The Complete Handbook of Septic Tank & Cesspool Treatments

Chapter 1: Understanding Septic Tank & Cesspool Treatments

Septic tank and cesspool treatments are a category of chemical or biological products designed to be flushed into an on-site wastewater system with the goal of altering its biological, chemical, or physical state. To understand what these treatments actually are, you must first accept that they are not magic. A septic tank is a simple, passive settling chamber. Its primary job is to separate solids from liquids and to digest a portion of the organic matter biologically. A treatment product is a tool that either assists this existing process, fixes a specific mechanical or biological deficiency, or attempts to remedy a problem that has already occurred. The most common misconception is that a treatment can replace regular maintenance. It cannot. A treatment is an adjunct to a properly designed, properly installed, and properly pumped system.

Consider a standard residential septic tank. It is a buried, watertight container, typically holding between 1,000 and 2,000 gallons. Wastewater enters via an inlet pipe, slows down, and stays inside for one to three days. This retention time, called hydraulic retention time (HRT), is critical. Heavier solids settle to the bottom, where they form a layer of sludge. Lighter materials, such as fats, oils, and grease, float to the top and form a scum layer. Between these two layers is a relatively clear zone of water, called the effluent. This effluent flows out of the tank through an outlet pipe, usually equipped with a baffle or tee