What is a septic tank and what does it do?

A septic tank is a tank which is used to store and treat sewage waste products while it settles. Although most families in a city have their waste drains directly connected to a sanitary sewer that leads to a sewage treatment plant, there are about 25 percent of the US population that direct their waste into a septic tank.

A standard rural septic systems installation in Anne Arundel County MD consists of the septic tank and the leach field. Sewage leaves the house and travels to the septic tank via the plumbing drains where it is allowed to separate. Over a period of time the solids sink to the bottom of the tank and the water, which is relatively clean, is sent into the leach field where it enters the ground. If there are any small solids left in the effluent they are taken care of in the leach field, the water then enters the water table.

Most of the solids which have dropped to the bottom of the septic tank are disposed of via an anaerobic process. It is impossible to get rid of all the solids in this manner so periodically the same company that does septic systems installation in Anne Arundel County MD will be called upon to pump the tank out. Depending on the size of the septic tank, the family size and other usage factors will determine how frequently this pumping must take place; the greater the amount of biodegradable material that finds its way to the tank, the more frequently it will have to be cleaned.

A septic tank is made either from metal which is treated to resist corrosion, concrete or the most common today, plastic. Depending on the ambient temperature of the region where the tank is installed, heating apparatus may be fitted to increase the rate of anaerobic dissipation which also reduces the frequency of draining. A normal size tank for a family will run about 1,000 to 1,500 gallons although much larger tanks are available. It takes great deal of work for septic systems installation in Anne Arundel County MD. Prior to the installation of the tank a percolation test must be carried out to determine the ideal place for the leach field.

Septic systems installation in Anne Arundel County MD is a task best left to the professionals who have all the know-how and equipment to undertake such a task. Visit Freestate Septic.