What is a Septic Tank?

Septic tanks are most often used in rural areas where the main sewage line does not reach. A septic system is a private sewage treatment plant receiving all waste water from your house.

A septic tank is a type of biological sewage treatment system. Naturally occurring bacteria break down the solid matter, reducing its volume. The liquid element is discharged usually via effluent drainage systems "soakaways" The accumulated solids need only be pumped out occasionally.  The tank should ideally be sited away from housing.

They are composed of a tank, a network of perforated pipes called the soakaway, and billions of microscopic organisms. The heavy solid material is broken down and settles at the bottom of the tank.   The safe water then floats to the top and filters into the ground via the soakaway.

 A crust develops on top of the water, which consists of non-degradable material.  This also contains the organisms so is never completely removed when the tank is emptied.

A septic tank accumulates solid material that must be pumped out. If it is not, the sludge will reach the outlet level and begin flowing into the soakaway, where it will clog up the mesh and prevent liquid from draining away.  Also, raw sewage and toxic chemicals may drain into the soil, this is can be a health hazard, and harmful to the environment. Here at Glanville Environmental we’re the good guys who stop that from happening. 

A cesspool or cesspit is a sealed underground storage tank which retains the sewage until the time of disposal. It may be brick or block construction or manufactured in steel or reinforced glass fibre and have minimum capacity of 18,000 litres.

• Grass over the system may become unusually green or spongy to walk on.
• Toilets, showers, etc. take longer to drain.
• Odours may be evident from the raw, untreated sewage.
• Grey or black liquids may surface in yards or around fixtures in homes. This is material from the bottom of the septic tank created by the anaerobic organisms.

Problems occur only very rarely, but should be remedied as quickly as possible. If you are unable to locate the problem and deal with it yourself, call out a specialist contractor such as Glanville Environmental as it may be necessary to have the tank emptied.

• How often should my tank be emptied? 

• How do I tell if my tank needs emptying?

• Why do you never completely empty the tank?

• Why is my tank apparently full again within a week of it being emptied?
  

The water level in the tank will quickly rise to its normal working level.  This can occur within a few days of the sludge being emptied.