Depending on where you live, residing in a rural or urban neighborhood could affect the type of wastewater management system you use. You have the choice of a septic or sewer system, but there are a few main differences between them that could persuade you to choose one over the other. Explore your options and consider which one will work best for your family and home.
Septic Systems
A septic system consists of a tank buried underground near your home and a drain field that treats your wastewater onsite. The bacteria in the tank slowly break down the solids and effluent liquid within the waste so it can drain properly through the drain field. Once the contaminants are separated, the water can safely drain back into the ground on your property.
You will typically see these systems in rural neighborhoods that are further from a town where sewer pipes cannot reach. This also means the homeowner is responsible for maintaining and servicing their own septic system. However, something you didn’t know about septic tanks is that they only need to be pumped once every three to five years, so maintenance isn’t a major hassle. They are also environmentally friendly and use all-natural systems to fully break down your wastewater.
Sewer Systems
One of the main differences between septic and sewer is that the ladder is provided by the city you live in through a network of underground pipes. These pipes lead back to a water treatment facility where the city removes contaminants and releases the clean water back into the ground. This kind of system can only be found in cities and their surrounding areas.
One of the best factors to having this wastewater management system in your home is the fact that you do not have to perform any maintenance yourself. The town is responsible for fixing or repairing any damage to the system. However, there will be a monthly fee for this service.
Which Is Best?
If you purchase a home with one system, you could convert to the other if the correct resources are available. For instance, you may have sewer lines, but you could decide to use a septic tank instead. On the opposite side, however, you could not install sewer pipes in a home further away from a city.
Both options offer significant benefits to a homeowner, but in the long run, septic systems are more affordable, require less infrastructure, and have no monthly fees. With a larger family, you may find that sewer systems are better because they can keep up with heavy use and require no maintenance.
Ultimately, it is up to the homeowner to decide which wastewater management system is suitable for their home. You may only have one option depending on your location. Which type of system will you choose for your home?