About Your Septic System

The following information was provided by the Washington State Department of Health, publication DOHPub334-009(2/96).

Households that are not served by public sewers usually depend on septic tank systems to treat and dispose of wastewater. A well designed, installed, and maintained septic system can provide years of reliable, low-cost service. When these systems fail to operate effectively, property damage, groundwater and surface water pollution, and disease outbreaks can occur. Therefore, it makes good sense to understand and care for your septic tank system.

There are many different types of septic tank systems to fit a wide range of soil and site conditions. The following information will help you to understand a simple type of septic system and keep it operating safely at the lowest possible cost.

A "conventional" septic tank system has three working parts:

1. The septic tank.
2. The drainfield with its replacement area.
3. The surrounding soil.

Putting the finishing touches to a white water system
Shows the use of beauty bark as cover (instead of dirt) in a forest setting
Drip Dispersal Installation	Completion of job
Restaurant recirculating gravel filter install in progress
Before and after of a low level pressure distribution system
Finished TRD system to a gravelless chamber drainfield
TRD septic system fully landscaped by The Drain Doctor (Aerobic system / non-gravity)