The
following
definitions
are examples
of typical
systems and
do not account
for all situations.
Individual
systems may
vary, sometimes
dramatically.
Alarm – Located
near the
house or
a facility,
these are
important
early warning
systems that
can
alert
someone
when a
potential
overflow
is
about
to happen.
ATU
- Aerobic
Treatment
Unit – See
our section
on ATU's
Baffle – Most
septic
tanks
and grease
traps
contain
baffles
that split
the
tank in
two sections
with a
small
area
for effluent
to pass
through
at a high
spot in
the
baffle.
The purpose
of the
baffle
is to
let the
solids
in the
incoming
effluent
settle
out to
the bottom
or float
to
the surface,
and
to lessen
the impact
of stirring
up the
tank when new
effluent
enters.
Clean-out – These
are simply
tee-sections
of pipe
that are
placed
in line
of a gravity
pipe to
allow
access
to
it from
above.
It will
be
topped
with a
screw-on
top and
can be
used to
inspect
or
clean
the pipe.
Typically
a septic
system
will
have
a clean-out installed
between
the septic
tank
and house.
D-Box
or Distribution
Box – This
a small
box typically
with 4” holes
on all
sides
of it
that is
located
at
the end
of the
outlet
pipe between
the septic
tank and
drainfield.
It is
used to
evenly
distribute
the exiting
effluent
from
the septic
tank on
its way
to the
drainfield.
It is
usually
made of
plastic
or concrete,
but in
many newer
systems
it has been
replaced
with a
header
system.
Drainfield – Also
known
as the
leachfield
or absorption
field,
this
portion
of
a septic
system
is designed
to evenly
distribute
the effluent
leaving
a septic
tank across
a large
area
through
underground
pipes
or chambers
to let
the
effluent
absorb
into the
soils.
The drainfield
can be
made
of rock,
perforated
pipes
or open
chambers all
buried
underground.
Effluent – The
discharge
of wastewater
from any
home or
facility
is considered
effluent.
Exfiltration – When
sewer
pipes
have holes
or cracks
in them
from shifting
ground,
root intrusion,
poor installation,
etc. the
wastewater
flowing
through
them will
leak out
into
the environment.
Filter – A
septic
filter
should
be installed
on the
outlet
side of
the septic
tank
to
protect
the drainfield
from solids
getting
in
and clogging
its ability
to absorb
water.
If enough
solids
enter
the drainfield
it can
ruin
the drainfield
costing
thousands
of
dollars
to repair
or
replace.
A filter
should
be cleaned
at least
once a
year to
prevent
it
from clogging
up and
causing
the effluent
to backup
into the
house.
Float
Switch – These
typically
come in
the form
of 2
to 3 inch
diameter
round
balls
connected
to wires.
These
balls
are designed
to act
like
switches
so that
when
the
ball begins
to float
and flip
over
a gravity
activated
switch
inside
sends
a signal
to
the control
panel
that something
is happening.
Depending
on how
the
float
switch
is
wired
the control
panel
will
turn
on or
off another
device
such
as an
alarm
or pump.
There
are different
types
of
float
switches
that
play different
roles
depending
on
how they
are wired
to the
control
panel.
There
can
be as
many as
five
float
switches
in a large
pump tank,
but a
typical
home will
only have
two: the
start
float
and
the
alarm
float
(for more
information
on the
other
float
types
see our
section
on Sewer
/ Lift
Stations).
The
start
float
turns
the pump
on when
the level
of the
effluent reaches
a high
point
in the
tank
and
then turns
off
when
the
level comes
back
down.
The
alarm
float
triggers
the
alarm
(typically
part
of the
control
panel)
when
the
effluent
level
reaches
too
high
in the
tank
threatening
to overflow
it.
Grease
Trap – See
our section
on Grease
Traps
Header
System – This
system of
4” pipes
is located
between
the septic
tank
and
drainfield
as a newer
alternative
to a distribution
box. It
consists
of a single
pipe
leading
from the
tank to
a tee-section
where
the water
is
distributed
equally
across
multiple
pipes
to dose
the
drainfield
evenly.
Infiltration – When
sewer pipes
have holes
or cracks
in them
from shifting
ground,
root intrusion,
poor installation,
etc. groundwater
will sometimes
leak into
the
sewer
system.
Inlet – In
an underground
tank, such
as a septic
tank or
grease trap,
the
inlet is
the
hole in
the wall
of the
tank where
the pipe
flowing
from upstream
enters
into the
tank.
This is
where
the effluent
enters
the tank
as opposed
to
the outlet
where
it exits
the tank.
Inspection
Port – These
are typically
installed
in line
after a
grease trap
in the form
of a small
box that
the effluent
collects
in briefly
before
passing
through.
It
should
be easily
accessed
for county
or
city inspectors
to collect
a sample
of the
wastewater
for testing
purposes.
Jet
Job – Classified
as a rejuvenation
of a drainfield
and requiring
a permit
by the
State
of Florida
Department
of Health.
A jet
job
is performed
when a
drainfield
is
failing
to absorb
the
effluent
flowing
into it
because
of minor
root intrusion
or
because
of solids
entering
the drainfield.
It is
performed
by means
of
digging
up the
section
of the
system
between
the
septic
tank and
drainfield
and using
a highpressured
water
jetting
system
to flush
out
each individual
line to
remove
blockage.
Jetting,
Line – A
service
performed
on any sized
pipe where
a high-pressure
line is
inserted
into the
pipe and
it jets
water
backward
toward
the opening.
As the
line
moves
down the
pipe
it scours,
cleans,
and pushes
the debris
back out
of the
pipe to
be removed,
usually
by a vacuum-truck.
This service
is usually
performed
to
remove
dirt or
grease
that has
built
up
in the
pipe over
a period
of time.
Lid,
Tank – Lids
come in
various
sizes all
for different
purposes.
The typical
septic
tank lid
will be
in three
separate
sections
(called
a
sectional
lid) that
rest on
top of
the
septic
tank.
Lids also
come in
small
round
sizes
that fit
over risers,
as
well as
large
sizes
with access
ports
that cover
the entire
septic
tank with
one
section.
Typical
lids
are not
weight
rated
to hold
anything
very heavy,
such
as cars,
and will
crack
or
collapse
if driven
over.
Traffic
rated
lids,
similar
to those
used on
grease
traps,
can
be purchased.
Lift
Station – See
our section
on Sewer
/ Lift
Stations
Manhole – These
are cylindrical
concrete
structures
that are
placed periodically
along
a stretch
of sewer
pipe
or at
every
turn in
the pipe
to allow
access
to the
pipe
from above.
The wastewater
does not
pool in
these
structures,
but passes
continuously
through
them.
Outlet – In
an underground
tank, such
as a septic
tank or
grease trap,
the
outlet is
the
hole in
the wall
of the
tank where
the pipe
flowing
downstream
leaves
the tank.
This
is where
the effluent
exits
the tank
as opposed
to
the inlet
where
it enters
the
tank.
Pipe
Inspection,
Video – Small,
specialized,
water-proof
cameras
that send
signals
back to
a control
system
can be
used to
investigate
pipes
as
small
as 4”.
These
cameras
come in
the form
of push
cameras
on a rigid
cable
or large
robotic
crawler
cameras
that drive
by remote
control
along
the inside
of pipes.
The cameras
are used
to determine
where
infiltration
and exfiltration
may be
taking
place
in the
pipe,
searching
for crushed
or damaged
pipes,
as well
as
confirming
that pipes
have been
cleaned
thoroughly.
Pump,
Effluent – For
homes that
require
a pump station
because
of
the need
for an
elevated
drainfield
the pump
station
will contain
a small
pump
operated
by a control
panel
and float
switches
to pump
the effluent
up-hill
into the
raised
drainfield.
The
average
home will
only
need a
1/3 HP
or 1/4
HP pump.
Pump
Tank or
Pump
Station – This
is sometimes
referred
to as a
STEP
(Septic
Tank Effluent
Pump)
system,
and is
similar
to a lift
station
on a smaller,
simpler
scale.
The pump
tank
is located
between
the septic
tank
and the
drainfield
when
situations
require
that the
drainfield
be at
a higher
elevation
than the
outlet
of
the
septic
tank.
The pump
tank is
a smaller
sized
tank
that the
effluent
from the
septic
tank flows
into.
It contains
a pump
at
the bottom
that will
pump the
effluent
up into
the raised
drainfield
when the
effluent
level
reaches
a certain
point
that triggers
a
float
switch.
Rails,
Pump – See
our section
on Sewer
/ Lift
Stations
Real
Estate
Inspection – See
our section
on Septic
Inspections
Riser – These
are round
rings
about
24” in
diameter
made
from
plastic
or concrete
that brings
the level
of access
to a septic
tank or
grease
trap to
the
level
of the
ground.
They are
required
on all
grease
traps
if not
at grade
and
should
be
installed
on all
septic
tanks
whose
lid
is deeper
than 3
inches.
Risers
make access
for
pumping
and
maintenance
much easier.
Septic
Tank – These
are typically
sized around
1,000 gallons
and can
be made
from
concrete
or plastic.
This
tank is
the first
step
in the
process
of cleaning
household
wastewater
on-site.
It traps
solids
and floatable
materials
in the
first
baffled
section
allowing
the effluent
to
pass into
the second
section
of the
tank by
gravity
where
it
exits
the outlet.
Every
time
wastewater
enters
the tank
an
equal
amount
of
wastewater
exits
the tank
out
the other
end.
A septic
tank also
contains
natural
bacteria
that
feed
off
the
wastewater
helping
to break
down
the
contents.
A septic
tank that
is working
properly
will always
be
full and
for the
typical
household
it will
fill up
again
within
about
48 hours
after
you have
it
pumped
out. Septic
Tanks
should
be pumped
out
at least
every
3 years,
but
for
best
results
in protecting
the
drainfield
it should
be pumped
out every
year.
Septic
System – See
our section
on Septic
Systems
Sewer,
Gravity
or Forcemain – See
our section
on Sewer
/ Lift
Stations
System
Inspection – See
our section
on Septic
Inspections
System
Verification – See
our section
on Septic
Inspections
Terra-lift – Classified
as a rejuvenation
of a drainfield
and requiring
a permit
by the
State
of Florida
Department
of Health.
A terra-lift
is performed
when
a drainfield
is
failing
to absorb
the
effluent
flowing
into it
because
of a biological
build
up of
wastes
in the
soils
that prevent
them from
absorbing
the effluent
entering
the
drainfield.
It is
performed
by means
of a terra-lift
machine
that
is driven
over the
drainfield
in order
to inject
air
and foam
beads
into the
soils
below
the drainfield
in
order
to crack
the
soils
open allowing
effluent
to begin
seeping
in like
normal.
Valve
Box – These
are typically
part of
a lift station
and come
in
the form
of a
sunken
concrete
vault
with opening
top doors
to allow
operator
access.
The
Forcemain
piping
from the
pumps
in the
lift station
will pass
through
this box.
As
the pipes
pass through
they will
have check
valves,
plug valves,
pressure
gauges,
and emergency
pump cam-locks
that technicians
can use
to monitor
or
manage
the
system.
