SEPTIC-CON

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

Who this event is for

Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

Arrival airports

Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.

Hotel tiers

A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.

Local transport

Get around the city with these convenient transport options.

Frequently asked

Glossary

1

Septic system

An onsite wastewater treatment system that receives household or commercial sewage, separates solids, and disperses partially treated effluent into soil for further treatment.

2

Septic tank

A watertight chamber, usually concrete, plastic, or fiberglass, that holds wastewater long enough for solids to settle and scum to float before effluent exits to a drainfield or treatment unit.

3

Drainfield

Also called a leach field or soil absorption area; a network of perforated pipe, chambers, or gravel trenches that distributes effluent into unsaturated soil for biological and physical treatment.

4

Effluent

The liquid portion of wastewater that leaves a septic tank or treatment unit and moves to a drainfield, media filter, or other dispersal system.

5

Scum layer

Fats, oils, grease, and other light materials that float at the top of a septic tank and are kept from leaving by a baffle or tee.

6

Sludge

Solids that settle to the bottom of a septic tank and accumulate until the tank is pumped.

7

Baffle

A fitting or wall inside a septic tank that slows flow and prevents scum or sludge from escaping into the drainfield.

8

Distribution box

A small box that receives effluent from the septic tank and splits it among drainfield trenches or absorption areas.

9

Percolation test

A soil test that measures how quickly water moves through a soil profile; results help determine whether and how large a drainfield can be built.

10

Mound system

A soil absorption system built above the natural ground surface with imported sand or fill, often used where separation to groundwater or bedrock is limited.

11

Aerobic treatment unit

An advanced treatment unit that uses air to support aerobic bacteria, producing a higher-quality effluent than a conventional septic tank alone.

12

Media filter

A treatment component, such as a sand or textile filter, that filters effluent to reduce suspended solids, organic matter, or nutrients before dispersal.

13

Drip distribution

A pressure-dosed system that applies effluent slowly through small-diameter tubing, often in shallow soil, for even distribution and improved treatment.

14

Nitrogen reduction

Treatment designed to lower nitrogen in effluent, important in sensitive watersheds, coastal areas, and jurisdictions with nutrient rules.

15

BOD

Biochemical oxygen demand; a measure of how much oxygen microorganisms use to break down organic matter in wastewater, used to gauge treatment performance.

16

TSS

Total suspended solids; the concentration of solid particles suspended in effluent, a common permit and treatment-performance measure.

17

NSF/ANSI 40

A certification standard for residential wastewater treatment systems, often referenced when regulators require verified performance for advanced units.

18

Operation and maintenance

The routine inspection, pumping, servicing, and recordkeeping needed to keep a septic system working and compliant over time.

19

Cluster system

A shared wastewater system that serves several homes or a small community, often with a common treatment unit and dispersal area.

20

Real estate septic inspection

An evaluation, often performed during a property sale, that checks tank condition, sludge and scum levels, drainfield function, and compliance with local rules.

21

Portable sanitation

Temporary toilets, restroom trailers, hand-wash stations, and servicing used at events, job sites, campgrounds, and construction sites.