Sewerage Systems
Homeowners can get rid of their drainage problems if they are far from the mainline drainage system by setting up of a septic tank or a cesspool. Without appropriate drainage and sewerage, waste could build up in your home within such a short time. A septic tank is a common choice for homeowners nowadays because it offers an economical means of sewage disposal. Setting up of a septic tank depends on a few factors like the soil conditions and available ground area. If the ground in your area is suitable, then there should be no problem with installing the sewer.
Septic tanks work like waste treatment facilities. They have restraining devices that lower chances of agitation to allow solid matter to settle. Waste treatment takes place, and the product is removed and then discharged into the soil. Once released, the waste product undergoes the natural process. In other words, it will become assimilated into the environment. However, you have to make sure that this disposal is allowed in your state. Discharge of waste to waterways may be illegal. Make sure the waste is released the proper, environmental-friendly way.
A cesspool is an old version of the septic tank, and it is nothing more than a pool where waste material collects. This is popular in rural areas and in older homes. Regular pumping out of cesspools is important for maintenance requirements. Cesspools may need to be maintained more frequently than septic tanks. The latter would need cleaning and emptying only once in a year.
Reed beds offer another option. These are said to be safer for the environment. The size of reed beds depends on the number of people living in the house. Generally, one square meter of reed bed is required for each person in the house. The reed beds work by allowing the water to drain leaving the waste matter to be processed by aerobic bacteria. This works like a treatment facility, producing usable water. The water produced may not be potable but good enough to be used in toilet bowls and garden sprinklers.
The three mentioned waste management systems come in different costs. Then again, one has to look at the long-term costs imposed by each. How often you have to maintain them is the true gauge of cost efficiency.
In terms of maintenance, septic tanks may have the upper hand, considering they do not require maintenance unless they fail. The catch is that septic tanks can fail! And when they do, the result can be irksome.
Reed beds may be tougher than septic tanks but they need to be maintained, and maintaining them can be off-putting for some.
When it comes to maintaining cesspools, a company can handle the clean-up. Of course, when professionals remove the effluent from the waste reservoir, you have to pay them. This makes cesspools expensive in the long run.
As you see, cesspools, reed beds, and septic tanks require cleaning and maintenance. It is advisable to have professionals do the upkeep. Untrained people may damage the tank or cistern.
