If your home isn’t connected to a municipal sewer and water system, then you rely on a septic tank to process all the waste you generate. Without septic maintenance, waste may back up your plumbing, slow your drains, and flood into your home. So you can better diagnose potential problems, here’s what sewage treatment professionals would like you to understand about how septic systems work.

The Anatomy of a Septic Tank

1. Main Sewer Line

A main sewer line, or pipe, connects the plumbing in your home to the tank. Every plumbing fixture inside the house directs its waste to the main sewer line, which carries it away. It may clog if you put grease, fatty food bits, or cotton down your drains, requiring both drain cleaning and septic tank pumping to fix.

2. Septic Tank

When effluent—watery waste—from the main sewer line fills a tank, the bacteria inside break down the organic waste. A layer of sludge sinks to the bottom, and the remaining scum floats to the top. Treated wastewater then exits the tank. Over time, however, the layer of sludge begins to fill the tank and prevents further waste from being processed. Problems also arise if any chemicals you put into a tank kill off the bacteria needed to break down organic matter.

3. Distribution Box

Once the treated effluent exits the tank, it passes through a distribution box designed to distribute it evenly across a leach field. It guides effluent into a network of trenches and pipes to avoid oversaturating any part of the field. If the box malfunctions, water can’t flow out of the tank until the distribution box is replaced or repaired.

4. Leach Field

The leach field is where treated effluent drains into the surrounding soil for final filtration. As water percolates through the soil, it removes any remaining solids and organic matter before it evaporates or returns to the groundwater. When there’s too much water in the leach field, the effluent may not drain properly, leading to system backups.  

 

If you experience an issue with any part of your septic tank, contact the experts at A-1 Septic Tank & Drain Service in Coldwater, MS. For five generations, their team of highly trained technicians has helped homeowners keep their septic systems operating at peak efficiency. They’ll perform inspections to find the cause of problems and provide fast and reliable repairs. Schedule an appointment by calling (662) 233-4565, or learn more about their septic maintenance services online.