SEPTIC TANK

A septic tank is an underground chamber

made of concrete, fiberglass or plastic
through which domestic wastewater
(sewage) flows for basic treatment. A septic
tank consists of one or more concrete or
plastic tanks of between 4000 and 7500
liters (1,000 and 2,000 gallons); one end is
connected to an inlet wastewater pipe and
the other to a septic drain field. Generally
these pipe connections are made with a T
pipe, allowing liquid to enter and exit
without disturbing any crust on the surface.
Today, the design of the tank usually
incorporates two chambers, each equipped
with a manhole cover, and separated by a
dividing wall with openings located about
midway between the floor and roof of the
tank.

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 1. The septic tank digests organic matter and separates
floatable matter (e.g., oils and grease) and solids from
the wastewater. Soil-based systems discharge the liquid

HOW (known as effluent) from the septic tank into a series of

perforated pipes buried in a leach field, chambers, or
DOES other special units designed to slowly release the
effluent into the soil.
SEPTIC 2. Alternative systems use pumps or gravity to help
TANK septic tank effluent trickle through sand, organic
matter (e.g., peat and sawdust), constructed
WORKS? wetlands, or other media to remove or neutralize
pollutants like disease-causing pathogens, nitrogen,
phosphorus, and other contaminants. Some
alternative systems are designed to evaporate
wastewater or disinfect it before it is discharged to
the soil.
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DESIGN OF SEPTIC TANK
• Septic system design and size can vary widely, from within your
neighborhood to across the country, due to a combination of
factors. These factors include household size, soil type, site slope,
lot size, proximity to sensitive water bodies, weather conditions, or
even local regulations.

• A septic tank should have at least two chambers, 3 is better but 2

is enough. The second chamber can be around half the size of
the first chamber.

• In this tank the first chamber is 1.2m x 1.0m x 1.6m deep = 1.92
cubic metres liquid capacity. The second chamber is 0.6m x 1.0m
x 1.6m deep = 0.96 cu m capacity = a total capacity of 2.88 cubic
metres. Note that 1.6 metres is the depth of the effluent in the 4
tank.
This tank is purposely designed to be quite deep while having a
smaller footprint for use on smaller blocks of land. 5
 MAINTENANCE OF
SEPTIC TANK
• Saves you money
Regular maintenance fees of Php12,000 to Php25,000 every
three to five years is a bargain compared to the cost of
repairing or replacing a malfunctioning system, which can cost
between Php150,000 and Php350,000 for a conventional
system. Alternative systems can cost even more. The frequency
of pumping required for each system depends on how many
people live in the home and the size of the system.
• Protects your property value
An unusable septic system or one in disrepair will lower
your property value, and potentially can pose a costly legal
liability. 6
• Keeps you and your neighbors healthy
Household wastewater contains disease causing
bacteria and viruses and high levels of nitrogen and
phosphorus. If a septic system is well-maintained and
working properly, it will remove most of these pollutants.
Insufficiently treated sewage from septic systems can
cause groundwater contamination, which can spread
disease in humans and animals. Improperly treated
sewage poses the risk of contaminating nearby surface
waters threatening swimmers with various infectious
diseases, from eye and ear infections to acute
gastrointestinal illness and hepatitis.

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• Protects the environment
More than four billion gallons of wastewater are dispersed
below the ground’s surface every day. Ground water
contaminated by poorly or untreated household wastewater
poses dangers to drinking water and to the environment.
Malfunctioning septic systems release bacteria, viruses, and
chemicals toxic to local waterways. When these pollutants are
released into the ground, they eventually enter streams, rivers,
lakes, and more, harming local ecosystems by killing native
plants, fish, and shellfish. Learn more about how septic systems
can help support greener, more sustainable communities.
• Properly Dispose of Waste
Whether you flush it down the toilet, grind it in the garbage
disposal, or pour it down the sink, shower, or bath, everything
that goes down your drains ends up in your septic system.
What goes down the drain affects how well your septic system
works.
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