Septic Tank Pumping & Maintenance A septic tank is a watertight,
below surface enclosure, in which your home's waste-water is
gathered. The waste water will stay inside the septic tank for a
while to allow most of the solids to dissolve, after which the
water passes on into the drain field from where it will slowly
be absorbed back into the ground. The contents of a septic tank
consists of roughly three layers. The bottom layer contains all
the heavier solid matter. In the middle you will find a layer of
liquid. And on top there is a layer of floating solids we call
scum. The solids decompose very slowly, and a residue will
slowly build up at the bottom of the septic tank. Septic tank
maintenance The residue in the septic tank is the reason you
will need to have your septic tank pumped on a regular basis.
This residue is not sterile and can contain all sorts of harmful
bacteria and diseases. For this reason the use of this sludge on
farmland is strongly discouraged. Septic tank pumping &
maintenance isn't ent