Question

What is the main purpose of a septic tank in an onsite treatment system?

A)To disinfect the wastewater

B) To cause phosphorus in detergents to precipitate out

C)To break down solids into very small particles, dissolved substances, or gases

D) To distribute the wastewater to the leaching system

Answer 1

C) To break down solids into very small particles,dissolved substances or gases

Septic is small underground tank made of concrete or brickwork and is used for onsite treatment of waste or sewage from a house,factory or small community.In septic tank large solid particles settle and consequently break into small particles and dissolved gases anaerobically.The treatment of waste in septic tank is only low to moderate and the final effluent from the septic is made to flow into an underground well.The waste in the well gets absorbed and flows through the soil to join the water table during which it gets stabilized.

Septic tank is not used to disinfect the water ,percipitate phosphorus or to distribute water to leaching system