Where Does Septic Waste Go?

Whether or not you have a septic tank, chances are you don’t spend much time thinking about what happens to waste after it goes down the drain. This might not be the most pleasant thing to ponder, but it’s important to consider where septic waste goes so you can better understand how to care for and maintain your septic tank. Read on to learn about the importance of regular maintenance and septic tank cleaning in Cleveland, TX.

Septic cleaning basics

If you have a septic system, the waste that goes down your drain goes through a process of separation, treatment and drainage. This process is designed to prevent negative environmental impacts and promote sanitation for home and business owners that meets the same standards as municipal sewer systems. However, septic systems operate quite a bit differently than these systems. For one thing, septic systems are self-contained systems that process water onsite, while municipal systems channel waste from various properties and transport it to a centralized treatment facility.

Septic systems consist of several components, including plumbing, a septic tank and a leach field. When wastewater enters your septic tank, it is separated into three layers: sludge, effluent and scum. Sludge is the waste that sinks to the bottom of the tank and has to be cleaned out periodically. Effluent is the liquid layer that is passed to the drain field after separation. Scum, meanwhile, is the grease, fat and oil that floats to the top of the tank. Effluent passes through to the septic leach field, while scum and sludge stay in the tank until they are pumped out.

What happens to septic waste?

Over the course of three to five years, septic tanks will continue to accumulate sludge and scum, which has to be removed through septic tank cleaning in Conroe, TX. If sludge isn’t removed regularly, the tank will begin to overflow and may start to become damaged. To ensure that your system continues to function properly, you should have your sludge and scum levels measured regularly by a septic contractor.

During septic cleaning, a contractor will come to your property with a tanker vehicle and pump out sludge and scum from your system with a vacuum hose. After the sludge and scum is removed, the tanker is typically brought to a municipal waste treatment facility, where the waste can be processed and treated in accordance with environmental regulations.

Call for septic tank cleaning in Cleveland, TX

At All Pro Septic, we know that many septic system users don’t want to worry about the ins and outs of their system’s operation, and that’s why we’re proud to offer services that make things as easy as possible for you. Whether you need basic septic tank cleaning in Conroe, TX or you want a new system installed, our family owned and operated business is here to assist you. You can find out more about everything we have to offer and schedule professional septic cleaning service with our team by giving us a call today.

Categorised in: Septic Tank Cleaning