What is the purpose of an infiltrator in a septic system?

An infiltrator in a septic system serves the essential role of allowing treated effluent to seep or infiltrate back into the ground. This process is critical for the effective absorption and treatment of wastewater that has undergone initial treatment in the septic tank.

Once the liquid waste is treated in the septic tank, it is released into the infiltrator—typically an engineered component designed to promote the flow of liquid into the surrounding soil. This allows the effluent to percolate through the soil, where natural processes continue to break down harmful pathogens and nutrients, further cleaning the water before it enters the groundwater supply.

This infiltration is crucial for maintaining the functionality and environmental safety of the septic system, as it helps to prevent surface runoff and potential contamination of local water sources. The other choices do not accurately reflect the role of an infiltrator; for instance, while storage and filtering actions are important in the wastewater treatment process, they do not pertain to the specific function of facilitating the return of treated water back into the earth.