Designs of septic tanks without pumping out: an overview and comparison of 4 options with each other

The device of a simple septic tank

A septic tank is a tank, a rectangular or round well, through which sewage flows very slowly, which makes it possible for sediment to fall. Such a precipitate is not removed until it rots (six months, a year).The process of decay is accompanied by fermentation and the release of gases. They lift sediment particles up, forming a crust (sometimes 0.5 m thick).

The body of the septic tank can be made of concrete or plastic, but must be airtight.

The septic tank is easy to use. The settling well can be cleaned 1-2 times a year. After that, a small amount of sediment should remain in it for the experience of the newcomer.

You can find recommendations for building a septic tank without pumping (cleaning), but this is complete nonsense - the septic tank should be regularly cleaned at least once a year. This is a sanitary requirement. You are building a domestic sewer, not a plant for microbiological weapons of mass destruction.

The simplest septic tank on the estate is a single-chamber septic tank. It can be easily built by hand. It may be round in plan. Collect it from reinforced concrete rings with a diameter 1.0 m. The well cover is collapsible. It is necessary to provide for natural ventilation in the form of a steel pipe, which must be covered with Kuzbaslak.

The capacity of the septic tank must be at least three times the wastewater flow.

With a flow rate of up to 0.5 m3 per day, a single-chamber septic tank has the following dimensions:

• required capacity - 1.5 m3;
• diameter of reinforced concrete rings - 1.0 m;
• the total depth of the well is 2.95 m.

It is recommended to plaster the inside of the septic tank with a cement mortar (1: 2) 1.5 cm thick with grout.

The tray of the pipe entering the septic tank should be located 0.05 m above the liquid level in it, and the exit pipe - 0.02 m below this level (Fig. 1).

Why Tank

About the advantages of septic tanks Tank

If during the construction of a house the question arises of choosing a suitable sewerage system, an autonomous sewerage system for giving a Tank can be considered as a contender for this role, since it has a number of advantages compared to similar devices:

• The polypropylene ribbed molded body is highly durable, which provides the septic tank with a long time of operation without damage.
• The installation of a septic tank is much faster than the construction of reinforced concrete rings that have already become traditional or the laying of brick walls of a wastewater pit.
• Combined purification of domestic wastewater using biological and chemical processes, as well as post-treatment on the infiltrate, allows for particularly high-quality purification of waste water.
• Multi-stage cleaning allows you to increase the service life of the drainage system many times over.
• The ability to perform mandatory cleaning of the septic tank not every year, but once every 5-8 years.

The scheme of the Tank

How do tank septic tanks work?

According to its design, the autonomous sewerage of a private house Tank, consisting of several sections, is quite understandable and simple. Consider the principle of its work:

• The pipe entering the first section directs all drains discharged from residential and utility rooms into it. Here, a mechanical separation of the solid phase from the liquid occurs: solid particles sink to the bottom, water accumulates above the sediment, and the fat present in the drains collects on its surface.
• Water that has undergone primary clarification is transferred through the overflow pipeline system to the second section of the installation, where it is purified using chemical reagents.
• The third section of the septic tank is a biofilter, where water undergoes biological treatment.
• Country sewerage The tank includes a filtering platform, located near the installation. After passing through three stages, water enters the infiltrator for post-treatment.

Autonomous sewer sections Tank

Organization of septic tanks for cottages with a high level of groundwater

The construction of a sewer system can be complicated by the presence on the site high level ground water. These conditions impose restrictions on the treatment of wastewater passing through septic chambers, and the durability of the structure itself is significantly reduced.

The way out of this situation will be the construction of a sealed storage septic tank. Due to sealing, ground moisture, which is in excess, will not be able to interact with drains and affect the process of their treatment. Such structures have only one drawback. There is a need for regular use of the services of a sewage machine. And this already goes against the desire to create a cleaning structure that provides a long period of use without pumping.

Draining water from a septic tank into a ditch or storm drain

To achieve the desired result, you can use a typical scheme with a more complex structure. The design provides for the installation of a sealed container. The material for it can be concrete or plastic. This container is to be divided into chambers designed to supply waste water and remove the treated liquid.

The process of installing a septic tank at a high level of groundwater

Choosing a septic tank for a site with high groundwater

In the presence of high groundwater in a suburban area, when choosing a treatment plant, some rules should be followed.They will help you choose the right type of septic tank and make a quality installation.

Basic Rules:

The volume of the treatment structure is calculated based on the rate at which wastewater treatment will be carried out for a set period (day).
Materials of polymer origin or concrete are the safest and most reliable basis for creating a septic tank.
The highest efficiency can be offered by horizontally located septic tanks with a small depth.
Suitable variants of treatment structures: accumulative or providing the possibility of forced pumping of the purified liquid.
Increasing the number of chambers increases the degree of purification.

Scheme of selection of a treatment plant depending on the level of groundwater

Groundwater close to the surface limits the use of some materials.

In such conditions, the construction of septic tanks should be abandoned:

• from brickwork with gaps;
• from tires;
• from concrete rings.

Perforated pipes for drainage should also be excluded from the list of materials used.

The choice of septic tanks for installation is quite large. Most of them can be mounted by hand. You can use improvised means, for example, bricks or tires (only for drains from a country shower) or purchase a finished structure from a specialized company.

Which septic tank is better to choose for a house or a summer residence?

Septic tanks are of two types. A "regular" septic tank is a simple storage tank that works primarily as a septic tank. Plus - absolute simplicity, but the degree of purification is low.Therefore, the discharged effluents must either be filtered additionally, or regularly call the sewers with their tank, and each call is money.

Therefore, in the long term, more complex septic tanks (autonomous sewage systems) are much more profitable, producing activated sludge and water with a sufficiently high degree of purification - almost one hundred percent. In such septic tanks, aerobic bacteria usually do their job, which is helped by an aerator that forcibly blows air through the tank. Something like in an aquarium, only the "fish" there are microscopic and eat completely tasteless. The same aeration units, only much more powerful, are also used at Vodokanals as the main stage in the operation of sewage treatment plants. At the same time, anaerobic bacteria “work” in septic tanks, which do not even need to be populated - they get there straight from you. Therefore, a large primary clarifier is not only useful for mechanical cleaning.

But you can do without aeration, at the same time getting rid of the compressor: it’s cheaper and more reliable, at first glance. You can use a biofilter - this is either a mesh or a cassette with porous granules. Here, at the same time, sludge is sifted out and bacteria “live”. One runoff through the filter is not particularly effective, so recirculation is used with a special pump. Even if you accidentally pour something vigorously chemical into the sewer and arrange a total Holocaust for microscopic coprofiles, at least mechanical cleaning will be preserved. A septic tank on a biofilter can be made quite compact.The downside is obvious - the filter inevitably becomes dirty and requires maintenance, while it is enough to pump out sludge from the aerator from time to time. Without additional air saturation in the biofilter, only anaerobic bacteria can “work” normally.

The most effective, of course, are septic tanks, where cleaning takes place through biofilters and aeration of accumulated effluents occurs. But such a septic tank will simultaneously combine the disadvantages of both systems.

Septic without pumping

The presence of a stable autonomous sewage system is one of the main conditions for comfortable living on cottage or country house. Most often, septic tanks are used to organize modern sewage in the country.

Summer residents pay special attention to autonomous septic tanks without pumping out, which do not require frequent maintenance and calling a special sewage truck. In addition, such treatment facilities have other positive qualities, thanks to which they have earned such great popularity.

Autonomous septic tanks do not require frequent maintenance and call a special sewage machine!

Surely you have already wanted to install such a turnkey septic tank in your country house, because it is simple, convenient and profitable. However, which treatment plant from this category to choose, and how do they work? The answers to these frequently asked questions will surely help you make the right choice.

How does a septic tank work without pumping?

The principle of operation of a septic tank that works without pumping wastewater is simple. It consists of several chambers interconnected by an overflow system. The first tank acts as a sump in which solid sediment falls out of the wastewater and remains at the bottom of the chamber.Also in the first tank, the effluent undergoes primary mechanical treatment with separation of fractions.

In the tanks that are located further, wastewater flows as the first chamber is filled (only light fractions merge there). In the last chamber, the wastewater passes the final stage of biological post-treatment, after which the purified water is sent outside the septic tank.

Certificates and expert opinion

Despite the fact that an autonomous septic tank without pumping can function for a long time without pumping out solid waste generated at the time of separation of wastewater into fractions, pumping is still necessary. But this is not even waste, but the waste products of bacteria living in a septic tank. As a result of the operation of the station, a harmless sludge is formed, which can be pumped out with almost any submersible pump and disposed of independently.

Which septic tank without pumping to choose?

If you do not want to bother with the need for annual cleaning of the septic tank from accumulated solid masses, pay attention to flow-through septic tanks. Due to the design features and special treatment technology, these facilities do not need constant waste pumping, as storage models

Thus, after installation, it will be possible to forget forever about calling a sewage truck and only rarely carry out maintenance.

A septic tank without pumping out The presence of a stable working sewage system is one of the main conditions for a comfortable stay in a country house. Most often, organizations in the country have modern sewage systems, septic tanks are used

Summer residents pay special attention to autonomous septic tanks without pumping out, which do not require frequent maintenance and calling a special sewage machine

SNiP requirements for sewer collector equipment

The main document is used to check the correctness of the structure of the sewerage system without pumping - this is SNiP 2. 04.03-85. It contains a list of requirements in accordance with the law, to private areas for the construction of a septic tank.

Installation is carried out with pipelines made of the same material. Check the tightness of the seams in the pipes. With the help of tees, crosses, the line and the riser are connected.

There is a so-called hidden type in installation - open, connected to a home riser:

• mount the system at a distance of 5–15 meters from the structure and more than one meter from the fence;
• a septic tank is located at a distance of 50 meters from the water source;
• it is forbidden to locate the system with the presence of large vegetation, the roots will violate the integrity of the tanks.

Types of tanks for septic tanks:

• metal (the main drawback is an impressive weight and a tendency to corrosion);
• with the inclusion of concrete rings in the composition (the disadvantage is that it is difficult to build such a structure);
• fiberglass (considered optimal in durable use).

Correct start of the sewer

The start of operation of the septic tank begins after checking the sealing of the seams. The normal operation of the sewer is checked as follows:

• there is no characteristic hydrogen sulfide smell;
• the filling of the filtration compartments occurs immediately after they enter the sewer line.

A properly constructed structure will effectively cope with the task of removing waste. To accelerate the settling of the mass in the soil, reagents for biological disinfection can be used.
The construction of a sewerage system based on rings of durable concrete without the possibility of pumping out is a costly process. However, the financial costs are paid off by the reliability and durability of use when installed in areas with a low level of soil moisture.

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Principle of operation

Septic tanks are facilities designed to collect and treat domestic wastewater. Are established directly on a garden site. There are several types of these facilities, differing from each other in functionality and cleaning methods. For example, there are septic tanks that simply accumulate sewage effluents in themselves - roughly speaking, this is an analogue of a conventional cesspool. Such septic tanks need regular cleaning as they fill up, and only vacuum cleaners can perform this procedure, and this is a rather expensive procedure. Water in such devices is not purified from feces and other unpleasant substances and compounds.

There are septic tanks in which cleaning occurs with the help of microorganisms or in a natural way. In the first case, it is possible to achieve almost 100% degree of purification: organic substances that pollute wastewater are ideal food for a number of bacteria that process them. Such a septic tank does not need to be pumped out, but is usually not built with one's own hands, but purchased in a store. The wastewater treatment plant is quite expensive just because of the bacteria involved in the processing of pollution.

Individual biological treatment station

In the second case - in septic tanks with a natural way of cleaning - the water becomes cleaner by about 60%. It is not necessary to regularly pump out contaminated water from this device.But it is easier to build such an installation on your own site without spending too much money.

Here, the purification process takes place as follows: a septic tank usually consists of 2-3 chambers, one of which receives effluents. Here, the mechanical separation of the liquid into fractions occurs - the sedimentation of fecal masses to the bottom of the sump. Then the water through a special pipe enters the neighboring chamber, smaller in size, from where it later penetrates into the environment. But, before the liquid enters the soil, it undergoes post-treatment in specially equipped filtration fields or in a filtering (drainage) well.

Septic without pumping

Types of sewerage for a summer residence

In summer cottages, 2 types of sewerage are made. The first option is the organization of a place for the collection of pollutants, without a wastewater treatment system. The second type is a tank to which sewer pipes are connected. They are laid from the house or other outbuildings.

A pit with a crushed stone pillow can be made on your own in 1-2 days, and it is better to entrust the construction of a second type of sewerage to a construction company. Such sewers are equipped with automatic filtration systems, and specialists are engaged in setting them up.

Dry closet installation

This is a simple solution, but it refers to temporary measures. Then you still have to think about where to drain the wastewater from the shower or kitchen. Summer residents should be prepared for the fact that the presence of a dry closet does not exclude the appearance of unpleasant odors on the site.

Pit System

A cesspool in the country is not the best solution for arranging sewage.

Even 20 years ago this was the most common solution, but now there are more efficient wastewater treatment systems. The only advantage of a cesspool is that its construction will not require costs.

The disadvantages of this solution are as follows:

• unpleasant odors near the toilet;
• Soil pollution;
• water flow will be limited.

Given the shortcomings, such a septic tank should be done if there is no running water in a private house. A cesspool should not be dug in places where it can be heated by groundwater. Do not build it in areas with clay soil.

The use of storage capacity

This type of local sewage can be considered a modification of a cesspool. The difference of this system is the presence of a sealed container, so the soil on the site is not polluted. But the tank fills up quickly, because of this, you often have to pump out waste.

When using storage capacity, the disadvantages inherent in this system must be taken into account. This is the need for constant monitoring of water consumption, the cost of the operation of sewers that will pump out waste.

Scope of this type autonomous sewerage is limited to a small country house that is not connected to the water supply. Storage tanks are installed in construction camps and other places of temporary residence.

The storage sewer tank is most often made in the form of a serviced septic tank made of concrete rings.

Natural cleaning system based on a septic tank

The design has from 2 to 4 sections. The more of them, the better the wastewater is cleaned. The outlet is connected to the drainage system. On sale there are ready-made designs.The main advantages of such sewerage are: ease of implementation, low cost, no need to connect an external power source.

Other advantages include the fact that there is no unpleasant smell, the soil on the site is not polluted.

The system has the following disadvantages:

1. The system must not be overloaded as this may cause an unpleasant odor.
2. Mechanical cleaners require periodic checks. During the inspection, it is determined whether the tanks and drainage system need to be cleaned. The frequency of preventive measures is 1 time per year.

Septic tanks are installed in private houses with a small or medium level of effluents.

Biological treatment method

The biological station is powered by electricity. In appearance, it resembles a septic tank, but differs from it in the presence of a biofilter. A pump is also installed and this allows you to drain the purified water.

The norms of SNiP allow that such a septic tank can be organized near a residential building. The filter removes 98% of contaminants, and no unpleasant odors appear during operation of the system. The volume of non-degradable waste is minimal, so they rarely have to be pumped out.

The only drawback of such systems is their high cost. But you can save money by making such a sewer system for several houses at once.

Varieties of external sewerage of a private house

A septic tank is a tank or several tanks connected to each other, designed to accumulate wastewater and remove pollution from them. According to the type of functioning and, accordingly, the device, all systems for the disposal of wastewater from a private house can be divided into 3 categories:

• drives;
• systems with anaerobic treatment;
• local aerobic stations providing maximum removal of contaminants.

The first option is the least convenient, as it requires the regular call of a sewage truck, which is most often not suitable for giving and requires significant financial costs for maintenance.

Septic tank

Let us consider in more detail the two remaining types of septic tanks that do not require the call of a sewer.

Aerobic waste disposal systems

Local biological treatment plants using an aeration (air supply) system are compact versions of citywide sewage treatment plants. Their work is divided into several stages.

1. The first stage takes place in the sump and consists of sedimentation. Large heavy pollution are at the bottom. Partially purified water through the overflow system enters the next stage.
2. The essence of local treatment facilities is manifested at the stage of biological treatment. In such systems, a natural process is used - the decomposition of waste by activated sludge microorganisms. Maximum purification is achieved by alternating anaerobic and aerobic phases. For the latter, air is supplied to the chamber by an aerator.
3. The final stage is the precipitation of activated sludge.

How a septic tank works

Also, often such systems are supplied with hair traps.

Septic tank "Topas S 12"

The output is water purified by about 95%. It can be poured on land or use for technical purposes. It is the high degree of purification that is the main advantage of such a system.

UV disinfection of drain

Septic tank with anaerobic treatment

Effluent treatment devices without the use of aeration are structurally simple. They are one or two tanks connected by an overflow system and supplemented with a soil filtration stage.The principle of their action is also simple.

1. The first chamber serves as a sump. The process of oxygen-free decomposition of organic matter also takes place here. If there is a lot of sewage, then an additional tank is installed. It continues the process of sedimentation of lighter suspensions and anaerobic decomposition.
2. Since the degree of purification does not exceed 60% without oxygen, it is unacceptable to discharge wastewater onto the terrain. For further utilization, water enters the stage of soil filtration. Here, the liquid passes through the filter layer, where cleaning continues, and enters the deep layers of the soil.

Anaerobic septic tank

Bacteria for septic tanks

Do-it-yourself septic tank without pumping out - detailed instructions + video

To forget for a long time about the need to remove wastewater from a cesspool or sewer well, you can make a septic tank without pumping it yourself. We will tell you how to make a design without involving specialists.

The design of the septic tank and the features of its work

In order to make septic tanks without pumping out with your own hands in your country house, you must first of all understand the principle of operation of such a structure. This is a structure that is placed in the ground. The structure consists of several tanks, which are connected by pipes, ventilation holes, sealed covers for each tank and a connecting pipe. Wastes enter the first bowl through sewer pipes, which settle over time, while the sediment sinks to the very bottom.

Do-it-yourself septic tank without pumping

Gradually, the sediments are processed, being under the influence of both anaerobic bacteria that are present in the septic tank, and artificially introduced through sewer pipes.After some time, the waste will begin to decompose, releasing gas that escapes through the vents. Thanks to this, toilet smell will never appear in your country house. Over time, when the first chamber is full, the liquid will begin to flow into the next chamber, and so on. From the last chamber, the liquid enters the soil.

Due to the fact that anaerobic bacteria process a large amount of solid waste, and the liquid goes into the ground from the last chamber, such an autonomous sewer can last for about 20 years without cleaning. And in order for the design to work smoothly in your country house, solid inorganic waste should not be allowed to enter the containers.

How to choose a place for arranging a building?

Before proceeding with the manufacture of a septic tank, you need to choose a suitable place for its installation. The location of the structure affects the condition of the site. For example, placing a container near an aquifer or near a well can spoil the quality of the water. In addition, the septic tank also affects the condition of the soil, and if you make a structure near the house, this can cause erosion of the soil and deformation of the foundation of the house in the future.

Location for a septic tank

The structure should be mounted a meter from outbuildings and at least 5 meters from the house

There is one important note: when equipping the structure, divert all possible water away from the septic tank. Near the septic tank there should not be drains, a reservoir, or any plantings that require regular watering. Do not forget to determine the volume of the septic tank

There is nothing complicated here: just multiply the number of people living in the house by 150 - about so many liters of water is the average daily consumption rate. We multiply the final figure by three (volume reserves for three days) and add 20% to this. The desired value is the estimated capacity of the structure. In a two-chamber design, the dimensions of the first chamber should be equal to 75% of the total value, the volume of the second tank should be 25%. The three-chamber design has the following proportions: 50% of the volume for the first tank and 25% for the last two

Do not forget to determine the volume of the septic tank. There is nothing complicated here: just multiply the number of people living in the house by 150 - about so many liters of water is the average daily consumption rate. We multiply the final figure by three (volume reserves for three days) and add 20% to this. The desired value is the estimated capacity of the structure. In a two-chamber design, the dimensions of the first chamber should be equal to 75% of the total value, the volume of the second tank should be 25%. The three-chamber design has the following proportions: 50% of the volume for the first tank and 25% for the last two.

We build a septic tank without pumping out with our own hands - step by step instructions

You can build a country septic tank without pumping out using bricks, ready-made plastic bowls, prefabricated iron structures or walls made by pouring concrete into the formwork. It should be noted right away that ready-made plastic containers are quite expensive and poorly resist ground pressure, deforming over time. Brick is a good option, but not long-term - this material quickly collapses, reducing the life of the structure.A good option is a prefabricated reinforced concrete structure, but it is very expensive to equip such a structure for a summer residence. Therefore, the most optimal solution would be the arrangement of containers made of monolithic concrete.

Types of autonomous sewage

In order to consciously and correctly choose the type of sewage for a summer residence, one must at least in general terms imagine the advantages and disadvantages of each of the possible options. There are not so many of them:

• Cesspool pit. The most primitive and far from the best way to dispose of wastewater. To begin with, it is very difficult to ensure complete tightness. Even with high-quality processing, some part of the effluent enters the ground. If the source of water is a well or a well, then sooner or later bacteria that live in sewage pits will be found in them. Another drawback is the corresponding smell, which is problematic to deal with due to leaks, and the need for regular pumping. Therefore, such sewerage in the country is being built less and less.
• storage capacity. The essence of this type of sewerage is the same: drains are collected in containers, periodically pumped out. Only these containers are completely sealed, as they are usually made of plastic. The disadvantage is the relatively high price.

• Septic tanks. A system of several interconnected containers (two - three, rarely more). Wastewater enters the first place, where it settles and is processed by bacteria. Insoluble residues settle to the bottom, the water rises to the top. With the next flow of effluents, the level rises, the settled water is poured into the next container. Other bacteria “live” here, which complete the cleaning (up to 98%). From the second compartment of the septic tank, the liquid can be removed for further filtration into the ground. She's almost clean.The design is simple, there is nothing to break. The disadvantage is that the device itself is voluminous, plus a filtration field is needed (where water will be discharged), once a year or two cleaning the septic tank from insoluble sediment.
• VOC or AU - local treatment plants or automatic installations. The principle of operation of a septic tank, but in a more compact size, with electronic filling for control. This type of sewer works only when electricity is available. The maximum battery life is up to 4 hours. The small size of VOCs impose restrictions on a one-time discharge of effluents: if you flush a bath, you should not flush in the toilet. And the biggest downside is the price.

With more active use suburban area, the sewerage system for the dacha needs a more serious one. A smart choice is to install a septic tank, make filtration fields according to the instructions, or install an absorbing well. It is better to take a septic tank from the factory, if possible - fiberglass. Of course, it costs a lot of money, but home-made septic tanks, although they are cheaper during construction, require constant repairs during operation, and besides everything, most of them suffer from leaks. After all, we are talking about a dacha, and everything that gets into the ground ends up on your table as a result - in the form of water, if well water supply or wells, and then in the form of a crop that you water with this water.

If you definitely decide to make a septic tank with your own hands, there are several options:

• Monolithic concrete. It is possible to achieve a high level of sealing, but the amount of work is large and requires a lot of time.
• Brick. Not the best option, as it can be destroyed on heaving soils. It can be used provided that the walls are plastered.Tightness can be achieved with the help of modern waterproofing coating materials.
• Concrete septic tank. With proper execution, it works well, but it is operated without problems on soils that are not prone to heaving. On clays and loams, the rings often move from their place, the tightness is broken. Repair is a complex and unpleasant undertaking.
• From metal. The tightness is at a high level, but until the metal corrodes, and this will happen pretty soon.

The easiest way is to make a septic tank in the country from concrete rings. Its volume should be large enough - it is believed that in such a device there should be a place for the accumulation of a three-day supply of wastewater. Consumption per day is taken at 200-250 liters per person, the total consumption is calculated according to the number of people in the country at a time with some margin in case guests arrive. For a family of 3-4 people, the usual volume of a septic tank is 2.5-3 cubic meters.