At Best Septic you can
always count on our family to take care of the needs of your family with a
prompt, honest, courteous service with a smile.
Your Home Septic System
Most homes in Florida are connected to a public sewage treatment system.
However, over 1.3 million families (about 27% of Florida's housing units) live
in rural and sparsely developed suburban areas not served with a public system.
Properly sited, designed, constructed, and maintained septic systems can
provide an efficient and economical wastewater treatment alternative to public
sewer systems.
People who have septic systems or who plan to buy property that has or will
have a septic system should understand what the system does and how to use and
maintain it.
WHAT DOES A SEPTIC SYSTEM DO?
Wastewater from homes is a by-product of most of the water-using processes
carried on in the home. An average of 40 to 50 gallons of wastewater is produced
per person per day. The purpose of on-site sewage systems is to dispose of these
wastes and to treat the water so it will be safe when it reaches drinking water
supplies or recreational waters. The septic system consists of more than just
the septic tank itself. In fact, the largest part of the treatment of the
wastewater actually takes place in the soil beneath the drain field.
The Septic Tank
Wastewater flows through a pipe into the septic tank. Baffles or
"tees" at the inlet and outlet of the tank slow the flow of water and
prevent sewage from flowing directly through the tank.
Bacterial action within a septic tank helps to break
down the solids in the wastewater that enter the tank. The tank must be large
enough, and the rate of flow small enough, to ensure sufficient "residence
time" of wastewater in the tank. Even when the tank is working properly and
solids are being broken down at a rate sufficient to prevent their movement into
the drain field, partially digested solids and any materials that cannot be
digested sink to the bottom of the tank and accumulate as sludge. Grease, foam,
and lighter particles float to the surface and form a layer of scum. The exit
baffle arrangement holds back sludge and scum while allowing a partially
digested wastewater to flow out of the tank.
It is important that sludge and scum not get out of the tank and into the drain field
as they can clog soil pores and cause the septic system to fail. If allowed to
build up in the tank, the volume available to accommodate liquid is drastically
reduced. Therefore, the tank must be pumped out periodically.
Sizes of septic tanks that are required for different sizes of families and
establishments are defined in Chapter 1OD-6 of the Florida Administrative Code,
which sets the standards for on-site sewage disposal system design and
installation in the state. With the exception of parts of extreme south Florida,
the standards are uniform across the state. In addition, some counties have
established rules that are more restrictive than state code. Information on
state and county standards and their implications for individual systems may be
obtained from the environmental health office of your county health unit.
Call Best Septic Today For a
Free Consultation
(772) 664-1400
