What Does Tank Sewer Mean?
Tank sewers, also known as septic tanks, are underground tanks that are used to collect sewage and blackwater from individual homes, buildings or small communities. In remote areas where access to municipal sewer lines is not possible, or too expensive to install, private septic tanks are installed in the backyards of the homes, on the property of businesses or in a centralized location for small communities.
The accumulated sludge is periodically removed from septic tanks with the help of a sewer vacuum truck. Effluent is discharged into a septic drain field for further treatment.
Trenchlesspedia Explains Tank Sewer
Tank sewers or septic tanks either consist of two steel or concrete tanks placed next to each other and connected on the upper side with a pipe, or a single rectangular tank with a dividing wall and a hole on it below the full sewage level to allow sewage to flow out into the next section. A newly installed septic tank is first filled with water to help start the treatment process of sewage. Bacteria present in the sewage water breaks it down and helps settle the solid particles to the bottom of the tank. This settled solid waste is called sludge.
The top layer of the wastewater gets covered by a hard crust known as scum, which acts as an air seal to help the bacteria in the breakdown process. The overflow of effluent from the first tank passes into the second tank where the treatment process continues.
Overflow or rupture of this type of sewer causes costly damage to homes, producing flooded lawns. Trenchless maintenance and timely repair of these tank sewers can eliminate the need for costly and damaging excavation of the site and avoid flooding if repairs are addressed in time. Homeowners can also purchase flushable bacteria treatments that aid in the decomposition of sludge.
