Preventing groundwater pollution from failing septic systems should be a priority for every community and every homeowner. Contamination of the groundwater source can lead to the pollution of local wells, streams, lakes, and ponds – exposing family, friends, and neighbors to waterborne diseases and other serious health risks.
When a septic system fails, inadequately treated domestic waste can reach the groundwater. Bacteria and viruses from human waste can cause dysentery, hepatitis, and typhoid fever. Many serious outbreaks of these diseases have been caused by contaminated drinking water. One of the most important homeowner maintenance tasks is to keep septic tank systems flowing properly. These services are provided by your local Fort Worth plumbing professionals.
A septic tank system consists of an underground watertight container, almost always constructed of concrete, and is built to receive sewage and retain the liquid portion for approximately 24 hours. The tank has three functions: First, it acts as a settling chamber to allow solids to settle to the tank bottom; second, the tank serves as a digestion chamber to allow some biological treatment; and third, the tank becomes a storage vault for solids until removed.
The tile absorption field (nitrification field) is probably the most critical part of the septic tank system. It is sometimes referred to as the leech bed and consists of a trench, or system of trenches, with gravel or crushed stone and jointed tile or perforated pipe. The purpose is to receive the liquid sewage after treatment in the septic tank and to distribute this liquid to the soil for absorption and final biological treatment.