Bacteria and Your Septic System in Boise, ID

Bacteria and Your Septic System in Boise, ID

There is a lot of information to know about septic systems, whether you are a new homeowner just beginning to use septic or if you’ve spent years in the industry like our team of experts at ASAP Septic, there’s a wide range of information to be learned about the beautifully designed and effective waste management system that is septic. 

How does septic work?

A brief explanation of how a septic system works is that wastewater from a home or business flows through drains to a central pipe. Rather than leading to a central sewer like like the pipes for homes on the municipal sewage system, the wastewater is directed to a holding area called a septic tank. There, wastewater is allowed to settle into sludge, scum, and graywater. Scum is the waste that is buoyant and floats to the surface, sludge is waste that is denser and sinks to the bottom, and graywater is the relatively clear water that separates the layers. In a septic system, the graywater is allowed to seep out of the tank and through a perforated network of pipes, which allow the water to seep into the ground, where it filtered through layers of soil and rock and is naturally purified by environmental bacteria by the time it reaches the water table and re-enters the water cycle. 

The waste that is left in the septic tank is further broken down by bacteria as well, and is pumped out at regular intervals as part of the normal, routine maintenance of the system. Pumping should occur every 3-5 years, depending on the size of the tank, amount of wastewater produced, and the number of people living in your home or utilizing your business. 

Bacteria and your septic system

Bacteria play a crucial role in the septic system; in addition to filtering water in the environment, it also plays a pivotal role in the septic tank. Microorganisms break down and decompose organic matter inside the septic tank, which breaks down these materials and creates more space, as well as helping to purify the water somewhat before it enters the drain field. Bacteria can be generally classified into two categories: aerobic bacteria, which require oxygen to survive, and anaerobic bacteria, which do not need oxygen or sometimes even function better without it. 

Aerobic bacteria are present in the upper payers of the septic tank, where oxygen is available. These bacteria break down organic matter like proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, and they metabolize these materials into carbon dioxide and water. Breaking down wastes into gas and water helps create more space in the septic tank for waste to gather, which extends the period of time between necessary maintenance. 

Anaerobic bacteria are the main operators in the lower layers of the septic tank, where there is little to no oxygen amid layers of graywater and sludge. They continue the process of decomposing organic matter as the waste settles to the bottom of the tank. 

Both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria work together to break down wastes in the septic system. The metabolized waste is reduced through the work that they do, and the graywater flows into the soil, where further purification takes place by environmental bacteria. Properly maintaining a septic system is important because maintaining a balance where these bacteria can thrive is critical to the overall health and efficiency of the septic system. 

Bacteria play a lot of different roles in our lives, but in the septic system, bacteria are an important and integral part of the process! This is one of the reasons why septic professional recommend against using any additives in your septic system. These additives are marketed as helping improve the way your septic system works, but in reality, they can disrupt the balance created between the different types of bacteria. 

At ASAP Septic, we are eager to serve our friends and neighbors in southeastern Idaho and in cities like Boise, Meridian, Middleton, McCall, Caldwell, Garden Valley, Lowman, Eagle, Twin Falls, ID, and beyond. We love using our years of specialized experience to serve our community, and are excited to provide useful information in addition to our septic services. Give us a call at (208) 991-7184 or fill our our online contact form for more information today! We love answering any questions you may have about your septic system, and also have both routine and emergency services available for your convenience.