What distinguishes a siphon from a pump in septic systems?

A siphon is distinguished from a pump in septic systems primarily by its reliance on gravity and pressure differences to move wastewater. In a siphoning setup, wastewater is drawn up from a lower elevation to a higher elevation purely through the force of gravity and the pressure created by the differing heights of the liquid levels. This process does not require any mechanical components or power sources.

In contrast, a pump actively moves wastewater by using mechanical energy, often powered by electricity. Pumps can generate the required pressure to transport wastewater over distances and to various elevations, making them particularly useful in situations where gravity alone would not suffice to move the wastewater where it needs to go.

The other options do not accurately capture the fundamental operational differences between a siphon and a pump. For example, while a siphon might be manual in some applications, many pumps can be set to operate automatically without manual intervention. Likewise, while efficiency can vary based on specific circumstances, it is not a defining criterion that sets siphons and pumps apart, nor is the nature of waste (solid versus liquid) a factor that distinguishes the two systems in their operation.