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What is the difference between a septic system and a sewer system?
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The primary difference between a septic system and a sewer system is that a septic tank collects and treats wastewater from a home's plumbing fixtures, while a sewer line carries waste directly to a municipal treatment plant. A septic system typically consists of a septic tank, which is buried in the ground and serves as an anaerobic (without oxygen) digestion chamber for the waste; a distribution box, which connects the septic tank to the drain field; and a drain field, which is a network of pipes or trenches that carry the treated wastewater away from the house. On the other hand, a sewer system uses gravity to transport waste directly to a treatment plant without any intermediate chambers.