Waste Treatment – Septic Systems

Objectives

 Know how a conventional septic system

works.
 Be able to describe three alternative systems
that could be used to dispose of household
waste.
 Know what soil conditions are needed for
proper functioning of conventional and
alternative waste disposal systems.
 Background Info

 Every day the average U.S. family of four

generates approximately 200 gallons of
sewage effluent through use of toilets,
showers, bathtubs, sinks, washing machines,
and dishwashers.
 This sewage is 95% water and 5% solid
material.
 Disposing of the Material

 In houses connected to city sewer systems, disposal

of household sewage is simple; the waste water
simply flows out of the houses, and down into the
city sewer pipe.
 However, in N. C., about 50% of the houses
(approximately 1.5 million) are not connected to
city a sewer, and wastes from these homes must be
disposed of in other ways, usually on the
homeowner's property.
 Septic Systems

 The easiest way to dispose of most

household's daily sewage is to let it seep into
the soil surrounding the home.
 To do this, most of the solid materials are
first removed from the effluent, and then the
wastewater is spread over the soil and
allowed to seep in.
 Soil’s Role in the Process

 The soil's job is to filter out any remaining

solids, and to kill the germs in the effluent.
 The purified water flows downward through
the soil to the water table and should be fit to
drink once it reaches the water table.
Schematic of Septic System

http://www.cet.nau.edu/Projects/WDP/resources/Conventional_Overview/ConventionalSe
pticSystem.jpg
Septic Tank

http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/health/ehoss/images/drainfield.jpg
 Septic Tank

 The septic tank is a settling tank where

sewage from the house is stored temporarily
so that solid materials settle to the bottom of
the tank to form sludge, while grease floats
to the top to form a scum layer.
 The scum and sludge must be periodically
removed from the septic tank by simply
pumping them out.
Septic Tank

http://rps.uvi.edu/CES/septicx.jpg
Drainfield or Absorption Field

http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/health/ehoss/images/drainfield.jpg
 Drainfield

 The absorption field is frequently a network

of drain lines (pipes with holes in them) that
carry wastewater from the septic tank and
apply it to the soil.
 The size of the absorption field varies from
site to site, but most are small enough to fit
in a backyard and cover and area between
400 and 800 ft2.
 Suitable Soils

 Although effluent can be applied to the surface of

any soil, not all soils are able to absorb and purify
wastewater.
 Soils that can be used for waste disposal are
permeable, deep, well drained (not waterlogged)
and are not on a steep slope.
 In N. C., state law requires that all soils pass an
inspection before a septic system is installed on any
property.