Septic System Component Definitions

The Septic System Owners Manual

(Chapter 2) Septic System Terminology and Definitions

Absorption Component

: A component of a septic system designed to disperse effluent from a septic system into the ground.

Active System

: A septic system that requires external energy and mechanical equipment to function as designed.

Aeration Chamber

: A large volume container made of concrete, fiberglass, steel or plastic, that may be fabricated integrally with a septic tank that is designed to house equipment used to induce oxygen (air) into the effluent.

Aerobic Bacteria

: Odorless highly efficient strains of bacteria that live only in the presence of oxygen.

Anaerobic Bacteria

: Smelly inefficient strains of bacteria that live only in the absence of oxygen.

Distribution Box

: A small hollow cylindrical, square, or rectangular structure constructed beneath the ground made of concrete, fiberglass, plastic or steel that is connected to a septic tank on the inlet side and is connected to a series of perforated pipes located in the distribution field or cell.

Distribution cell

: A narrow rectangular trench that contains a perforated piping system bedded and covered in washed gravel in such a manner that effluent can flow into it from a septic system and be uniformly dispersed into the ground.

Distribution Component

: The portion of the septic system designed to uniformly distribute effluent into the ground.

Distribution field

: A wide square or rectangular pit that contains a perforated piping system bedded and covered in washed gravel in such a manner that effluent can flow into it from a septic system and be uniformly dispersed into the ground.

Distribution Laterals

: Perforated pipes made of plastic, clay or concrete buried in a distribution component such as a distribution field or cell or a mound system that uniformly disperses effluent flow from a septic tank within the distribution component.

Dry Well

: A hollow and porous cylindrical, square, or rectangular structure constructed beneath the ground made of concrete or cinder block or bricks in such a manner that effluent can flow into it from a septic system and be uniformly dispersed into the surrounding ground.

Effluent Baffle

: A U-shaped vertical devise anchored to the wall of a septic tank located at the outlet of a septic tank, that is open on the top and bottom that is typically made of plastic or fiberglass that discourages the flow of solids out of the septic tank into the distribution component.

Effluent Filter

: A housing and cartridge typically made of plastic located at the outlet of a septic tank containing small openings as to allow liquids to pass through it and not allow solids to pass through it.

Effluent Layer

: The middle layer of gray or brownish murky liquid in a septic tank that is mostly comprised of water with small microscopic matter in suspension.

Effluent Pump

: An electric motor driven pump used to transfer liquid effluent from a pumping chamber to a distribution component when the system is so designed as the effluent cannot flow by gravity.

Effluent

: A gray and or brownish murky liquid that contains small microscopic matter in suspension that flows out of a septic tank.

Septic Tank

: a large tank made of concrete, fiberglass, plastic or steel used in a septic system in which the solid matter of continuously flowing sewage is partially disintegrated by anaerobic bacteria

Septic

: Putrefactive, rotten, to make rotten.

Settling Chamber

: A large volume container made of concrete, fiberglass, steel or plastic, that may be fabricated integrally with a septic tank that is designed to substantially slow the flow rate of effluent as to provide sufficient time for solids to precipitate out of the liquid effluent.

Sludge Layer

: The bottom layer of matter in a septic tank that is heavier than water and comprised of solids.

System Failure:

A condition when a distribution component becomes saturated and foul-smelling effluent appears on the ground above the distribution component creating a health and environmental hazard.

Septic Tank Riser:

Septic tank riser is used to raise tank cover to ground level for easy septic system maintenance. Septic risers are easy to install and are designed to work with a wide variety septic tank configurations.

Treatment Chamber

: A large volume container made of concrete, fiberglass, steel or plastic designed to hold sewage so that the sewage can be bio-chemically processed.

Vent Pipe

: A vertical pipe made of plastic, steel, clay, or cast iron, that is connected to a component of a septic system that allows displaced air to flow to the atmosphere.

Vented Cover

: A cover made of concrete, fiberglass, steel or plastic that has in integral vent pipe.

End Septic System Problems

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