How a septic tank works

How a Septic Tank Works

by Ri Industries

If you are reading the Ri-Industries Blog, chances are that you might already own or are planning to install a septic tank on your property.

But how does a septic system work, exactly?

This is a fairly common question that people search for on the Internet every day. The Ri-Industries team is always here to answer your questions, so without further ado, let’s get down to basics.

How a septic tank works

Parts of a septic tank:

A septic tank generally consists of a tank (or sometimes more than one tank) connected to an inlet wastewater pipe at one end and a soakage field at the other. In general, the design of the tank usually incorporates two chambers, which are separated by means of a dividing wall that has openings located about midway between the floor and roof of the tank.

The purpose of a septic tank:

A septic system uses natural processes to treat and dispose of wastewater in your home, and provides biological treatment of the sludge and scum layers that accumulate there. The soil acts as a biological filter for the undesirable wastewater components remaining in the effluent.

How a septic tank works:

Wastewater flows down through the sewer pipes in your home and enters the first chamber of the tank, allowing solids to settle (sludge layer). A crust then forms on the surface of the effluent, known as the scum layer. The settled solids are anaerobically digested, reducing the volume of solids. The liquid component flows through the dividing wall into the second chamber, where further settlement takes place, with the excess liquid then draining in a relatively clear condition from the outlet into the soakage field.

If you are looking for further ways to utilise your septic tank, check out the Ri-Treat wastewater treatment system. The Ri-Treat wastewater treatment system is an aerobic system which means you can recycle your wastewater for irrigation purposes.

Ri-Industries is always here to answer your questions, so please do not hesitate to contact us.

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The Smart Way to Water Your Garden

by Ri Industries

You may have heard the saying, “The grass is always greener over the septic tank.” The moisture and nutrients in the drainage field of your septic tank help to fertilise your garden the natural way.

By taking interest in a Ri-Industries septic tank or aerobic waste water treatment system, you are already well on your way to conserving water and energy for your home. What you may not know is that the benefits of a septic tank or waste water treatment system do not stop with installation. Ri-Industries can help you water your garden the smart way, even after all of the wear and tear of daily use.

How to water your garden, the smart way:

#1: Use Ri-Treat to Irrigate Your Garden

The Ri-Treat Waste Water System works to clean and reuse your waste water from the toilet, kitchen, and laundry to irrigate your garden. Ri-Treat features a high quality irrigation kit for more effective irrigation. This system is certainly a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly way to keep your garden looking green and healthy.

#2: Water your garden only when it needs it

While the Ri-Treat system can efficiently recycle your waste water for your home, it’s up to you to decide when your garden needs watering. To find out if your lawn needs water, use this rule of thumb: stick your finger about 4 cm into the soil, and if the soil is not moist, it is time for a shower!

#3: Put your garden on a schedule

For those of us who do not have time to stick our fingers in the soil every day, it is recommended to water your garden deeply and infrequently (about 2.5 cm a week). But how do you measure how much water your lawn is soaking in? For this, you can use a rain gauge or a cup of water placed in your garden and a ruler. Run your irrigation system for about 15 minutes, check the amount of water left in the cup or rain gauge, and you can do some quick calculations to find out how much water per hour is coming from the sprinkler.

#4: Water early

When you use your irrigation system, some of the water will evaporate before it even hits your garden. To make sure that your garden drinks up the highest amount of water possible, try watering very early in the morning, sometime between 4 am and 9 am.

As always, the most important tip for using your irrigation system the smart way is: location, location, location! Make sure that you are watering your garden, and not the pavement or the letterbox. To discover more sustainable living options from Ri-Industries, don’t hesitate to contact us.

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5 Ways Ri-Industries Can Help You Recycle Water for Your Home

by Ri Industries

About one-third of the world’s population is affected by water scarcity. Thankfully, your septic tank is just one of the many environmentally-friendly ways to recycle water around the home. Recycling water using a septic tank and other methods can be a way to revitalize your local environment while conserving precious resources for the community at large. Here are some quick and easy ways Ri-Industries can help you recycle water and take advantage of the water table surrounding your home.

Water Recycling Tip #1: Use the Ri-Treat System to Reuse Water to Your Best Advantage

The Ri-Treat waste water treatment system discharges household waste into a controlled area and aerobically decomposes waste. This system is a way for homeowners living in a non-sewered area to reclaim their waste water and reuse it around the home.

Water Recycling Tip #2: Use a Ri-Treat Waste Water Treatment System on Your Garden

The on-site Ri-Treat waste water system allows you to reuse and recycle your water resources and make great savings, all at the same time. Ri-Industries supplies a surface garden irrigation kit with every Ri-Treat system, meaning you can recycle household waste water to keep your yard looking fresh and healthy.

Water Recycling Tip #3: Let Ri-Industries Collect Your Rainwater

Reclaiming and reusing your water isn’t limited to waste water; take advantage of every step of the water cycle by using concrete rainwater tanks to collect and filter the rainfall in your backyard. Rainwater tanks have the advantage of being a natural alternative to treatment plants that use chemicals to filter water, and can be used for a number of different domestic and rural purposes.

Water Recycling Tip #4: Reuse Your Bathwater

Consider upgrading an existing septic in your home by asking your plumber to install a separate Ri-Industries septic tank to catch the water you wash down your bathroom sink, shower or bath. While this water isn’t fit for drinking, it can be used for irrigation, watering the houseplants, or simply flushing the toilet.

Water Recycling Tip #5: Use Your Water Wisely

With the Ri-Treat waste water system, along with Concrete Rainwater Tanks and Septic Tanks, Ri-Industries makes it easy for you to conserve and reuse water to your best advantage in and around your home. But the next step is up to you—when you wash fruit in your sink, save the rinsed water to use on your lawn afterward; instead of tossing out the water that you used to boil your vegetables, use it to make soup instead. Every little effort can make a big difference.

By taking advantage of these five tips, as well as the other services Ri-Industries has to offer, you can use the water in your home to the best of its potential. Not only that: recycling water around the home is a natural and environmentally friendly way to give back to your local eco-system. For more information on how to reuse and recycle the water supply in your non-sewered area, please check out our website or call 08 8444 8100.