Georgia Septic Installer Practice Test

What is the primary purpose of the inlet tee in a septic tank?

1. To allow water to exit the tank

2. To maintain water level

3. To direct wastewater into the tank

4. To filter solids

The correct answer is: To direct wastewater into the tank

The primary purpose of the inlet tee in a septic tank is to direct wastewater into the tank. The inlet tee is designed to ensure that the flow of wastewater smoothly enters the tank without causing turbulence, which might lead to the disturbance of settled solids or scum layers. By guiding the incoming wastewater downward into the liquid layer, the inlet tee helps maintain the integrity of the tank's layers and promotes efficient treatment processes. In contrast, the other options describe functions that are not the main role of the inlet tee. Directing effluent to exit the tank is not its purpose; rather, that function is served by the outlet pipe. Maintaining water level is more related to the tank's overall design and operation, while filtering solids is typically handled by other components within the septic system, such as baffles or filters, not the inlet tee itself.