Article: Homeowners Clinic.(questions involve septic tank cleaning, and other topics)(Questions and Answers)

Septic Tank Cleaning

We moved into a newly constructed home two years ago, and we have a well and septic system. How will we know when it's time to have the septic tank pumped?

MARTHA KING CROZIER, VA

A conventional septic system contains two major components--a holding tank and a leaching field. The tank allows anaerobic bacteria to act on the waste and break it down into liquid, sludge and scum. The sludge accumulates on the bottom of the tank. Then the scum floats on top of the liquid and the liquid flows out of the tank to the leaching field. There, it drains through perforated pipes into gravel-filled trenches. The liquid then percolates ...

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