| There are two methods for dealing with sewage | | | | connected to a sewer system. A septic tank and a |
| from houses that are not connected to the main | | | | sewer system have the same function. They are |
| sewer. | | | | both waste drainage systems (of the sinks, toilets, |
| A Cesspool Service Suffolk County is simply a lined | | | | bath tubs, laundry, etc.), for the house. Septic tanks |
| hole in the ground where the sewage collects. In | | | | are common in areas where sewer systems do not |
| time, the pool becomes full and has to be emptied | | | | exist. |
| either by the local council or by a private firm. Many | | | | In fact, there are more septic tank systems in use |
| houses have cesspools as small as 2.25 cu m (500 | | | | than sewer systems. Before septic tanks, you may |
| gallons); a family of four could fill this in as little as a | | | | have heard of cesspools. A cesspool is covered hole |
| week. Current Building Regulations require a capacity | | | | or pit for receiving drainage or sewage, from a |
| of 18 cu m. Modern cesspools may be prefabricated | | | | house. In the cesspool, the inorganic solids sink to the |
| from glassfibre or concrete rings and simply placed | | | | bottom and the organic solids float to the top. |
| into an already excavated hole; old ones would be | | | | Bacteria in the cesspool change the organic solids to |
| made of brick, carefully sealed so that the sewage | | | | liquid. The liquid flows through the dirt side walls of |
| cannot escape and water in the surrounding ground | | | | the cesspool into the adjacent soil. |
| cannot get in. | | | | How septic tanks work? |
| A septic tank is in effect a small sewage works. In it, | | | | Septic systems are made up of three major |
| the waste is broken down by bacteria until it is | | | | components a septic tank, distribution box and drain |
| liquefied and rendered harmless: the resultant liquid | | | | fields (Sometimes called leach fields). |
| can be dis¬posed of into a ditch or stream. Usually | | | | The raw sewage and waste water travels to the |
| two different chambers are needed in a septic tank: | | | | septic tank via the main waste or sewer pipe, from |
| in some cases the second chamber which contains a | | | | the house. From the septic tank, liquids travel by |
| filter bed can be dispensed with and the half-treated | | | | gravity to the distribution box. Which controls and |
| sewage filtered through the sub-soil via land drains. | | | | directs the effluent after it leaves the tank so that it |
| A well-constructed septic tank should need little | | | | flows evenly into the drain fields. The drain fields are |
| maintenance apart from a periodic (say once a year) | | | | the beds in which the drain field piping is laid. The |
| emptying of sludge. It is important not to use | | | | drain filed piping is perforated and the effluent waste |
| excessive amounts of disinfectant or detergents in | | | | water exits the perforated pipes. The drain field beds |
| the house, otherwise the bacteriological action could | | | | are made of sand and gravel to allow for good |
| be slowed down and the tank clogged up. | | | | percolation of the effluent. |
| Soakaways | | | | The septic tank: |
| Rain-water often drains into a soakaway. This can be | | | | The septic tank usually located just a few feet from |
| a hole in the ground of one or two cubic metres | | | | the house foundation and usually buried just below |
| capacity filled with rubble. The hole can be lined with | | | | the surface. |
| bricks laid dry and covered with a close-fitting | | | | The contents inside of the tank consist of solids |
| concrete slab. Rain-water drains into this hole and in | | | | (sludge) that sink to the bottom of the tank. The |
| time soaks away into the surrounding ground. | | | | liquids are the middle contents. This flows out of the |
| Tracing drains | | | | tank to the distribution box. The top layer is the |
| Tracing the layout of a drain system is fairly simple - | | | | scum. It is made up of grease and oils. The solids in |
| provided you remember that there should be an | | | | the septic tank are broken down into liquids by |
| inspection chamber at all junctions and bends and | | | | bacteria. The bacteria come naturally from the |
| that drains should run in straight lines between the | | | | contents in the tank. The sludge builds up over time |
| chambers. | | | | and needs to be pumped out. A typical septic tank |
| By pouring water down the various fittings in the | | | | needs to be pumped every 3 to 5 years. If the tank |
| house, it should be possible to determine which | | | | becomes full, drain lines from the house will become |
| waste pipe connects to which drain and where each | | | | useless, and sludge will flow into the drain fields and |
| branch drain connects to the main drain. Fluorescent | | | | clogging the drain field piping. Repairs of this are |
| drain dyes can be used as an aid, if necessary. Any | | | | costly. |
| drains that do not show water after this test may | | | | The size of a septic tank is based on the number of |
| be connected to a neighbour's drainage system. | | | | bedrooms in the house. The number of bathrooms |
| A plan with the deeds of the house may also show | | | | does not matter. A 2 bedroom house usually is |
| the layout of the drains; or the local council may | | | | equipped with a 750 gallon tank, 3 bedroom, 1000 |
| know. | | | | gallon tank, 4 bedroom, 1200 gallon tank, etc. |
| Perhaps where you once lived, the house was | | | | |