Thursday, January 21, 2016

Basics Relating To Septic Systems Kingsland Tx Residents Should Know

By Diane Nelson


Septic systems are central to the management of household wastewater. They are particularly important in rural settings where getting a connection to a centralized sewage system is expensive or the centralized system does not even exist in the first place. Many of them are designed in a simple way that makes them affordable. If they plan to set up septic systems Kingsland Tx residents should know a number of things.

A septic system comprises two major components; (a septic tank and the drain field.) The tank is usually made of concrete or fiberglass. Wastewater is drained here through the inlet. It stays here for a couple of days or weeks to allow for the liquid and the solid waste to separate. Light solid waste consisting of oil and grease settles at the top. The heavier waste settles at the bottom to form sludge and the water remains in the middle.

The other function of the tank is to allow the naturally occurring bacteria to start the process of breaking down the solids. The solids that are not broken down are retained and have to be removed by way of pumping. The water then passes to the drainfield for further treatment. A drainfield is simply an underground system of trenches lined with sand or gravel. The water is delivered here using perforated pipes.

The system should be inspected on a regular basis. At least one inspection every three years is recommended for the ordinary system. Systems that have electrical and mechanical components tend to fail more often and require more frequent inspection. Pumping should also be done every three to five years or more frequently if possible. Professionals should be contracted to help in identifying and fixing defects that may exist.

There are several factors that influence the frequency of pumping. They include the total amount of wastewater produced in a household, the number of people in the household, the volume of solid waste and the size of the septic tank. A number of additives may be used to reduce the volume of solid waste. These additives are, however, not always effective which leaves pumping as the only reliable option.

Using water more efficiently within the household will greatly reduce the amount of waste that ends up in the system and this will in turn improve its operation as well as reduce the chances of failure. One of the ways of having an efficient system is to install water closets that use less water. While older designs have reservoirs that hold between 3.5 to 5 gallons, newer ones hold 1.6 gallons or less but still flush effectively.

One of the problems that may occur when using this systems is overloading especially when too much water is used. When this happens, backups tend to occur and wastewater may flood the ground surface. This problem is solved by having a reserve drainfield onsite. Poorly drained soils make it difficult to set up drainfields. In such a case alternatives that use plastic, sand or peat are considered.

Septic systems will only serve their purpose if properly taken care of. Avoid flushing non-biodegradable materials such as hair, plastic and pieces of cloth down the toilet as this will increase the rate of formation of sludge. Ensure that regular inspection is done and any repairs that are required on the tank are done in time.




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