To some people, the terms septic and sewer may seem interchangeable, but the truth is that these are two very different types of wastewater systems. According to the EPA, more than one in five households uses a septic system while the others rely on municipal sewers. With this in mind, let’s look at the differences between these two types of systems.

Similarities

First, let’s look at the similarities. The reason why people often get these two systems mixed up is because they're similar in their operation as both are used to remove waste from homes. Any waste going down drains or toilets will wind up in the septic or sewer system. The differences come in where the waste goes after being flushed.

Septic Systems

A septic system is a stand-alone system that's dedicated to one property. The system will have a holding tank often called the septic tank, which holds wastewater and solids. It settles into three separate layers. The layers consist of scum, wastewater, and sludge. The wastewater flows out of the tank and drains into a leach field to be naturally filtered into the earth. The scum and sludge are removed from the tank during regular septic system pumping.

Sewer Systems

Sewers are interconnected systems of pipes that run from home to home in an area. Waste is flushed down drains and toilets through these pipes. The waste is then carried to larger sewer systems where it's treated. These are often seen in more densely populated areas, and a homeowner isn't responsible for maintaining a sewer system. This system is maintained by the town or city in which it's located.

Septic Tank Responsibilities

Although municipal sewer systems often don’t require any type of maintenance on the part of the tenant or homeowner, a septic tank does come with some responsibilities. The most important responsibility is to have the system regularly pumped. Septic system pumping is crucial to the health of the system and the functionality of your entire plumbing system. You'll also be responsible for what goes down the pipes. You need to be careful to not put anything down the pipes that would alter the health of the system or clog the pipes, like toiletry items.

If you're in need of septic system pumping services, contact Whitt's Septic Service today. We're here for all your plumbing and septic needs!