There are certain aspects of everyday life that we’d rather not think about. While there is plenty of attention and time paid to the acquisition of things like food and other goods, there is far less interest in where these things end up when people are through using them. In terms of the processes that are responsible for disposing of particular materials when they have served their purpose, it is a safe bet to say that most would prefer to interact with that aspect of their lives as little as possible.
Because of the (justifiable) aversion to being around waste, the methods through which we dispose of such materials should be able to operate with as little human intervention as possible and should remain largely out of sight and out of mind. Think about how North American societies deal with household trash: instead of placing the onus of disposing one’s garbage on the individual, populations elect governments to regulate garbage services that take waste far away from a person’s home.
The same goes for the development of modern sewage systems: those living in densely populated areas use socialized sewage systems to remove waste from individual houses and filter it all at once with the rest of the population. These systems—in addition to being able to serve large numbers of people—allow individuals minimal interaction with undesirable materials. But what about those living less-densely populated areas? What options are available for those who are not being served centralized sewage that allows them clean, efficient, and easy waste removal from their home?
A common method for dealing with human waste for houses not connected to central sewage systems is to use a septic tank and leach field. These systems allow individual houses to safely dispose of blackwater and greywater, which are the two types of wastewater that households generate. Generally, households in rural areas will utilize septic systems and leach fields.
What is a Leach Field?
A septic tank works to filter the wastewater generated by a household. In the septic tank, wastewater is separated into solid waste, called sludge, and liquid waste called effluent. The septic tank contains bacteria that work to break down the solid waste. The idea is to break down the waste as much as possible so that it can be properly disposed of via natural filtration. This is where a leach field comes into play.
A leach field is the second part of a septic second and works to safely dispose of the effluent generated by wastewater into the environment. Liquid waste from the septic tank is dispersed through a series of pipes that are buried underneath a drain field. The leach field pipes then disperse the effluent into the soil. Bacteria in the soil then work to further break down the effluent as it makes its way toward the water table. Once it does reach the groundwater, the effluent has been adequately filtered and is not a threat to living organisms. These systems can be serviced with plumbing services in Loveland and are tremendously effective for those whose hours are not connected to a centralized sewage system, as they operate in an almost entirely passive manner and require relatively little maintenance considering the complexity of the system and the value of the function it performs.
Advantages and Disadvantages
As with everything in our lives, septic tanks and leach fields have their advantages and disadvantages. As mentioned previously, such systems are great for those who are not connected to a centralized sewage system, as they can be installed in houses in rural and remote areas. They do not require much ongoing upkeep, so homeowners do not have to spend much time dealing with things they much rather wouldn’t. Because septic tanks and leach fields rely on bacteria and natural processes to break down waste materials and make them safe, these systems are quite environmentally-conscious when properly operated. Leach fields can operate in almost all climates as long as the fields do not freeze; they have relatively low capital and operating costs and will save money on plumbing in Loveland in the long term due to their long lifespans.
While leach fields are tremendously effective and generally reliable, they do have particular issues and concerns that homeowners need to keep an eye out for. Operating a septic tank and leach field does not require much to know-how, but installation is a complex process and will require professionals to ensure that the job is done correctly. Because the installation is quite specialized, such systems require particular parts that may not be available in every area.
For those who wish to enjoy a leach field’s relatively low environmental impact, there are certain requirements for one’s home to be compatible with a septic system. One’s property has to be large enough to accommodate a leach field; an area too small will be unable to adequately filter wastewater and can pose health risks to you and your family.
Even when homeowners do have the area necessary for a leach field, once the system is installed they have to be careful of the area where the pipes are buried. One of the most important things those who own a leach field needs to know is to not park on top of the leach field area. While it may be tempting to utilize this large space of your property, having heavy machinery drive on top of your leach field pipes can result in damaging them are requiring services like sewer line replacement in Loveland. If you begin to notice that the ground on top of your leach field begins to develop standing water or mushy areas, then there is a chance that your leach field pipes are damaged and will require services like sewer line repair in Loveland. Don’t take chances with your septic system, ensure that you use a professional service for installation and keep up with the unique maintenance requirements of each part of the system.
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