human
What are the differences between a septic system and a sewage system?
assistant
A septic tank is a small, underground storage tank used in a wastewater treatment system to store wastewater from a building or dwelling. The wastewater flows into the septic tank where it undergoes anaerobic digestion by bacteria that break down organic matter. After this process, the treated water is discharged through a drain field which consists of porous pipes filled with soil. This type of system is called a subsurface wastewater disposal system because the wastewater is not discharged directly into the environment but rather into the ground below. Sewage systems, on the other hand, use large holding tanks or lagoons to store raw sewage until it can be properly treated before being released into the environment.