Many people have heard of a septic system, but don't really know what a septic system is. So, what is a septic tank? What is a leach field? If you have a septic system you may be asking, What does the existing septic system consist of at my home? Do I have a cesspool or drywell? What is a cesspool or a drywell? How do I know if the septic system is working properly? What septic inspections and tests should I have performed? How long will a septic system last? Is septic system maintenance necessary? And you probably have a hundred other questions
as well. So, let's take a closer look at septic systems and attempt to answer these questions.

A private onsite septic system means that the waste from your home drains (sinks, showers, toilets) goes into a septic tank which retains the solids and lets the effluent flow into the soils on the property. Now do not worry, this does not mean that your lawn is going to have urine all over it. Properly designed and installed these systems are functional and sanitary. The liquid is treated and becomes sanitary and usable and will not infect drinking water etc. Private septic systems serve more homes in the U.S. and many other countries than any other waste disposal method, and people rarely get sick from a septic tank malfunction, so you really do not need to worry. However, when it comes to a septic tank there are some things you should know. First, the components are costly and do not have an indefinite life, so you want to properly maintain your tank, and the first and best way to do that is by putting it in properly initially. Because of the potential repair/replacement costs involved, and because the system is buried and cannot be exhaustively inspected and tested, you want to do what you can to evaluate the condition of the property, and get the leach field and septic system put in properly the first time.

The purpose of a septic system is to retain solid waste in the tank and to dispose of effluent waste water into the ground without contaminating the environment. To accomplish this a septic system consists of several elements. To look at it simply, a septic system consists of a holding tank which retains solid waste and grease from household waste water, and an absorption system or "leach field" which disposes of liquid wastewater or "effluent" which leaves the septic tank for absorption below ground into soils at the property.

Let's take a closer look at these components:

First you have the main waste line or "sewer line" which connects the home's plumbing to the septic tank. This should certainly be put in properly or you will have waste coming up and back into your house. Next you have the septic tank which is often buried just a few feet from the house foundation wall; the tank receives all waste (solid and liquid) and has the main job of retaining solids and grease. Solids settle to the bottom of the tank as sludge. A floating scum and grease layer forms at the top of the tank. The liquid leaves the tank, but the sludge and scum stay behind. This is accomplished by baffles at the tank inlet and outlet which reduce the velocity of liquid moving through the tank and prevent solids and floating scum from leaving. Clarified effluent is allowed to flow out of the tank into a soil absorption system. In some states (Connecticut since January 1991) septic tanks now consist of two compartments in order to do a more effective job. You also have an effluent distribution pipe which direct the flow of effluent from the septic tank to the leaching system, often connecting first to one or more distribution boxes which in turn distribute flow of effluent evenly into the leaching system. So what is a leaching system, well, a leaching system, or soil absorption system, also called "drainfield" has the job of dispersing the sewage effluent into the surrounding natural soils. There are many types of leaching systems but the most common is a network of perforated pipes buried in gravel-filled trenches. The specific type utilized on a particular property depends on the soil conditions and the amount of space available. Most distribution piping and leaching systems are "gravity" systems, meaning the flow runs through piping and distribution boxes without the assistance of any mechanical device, such as a pump or siphon, but some homes pump their effluent uphill into a mound system.
A septic system, if understood and properly installed is a great way to dispose of waste.