Toronto Water Services: How Septic Tanks Work

Jan 13
09:09

2013

Bipasha Bhatia

Bipasha Bhatia

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Septic tanks are independent sewage treatment facilities that are not connected to municipal sewage systems. Toronto water services tell you how they work?

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Septic tanks are installed and buried in the yard if homes to act as method of waste removal. The systems are independent of private corporation sewage systems or local government sewage systems. Toronto water services experts handle septic tank jobs such as unclogging.

How Do They Work?

Septic systems in homes can hold waste of volumes of 1,000 - 1,500 gallons. The tanks have a wastewater pipe connected to one end and on the other a septic drain field. The wastewater pipe is typically connected with a T-pipe, which facilitates flow of liquid without harming the land that surrounds it.

Most septic tanks consist of two chambers and one of the chambers is protected by a manhole cover. Wastewater from the house enters one of the chambers,Toronto Water Services: How Septic Tanks Work Articles with any solids sinking to the bottom and scum floating on top. Solids are anaerobically digested as decomposing occurs. The liquid part will flow into the second chamber. Any liquid left after more settling occurs is released through leach fields. The waste at this point is almost clear and it enters the ground where further filtration occurs.

Cleaning Out

Waste that did not break down in the process has to be taken out of the tank, which is done using a “honey dipper.” This is a special truck with a hose that sucks waste from the septic tank and into the truck’s tank. The size of the septic tank and solid amount will determine how often removal of waste is done. Tank temperature also play a part in the digestion and higher temperatures make the digestion faster and more efficient. Septic tank experts may need to be called every 6 months or once a year to maintain the tanks to keep them working efficiently.

To assist the anaerobic digestion, homeowners sometimes add bacterial agents to the septic tanks.

How to Choose Septic Tanks

Septic tanks can hold liquid and waste of between 1,000-1,500 gallons. For smaller homes with fewer people living in it, then the 1,000-gallon size will be sufficient. Larger homes with family sizes of more than four, may find the 1,500 gallon one ideal for them. The larger sized septic tanks mean that cleaning out will not be required often and any maintenance needed will be simpler to perform. If one has doubts, getting a plumber or Toronto water services expert should help to choose just the right septic tank for your needs.