| Every home produces wastewater. The water is | | | | the pump on again. |
| produced through washing, bathing and flushing of | | | | The gravel and earth in the drain field filter the water |
| the toilet. Before being released back into the | | | | as it travels back to into the ground water tables. An |
| environment, the water that is produced must | | | | efficient septic system only allows purified water to |
| undergo wastewater treatment. | | | | reach back into the ground water and has no flow on |
| If you home does not have a connection to a public | | | | top of the ground. This prevents the contaminates |
| sewage disposal system, you must have an onsite | | | | from polluting the surface water. |
| treatment system. Typically this is handled through | | | | If you live near a stream, river, lake or ocean, it is |
| use of septic tanks. The tank breaks down organic | | | | very important that your septic system be working |
| waste and allows treated wastewater to flow back | | | | correctly. An incorrectly working system can and |
| into the aquifers. | | | | phosphates and nitrates to the water. These |
| Septic tanks depend on helpful bacterial to dissolve | | | | chemicals can cause an increase in some of the |
| many of the solid wastes that enter into the tank. | | | | microorganisms that grow in the water and could lead |
| Solids that the bacteria cannot break down may | | | | to a fish kill. |
| settle to the bottom of the tank as a sludge layer or | | | | The sludge and scum that accumulate in a septic |
| rise to the top to form a scum layer. The scum layer | | | | system lower its working volume. A grease |
| may include fats and oils that were not broken down | | | | interceptor can slow the accumulation. Regular septic |
| while the sludge layer consists of materials that are | | | | pumping keeps these accumulations from |
| heavier than water. A grease trap interceptor can | | | | accumulating and increases the working volume of |
| remove some of the fats before they enter the | | | | the tank. If the scum layer is allowed to get too |
| tank. A water layer separates the scum and sludge. | | | | thick, it may eventually get into the drain field and |
| Water is forced out of the tank every time more | | | | cause it to fail. |
| water comes inside. When you flush 2.8 gallons down | | | | Onsite wastewater treatment can be accomplished |
| the toilet, 2.8 gallons exit the tank. In a gravity flow | | | | using septic systems. A well designed system that is |
| system the water that exits the tank flows to the | | | | working system can prevent contamination of both |
| drain field where it slowly leaches into the ground. | | | | ground and surface waters. A system that is not |
| With a pump system, the water goes into a holding | | | | properly maintained can allow bacteria to contaminate |
| tank with a pump. When the water reaches a certain | | | | local wells as well as streams, lakes, rivers and |
| level the pump moves the water to the drain field. A | | | | oceans. Regular maintenance of the system can also |
| after a set amount of water moves to the field, the | | | | prevent costly replacement. |
| pump turns off and waits to fill to the level to turn | | | | |