A septic tank may not be on everyone’s wish list when buying a property but it can have surprising environmental benefits, as we will discuss here.
Benefits of having a septic tank
A septic tank which is well-maintained is a brilliant asset if you are looking for a more sustainable and greener way of life. Clearly because it is not part of the main sewage system, it has no need for municipal sewage treatment facilities which use a lot of energy and other resources.
Sewer systems by their very nature are bad for the environment as they can incur leakage and contamination. They release wastewater into our waterways, and this can put people at risk of illnesses. In contrast the septic tank uses natural bacteria rather than energy consuming plants or chemicals to break down waste before returning clean water to the soil and giving is excellent eco-friendly credentials.
The fact that wastewater is released into rivers and streams also has consequences for animal and plant life. Septic tanks work by collecting the wastewater used in your property, retaining the solid materials and removing wastewater pollutants before returning the treated water to the surrounding area via infiltration (which uses a septic tank and drain field). This means that among the benefits of having a septic tank is non-decomposable waste does not end up in rivers and streams with the potential of harming the marine ecosystem.
In addition, if you are looking for a more sustainable way to manage wastewater then you have come to the right place as you will have complete control over what you are doing. By not having to rely on a city’s sewage infrastructure you can implement best practices for a more environmentally friendly outcome. Plus, if the mains system does become affected in any way by extreme weather conditions, or an environmental leak yours won’t be.
Benefits of a septic tank also include more effective water conservation. Proper septic tank installation will not only have a positive impact on the environment by helping you to control your water consumption, but it will extend the life of your system.
If you consider that after the tank is filled, every gallon of water pumped into it means that a gallon must leave and enter the drain field. Therefore, the less water used the less the tank has to process. This is a great motivation for practising water conservation in the home – unnecessary flushing of the loo, taking showers rather than baths, installation of low flow shower heads, fix leaky taps, only run the dishwasher when it’s full…these will all produce environmental benefits. They will help to reduce the amount of water used by your household, ensure that your septic tank is working at optimum levels and save you money too.
Have we convinced you of the environmental benefits of proper septic tank installation? If you would like to know more about septic tanks and how they work, then take a look at the pages here