What septage is
Waste from toilets, showers or tubs, and kitchen or laundry sinks is handled in one of two ways:
- Where there are municipal sewer systems, the waste travels through the sewer system and is treated at a municipal sewage treatment plant. In this case, the waste is called “sewage.”
- If you are like 15 per cent of Ontarians who have a cottage or live in a rural area where there are no sewers, chances are you have a septic system to deal with this waste. This waste is called “septage.”
How a septic system works
Your septic system deals with tonnes of waste each year. The tank of the septic system lets heavy solid materials settle to the bottom, while the lighter wastewater stays at the top. This liquid then flows out of the tank into underground perforated pipes, called the leaching bed, where it filters into the ground and is further treated by helpful bacteria and other soil organisms.
A septic system is an excellent means of treating household septage. A properly constructed and maintained septic system can operate reliably for years – especially if you are careful what you put down your toilet and drain.
Why septage can be a concern
A septic system does some heavy duty digestion. Viruses and bacteria are just some of the nasty things that it has to work on. And if not treated, they can travel a long way underground. If they flow into drinking water supplies, these organisms and compounds can cause diseases or other health or environmental problems.
Fortunately, regular septic system maintenance and watching what you pour down your drains and moderating your water use can prevent these problems. Please explore the rest of this section to learn: