Septic systems are individual on-site wastewater treatment systems that use bacteria and the soil to treat our wastewater. There are many variations to the system design but all have the following in common:

• A septic system consists of a septic tank, a distribution box and a drain field, all connected by pipes.
• The septic tank begins to treat your house-hold wastewater by temporarily holding it in the first compartment of the tank. Here heavy solids and lighter scum are allowed to separate from the wastewater. This is called the primary treatment. The solids stored in the tank are decomposed by bacteria. That which is not broken down, along with grease and other floating scum, must be removed periodically by a professional septic pumper.
• In the second compartment of the septic tank more solids settle out, allowing the relatively clear wastewater to leave the tank and flow into a distribution box, which separates the water flow into a network of drain field trenches. Drainage holes in the trench pipes allow the water to filter thru the surrounding gravel and ultimately seeping slowly into the surrounding soil. Bacteria and other microorganisms in the soil further treat and purify the liquid, this is called secondary treatment. A properly functioning septic system does not pollute the groundwater and should function for many years.

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