Which septic tank to choose: we understand the structure and types

03.12.2020

Septic tank

Editorial staff of the “New Place” website

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From this article you will learn

:

1. The principle of operation of septic tanks
2. Choosing a septic tank based on its functions
3. Pros and cons of different materials for a septic tank
4. Actions before choosing a septic tank
5. Calculation of septic tank performance
6. TOP 3 septic tank manufacturers
7. Recommendations for choosing a septic tank
8. Mistakes when choosing and installing septic tanks

Approximately 95% of private houses do not have the ability to connect to a central sewer system, and in such conditions it is very important to know which septic tank to choose for the existing conditions. Often this issue is postponed until the end of the construction of the home and is resolved after the fact. This approach is fraught with errors and problems with regulatory organizations.

The worst thing is to buy a more efficient septic tank than you need. But there is also a possible outcome in which the entire sewer system will have to be redone. In our article we will tell you which septic tank to choose, how to calculate its performance and where to place it on the site.

Where to complain and what to do when neighbors drain sewerage into the garden

A gutter in your own garden is not the most pleasant thing. But sometimes neighbors in a dacha or country house do exactly this - they drain the drain along the border of the property, beyond the fence, and all the sewer water flows without encountering obstacles. In addition to the stench, sewers spread a lot of infection, including microbes dangerous to human health.

If this is an accident, a pipe burst or a neighbor simply did not see where exactly his drain was flowing, a conversation is enough. But in some cases you have to take extreme measures - contact regulatory authorities and courts. Let's talk about this solution to the issue in more detail.

Selection of drainage system for sewerage treatment facilities

The choice of drainage system for transferring wastewater into the ground is determined by the filtering properties of the soil. In addition, the size and cost of the systems are taken into account.

Installing an absorption field from drainage pipes requires more space on site than other filtration methods. Drainage tunnels take up less space, but their construction costs are higher.

Drainage wells have a relatively small area for filtering wastewater into the ground. Their installation is justified on soils with very good filtering capacity. Especially if such a layer of soil lies at depth.

Fines for draining sewerage into a garden or public ditch

The degree of punishment depends on the guilt. If a person accidentally violates the law, a preliminary warning from the regulatory organization is enough for him.

The sanitary and epidemiological supervision issues a warning, indicating the need to eliminate violations of the rights of other citizens.

There is no answer, the sewer still continues to spill into the garden or into a public ditch, then a fine.

In accordance with Art. 6.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, the punishment is:

How to write a statement to a local police officer

To complain about a neighbor to a local police officer , you need to write a detailed statement, which should contain the following points:

At the end of the application, the plaintiff puts a date, signature and transcript of the signature. Now the application will be considered within 30 days. This is an extreme period of time; in practice, actions from legal and regulatory organizations are observed much earlier.

Ready-made models

If you don’t have time to worry about how to make a septic tank for a bathhouse with your own hands, it makes sense to purchase practical and functional devices at an affordable price. Popular models:

In addition, there are a large number of deep cleaning stations such as “Topas”, “Unilos”, etc., the price of which will be much higher. However, the optimal solution for a bathhouse is simple installations with mechanical filters and sedimentation tanks, which, if necessary, can be equipped with a soil purification system.

Application to court

Only a court decision will bring particularly persistent and unresponsive neighbors to order. To complain to higher authorities, you will have to write two statements, one of which will be sent to the court, the second - to the violator of citizens' rights.

The package of documents when going to court includes:

It would be wise to enlist the support of your neighbors. The more witness statements are attached to the package of documents when going to court, the faster and more severe the punishment will be against the violator of the law.

As for financial costs, the fee is 300 rubles, but an independent examination can cost several thousand. However, taking into account the severity of the violations, the court will oblige the culprit to reimburse all expenses, so the costs will be recouped. The period for responding to a statement of claim in court is up to 2-3 months from the date of filing the appeal. Sometimes the period is extended, for which there is a special court decision.

Where can waste be disposed of?

Human waste must be thoroughly cleaned before being disposed of in soil or water bodies. Only clarified wastewater that has reached biological and physicochemical standards is allowed to be discharged. They are established by sanitary and hygienic rules. The liquid should not contain harmful, toxic or health-hazardous impurities. Particular attention is paid to bacterial indicators in relation to household wastewater.

It is home drainage water that can become a source of intestinal infections and parasitic diseases.

If there is a cesspool or a sealed septic tank, it is necessary to periodically pump out the contents of the tank using sewage equipment. Its owners enter into agreements with organizations that supervise local wastewater treatment plants, where the pumped-out feces are transported. But there are other ways to dispose of autonomous sewage waste. They depend on the design features of the drainage system.

Peat toilet

Waste products are layered with peat, and when the compartment is full, the contents are transferred to a compost pit. It is supplemented with grass, vegetable and fruit peelings, and other biodegradable ingredients. As a result, the organic matter rots, and after a season an excellent fertilizer for the garden and vegetable garden matures.

To increase the performance of such amenities, a drain hose is attached to them to drain excess liquid. It will not be aggressive because it has already been cleaned through a peat filter.

Chemical toilet

Getting rid of content here is more difficult. The reagents poured into the receiving tank are chemically active. The contents of the toilet will not compost; it will rather harm the soil. Therefore, the waste is poured into a sealed tank, and vacuum cleaners are called in to pump it out. The advantage over raking here is that the help of specialists is required much less frequently.

Signs of siltation

The most obvious sign of siltation in a cesspool is a decrease in its volume. As a result, it fills up faster and sewage pumping is required more often.

Other signs indicating siltation include the following:

• The appearance of an unpleasant odor. Near the pit you can hear it almost constantly, but if it suddenly intensifies and is present throughout the entire yard, this is a clear signal.
• The silt is visible through the inspection hatch. Also indicates the need to clean the pit.

The volume of the septic tank can also reduce fat deposits on the walls and bottom. Grease also prevents water from being absorbed into the soil, resulting in a shorter interval between pumpings. It can be removed using biological products.

What to do if neighbors do not comply with wastewater standards

Illegal residents of country houses are capable of leading a sewer pipe into a storm drain or even into a neighbor's garden.
Of course, those around you are not delighted with this. But the problem here is not only an unpleasant odor. This attitude towards wastewater is dangerous for the environment and the health of people and animals. First of all, you need to talk to the person causing the problem. Perhaps he does not specifically drain the waste, but, for example, his septic tank burst. But such cases are extremely rare, and violators usually ignore those around them. We have to take tough measures.

You should first of all complain to the authorities that control the sanitary and hygienic condition of populated areas if your neighbors drain sewage into your garden or storm drain. This may be the local branch of Rospotrebnadzor or SES. You must submit a written application there in two copies, one of which must be endorsed and given to you.

When applying you must:

It’s good if not only you, but also all the residents of the street complain. The more requests, the faster Rospotrebnadzor specialists will come with an inspection. They will take samples of the water in the storm drain or the soil at the site where the sewage waste ends up and draw up a report. This document will be needed if the order of the sanitary authorities to eliminate violations is ignored, and in order to punish your neighbors for draining sewage onto your garden plot, you will have to go to court.

Additionally, you can file a complaint with the district prosecutor's office, focusing on the threat to health safety. Employees of this body will have to conduct an investigation and prohibit the dumping of waste in public places or on someone else's territory.

Installation of internal sewer network

The design of a system for removing household discharges should be carried out simultaneously with the development of drawings of a residential building. This allows you to optimize the location of technical premises and most rationally combine them with various communications.

Watch the video

Laying sewer pipes - Slopes, connections, diameter and much more.

As for the sewage system in the country, it is located in such a way that the center line of the drain is located in a straight line. When developing a project for a two-story building, the drainage system is arranged in parallel and converges on one riser. It, in turn, combines drains from different floors and brings them out through a hole in the foundation.

Starting from this place, the sewer network must be insulated, although the pipe is initially located below the freezing level of the soil. This is done in case of extreme weather conditions.

Insulation is carried out with a special casing made of polystyrene foam. Heating cables are also used, mainly intended for defrosting frozen pipelines.

The riser is located strictly vertically, its upward extension continues until it exits the roof, and is called a fan pipe. The upper end is equipped with a cap to protect against precipitation.

To service the system, inspections are installed in several places of the drain water supply.

Responsibility for draining sewerage into a ditch

Sanitary, hygienic and environmental regulations stipulate the rules for the collection, accumulation, transportation, and disposal of waste. If they are violated, the perpetrators are subject to administrative punishment.

The main document according to which the fine for draining sewerage in a private house is determined is the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. Article 8.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses details how violators of environmental and sanitary requirements are punished.

Penalties for illegal discharge of wastewater include:

The violating company will also be forced to suspend operations for up to 90 days. Penalties may be issued repeatedly until the problems are corrected.

If violations lead to illness or even death of people, criminal penalties apply to the perpetrators.

Hello, Elena Vladimirovna.

By pouring sewage waste into your garden, your neighbor is violating the requirements of the sanitary legislation of the Russian Federation and your constitutional right to health protection. For example, in accordance with Article 10 of the Federal Law of March 30, 1999 No. 52-FZ “On the Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare of the Population,” citizens are obliged not to carry out actions that violate the rights of other citizens to health protection and a favorable living environment.

In the described situation, we recommend that you file a complaint with the local sanitary and epidemiological supervision body, which will have the right not only to issue your neighbor a warning about the need to eliminate the violations of the law and your rights committed by him, but also to bring him to administrative responsibility under Article 6.3 of the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative offenses:

Article 6.3. Violation of legislation in the field of ensuring sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population

Violation of legislation in the field of ensuring the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population, expressed in violation of existing sanitary rules and hygienic standards, failure to comply with sanitary, hygienic and anti-epidemic measures, –

entails a warning or the imposition of an administrative fine on citizens in the amount of one hundred to five hundred rubles; for officials - from five hundred to one thousand rubles; for persons carrying out entrepreneurial activities without forming a legal entity - from five hundred to one thousand rubles or administrative suspension of activities for a period of up to ninety days; for legal entities - from ten thousand to twenty thousand rubles or administrative suspension of activities for a period of up to ninety days.

Filtering drainage well with aeration

How to turn a filtering drainage well into a biological sewage treatment station, into an active bioseptic tank - watch the video:

Diaphragm compressor HIBLOW HP-60, 60 l/min, 51 W, 220 V. Operating pressure: 14.7 kPa, which corresponds to water pressure at a depth of 1.5 m; Noise level: 35 dB; Weight: 7 kg. (1 kPa = 9.524 mBar)

Disc aerator with platform MATALA MDB 11 .

Model / Article: MDB11; Air volume, l/min: 40~120; Dimensions: LxWxH (mm) 290x258x130; Weight (kg) (lbs): 1.5 / 3.3

The aeration element is designed to distribute the air supplied by the compressor throughout the water volume. From the point of view of the intensity of the degree of oxygen dissolution, fine-bubble aeration is the most effective. Air enters through the perforated material, creating a large number of tiny bubbles that rise to the surface of the water, saturating it with oxygen.

The back pressure ring prevents water from entering the aerator. The holes, perforated in the form of lye, open when air enters and close when it stops, which prevents the system from ruptures, contamination and filling the air duct with water.

All models have a 3/4″ male connector. The platform has a cavity that is filled with sand or gravel.

Where to drain purified water from a septic tank?

One of the main issues that must be resolved already at the design stage of local treatment systems is: where to drain water from a septic tank in a country house or in a private house without breaking the law.

The answer determines the choice of option for collecting and disposing of liquid waste, what equipment needs to be purchased, and what work can be done independently?

Exploitation

To ensure proper functioning of the system, the following rules must be adhered to:

• It is prohibited to dump large mechanical waste and hygiene items into the sewer system;
• it is necessary not to forget about regularly cleaning the septic tank from excess sludge;
• aggressive chemicals such as alcohol, alkalis, acids, medications, machine oils must not be poured into sewers with living bacteria;
• To maintain the life of bacteria, waste must be regularly released into the sewer system.

Where to drain water from a septic tank

When choosing a drainage method, pay attention to the depth of groundwater. In this case, it is advisable to take into account indicators over several years. Spring is usually taken as the basis, when groundwater comes closer to the surface. As a result, the choice is influenced by 2 indicators:

The main sign of high groundwater is that in the spring, melt water does not go into the ground, and in summer and autumn, during rains, puddles remain on the ground and are not absorbed for a long time.

Filter or drainage well for a septic tank

Collects water, filters it through the drainage layer and passes it into the ground. The method is suitable for areas where the soil allows water to pass through well (for example, sandy soil).

It is impossible to use a drainage well on heavy dense layers (clay, loam).

According to sanitary standards, it is necessary to maintain a minimum distance to an underground source of water - 50 m, to a residential building - 4 m.

You can make a drainage well yourself or purchase a ready-made one.

A cushion of 10-15 cm of crushed stone and up to 30 cm of sand is poured into the bottom. Drainage holes are made in the walls. The space between the outer walls and the ground is also covered with crushed stone. A concrete blind area is installed around the neck.

In the case of using flow-through treatment facilities (rings or storage septic tanks), the duration of operation of the filter well, depending on the intensity of operation, is, on average, from 3 to 10 years. Then the drainage backfill will need to be replaced.

Over time, further excavation will become impossible. Moreover, it is extremely expensive. Therefore, the best option is to use bio VOCs and drain clean water onto the ground.

Filter fields

Drainage aeration fields are used when installing two- or three-chamber septic tanks that require additional treatment with soil. The method is applicable at low groundwater levels below one and a half meters from the ground surface. The field is located at the maximum distance from housing and water sources.

The design uses perforated pipes, which are laid on top of a drainage layer of sand (from 10 cm) and crushed stone (minimum 40 cm). The installation is covered with base soil 30 cm thick.

The service life before changing the filling is from 3 to 7 years and depends largely on the quality of the wastewater. If the drains are greasy, it will clog faster.

Storage tank

Unlike a drainage well, a storage well is made in the form of a sealed container into which the effluent water from the septic tank and sludge can be drained even when the groundwater level is high.

The material used for manufacturing is brick, cast concrete, concrete rings or metal. More reliable are ready-made sealed plastic containers.

Due to its chemical resistance, plastic is the most popular. Unlike other designs, plastic tanks do not require additional waterproofing.

Metal containers can also be used to accumulate treated wastewater, but in an aggressive environment they quickly rust.

A cesspool made of reinforced concrete rings or brickwork requires additional waterproofing. This option is far from budget-friendly and requires periodic updating.

To ensure that water flows from the septic tank by gravity, the outlet pipe is laid at an angle towards the storage tank. If the slope is negative in relation to the tank, you will have to use a pump to forcibly discharge wastewater from the septic tank.

Filter cassettes

The most labor-intensive and expensive filter element of the above. The operating principle of the device is similar to the operation of filter fields.

The drainage pipeline runs inside the cassettes; the cassettes themselves are surrounded by impenetrable walls and a lid. The main purpose of the cassettes is to filter wastewater on clay soils that are poorly permeable to liquid.

It is better to order an area calculation from a specialized organization that has data on soil characteristics. On average, for a family of 3 people, the filtration area will be 12 m2 on loam and 15 – 18 m2 on clay soils.

Schemes and drawings

When starting to arrange this important engineering system, first of all it is necessary to draw up a diagram, at least in the form of a sketch. This will facilitate the installation of the system, allow you to determine the amount of materials needed and draw up an approximate estimate. A typical internal sewerage layout for a two-story house is shown below.

Typical sewerage scheme

Designations:

• A – central riser;
• B – Hole for ventilation;
• C – toilet sink;
• D – storage tank for draining;
• E – washbasin sink;
• F – siphon;
• G – bath;
• H – pipe inclination angle.

If necessary, you can make a connection drawing for a specific room, for example a toilet.

Choosing the right water source for watering your garden: frequently asked questions

Summer residents use water from a variety of sources to water their gardens. This could be a cesspool, a well, a small backyard pond, or even water from a septic tank. Quite often water from ordinary wells is used. And of course, we cannot do without rainwater, which is the most optimal for our grown plants.

Each irrigation water has its own advantages and disadvantages, which we will talk about today. A very important point is the pressure of the supplied water and its temperature.

Sewage system in the country on concrete rings

Often reinforced concrete rings are used to make a home-made treatment plant; a simplified diagram of such a design is shown below.

Diagram of a septic tank made of concrete rings

The undoubted advantage of this solution is the long service life of the structure, as well as its high strength characteristics.

A significant drawback is the need to attract special equipment to install the structure. It is almost impossible to build such an installation without this.

Sources of water for irrigation

Natural pond

Water from a natural reservoir is considered one of the most useful for irrigation. First of all, such water has a suitable temperature regime (the same as that of the environment). But you and I remember that it is absolutely forbidden to water our plants with cold water.

Also, such water for watering the garden does not contain a large amount of salts, which can create a high level of hardness. In addition, natural reservoirs are constantly recharged with useful minerals from underground sources or rain. They contain a large amount of essential substances and minerals.

But even here there are some drawbacks.

Well and artesian water

This source of water contains even fewer impurities than the previous one. But there are much more salts here, which make the water harder. This factor can play a key role in the gradual salinization of the soil if it is alkaline or neutral. The situation can get worse if there is little natural rainfall during the season. Salts will not be washed out, but will only accumulate.

It is also necessary to note the temperature of the water from such sources. It is significantly lower than that of pond water. It is not recommended to use cold water for watering the garden. Otherwise, the development of cultivated crops may slow down significantly: the root system will absorb moisture less well, there will be fewer ovaries, which will affect fruiting results.

But there is a solution to this problem. It consists of installing a storage tank for watering the garden. Thus, all the collected water from the underground source will accumulate in a huge reservoir, where it will be heated to the required temperature.

Rainwater

This type of water is the healthiest for watering your garden. It contains all the necessary nutrients and minerals. To accumulate a sufficient amount of such water for irrigation, we need a large container.

Watering from a cesspool

Many gardeners are sure that watering from a cesspool will not do anything good for their crops and therefore do without this option. In fact, although watering from a cesspool has certain disadvantages, it has many more advantages.

Advantages of watering from a cesspool:

Disadvantages of watering from a cesspool:

Watering from a septic tank

Most suburban dachas and land plots are not equipped with a sewer. In this case, a necessary element for cleaning household waste and wastewater is the presence of a septic tank. His system is quite simple. Cleaning occurs naturally - anaerobically. Unnecessary, already processed bacteria settle to the bottom of the tank, and at a higher level of the septic tank capacity there is purified water without a characteristic odor. But it also requires additional soil cleansing.

Many gardeners, when installing a septic tank, install additional filters for cleaning. Most gardeners are confident that they can immediately water their plot of land as soon as clean water has formed in the septic tank. Actually this is not true.

The resulting sludge should be placed in a compost pit or in the open air. He should remain in this position for about 2 years.

Under no circumstances should water be immediately used for watering plants. It must be cleaned using chlorine or special ultraviolet sterilizers.

Do-it-yourself sewerage in the country from barrels

Let's give an example of the implementation of a homemade septic tank from three plastic barrels, where the first two play the role of overflow compartments, and the last one does not have a bottom, since it is used as a drainage well.

The simplest diagram of a septic tank made from barrels

Designations:

• A – wastewater supply;
• B – foam insulation (winter protection), if the site is in a warm climate, it can not be installed;
• C – hatches (must have ventilation holes);
• D – crushed stone layer;
• E – sand layer;
• F – soil;
• G – sand-cement sealant with a concentration of 5 to 1.

The advantages of this scheme are ease of implementation and low cost of materials. If you work with a partner, construction can be completed within a day.

Main disadvantages:

• the small volume does not allow for effective cleaning;
• If the barrels are made of food-grade plastic, their service life in these conditions is about five years, after which there is a high probability of loss of tightness.

Instead of barrels, you can use Eurocubes. The advantages of this design are the same as those of sewage systems made of plastic barrels. And to the disadvantages should be added the high cost of the Eurocube and problems with cleaning due to the small size of the hatch.