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OMNI Knowledge Base
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Conventional Septic System Components
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To understand how a septic system works, it is important to know the components of a septic system. The components are the plumbing system, the Septic Tank and a soil treatment area commonly known as a Leaching Field. All of the wastewater, solids and cleaners contained in the wastewater are delivered to the Septic Tank where light solids float to the top forming a scum layer and heavy solids sink to the bottom forming sludge. In the tank, millions of naturally occurring bacteria de-compose organic solids. Non-organic solids must be cleaned out of the tank by regularly "pumping" the tank.
Septic System Components
A Cesspool generally consists of a pipe, running from a building, which empties into a pit from which liquid leaches into the surrounding soil. This arrangement was very common in Massachusetts prior to 1995 and does not allow proper detention of solids or proper distribution of wastewater. As a result, the wastewater can overload the capacity of the soils and the ability to remove bacteria, viruses, phosphorous and to nitrify ammonia and organic nitrogen compounds.
The Septic Tank is a watertight tank that is made of either precast concrete or other DEP approved material. The Septic Tank consists of a pipe running from a building similar to a cesspool; however, the septic tank functions differently. As sewage enters the Septic Tank through the inlet tee, heavy solids settle to the bottom creating a sludge layer and the floatables, such as grease, fats and oils rise to the top creating a scum layer. The solids remain in the tank and only the clarified effluent exits through the outlet tee.
The Distribution Box ("D-box") is also watertight and is made of concrete or other approved material. The D-box accepts the clarified effluent flow from the Septic Tank and distributes the entire flow evenly throughout the Leaching Field.
The Soil Absorption System ("Leaching Field") accepts the effluent flow from the D-box and provides further treatment of the clarified effluent by means of microbiological treatment. As the effluent is dispersed throughout the Leaching Field, the naturally occurring bacteria in the soils "work" on the effluent removing contaminants, bacteria, viruses and pathogens.
There are many types of Soil Absorption Systems. For example, there are Leaching Trenches, Leaching Fields, Galleries/Chambers, Leaching Pits and Cesspools.
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