What is the primary purpose of a "treatment component" in a septic system?

The primary purpose of a "treatment component" in a septic system is to treat sewage for further disposal. This component is essential because its main function is to break down and process the raw sewage that flows into the system. It uses various physical, chemical, and biological processes to significantly reduce the harmful pathogens and organic material in the sewage, making it safer for the environment.

After treatment, the effluent can be discharged into a drain field or another type of disposal system, where it further breaks down or integrates into the surrounding soil. This treatment not only protects groundwater and surface water from contamination, but it also ensures that the system operates efficiently and minimizes environmental impact.

The other options, while related to septic system functions, do not accurately capture the primary role of the treatment component. Holding sewage is a function of storage tanks, filtering solid waste may occur in some parts of the system but isn't the core objective of the treatment component, and monitoring sewage levels is related to system management rather than treatment.