Wednesday, April 24

What’s Up With Your Waste?: The Different Types of Septic Systems, Explained

Did you know that there are more than 60 million people in the United States who are served by septic systems? The Environmental Protection Agency reported that roughly a third of all new developments are served by one of many different types of septic systems.

In this article, you’ll learn about the different types of septic systems available to you. Let’s get into it!

What is a Septic System?

Septic systems are traditionally underground wastewater treatment systems. Using a combination of nature and technology, septic systems treat water from bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry, septic systems digest organic matter.

One key thing to note about septic systems is that even though they remove products and filter them, they need cleaning too. There are many signs that your septic system needs cleaning, which you can view here now.

No matter what, septic system maintenance is imperative, so keep an eye on yours! There are lots of different things you should never flush into your septic system. The link above has plenty of information detailing exactly how to care for your septic system, so give it a read as soon as you can.

Different Types of Septic Systems

There are many different types of septic systems. Let’s look at some of the most popular. If you’re not sure which type you have or need, you can always explore the EPA website to learn more.

Septic Tanks

You might not be aware, but you have almost definitely been somewhere that runs on a septic tank. These tanks are buried, watertight systems that receive and partially treat domestic sanitary waste.

The heavy solids settle at the bottom, while the wastewater is discharged for further treatment. Each septic tank has multiple compartments, the number of which vary by size and state!

Aerobic Treatment Unit

Aerobic treatment units (ATUs) use similar processes to a traditional sewage plant, just on a far smaller scale. By injecting oxygen into the treatment tank, natural bacterial activity occurs to treat nutrients in the effluent.

ATUs need regular maintenance, so it’s important to know how to clean a septic system like this. The benefit is these systems are a lot smaller than most major multi-process systems available.

Constructed Wetland System

A prime example of a substantial multi-process septic system is a constructed wetland. These systems work similarly to natural filtration processes in the wild.

Wastewater flows from the initial septic tank to a media system of gravel, plants, and other natural elements that remove pathogens. The benefit of these systems is that they usually work with gravity, so you don’t even need to do septic installation kauai hi!

Now You Know

If you’ve ever asked yourself, does my home have a septic system, well know you should know enough to determine whether you do or not!

However, there are so many different types of septic systems that you should continue reading, or click the links in this article, to find out more!