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SUGGESTIONS FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE OF SEPTIC TANKS <br /> I <br /> WHAT IS IN MY BACKYARD AND HOW DOES IT WORK? <br /> Most houses built in Orono after 1960, where city sewer is not <br /> available, have two septic tanks, one or more distribution boxes <br /> and a number of drainfield trenches. In the septic tanks, heavy <br /> sewage solids will settle to the bottom and be decomposed by <br /> anaerobic (oxygen-free) bact rial action. Floating solids such <br /> as grease, fat, and soap sc will be retained inside the tank <br /> ' by baffles at the inlet and utlet. In many cases, the first <br /> tank will retain most of the solids' and the second tank merely <br /> provides extra settling -time. This ensures that' the effluent <br /> entering the drainfield is relatively free of solids which tend <br /> to clog up clay soils. <br /> a <br /> 71i <br /> TYPICAL SEPTIC SYSTEM <br /> '.i WEMENr <br /> Floating <br /> Solids r:a;;, T„r�. :� .•r. ?..0` f �1 <br /> . O <br /> Distribution .Box <br /> Sludge � *,)Z-P— Drainfield <br /> .k <br /> WHY BOTHER WITH PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE? <br /> Eventually, a septic tank that is functioning correctly will accumulate <br /> a large quantity of sludge (decomposed wastes) and floating solids. <br /> If this accumulation is not removed regularly, the solids will by-pass <br /> the baffles in the tank and will be flushed out into the drainfield <br /> causing premature and unnecessary clogging of the drainfield. The <br /> result sewage will backup into your house and/or form a puddle <br /> (or river) in your yard. THEPE. ARE NO INEXPENSIVE WAYS TO REPAIR A <br /> CLOGGED DRAINFIELD. <br /> i <br /> R <br /> s <br /> h <br />