| Most rural homes are not connected to a mains | | | | absorption drain-field. |
| sewage system. These homes rely on a | | | | The worst tanks are those built from concrete |
| self-contained sewage treatment plant called a septic | | | | blocks on site. Sometimes the blocks are just laid and |
| tank. | | | | not cemented together. Even if they are cemented |
| If you have a septic tank, or are considering the | | | | together years of attack from acidic sewage will |
| purchase of a home with one, there are life-saving | | | | dissolve the mortar. These tanks can collapse without |
| facts you need to know about septic tanks. | | | | warning and probably fail to meet local planning and |
| A septic tank takes the sewage from the house, the | | | | environmental protection regulations. |
| solids settle out and grease floats to the top. | | | | How do you tell if your septic tank has problems? |
| Between the two layers is a clear watery layer that | | | | If there are ANY areas of sunken ground around it |
| is piped away to an absorption area where it is | | | | STAY AWAY. Call in a contractor immediately. If you |
| allowed to percolate away, through the soil. Soil | | | | step on these areas you could fall through, into the |
| bacteria break down any nutrients before the | | | | septic tank and die. These are signs that your septic |
| sewage reaches the water bearing rocks, or any | | | | tank has partially collapsed. |
| streams. | | | | Check for signs of solid sewage material in the |
| Septic tanks are usually buried in the ground. There | | | | drain-field area. If the drain-field has been |
| are three main types, all of which cause different | | | | contaminated because the septic tank has not been |
| concerns. | | | | pumped out regularly, this can be very expensive to |
| Steel tanks rust, especially when buried in the ground. | | | | rectify. |
| A steel septic tank can be so corroded that it can | | | | If you are buying a home with a septic tank, you |
| lead to someone walking over it falling through and | | | | should insist on the tank being pumped out and an |
| into the tank. The hapless person is suffocated by | | | | investigation by a septic tank contractor carried out. |
| the methane generated in the tank, or drowns. | | | | It is not possible to examine a septic tank properly |
| Concrete tanks may be damaged internally, leading to | | | | while it is full. |
| permanent and expensive to rectify damage to the | | | | |