A septic system is a series of pipes, structures, and components
used to dispose of household waste-water within the underground soils
of the house's lot. Septic systems are used where connection to municipal
sewers is not available. When installed according to Connecticut's
code they are environmentally-friendly* and prevent the health hazards
associated with sewage runoff.
Follow
a flush for a moment: The waste-water flows through the interior plumbing
to the foundation wall where it enters a 4" (interior diameter) pipe
called the soil line or building sewer. From there it travels by gravity
to a water-tight structure called the septic tank. The soil line and
tank are provided with air through the building's vent pipe, which
extends though the roof and keeps your draining sink from saying "glub,
glub".
A septic system installed to modern
standards purifies sewage discharge within the soils of the property
it serves, ultimately replenishing the water table. If properly installed
- for example, NOT installed too closely above shoreline ledgerock,
which has reportedly been a problem with old systems in the Stamford
area - it does not degrade the Sound, a unique resource of food and
recreation that will be of great value to future
generations.
Page 2
What is a Septic System?
* After a heavy rainfall area beaches are sometimes closed to
swimming because of high bacteria counts from raw sewage that overflows
from some sewage treatment plants. The overflow occurs because rainwater
runoff infiltrates the "sanitary" sewers and the resulting volume
is more than the treatment plants can handle. The net result is that
thousands of people have flushed their toilets directly into Long
Island Sound. Treatment plants have been upgrading for years in response
to federal mandates and, more recently, pressure from environmental
groups. In some localities great progress has been made. Still, some
beaches are AUTOMATICALLY closed to swimming following a heavy rainfall,
such as Short Beach in Stratford...
Serving: Easton,
Ct. ; Westport, Ct. ; Weston, Ct. ; Fairfield, Ct. ; Southport, Ct.
; Monroe, Ct. ; Wilton, Ct. ; Newtown, Ct. ; Stratford, Ct. ;
Norwalk,
Ct. ; Redding, Ct ; Darien, Ct. ; New Canaan, Ct. ; Shelton, Ct. ;
Oxford, Ct. ; Greenfield Hill, Ct. ; Trumbull, Ct.
