Do you live in a rural area or a region that isn't served by public sewers? You will need to install a septic system for your home's wastewater treatment and disposal. Septic systems comprise a septic tank and a drain field. The septic tank is connected to your home and drain field through a series of pipes. As wastewater from your household plumbing, bathrooms, laundry and kitchen drains flows into the septic tank, its role is to separate the solids from the water. This happens over time, and as the sludge settles down, the water is drained into your drain field. However, septic systems are available in many options. Therefore, choosing the perfect one for your home requires consideration of many factors. Here is an in-depth look into some of these factors.

Consider Septic Tank Size

Choosing the wrong size of a septic tank will cause problems, whether it's too big or too small for your home. For instance, a septic tank system that's too small for your home will struggle to meet your wastewater demands. Consequently, you will have to deal with overflowing and blockages that typically come with foul odours. Usually, bacteria will form inside the tank to help break down the solids. The formation of these bacteria relies on the proper amount of wastewater. Therefore, your septic tank will struggle to function properly if there isn't enough wastewater flowing through it, a common problem with oversized tanks.

To choose the ideal septic tank size for your home, consider variables like your home's size, the number of occupants and occupancy rate and the number of bedrooms. It would be best to also think about other features in your home, like the number of kitchens, bathrooms, showers and dishwashers. With these parameters, a septic tank supplier or contractor will help you choose the correct size.

Think About Septic Tank Material

Concrete, plastic and fibreglass are some of the standard septic tank materials. Concrete tanks are sturdy and relatively economical. They are also easier to customise and are ideal for areas with high water tables. That's because they are heavy and won't float if the water table is close to the tank's level. On the downside, they can easily crack from excess pressure, settling and earthquakes. In addition, they tend to erode with continued exposure to sewage gases.

On the other hand, plastic septic tanks are economical and easy to install because of their lightweight property. Since they are non-biodegradable, plastic tanks are not subject to corrosion or rusting and can withstand sewage chemicals and gases. However, they are not as durable as their counterparts and are not the best for high-water-table areas because their lightweight doesn't prevent floating.

Fibreglass septic tanks serve as the middle ground between concrete and plastic tanks. They are cheaper than their concrete counterparts but stronger than plastic. They are also rustproof and watertight, but like plastic, they aren't resistant to buoyant forces, so they will shift or float in areas with a high water table. 

Contact a supplier of domestic wastewater treatment systems to learn more.