What is a Septic System?
A septic system processes and neutralizes liquid and solid waste that exits your home from stools, sinks and other plumbing fixtures.

A conventional septic system consists of three main parts:
    Septic tank
    Drainfield
    Soil beneath the drainfield

The Septic Tank
A temporary, watertight holding tank for waste, often buried near the house. Tanks usually have a capacity of 1,000 or more gallons. Generally based on 300 gallons per bedroom.

Solids settle to the bottom of the tank and form a layer of sludge. Liquid waste exits near the top of the tank and flows through distribution pipes in the drainfield.

The Drainfield
Multiple, gravel-lined trenches, usually 2-3 feet deep, where liquid that exits the tank flows. The drainfield is positioned so that gravity allows liquid waste to flow and become distributed into the area.

Perforated distribution pipes are placed in drainfield trenches, ensuring that liquid waste can drain over a large area. The bottoms of the trenches are at least 12 inches above the ground water table, sometimes more depending on the type of soil, so that waste is neutralized before entering.

The drainfield is covered with soil before the system is used.

The Soil
Natural components of soil neutralize bacteria and chemicals before they reach ground water or nearby rivers and lakes. The ideal soil is aerobic, meaning it contains a good amount of cleansing oxygen, and is not saturated with water. Clay type soils generally do not make good drainfields.



State Certified Inspections
Septic system inspections require experienced and trained inspectors who are certified with the state of Missouri. We recommend that all septic systems be inspected at least every 5 years.

Our state certified inspectors test the full operations of the septic system including pumps, wiring, tanks, flow, size and perform special dye tests.

We also include at no additional charge a fiber optic camera scan of the lines when access is available from distribution to the drain field, giving us an inside look into the vast amount of drain pipes and sewer lines.