What is Septic system?
A septic system is an onsite wastewater treatment system that processes and purifies household waste (effluent). The effluent consists of blackwater (toilet wastes) and greywater (kitchen sink, bathtub and laundry wastes). A septic system has two components: a septic tank and a leachfield or drainfield. Primary treatment occurs in the septic tank, where bacteria digest organic materials in the wastewater. The effluent then flows into the leachfield for secondary treatment. Here, bacteria complete the digestion and purification process as the wastewater slowly leaches or infiltrates into the soil.
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System Components: The Septic Tank
The septic tank is a “watertight” underground box, usually concrete, about eight feet long, four feet wide, and five feet deep. It has at least a 1,000-gallon capacity for retaining, storing, and treating solids, in addition to releasing effluent into the leachfield, sometimes called a drainfield. As wastewater flows into the tank, heavy solids settle to the bottom into a sludge layer, while grease fats float to the top forming a layer of scum. Between these two layers is a clear zone of liquid called the clarified zone. Found in all three of these layers are billions of bacteria that live naturally in the tank and perform the first phase of treatment to break down solid matter. They digest the solid materials. In the process, gases are produced, which are vented from the septic tank through the plumbing vent on your rooftop.
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The Leach-field:
From the septic tank, partially treated effluent flows into a leach field, which typically has two or more trenches. This is where effluent is naturally purified as it percolates down through the soil. For proper effluent purification, the distance between the trench bottom and the water table should be equal to or greater than the minimum distance allowed by your local health department. The soil acts as a biological filter, removing harmful substances before the effluent reaches the groundwater.
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​Infiltrator Chamber Sysytem:
Stone and Pipe Systems:
Old-fashioned systems use gravel or crushed stone in the leaching trenches to create void space to store the effluent and release it slowly. However, such systems are prone to eventual failure as the voids (empty spaces) around the gravel become plugged. This phenomenon occurs over time as solids build up between the stones, limiting infiltration of water into the soil. As the gravel settles, it also tends to compact and accumulate fines (small soil particles), further reducing the infiltration rate.
Your leachfield system is constructed with Infiltrator leaching chambers. These units, manufactured of PolyTuff™, a proprietary blend of polyolefin plastic, interlock together to form a continuous drainage area. This state-of-the-art system offers many advantages over old-fashioned stone and pipe systems. The chambers treat more effluent, more efficiently, in a smaller area. They also have a much greater storage volume than a gravel-filled trench and offer a very large surface area for effluent infiltration into the soil.
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​The Infiltrator Chamber System:
In 1987, Infiltrator Systems introduced an innovative new technology in septic leachfields, which is now the number one choice in the United States. Infiltrator® chambers are hollow structures that attach end-to-end. They are installed in trenches or beds without gravel (except where local codes require the use of gravel). The entire bottom of the trench is open for unobstructed infiltration of water. The large storage volume within the hollow chambers accommodates peak flows of effluent from the home. Infiltrator chambers also feature patented sidewall louvers that allow lateral leaching of effluent into the soil.
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Advantages of infiltrator chambers over Stone and Pipe Sysytems:
Infiltrator chambers are today’s superior alternative to old-fashioned stone and pipe because they:
 • Provide long-term savings due to longer life and greater operating efficiency
 • Offer worry-free, long-term service with only simple, routine maintenance
 • Protect valuable trees and plantings from damage caused by heavy trucks hauling stone
• Provide greater treatment area to handle more wastewater with higher efficiency
• Offer a “greener” approach utilizing recycled plastic resins to manufacture the chambers
• Are backed by a minimum 1-year warranty and a reputable, service-oriented company
• Can be installed in tight, sloped and curved areas creating less site disruption
• Eliminate the destruction of natural resources and the cost of hauling stone

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​Advantages of septic systems over sewer systems:
Another alternative for septic treatment is sewer systems, which pipe waste to a centralized treatment plant, typically near a river or other body of water for disposal after treatment. Besides avoiding the high cost of sewer lines, septic systems are environmentally superior to sewers because they:
• Provide simple, effective onsite wastewater treatment
• Allow the groundwater to be recharged onsite, which makes more clean water available for use
 • Avoid contamination of local groundwater caused by ageing sewer lines, which leak untreated effluent into the soil.
• Avoid the environmental disaster of raw sewage discharges from treatment plants during floods or processing accidents.