Wm. P. McGovern, Inc.
1144 W. Baltimore Pike
Kennett Square, PA 19348
Phone (610) 444-5797
Fax (610) 444-1254
Email us
McGovern & Co. Excavating Inc.
1156 W. Baltimore Pike
Kennett Square, PA 19348
Phone (610) 444-5152
Fax (610) 444-1254
Email us
McGovern Environmental LLC.
223 Fellowship Road
Eagle, PA 19480
Phone (610) 458-9333
Fax (610) 458-2577
Email us
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SEPTIC SYSTEM & WASTE DISPOSAL SERVICES
Glossary of Terms
This glossary is provided for our customers as a reference to help understand the terms used by the professionals in the Waste Disposal industry. We will be adding words and definitions to this glossary on a continuing basis.
A
Anaerobic digestion - A series of processes in which microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen. This process is used for industrial or domestic purposes to manage waste. It is widely used as part of the process to treat wastewater as part of an integrated waste management system.
Absorption area - the area where wastewater is sent for the purpose of infiltration into the soil.
Anaerobic Treatment Tank - the tank where the anaerobic digestion process takes place.
Aggregate - Material used in a drainfield. Washed gravel or crushed stone 3/4 - 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Larger diameter material or finer substances and run-of-bank gravel are unacceptable.
B
Baffles - A device used in septic tanks and distribution boxes to prevent the flow of solids into the disposal field. The baffles are designed to reduce the exit speed of wastewater and prevent solids and material from the scum layer in the tank being sent to the absorption area.
Blackwater - Water from toilets carrying human waste.
Building Sewer - Piping that is used to move liquid waste from a building to a treatment or holding tank.
Bull Run Valve - a Bull Run Valve (™ American Manufacturing Company, Inc.) is designed to split flows to septic fields or systems. The change over from one drainage field to another can be accomplished in less than a minute by simply turning the valve without digging or contact with wastewater. The generic term of this valve is a Distribution valve.
C
Catabolism - The set of pathways that break down molecules into smaller units and release energy. This is one of the processes at work in the breakdown of wastewater by microorganisms where large molecules such as polysaccharides, lipids, nucleic acids and proteins are broken down into smaller units such as monosaccharides, fatty acids, nucleotides, and amino acids.
Certificate of Completion - A certificate that specifies that a septic system has been installed and inspected and approved for use.
Cesspit - A pit, conservancy tank, or covered cistern, which can be used for sewage or refuse. Traditionally, a deep cylindrical chamber dug into the earth, having approximate dimensions of 1 meter diameter and 2-3 meters depth. Their appearance was similar to that of a hand-dug water well.
Cesspool - Same as cesspit.
Chemical toilet - A toilet using chemicals to deodorize the waste instead of simply storing it in a hole, or piping it away to a sewage treatment plant. These toilets are most commonly found on airplanes, trains, caravans and motorhomes, identified with a blue-colored dye in the bowl water.
Clarification - The process by which solids and fluids in sewage are separated from each other in a septic tank.
Crossover - A pipe used to connect drain field trenches, one to the next in a serial fashion. Used in conventional septic systems.
D
Decentalized Wastewater Treatment - A system of waste treatment handling waste treatment and disposal for several entities situated close together like apartment complexes, shops in a center, etc.
Disposal Field - Constructed in soil, enabling sewage effluent to soak, leech or perk into the soil for disposal and dispersement. Same as Drain Field.
Disposal Field Trench - Excavated trench(es) that make up the disposal field. Design must be approved and conform to Health Department standards.
Distribution Box - a device used to distribute sewage to the absorption area by splitting the effluent between distribution lines.
Diversional Valve - a distributon device. See Bull Run Valve.
Dosing Pump - part of a dosing system which uses mechanical or electronically controlled devices to control the flow of effluent to a drainfield.
Drainfield - See Septic drain field.
Drywell - An underground structure that disposes of unwanted water, most commonly stormwater runoff, by dissipating it into the ground, where it merges with the local groundwater.
Dye test - Also called a septic dye test. This test involves the use of dye to trace the origin of waste water coming to the surface. Flushing dye down a toilet aids in identifying septic system failure.
E
Elevated Sand Mounds - a type of absorption area in the form of a mound of sand and aggregate.
F
Flow Equalizers - also called Speed Dialers.
Free Access Sand Filter -
French drain - A trench covered with gravel or rock that redirects surface and groundwater away from an area. A French drain can have perforated hollow pipes along the bottom to quickly vent water that seeps down through the upper gravel or rock. Also called a drain tile, perimeter drain or land drain.
G
Geotextile Fabric - fabric used in gravelless septic systems which use plastic or other prefab wastewater distribution systems. These type of systems are buried in the drainfield soil without surrounding gravel. These systems typically use a plastic chamber(s), a geotextile or polystyrene-wrapped pipe to distribute effluent into the soil.
Gravel Bed or Trench - see Drainfield.
Greywater - Water coming from domestic equipment other than toilets (e.g. bathtubs, showers, sinks, washing machines) is called greywater and is preferably kept separate from blackwater (which comes from toilets) to reduce the amount of water that gets heavily polluted.
H
Hydraulic Load Test - A test used to make sure that the absorption area or drain field can handle the peak volume of waste it was designed to transmit into the soil.
Holding Tank - is part of a septic system that uses a sealed tank to hold waste and wastewater until it can be emptied.
I
Irsis System -
J
Junction Box - See Distribution Box.
L
Leach field - a septic drain field or designated area used to remove contaminants and impurities from the liquid that emerges from a septic tank. Other term for this include a leach drain, absorption field, drainage bed or drainage field.
Liquid Effluent - generic term for wastewater leaving the septic tank where it is separated from the solid waste material and sent to the drainfield for absortion into the soil.
Lift Pump - a pump that moves wastewater from a lower pumping chamber or effluent tank to a higher level tank, a mound system, sand bed, or other elevated treatment system.
M
MPI - Minutes Per Inch. The unit of measurement for a Perk Test.
P
Percolation test - ("Perc" test) is a test used to establish suitability of drain field soil to receive septic tank effluent. An engineer or licensed designer may be required to work with the local governing agency to design a system that conforms to these criteria.
Perk - An abbreviation for Percolation.
Perk Area - A defined area that is to be tested for Percolation Rate.
Perk Hole - A hole dug for the purpose of conducting a Percolation Test.
Perk Rate - The rate by which water is absorbed into the soil. The rate of measurement is Minutes per Inch (MPI). Acceptable perk rates should fall between 15 MPI and 105MPI for a septic system installation.
Perk Test - A Percolation Test conducted by an authorized tester.
Perk Test Area - The site where the approved perk test was undertaken. The area is marked, measured and identified exactly on the perk test report sheet.
Portable toilet - A modern, portable, self-contained outhouse manufactured of molded plastic in a variety of colors and is often used as a temporary toilet for construction sites and large gatherings and events. Portable toilets are referred to colloquially as Porta-John, PortaJane, Port-O-Let, Port-a-Loo, Porta-Potty, Tidy John, Biffs, and Toi-Toi. A common nickname in the United States is "Port-O-Potty" (or variations of the same), based on the Port-O-Let brand name.
Preliminary Soil Investigation - Undertaken by a soil scientist to determine the potential for a property or parcel of land to support a septic system.
Pressure Dosed System -
PSMA - Pennsylvania Septage Management Association
S
Septic Drain Field - a field or designated area used to remove contaminants and impurities from the liquid that emerges from a septic tank. Other term for this include a leach field, leach drain, absorption field, drainage bed or drainage field.
Septic Tank - Concrete tank that hold sewage. The tank receives sewage from a structure (home, building, etc). Solids settle to the bottom of the tank while lighter fluids float at the top of the tank or on the surface of the water. This separation process is called clarification and the clarified sewage if referred to as sewage effluent. The effluent is released from the tank and flows into the disposal field to percolate into the soil.
A key component of a septic system. A small scale sewage treatment system common in areas with no connection to main sewage pipes provided by local governments or private corporations.
Septic Systems - A type of On-Site Sewage Facility (OSSF). In North America approximately 25% of the population relies on septic tanks; this can include suburbs and small towns as well as rural areas.
Sewage Effluent - Sewage that has been separated, solids from liquids, the effluent being the liquid sewage that will be released from the septic tank into the drainage field.
Sewage Enforcement Officer - an official, usually of a local governmental agency, who reviews permit applications relating to sewer installation, repair, etc.
Sewage Water - Same as Sewage Effluent.
Soil Horizon - A layer of soil approximately parallel to the surface of the ground.
Soil Mottling - discoloration of soil caused by prolonged saturation. Usually appears like colored patches different from the general soil color.
Soil Probe - a Test Pit or soil pit dug near the perimeter of an expected drainfield area. Digging this pit is the best way to view undisturbed soil and to see the quality and makeup of the soil in the area the proposed drainfield.
Soil Profile - used to verify percolation test data. A deep observation hole is dug and the soil profile is examined.
Solids Retainer - a device used in the baffle of a septic tank to prevent solids from leaving the tank.
Spray Field - the area used in a spray irrigation system on to which sewage effluent is sprayed for treatment.
T
Treatment Tank - a tank used to hold sewage long enough to allow for bacterial decomposition to take place.
Tank Access Cover & Riser -
W
Wastewater - Any water that has been adversely affected in quality by anthropogenic influence. It comprises liquid waste discharged by domestic residences, commercial properties, industry, and/or agriculture and can encompass a wide range of potential contaminants and concentrations. In the most common usage, it refers to the municipal wastewater that contains a broad spectrum of contaminants resulting from the mixing of wastewaters from different sources.
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