Talk dirty (water) to me..... (septic tank question!)

oldMcDonald

This may sound like a dumb question, but can anyone here please tell me all they know about septic tanks?

We are looking at the possibility of moving to an area that is pretty much off of mains drainage in the not too distant future, and so the majority of the houses in the area have either cess pits or septic tanks. Being someone who has lived in suburbia for my entire adult life, I have no idea how off mains drainage works.

How often does it need to be emptied? What's the typical cost of this? What sort of maintenance is needed with a septic tank / cess pit?

I really know nothing at all about this and would really appreciate hearing from those who do!

*edit to add- we are a family of 7, so our water use is higher than average.

ormus

L= (180P + 2,000) is the formula to work out the size
of tank required.
where L is litres and P is the number of peeps served.
(in your case 7).

my farmer friend has his tank emptied about twice a year.

MX5huggy

Be clear that a Septic tank and a cess pit are different solutions to the same problem.

A septic tank catches the solids and processes the waste, most of the volume is then let out to leach in the soil.

A cess pit is just a big bucket that holds every thing and needs empting more oftern.

Debt_Free_Chick

Here's a decent summary, to start you off http://www.johnstonsmith.co.uk/fact4.html

You will need to think very carefully about what you flush down the loo and pour down the sink. In particular, chemicals (bleach, cleaners etc) destroy the bacteria which are necessary to digest the sewage. Ideally, you should use no chemicals at all and even Ecover products might not be ideal. Sanitary products (esp tampons) should not be flushed, but bagged and binned.

The general rule is that only natural body waste should go down the loo, together with loo paper. And no chemicals for cleaning etc .... the washing machine and dishwasher is likely to contain the limit of the amount of chemicals that the bacteria will tolerate.

Maintenance ought really just to be getting the sludge emptied now and then. How often really depends on how careful you are at looking after the bacteria, which is down to limiting the chemicals that go into the system. Ours is emptied every two years or so. Annually is about the norm, but if you "abuse" the system, you'll be having the sh!tbusters out more often.

Locals will undoubtedly give you plenty advice. !!!!!! is probably the most common topic of conversation in our village pub as the whole Parish is on private drainage/sewerage.

I would, however, get the current tank inspected as part of the survey, especially if it's the old brick chamber arrangement. A cesspit - usually a tank sunk in the ground - is not so much of a concern, but the brick chambers can disintegrate over time and require substantial renovation - at a cost, of course.

Otherwise, you would never know you have private drainage - until there's a problem

PurpleK8

How often does it need to be emptied? What's the typical cost of this? What sort of maintenance is needed with a septic tank / cess pit?

we share a brick system with our 3 neighbours that drains into the stream at the bottom of the garden (all the kids from the local villages play in this stream throughout the summer, as I innocently did, the only ones who don't go into it are the ones who live here - n.b. the stream has been checked by the water board and is ok and also teaming with fish!). it works really effectively, i can't report any problems, dspite the fact that the neighbours don't worry about using environmentally responsible products and has only needing emptying once in the past 12 years (5 years ago for £200).

I really know nothing at all about this and would really appreciate hearing from those who do!

i would suggest you ask the people who live there presently how well it works as every system is different.

oldMcDonald

PurpleK8 wrote: »

we share a brick system with our 3 neighbours that drains into the stream at the bottom of the garden (all the kids from the local villages play in this stream throughout the summer, as I innocently did, the only ones who don't go into it are the ones who live here - n.b. the stream has been checked by the water board and is ok and also teaming with fish!).

It makes you look at playing in the stream a little differently now, then?

PurpleK8 wrote: »

i would suggest you ask the people who live there presently how well it works as every system is different.

Sadly the kind of houses we are looking at tend to no longer be lived in:(

oldMcDonald

Thank you for the replies, and for the link Debt_Free_Chick ( bookmarked to have a good look at tonight)

I have been quite concerned about the whole septic tank thing and feel a bit better now I know that it sounds like it is relatively easy to maintain.

elljay

oldMcDonald wrote: »

It makes you look at playing in the stream a little differently now, then?

Sadly the kind of houses we are looking at tend to no longer be lived in:(

I'm very envious, it sounds as though you have a great project in mind. I wonder where you are going? Can I come!

In terms of septic tanks, they are many and different types, the difference between septic tank and cess pit has been described. If you are doing a project and going to put in new septic tank from scratch, they are great, real mini sewage systems and if you aspire to self-sufficiency a good way to go.

Everyone around here has one, we don't talk about them down the pub because they're the norm and anyway there's no real alternative and they cause so few problems. It's recommended that you get the sludge emptied every year but it depends on the efficiency/size of the tank and your family. Mine cost £130 to have cleared by a registered contractor but of course you won't have to pay the sewage element of your water bill. Farmers round here often just chuck it on the land, down the hill, whatever. Doesn't matter that much as it's clean sludge, and the water has already drained away into the field. You don't have to be too paranoid about cleaning products, but don't go mad with the bleach/bio washing powder.

Good luck, I think the septic tank will be the last thing you'll need to worry about!

Liz

oldMcDonald

elljay wrote: »

I'm very envious, it sounds as though you have a great project in mind. I wonder where you are going? Can I come!

Grab some nails and a hammer - the more the merrier. I'll supply wine / home brew D

elljay wrote: »

In terms of septic tanks, they are many and different types, the difference between septic tank and cess pit has been described. If you are doing a project and going to put in new septic tank from scratch, they are great, real mini sewage systems and if you aspire to self-sufficiency a good way to go.

Everyone around here has one, we don't talk about them down the pub because they're the norm and anyway there's no real alternative and they cause so few problems. It's recommended that you get the sludge emptied every year but it depends on the efficiency/size of the tank and your family. Mine cost £130 to have cleared by a registered contractor but of course you won't have to pay the sewage element of your water bill. Farmers round here often just chuck it on the land, down the hill, whatever. Doesn't matter that much as it's clean sludge, and the water has already drained away into the field. You don't have to be too paranoid about cleaning products, but don't go mad with the bleach/bio washing powder.

Good luck, I think the septic tank will be the last thing you'll need to worry about!

Liz

Thank you Liz, your post was very helpful. I am feeling much less daunted about septic tanks and can see they are a very efficient way of dealing with waste water. I grew up in a house which was off mains, but when you are a child you don't concern yourself with such things and sadly the person I could ask is no longer here:(

Wolverine77

Can I just add that I recently built a house and it is in the country and required a septic tank but not only a septic tank a treatment plant with reed beds. That is what the enviornmental people required.

The treatment plant consists of a large tank with 2 rotating disks inside and there a constant feen of electric to it show these 2 disks can rotate. The broken down solids is then passed to the reed beds which are suppose to filter it more so when the liquid is passed to the drain the liquid should be drinkable (rather you than me!!).

This can be costly but as you are required to gain permission from the environmental dept they might want you to do this!!

Lorian

Wolverine77 wrote: »

The treatment plant consists of a large tank with 2 rotating disks inside and there a constant feen of electric to it show these 2 disks can rotate. The broken down solids is then passed to the reed beds which are suppose to filter it more so when the liquid is passed to the drain the liquid should be drinkable (rather you than me!!).

We have one of these. A Klargester Biodisc-BA. It discharges into a nearby watercourse (with permission). The waste water looks VERY clean.

The running costs are:

45w ish of electricity constantly to run it (I never worked out the cost)
£90 every 2 or 3 years to de-sludge
£145 a year for annual service, and breakdown service including parts and labour.

It works out cheaper than mains sewerage, but then I didn't pay for the thing in the first place per se.

It doesn't smell, reasonably unobtrusive (you see a six foot green cap above ground).

To have it working efficiently though you have to avoid pouring various things down the drain, most noteable: Bleach, Oil, Paint, biological washing powders.