Septic Systems and Home Improvement Projects

Home improvement projects, especially in older homes, can generate a lot of liquid waste – some of it hazardous to human health. In most homes, lead paint chips, certain chemicals, latex paint and other substances can be washed or flushed into the sewer system where advanced waste treatment systems process it and remove the harmful substances. However, what do homeowners with septic systems do with liquid waste?

Hold Time in a Septic Tank

One of the most important functions of a septic tank is to hold wastewater for a period of time so that solids within the incoming wastewater can settle at the bottom of the tank in the sludge layer. This settling process, along with the consumption of organic waste by the bacterial environment within the septic tank, are crucial processes to maintaining drainfield permeability.