Consider the Switch to Biological Septic Tanks
by Vicki Harvey
For many years, septic tanks have served homeowners in both rural and urban areas to dispose of their waste in a safe and efficient manner. However, most traditional septic tanks tend to use a lot of space, become easily clogged, and emit foul smells from time to time.
To address these challenges, a newer model of septic tank has been developed in recent years—it is called the biological septic tank. This new model is a smaller, more effective system that operates in an ecologically friendly manner. They use bacteria within the septic tank system to digest organic waste and prevent the need for constant emptying of septic tanks that have filled up.
The process
The biological septic tank operates by harnessing the efficiency of biological systems into an environmentally friendly design. The basic structure of the septic tank remains the same; consisting of a concrete body, an inlet pipe to receive waste from the home, and an outlet that drains into the surrounding soil after the waste undergoes treatment.
The separation of effluent
When waste comes enters the septic tank from the home, it's first divided into two main parts: grey effluent and black effluent. The grey effluent consists of waste from bathrooms, laundry equipment, and the kitchen. The black matter consists of faeces and sewage from toilets. The purpose of this separation is to keep the black organic matter separate from the grey inorganic matter.
Indeed, the black matter that contains faeces can be digested by anaerobic bacteria into water and gases. This process therefore prevents the septic tank from getting full or clogged over time. The bacteria will break down black matter and eliminate harmful pathogens that can cause diseases.
On the other hand, the grey matter often contains chemicals from soaps, detergents, and oils. Grey matter is thus channelled through a separate grease interceptor that removes harmful oils and eventually drains the rest of the components into the ground.
The by-products
Once the grey and black matter are digested, they produce various by-products that are environmentally friendly. This makes them popular choices for both domestic and commercial use. For example, the grey organic matter is digested by bacteria to produce water, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. And because the organic matter is completely digested, there is no resultant waste that accumulates in the septic tank. The methane gas from the system can be recycled to power various commercial apparatus, while the water (which is rich in nitrogen) can be used for irrigation purposes.
Therefore, biological septic tanks take waste management to the next level. Not only do they handle waste more effectively, they are also eco-friendly and convenient options overall.
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About Me
It's always tricky dealing with the swings of the weather when you are a farmer. You can suffer if there is too much rain, not enough rain or even rain at the wrong time of the year. It can make it really challenging to have enough feed for livestock or to be able to harvest a crop later in the year if you are a crop farmer. Often there are some relatively simple things you can do to manage these issues, including buying supplemental feeds or running drainage ditches. This blog is about managing all of the events that can happen over a long winter as a farmer or farm manager.