True or False: Two primary functions of a septic tank are to settle solids and provide anaerobic digestion.

The statement is true because septic tanks are specifically designed with two primary functions: settling solids and providing anaerobic digestion.

In a septic tank, waste water from a household flows into the tank, where the heavier solid materials settle at the bottom, forming a sludge layer. This process of settling is crucial as it allows for the separation of solids from the liquid effluent.

Simultaneously, anaerobic bacteria thrive in the absence of oxygen in the sludge layer at the bottom of the tank. These bacteria break down organic matter, effectively digesting the waste and reducing the volume of solids in the tank. This anaerobic digestion is a natural process that reduces the accumulation of sludge over time and is key to the functioning of a septic system, ensuring that the system operates efficiently.

Therefore, the functions of a septic tank as both a sedimentation vessel and a site for anaerobic digestion are integral to its purpose in wastewater management.