How a Septic Chlorination System Works

Whereas a sewer system sends your toilet, bath and sink water out underground and to water treatment plants, a septic system is for your home alone. The latter is usually buried beneath the soil near, but not too near, your home. The typical system is made of two sections: The tank is usually made of concrete, steel, polyethylene or fiberglass. The solid waste and scum is trapped in the tank and the liquid waste flows into another section of the system called the septic field. An underground series of perforated pipes flow under the tank itself. These pipes accept the liquid waste from the septic tank and it becomes a leaching system whereby the liquid flows out into the surrounding soil and is absorbed by it, while the waste is treated by natural bacteria.

Toilet tissue and other paper solids, as well as waste solids, will determine how long you can go between having the system pumped and cleaned. Cleaning on average is done every three to five years. It is also a good idea to plant vegetation near you septic site since the natural fertilizers are abundant.

Chlorination is used to disinfect the septic system. A liquid chlorine supply canister is hooked up to your septic system by a recalculating pipe that adds chlorine to your waste and waste water as it flows into your septic system. This is done with what is called a venturi chamber connected to the recirculation pipes. The pump keeps the chlorine circulating through with each flush or water drainage.

It is not recommended that someone use pool chlorination tablets in a septic system; instead, calcium hypochlorite is better for your system since regular pool chlorine can interact with sunlight and burn surrounding grass and vegetation. Furthermore, pool chlorine can kill the bacteria essential to breaking down the wastes, both liquid and solid.