slow down the flow of fluid and keep solid waste from moving toward the outflow pipe.

The liquid waste then flows into the drainfield, which slowly releases water into the soil. Septic systems use the natural filtering qualities of soil to remove pollutants and impurities from the water, which gradually returns to the aquifer or flows into nearby waterways. Depending on the size of your household, the sludge left behind in the septic tank will have to be pumped out every one to three years.

 

For over 30 years, Wade Rufsholm Septic Systems has provided effective wastewater treatment systems to homes throughout Wisconsin’s Burnett, Polk, and Washburn counties. Their septic tank installation experts pride themselves on delivering expert service and customized systems tailored to the needs of you and your family, especially if you live in a rural area. Visit their website to learn how they’ll install a septic system built to last, get more tips and advice on Facebook, or call (715) 349-7286 today to request an estimate on your new installation.

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