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Glossary O

Occupancy load

  1. Septic Tanks vs Rotating Biological Contactors: Key Differences (Guide)

Odor control

The process of controlling the odor that is produced by the septic tank.

  1. Septic Tanks vs Composting Toilets: What’s Better? (Basics)
  2. Septic Tanks vs Biodigesters: Clearing the Confusion (Guide)
  3. Overview
  4. Septic Tanks vs Aerated Lagoons: Know the Difference (Guide)

Odor control measures

Measures that are taken to control the odor that is produced by the septic tank.

  1. Septic Tanks vs Biodigesters: Clearing the Confusion (Guide)
  2. Septic Tanks vs Sewer Systems: Clearing Confusion (Basics)
  3. Septic Tanks vs Aerated Lagoons: Know the Difference (Guide)
  4. Septic Tanks vs Trickling Filters: Understanding Differences (Basics)
  5. Overview

Odor control methods

  1. Septic Tanks vs Composting Toilets: What’s Better? (Basics)

Odor control systems

Systems that are used to control the odor that is produced by the septic tank.

  1. Overview

Oil and grease interceptors

Devices that are used to remove oil and grease from wastewater before it enters the septic tank.

  1. Step 1: Understanding the Basics

Onsite disposal

  1. Septic Tanks vs Onsite Wastewater Treatment: Clearing Confusion (Guide)
  2. Septic Tanks vs Sewer Systems: Clearing Confusion (Basics)

On-site sanitation

The process of managing and disposing of human waste in a safe and environmentally friendly manner on the property where it is generated.

  1. Septic Tanks vs Privies: What’s the Connection? (Basics)

Onsite sewage system

A system that treats and disposes of wastewater on the property where it is generated.

  1. Septic Tanks vs Greywater Systems (Understanding Differences)

On-site sewage systems

  1. Septic Tanks vs Package Plants: Clearing the Confusion (Basics)

Onsite treatment

  1. Overview

On-site treatment

The process of treating wastewater on the property where it is generated, rather than sending it to a centralized treatment plant.

  1. Septic Tanks vs Municipal Sewage: Key Differences (Guide)
  2. Septic Tanks vs Lagoons: What’s Better? (Guide)

Onsite wastewater treatment

  1. Septic Tanks vs Onsite Wastewater Treatment: Clearing Confusion (Guide)
  2. Does Every House Have A Septic Tank?
  3. Soil Absorption System vs Septic Tanks (Understanding Differences)

Operating costs

  1. Oxygen Requirement Difference
  2. Septic Tanks vs Aerated Lagoons: Know the Difference (Guide)
  3. Septic Tanks vs Biodigesters: Clearing the Confusion (Guide)
  4. Septic Tanks vs Trickling Filters: Understanding Differences (Basics)

Operating costs comparison

  1. Septic Tanks vs Aerated Lagoons: Know the Difference (Guide)

Operational reliability

  1. Septic Tanks vs Aerated Lagoons: Know the Difference (Guide)

Organic matter

Any material that is derived from living organisms and can be broken down by bacteria in the septic tank.

  1. Septic Tanks vs Rotating Biological Contactors: Key Differences (Guide)
  2. Step 1: Anaerobic Digestion Process
  3. Septic Tanks vs Package Plants: Clearing the Confusion (Basics)
  4. Septic Tanks vs Trickling Filters: Understanding Differences (Basics)
  5. Overview
  6. Septic Tanks vs Subsurface Wetlands: What’s Better? (Basics)
  7. Oxygen Requirement Difference
  8. Soil Absorption System vs Septic Tanks (Understanding Differences)
  9. Septic Tanks vs Septic Dosing Systems: Understanding Differences (Basics)
  10. Septic Tanks vs Biodigesters: Clearing the Confusion (Guide)
  11. Septic Tanks vs Constructed Wetlands: Clearing the Confusion (Guide)
  12. Septic Tanks vs Mound Systems: Clearing the Confusion (Guide)
  13. Septic Tanks vs Aerated Lagoons: Know the Difference (Guide)
  14. Septic Tanks vs Greywater Systems (Understanding Differences)
  15. Septic Tanks vs Sewer Systems: Clearing Confusion (Basics)
  16. Step 1: Understanding the Basics
  17. Septic Tanks vs Pressure Distribution Systems: Key Differences (Guide)
  18. What To Put In Septic Tank To Break Down Solids?
  19. Septic Tanks vs Drain Fields: Understanding Differences (Basics)
  20. Septic Tanks vs Lagoons: What’s Better? (Guide)
  21. Gravity vs Pump Septic Systems: What’s Better? (Basics)
  22. Does Every House Have A Septic Tank?
  23. Septic Tanks vs Evapotranspiration Systems: Key Differences (Guide)
  24. Septic Tanks vs Municipal Sewage: Key Differences (Guide)
  25. What Size Septic Tank Do I Need?
  26. Septic Tanks vs Leach Fields: Understanding the Connection (Basics)
  27. How To Increase Bacteria In Septic Tank Naturally?
  28. How To Clean Septic Tank?
  29. How Long Do Septic Tanks Last?
  30. Septic Tanks vs Onsite Wastewater Treatment: Clearing Confusion (Guide)
  31. Septic Tanks vs Privies: What’s the Connection? (Basics)

Organic matter breakdown

The process of breaking down complex organic compounds into simpler compounds in the septic tank.

  1. Step 1: Understanding the Basics

Organic matter degradation

The process of breaking down organic matter in the septic tank into simpler compounds.

  1. Septic Tanks vs Constructed Wetlands: Clearing the Confusion (Guide)

Organic matter removal

  1. Septic Tanks vs Rotating Biological Contactors: Key Differences (Guide)
  2. Septic Tanks vs Trickling Filters: Understanding Differences (Basics)

Organic waste

Any material that is derived from living organisms and can be broken down by bacteria in the septic tank.

  1. Septic Tanks vs Biodigesters: Clearing the Confusion (Guide)
  2. Septic Tanks vs Leach Fields: Understanding the Connection (Basics)
  3. What To Put In Septic Tank To Break Down Solids?

Organic waste management

The process of managing and disposing of organic waste in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.

  1. Septic Tanks vs Biodigesters: Clearing the Confusion (Guide)

Outlet baffle

A device in the septic tank that helps to prevent solids from leaving the tank and clogging the outlet pipe.

  1. Gravity vs Pump Septic Systems: What’s Better? (Basics)
  2. Septic Tanks vs Sewer Systems: Clearing Confusion (Basics)

Outlet pipe

A pipe that carries treated wastewater from the septic tank to the drainfield.

  1. What Does A Septic Tank Look Like?
  2. Gravity vs Pump Septic Systems: What’s Better? (Basics)
  3. How Do I Know If I Have A Septic Tank?
  4. How Do Septic Tanks Work?
  5. How To Build A Septic Tank?

Oxidation ditch

A type of wastewater treatment system that uses a long, narrow channel to promote the growth of aerobic bacteria.

  1. Step 1: Anaerobic Digestion Process

Oxidation ponds

A type of wastewater treatment system that uses shallow ponds to promote the growth of aerobic bacteria.

  1. Step 1: Anaerobic Digestion Process

Oxygenation

The process of adding oxygen to the septic tank to promote the growth of aerobic bacteria.

  1. Step 1: Anaerobic Digestion Process
  2. Septic Tanks vs Constructed Wetlands: Clearing the Confusion (Guide)
  3. Oxygen Requirement Difference

Oxygen-free environment

A condition in which there is no oxygen present in the septic tank, which is necessary for the growth of anaerobic bacteria.

  1. Overview
  2. Soil Absorption System vs Septic Tanks (Understanding Differences)

Oxygen levels

The amount of oxygen present in the septic tank, which affects the type of bacteria that can grow and the rate of organic matter breakdown.

  1. Step 1: Anaerobic Digestion Process
  2. How To Increase Bacteria In Septic Tank Naturally?
  3. Can You Have A Garbage Disposal With A Septic Tank?
  4. Septic Tanks vs Aerated Lagoons: Know the Difference (Guide)
  5. Septic Tanks vs Biodigesters: Clearing the Confusion (Guide)
  6. Septic Tanks vs Rotating Biological Contactors: Key Differences (Guide)
  7. What To Put In Septic Tank To Break Down Solids?

Oxygen requirement

The amount of oxygen needed by bacteria to break down organic matter in the septic tank.

  1. Oxygen Requirement Difference

Oxygen supply

  1. Septic Tanks vs Rotating Biological Contactors: Key Differences (Guide)

Oxygen transfer efficiency

  1. Septic Tanks vs Rotating Biological Contactors: Key Differences (Guide)