What Is an Onsite Sewage Facility: The Ultimate Guide

Onsite wastewater treatment systems are typically referred to as septic systems, comprising septic tanks for partial treatment.

The main objective of onsite sewage facilities is to release treated wastewater into the environment.

An onsite sewage facility is a small-scale sewage treatment plant situated in backyards.

Homeowners are accountable for ensuring that the onsite sewage facility is functioning well and has proper maintenance to promote public health.

What Are the Main Components of an Onsite Sewage Facility?

An onsite sewage disposal system is utilized in rural areas where the houses are far apart, so the installment would be cheaper.

They are also used in areas where their local governments have yet to issue sewers where homes can connect.

The systems should be at least 10 feet from the house and 5 feet from the property lines to avoid contamination of groundwater and surface waters.

There are four main components of an onsite sewage facility:

1: Wastewater Source

Septic systems owners must know that whatever they discard in their sink and drain will proceed through the septic tank and into the groundwater.

Correct implementation of septic systems can safeguard the environment and public health. It can even help in the septic system's longevity.

2: Collection and Storage

The gathering of residential systems is restricted to a tight pipe collecting wastewater from plumbing installation, which stretches to the pretreatment.

The clean-out should be situated in the pipe before the first pretreatment.

This system consists of a pump tank that collects the waste, following transmission lines that carry it over to the pretreatment.

3: Pretreatment

The pretreatment components will eliminate the pollutants from the wastewater to work up the effluent for the final treatment.

The number of contaminants is lessened to a certain level the soil can receive and manage.

Pretreatment components involve a septic tank, trash tank, and processing tank.

4: Final Treatment

The final treatment will allow for the final elimination of contaminants and disperse the water back into the environment.

There are many options for dispersing wastewater in soil.

One is the gravity flow system, a commonly used distribution system that includes a mound system to reach the intended vertical segregation from a water table.

These new technologies promote wastewater treatment in the landscape, but these benefits have standard operation and maintenance conditions.

Read more at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.

How Should You Maintain Your Onsite Sewage Facility?

Homeowners are responsible for sustaining their onsite sewage facilities.

Defective onsite wastewater treatment systems can cause a leak of nutrients and pathogens, which can damage the water quality.

Good onsite treatment management can increase the life of your septic systems.

Here are some of the ways to maintain your wastewater treatment systems:

1: Pump Regularly

A septic tank service professional should examine the septic system at least every three years.

And household septic systems are pumped every three to five years.

Call the septic tank service provider to inspect for any spills.

You will need their services if there are forming sludge layers, spongy grass on the leach field even in dry weather, and a wastewater system that has a strong odor.

2: Use Water Efficiently

The sewage produced will go down to the pipes and end in the septic tank.

The more water you preserve, the less water will proceed to the septic system.

Logical use of water can enhance the function of your wastewater disposal systems and lessens the likelihood of impairments.

3. Proper Garbage Disposals

If you flush it in the toilet, grind it in the garbage disposal, and gush it down to the sink and shower, anything you drain will affect your septic system.

DO NOT flush non-flushable wipes, diapers, cigarette butts, coffee grounds, and any household chemicals.

Wastewater should also be properly disposed of to avoid threatening community drinking water.

4: Drain Field Maintenance

The drain field is typically referred to as the distribution box.

It's part of your septic system that will eliminate the pollutants from the liquid that appears in your septic tank.

However, they're not required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

You can maintain the distribution boxes and the lateral lines by not parking or driving on them.

Keep rainwater drainage systems away from the drainfield location, as surplus water can impede treating wastewater.

Read more at epa.gov.

What Are the Different Types of Sewage Water

Here are the different types of sewage water that you can find from households and businesses:

Waste Water

Wastewater comes from regular living processes. They can either derive from residential, domestic, or commercial sources.

Wastewater comprises 99% water; the other 1% can comprise nutrients, fats, pathogens, and biochemical oxygen demand.

Storm Water

Stormwater originates from precipitation and the melting of snow.

It either seeps into the soil or stays on streets or rooftops. They will then evaporate off a level surface or move as runoff in another location.

Grey Water

Grey water is wastewater from your washing machines and bathrooms.

This does not include human waste from toilets, as they are categorized as black water.

Grey water is relatively easier to treat. The treated effluent will be pumped to the land application area.

Conclusion

An onsite sewage facility is a helpful system for managing wastewater.

But a set of standards are needed to optimize its functions.

As much as these facilities can help us, we should also do our part to use water efficiently and implement proper waste disposal.