Glossary of Commonly Used Septic Tank Terms
- Absorption System Failure -- reason for most calls to septic tank pumping companies
- Aerobic -- with oxygen, aerated
- Anaerobic -- without oxygen
- ATU -- Aerobic Treatment Unit, a type of onsite wastewater treatment system
- Bio-film -- thin film formed by bacteria
- Bio-mat, bio-matt, bio-film -- thick film formed by bacteria in absorption field that blocks flow out and causes Absorption Field Failure
- Bio-remediation --
- Bio-surfactants -- aid in emulsification of fats and grease
- Biological oxidation --
- Cell synthesis --
- Cellulose -- chemical in wood and paper, difficult for bacteria to digest
- Chemical cleaning compounds, drain cleaners, sanitizers -- chemicals which can degrade septic system performance by slowing down bacteria metabolism
- Coliform bacteria
- Detergents --
- Digestion -- action by bacteria to break down organic material into water, methane and ammonia
- Drain field, absorption field, leech field, leach field -- -- area where septic tank outflow is dispersed into the ground
- Effluent filter -- water leaving the septic tank
- Emulsify -- mix to create an emulsion
- Enzymatic breakdown of waste organic matter --
- Extracellular enzymes --
- Intracellular enzymes --
- Kinetic rate -- rate at which bacteria are digesting organic material
- Leach field -- see Drain Field
- Lignin -- material found in tissue paper, difficult for bacteria to metabolize
- Medicines -- some adversely affect the action of bacteria in septic tank
- Microbial attachment --
- Organic loading --
- Reversing biomat formation -- special enzymes may be useful in correcting drain field problems
- Scum layer -- layer of undigested material floating on surface of septic tank
- Sludge Judge -- clear tube for determining the health of a septic tank
- Sludge layer -- layer of undigested material at bottom of septic tank, should be black
- Soil permeability -- how quickly water can move through soil at a site
- Tissue -- toilet paper, difficult for bacteria to digest
- Water softeners -- add lots of salt to wastewater, which can clog pores in clay-ey soils