Septic Tank or Sewage Treatment Plant: What Is the Difference?
Both are used off mains, but a treatment plant uses additional treatment processes and mechanical components. Here is the practical difference for owners.
Septic tanks and package sewage treatment plants both deal with wastewater at properties that are not connected to a public foul sewer, but they do not work in the same way.
Septic tank
A septic tank primarily separates solids from liquid. Solids settle and the liquid leaves the tank for further treatment through a suitable drainage field.
Sewage treatment plant
A package treatment plant provides a higher level of treatment and typically uses mechanical or electrical components to support the treatment process. Depending on the design, this can include blowers, pumps, moving media, controls or alarms.
Why servicing differs
Because a treatment plant contains serviceable mechanical and electrical equipment, it needs competent maintenance in addition to periodic sludge removal. A septic tank normally has fewer mechanical components.
Why identifying the system matters
If you are booking help, do not assume every buried tank is a septic tank. Check labels, paperwork and the manufacturer name. A photograph of the cover and any control panel can help an engineer identify what you have.
Send your postcode, plant make and symptoms and we can use the details to understand the job.