What is the purpose of a curtain drain in wastewater systems?

A curtain drain is specifically designed to manage groundwater flow in relation to wastewater systems. Its primary function is to collect and redirect seasonal groundwater away from leach fields or septic tanks. This is essential because excessive groundwater can saturate the soil around these systems, leading to potential system failure and contamination. By redirecting groundwater, curtain drains help ensure that the wastewater treatment process remains effective and that the system operates as intended.

The other choices do not accurately describe the purpose of a curtain drain. For instance, increasing water pressure is not a function of curtain drains; instead, they alleviate pressure from groundwater. Filtering wastewater is also outside the scope of a curtain drain’s purpose, as it does not treat or clean wastewater but rather manages groundwater levels. Similarly, they do not regulate the flow of wastewater into treatment plants, which is a function of other system components like pumps or valves.