Amelia Whitehart August 1, 2020

Portable restrooms services in Sonora, CA? What Is a Septic System? A septic system is an on-site sewage treatment and disposal system that is usually buried underground. Septic systems consist of two main parts: a septic tank and a drain field. The septic tank is a watertight box, usually made of concrete or fiberglass, with an inlet and outlet pipe. All wastewater flows from the home to the septic tank through the sewer pipe. Septic tanks take wastewater and separate solid matter from it, which settles at the bottom of the septic tank. Once in the septic tank, heavy solids sink to the bottom, and bacteria reduces them to sludge and gases.

First we need to explain the reason for pumping the septic tank or tanks. The normal riding level of waste water in a tank is approximately 4 feet deep, with a floating scum layer and a bottom solids layer. If a tank is not pumped prior to inspection, a proper visual inspection cannot be performed as no one can see through 4 feet of waste water. The tank floor & sidewalls, the tank center seam/seal, the tank baffle and the complete inlet/outlet sanitary tees are not visible for inspection and system evaluation without pumping the tank first.

For homes where the drainfield is located upslope from the septic tank, a pump tank is added to move effluent out of the septic tank and into the drainfield, otherwise, the effluent flows using gravity into a series of perforated pipes buried in the drainfield. Slowly, the effluent is released into the soil where harmful coliform bacteria, viruses, and nutrients are naturally removed, then it percolates through the soil, ultimately discharging to groundwater. Read even more info at portable potty rentals.

Local building code dictates the equation used to calculate how many square feet of leach field is required based upon the speed of percolation, composition of the soil, and LTAR. The Georgia Co-Op Extension Service’s classic conventional septic system manual is recommended reading for understanding the basics of septic systems. A general rule-of-thumb to use when estimating is one square foot of leach field, per gallon of effluent, per day, in normal soils that percolate relatively well. Save money by renting a backhoe and installing your own plastic septic tank for your home sewage system. Should local code dictate installing a concrete septic tank, have it seal-coated well and try to avoid rectangular vaults. The rounded end, hockey rink shape, is much stronger.

We at Foothill Sanitary and Foothill Portable’s “Stand” for our Flag and kneel for our fallen. My family has a very strong military background with family members serving in every branch of the military. This is why we at Foothill Sanitary and Foothill Portable’s offer a 5% Military discount to all of our vet’s as a small way to say Thank you for “your” service. My motto is from the branch that I served in “Semper Fidelis” meaning always faithful, a motto that we will bring to you. Find even more information on this website.