What are the main parts of a septic tank system? And how does a septic tank system work?
If you own a rural property with a septic tank system, it’s important to understand what the system is comprised of, how it works and what you can do to prevent any problems from occurring. Even though a septic tank system is out of sight and underground, owners of properties with a septic tank are legally required to ensure that the system doesn’t cause pollution.
Regular emptying of your system, and keeping an eye (or a nose!) out for any potential trouble are key in preventing issues such as blockages and failures.
Spotting warning signs early on, and acting quickly to get expert septic tank advice, is key to avoiding expensive works being necessary.
Firstly, let’s look at the key parts of a septic tank system, and how it all works together. It’s worth highlighting here that whilst a septic tank is the most common type of off mains drainage system, it’s not the only one. Your property might have a sewage treatment plant or a cesspit, and these function in a different way than a septic tank system, and will have different requirements. If you’re not sure what type of drainage system you have, our team can help you, just get in touch for a chat.
A typical septic tank system consists of a septic tank, a drainage field (sometimes known as a soakaway system) and a network of pipes connecting the house plumbing to the tank and the tank to the ground. Wastewater from your property’s toilets, showers, baths, sinks and washing machines enters into the septic tank. The tank stores and separates the waste, while the soakaway or drainage field allows the separated water to percolate safely into the soil.
Knowing how each of these parts work together can help to identify problems, leaks or blockages early. In the following sections, we’ll take a look at each part of the septic tank system, explain how you can best look after them and highlight signs of problems to look out for.
The Key Elements of a Septic Tank System
What are the key components of a septic tank system? The table below explains the primary components and their functions.
| Component | Main Role |
|---|---|
| Inlet Pipe | Takes wastewater from the property to the septic tank |
| Septic Tank | Separates and stores wastewater from the property |
| Outlet Pipe | Allows treated water to pass in to the soakaway |
| Soakaway | Filters and disperses separated wastewater into soil |
The Inlet Pipe
The inlet pipe takes all the household wastewater from the property’s sinks, toilets, and showers directly into the septic tank system. If the inlet pipe becomes blocked or is broken, the entire septic tank system can back up, leading to floods inside the house.
The Septic Tank
The septic tank is the primary holding component, often constructed from concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene. The septic tank is crucial for efficient waste management. Wastewater enters into the tank and gradually separates into three layers: scum (fats and oils) on top, clear liquid (effluent) in the middle, and sludge on the bottom. Anaerobic processes in the tank decompose much of the organic matter, but other solid waste still requires regular emptying to keep the tank operating properly.
The Outlet Pipe
The outlet pipe takes separated wastewater from the middle layer of the septic tank and allows it to pass through to the soakaway. An outlet baffle prevents sludge or scum from escaping the tank. If that baffle collapses or the pipe becomes clogged, thick sludge will fill the drainage field. This in turn can create serious problems, including ultimately the full failure of the soakaway itself. Regular emptying of the septic tank and inspection of the septic tank’s baffle (which can also be checked during emptying) is crucial to avoiding these issues.
The Soakaway
The soakaway, also known as the drainage field, is typically buried in soil. The perforated or slotted network of pipes distribute the separated wastewater across the ground, ensuring that it passes through the surrounding subsoils safely and effectively. The soil effectively filters the wastewater as it percolates through, but the effectiveness of the soakaway can be compromised by heavy clay or compacted ground. This can prevent effective drainage and lead to surface flooding or unpleasant smells.
Maintaining Septic Tank System Health
Keeping a septic tank system healthy isn’t just about protecting the local environment, it’s also about protecting you from expensive repairs, or worse – a full system replacement. Routine care and simple daily practices are essential for maintaining septic tank systems. When septic tank systems aren’t properly maintained, they fail, leading to expensive repairs and damaging environmental impact.
Routine Checks for Your Septic Tank System
These are the simple regular checks you can carry out to ensure your system is running efficiently:
- Check all tank covers and lids for cracks, loose fittings or leaks. Ensure they are tight-fitting and easily accessible for servicing.
- Check the inlet and outlet pipes. Look for blockages, unpleasant smells or damp spots nearby.
- Inspect the area above the drainage field or soakaway for areas of lush grass, pooling water or wet spots, which can indicate leaks or system overload.
- Check alarms and pumps if your system has them. Ensure all wires are intact and weatherproofed.
How will you know if there are problems with your septic tank system? Signs to watch out for include slow drains, gurgling pipes, or strong smells around the tank or drainage field. This might indicate a blockage, leak, or an overflowing tank.
Run a thorough check at least once a year – the best time to do this is when your tank is being emptied, because you can ask the tanker operator to observe the tank during and after emptying.
It’s also a good idea to keep a record of all checks, tank empties or any repair or maintenance works. This is useful for monitoring any issues but also for demonstrating that you have properly maintained the system should you come to sell the property.
Septic Tank Emptying Schedule
Septic tanks generally need to be emptied every one to two years – but this depends on the size of the system and the number of people living at the property. If you are unsure, you should seek the advice of a local septic tank specialist.
- More users or regular heavy usage could mean shorter intervals between emptying.
- Always use a licensed waste carrier to empty your tank.
- Record each service in a maintenance log.
If a septic tank system is not emptied frequently enough, it can result in blockages, unpleasant smells, and even drains backing up to your property. If solid waste from the septic tank makes it to the drainage field, remedying this can be both expensive and difficult. Regular emptying of septic tanks keeps the system operating for many years and protects the local environment and health.
Daily Habits
- Be careful and consistent with daily water usage – spread out heavy washing over multiple days.
- Only flush toilet paper and human waste – do not flush things such as sanitary products or nappies.
- Put kitchen fats, oils, wipes and chemicals in the bin, never pour them into the sink.
- Use septic tank safe cleaners and do not overdo it on harsh chemical products.
Non-biodegradable products such as wipes, sanitary items and cotton buds can quickly clog pipes. Several typical cleaning products can harm the waste-digesting bacteria in the tank, so try softer, septic tank safe cleaning solutions wherever possible.
Spotting Potential Trouble
Keep an eye out for these warning signs of potential septic tank system issues. Taking swift action is crucial to avoiding costly repairs and potential health or pollution risks. Regular checks and fixes will help to ensure your septic tank system works efficiently.
These are the main things to look out for – in all instances, seek professional advice, our team are available to help chat through any problems you have. If you experience problems and realise your septic tank is overdue for a routine empty, try to arrange this as quickly as possible. You may find this gets things back to normal straight away.
- Toilets not flushing properly
- Gurgling sounds in pipes, water being slower to drain away
- Unpleasant smells in and around the property
- Drains overflowing through manholes, or even backing up to your property
- Boggy patches, or more lush patches of grass above where your soakaway or drainage field is located
Septic Tank Issues
Septic tanks can leak or become damaged for a number of reasons, such as tree root damage or even ground movement. This allows untreated waste to leach into the ground around the tank. Corroded or damaged lids can also allow rainwater in, flooding the system.
If the septic tank system isn’t emptied regularly, solids can get into the soakaway and cause larger failures.
It’s important to get the septic tank checked by professionals on once a year if possible, ideally during emptying. Inspections can identify leaks, possible damage and blockages. If you see patches of damp or smell something nasty around the tank, it’s important to seek expert advice quickly.
Soakaway Failures
There are a number of reasons for a soakaway or drainage field failure. Pooling water or wet patches above the drainage field are major red flags indicating that the septic tank system might not be functioning properly. Waterlogged ground from intense rainfall, excessive water consumption, or blocked pipes can also prevent the soakaway from draining effectively. Tree roots might be obstructing or damaging the area.
Without regular emptying of the septic tank, small problems can quickly turn into major issues. A regular full septic tank inspection can help to nip these potential problems in the bud. If you think something is amiss, reduce water usage and have a septic tank expert inspect the system as soon as possible. You can contact our team today for advice if you are concerned that your soakaway or septic tank system might have failed.
Pipe Blockages
Blockages within the pipes in a septic tank system often start when things such as grease, food scraps, or wipes get flushed into sinks or through toilets. These can block pipes, causing drainage to slow, and in the worst case it can lead to sewage backing up into your property. Gurgling noises coming from sinks or toilets are another tell-tale sign that your septic tank system is not working as it should and that pipes may be blocked.
The best way to avoid pipe blockages is to ensure only paper and human waste, not wipes or rubbish, are flushed into the system.
Your Role as a Septic Tank System Owner
Property owners play a crucial role in protecting the septic tank system, ensuring it continues to function properly and does not cause any local pollution or environmental harm. Regular emptying, maintenance checks and repairs, along with an understanding of how the septic tank system works, are key responsibilities for property owners. Indeed, if you own a property that has a septic tank system, it is a legal responsibility to ensure it does not pollute the local environment – and failure to do so can have harsh consequences.
Owners should understand the key components of their septic tank systems. That includes the septic tank itself, the drainage field, and the pipes that connect it all. Each part has a specific job: the tank holds effluent and allows solids to settle, the drainage field facilitates water percolation into the ground, and the pipes carry waste from the house to the tank. If any one component fails, the entire system can cease functioning. Being aware of signs of trouble outlined above, like slow drains, bad smells, or water pooling above the system, helps identify problems early.
Regular septic tank inspections look for leaks, blockages, and wear, making the system more likely to give you years of trouble-free usage. Don’t skip checks or ignore small issues. Sticking to a schedule for septic tank emptying, avoiding system overload, and refraining from pouring harmful chemicals down the drain can help reduce problems.
Alternatives to a Septic Tank System
Some homes and locations require more than a basic septic tank and soakaway or drainage field. This can be due to a number of factors such as the size of area available for the system, the suitability of the soil and the water table in the area. Other solutions, such as a sewage treatment plant or cesspit, provide alternatives for storage, treatment and disposal of waste. This can be the case where site conditions are either restrictive, or conducive to more modern and efficient systems such as a sewage treatment plant.
Such systems can require extra attention, and every system has its own requirements and expense. Repairs or replacements are expensive and owners are responsible for regular maintenance and major repairs. There are restrictions and regulations surrounding the type of system that can be installed at a property. Homeowners could be required to obtain special permits, comply with standards or demonstrate that their system functions as intended.
Ultimately, the best drainage system solution will be site, context, and local environment specific. Always consult a septic tank professional before making any changes – an expert can help you choose a system suited to the land, local regulations and also to your budget.
Conclusion
A septic tank system functions at its best with some TLC and a routine approach to emptying and maintaining the system. Every component – septic tank, pipes, drainage field – has a specific function and to some extent a level of maintenance or observation is required. Regular checks both above and below ground, and keeping a close eye (or nose!) out for any potential problems should help keep your system operating efficiently for many decades to come!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main parts of a septic tank system?
The key components are the septic tank, the connecting pipework and the drainage field or soakaway. Each of these components is crucial in treating and dispersing household wastewater effectively.
How does a septic tank work?
The septic tank system separates solids from liquids, where solids settle at the bottom, and the effluent water enters into the drainage field for soil absorption.
How often should a septic tank be emptied?
Most septic tank systems require emptying every one to two years, but it is important to know that this can depend on the size of the system and the number of people living in the property. Regular inspection of the septic tank during and after emptying helps to avoid system failure, preserving both the property and health.
What are signs of a failing septic tank system?
Typical symptoms of septic tank system issues may include slow drains, bad smells, soggy areas in the garden, or sewage backing up in the house. Prompt attention to these signs of trouble can help to avoid expensive repair costs associated with repairing or replacing a failed system.
Why is regular maintenance important?
Routine checks catch issues early and prevent costly problems, in addition to keeping the system operating as it should be and avoiding environmental harm.
What should not go into a septic system?
Never flush wipes, chemicals, grease, or non-biodegradable items, as these can block pipes or disrupt the septic tank system’s natural bacterial processes.
Are there alternatives to conventional septic tank systems?
Yes. Other systems include cesspits and sewage treatment plants, which can be alternatives available depending on the specific site conditions at the property, and the space available at the property.
