Today 1 in 5 households has a septic system instead of access to municipal sewer services and this might be true for you as a Tarrytown and Pleasantville, NY, areas homeowner. The logistics and installation of a septic system and tank can set you up for an excellent waste removal system that should serve you well for many years.
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How Does a Septic System Work?
You might know that in a municipal sewer system, the waste from the houses is flushed through the pipes and ends up in a huge waste treatment facility but what happens when your home does not have access to this type of sewage system? This is when a septic system is appropriate.
Unlike a city or county sewage system, the septic system is exclusively serving one home. When you flush the toilet or take a shower, any time you flush anything down the pipes, the waste and water flow through the pipes into a holding tank that is airtight. Once there, the waste separates into three layers of which the bottom layer is the solids. The middle layer is the water and liquids and the top layer is the oils and grease.
An amazing aspect of the septic system is that it is completely environmentally friendly and works with no power source. The water from the tank flows out of a pipe and into a drain field where it slowly seeps back into the earth, filtering out pollutants and debris along the way. When cared for properly, a septic system should last many years.
Logistics of Septic Installation
Design and Preparation: A septic system is specially designed for each home to ensure that the drainage will be good and the placement is ideal. Your septic expert will assess the property to plan the ideal location of your septic tank where the pipes will filter the waste from the home.
Local Approval: Before installing the septic system and tank, the septic contractor must acquire approval for the system from the local governing body. Once approved, the installation can begin.
Excavation: The excavation begins as the septic system installation starts. A hole that is large enough to hold the underground tank is dug as are the trenches to hold the pipes that feed from the house and into the tank. The trenches have gravel at the bottom to hold the pipes steady and the whole system is covered with dirt that is tamped down to provide a firm surface.
Inspection: A health inspector must evaluate the system and give approval before the rest of the system is connected to the home. Once authorized, the majority of the system has been completed.
What Happens When the Installation is Complete?
Once the installation is complete and ready for use, the system will function in the same way that a municipal sewer works by removing the waste from your home to a place where it can be managed.
You will need to be careful not to flush things such as grease, coffee grounds, feminine products, baby diapers, and other things that can clog the pipes and cause the system not to work correctly. You should plan on having the tank pumped every 2-3 years but a well-cared-for septic system should work with no problems for many years to come.
Related: The Long-Term Effects Of Septic Tank Installation In Croton-On-Hudson NY
