So many Dallas homeowners rely on their modern septic systems on a daily basis. This reliance leads to systems being taken for granted and we sometimes forget that having a septic system wasn’t always a way of life.
At Texas Johns, we like to take time and reflect on where our success has come from. Here are some interesting facts about sewage treatments and how simple methods of the past have evolved into the present that we know today.
Sewage Treatments Throughout Time
Even though septic systems are fairly new in the long-term timeline, people have been having to get rid of waste in different ways since the earliest records of man. None of these methods quite live up to our modern systems, but they got the job done during the ages they were utilized in.
Mesopotamia
The Mesopotamian empire is one that goes down in all of the history books. However, one of the achievements that often goes unnoticed is their approach to disposing of waste via the Indus Valley Rivers. This group of people relied on the rivers for drinking water, crop water, as well as waste disposal. Their method for waste disposal was simple, yet effective, and that was to release all waste downstream.
Romans
With the expansion of the Roman empire, civilization began to plant itself farther away from natural water sources. These inland locations posed the problem of how to dispose of waste from the cities.
The answers to these problems came in the form of the famous Roman aqueducts that spread out into the fields and served as the first types of drainage fields.
The Septic Tank Has French Origins
The first home “septic system” was created in 1860’s France by John Mouras. Mouras built a reservoir to store all of his home’s wastewater. Years after the construction, Mouras decided to empty it out and disassemble his creation. Upon doing this, he discovered the reservoir to be empty and had created the first functioning septic system.
America Welcomes Septic Systems During an Economic Boom
Shortly after this discovery, America began to utilize this discovery. However, it wasn’t until the economic boom during WWII that septic systems became a more prominent feature in the American household.
Postwar and into the 1960s, the United States saw more people moving into inner-cities. This influx of population was too much for local waste centers to keep up with, so implementing septic systems in the home became somewhat of a regular practice. This lead to the development of several different types of septic systems that worked well under their specific location environments.
Clean Out Your Modern Tank with Texas Johns
The history of septic tanks is one that seems to be as old as time itself. Now that we are in the present, keeping our septic systems clean and functioning has never been more important. Septic pumping is a job that needs to be carried out by a professional. Contact Texas Johns today to find out about our services and how we can improve the quality of your septic system and tank.
Did you enjoy learning about the history of septic systems? If so, you may also enjoy learning about the history of portable toilets and where the term “porta john” came from.
