GENeral info
What is a septic system?
A septic system is an underground wastewater treatment system commonly used in areas that don’t have access to a centralized or a municipal sewer system. It is designed to safely manage household waste, such as sewage and wastewater, from sinks, toilets, and showers. In the state of Indiana a system must have two components: A septic tank and some type of soil absorption/drainfield.
A septic tank is an underground, watertight container that collects and treats wastewater from your home. It separates solids from liquids, with the liquid flowing into a drain field for further filtration by the soil.
A conventional septic system is a standard type of wastewater treatment system that consists of a septic tank where solids settle, and a drain field (also called a leach field) where the liquid effluent is dispersed through perforated pipes into the soil for further filtration and treatment by natural bacteria, essentially allowing treated wastewater to slowly seep back into the ground.
conventional septic system
Septic tank
A "mound system" in the context of septic systems is a type of drain field built as a raised mound of sand, used in areas where the soil conditions, like high water table or shallow bedrock, prevent a standard septic system from functioning properly; it essentially elevates the wastewater distribution system above the natural soil level to allow for adequate filtration and treatment before reaching groundwater.