How was Septic Tank Systems Invented?
It was around the year 1860 when a French inventor, Jean-Louis Mouras, conceived the idea of creating a waste management system that will allow him to defecate without moving many distances away from his house.
At this time, people use sewage disposal methods such as digging shallow holes and burying contents, utilizing bushes as well as the use of outdoor toilets like outhouses which aren’t connected to any plumbing system.
He built his first septic tank with concrete and used clay to construct the piping system. He then channeled the pipes from his home to the tank, which he buried underground. About ten years later, estimated to be around 1870, he dismantled the system to check the performance of his prototype.
Surprisingly, he discovered that the wastes which have been depositing inside the tank for the past ten years had turned to liquid waste with a layer of scum on the top.
Fired up by his success, he partnered with a scientist to design a much better system. Mouras and his partner completed the new septic tank by 1880 and filed for patent.
The patent was approved around 1881, which means their invention can now travel across the border and sell across the world.
The arrival of Septic Tanks in the United States
The first septic tank was estimated to have arrived in the United States by the early 1880s. Though the French inventor, Mouras, takes the credit of building the first septic system, it was the US that perfected it.
As soon as the first septic system arrived in the US, the idea went wild as more and more homes began installing septic tanks designed from steel, clay, and concrete.
By the end of World War II, many American homes have had the system installed in their facility. However, the system wasn’t fool-proof. There were system failures such as cracking, rust and quick deterioration of the tank’s structural integrity.
Another factor that spurred the Americans to design tanks of better materials and designs was the increasing needs to build sewage treatment plants for the rapidly growing urban community, which cannot be met. Also, the Americans were concerned that the wastewater from the drain field could contaminate underground water sources.
New Septic System Designs
System failures, increasing waste treatment needs and the fear of underground water sources contamination leads to the design of more durable, effective and easy to manage systems. These septic tanks were made of PVC, polyurethane, precast concrete, and other plastic that are resistant to conditions causing previous structural failures.
Also, drains fields were improvised as durable plastic pipes were implemented and kept installed at a distance far from the groundwater sources. At times, mounds are built to prevent wastewater seepage to groundwater supplies.
Modern Septic Tanks
New septic tanks are now of cutting-edge designs and made from durable materials which are better their 19th-century counterparts. Though these septic tanks are super-efficient, still they aren’t foolproof to septic problems and failures. That’s why you need to have a reliable and professional plumbing company by your side in case your system develops issues or becomes troublesome.
As a leader in the industry, Septic Blue is an experienced plumbing company providing dependable septic services to homeowners and businesses with a proven record of top-notch services. When you need any septic system troubleshooting or services, don’t hesitate to connect with professionals at Septic Blue for professional services.
