How Does a Septic System Work?

Septic systems are a common method of waste treatment that are implemented in millions of homes across the United States alone. But how do they work?

Written by: Michael Broussard NMED LW Program Manager

Animation and Modeling:

Narration:

Additional Vegetation Modeling:
All downloaded meshes have been altered for use

[tommywatterson]

I had a septic system that had been oversized to house and used it for 27 years before leaving the house. Not once were there any issues with the system, nor was the tank ever pumped. We did use bacteria producing products and yeast we flushed down the toilets monthly to bolster a healthy bacteria count in the septic tank. This bacteria liquefied the solids in the system. No problems ever with the drain field either.

[countryside]

I have an older septic system that does NOT have a baffle between the the sides. It is all round. It also has a vent stack and my drain field area is all sand.

[TexasRanchu]

I'm soo glad they did an animation video. Cause it could be NASTY

[luisorozco]

Im a plumbing apprentice and unfortunately for me i had the displeasure of climbing inside of one of these and stepping in that sludge and scraping the walls to put a layer of grout except we call this a grease interceptor. Very informative also by far the most filthy and disgusting ive ever felt in my entire life.

[newtonbridges]

cool video. makes perfect sense. this seems like a very good method. thank you.

[PhpGtr]

Yikes I am not sure whether or not there is an access port above the liquid portion on mine, but I am very positive that it has only ever been pumped on the solids side...

[gaboratoria]

so basically the solids and oils remain there till someone comes to remove em while the liquids are discharged into the soil?

[candyyi]

Does this process involve both filtration and bacterial conversion? Thank you!

[yotohiroto]

which drain field is better ez flow or chambers?

[shanewhite]

Pretty solid video - a wastewater specialist... aka I jump septic tanks

[troyubanks]

What software did u use to make the video

[TriPham-jb]

Distillation is simplest Chae affordable with good filter

[magnoliasepticpumping]

I'd love to share this video to inform our customers. Is there a way I can do that? It is restricted to not allow Facebook shares/posts.

[anasqai]

This is nice, if making fertilizer just like teabag at the system so the water mixed, maybe the plan is a fertilizer-watering system? Because a clean water cant be dirty anyway? So 1 of the partition is to add fertilizer. Distillation tank to clean water then it enter here(the fertilizer mixture) should be then correct? Or it is immediately from sea? If sea, then before entering this, make a distillation tank for a 100% clean water is nicer.

[hfrewa]

Can installing a reverse osmosis water cooler cause the septic tank to overflow? Since it releases the bad water into the septic tank?

[Muhtata]

my house does not have a septic system but the waste just immediately reaches the sewers.

[mr_red]

Is a septic tank a deal breaker when buying a house? My wife and I are considering a mobile home on 3 acres but has a septic tank, it’s about 130k.

[qwertykevin]

Wait so the gas goes back into the intake pipe aka back into the house?

[nama]

Its weird how my house never pumped septi tank for these 2 decades 🤔, maybe its different from this video
I’ll have to ask my dad 😅

[ryanweaver]

The gut health of septic tanks and gut of earth growing… our guts and brain connections. Some things feel right or wrong.