Domestic Sewer Pumps

PoshinDevon

Advice and guidance needed.

We are having a property built in our son's garden. Our son's property is connected to a shared septic tank system. Our build will be at a lower level to the main property due to the garden sloping downhill. From our build there will be a requirement to pump waste water/sewerage uphill to join up with main property pipework which then links to the shared septic tank system.

Can anyone explain briefly how such a system would work, recommend any reputable companies and give an indication of approximate costs.

Help appreciated - please feel to pm or email if you wish.

martinsurrey

PoshinDevon wrote: »

Advice and guidance needed.

We are having a property built in our son's garden. Our son's property is connected to a shared septic tank system. Our build will be at a lower level to the main property due to the garden sloping downhill. From our build there will be a requirement to pump waste water/sewerage uphill to join up with main property pipework which then links to the shared septic tank system.

Can anyone explain briefly how such a system would work, recommend any reputable companies and give an indication of approximate costs.

Help appreciated - please feel to pm or email if you wish.

You basically get your own little storage tank (~1000L, sized for the property) which includes a pump to pump the waste uphill to the main tank.

they are £1000 ish, but they will need regular maintenance and a good electricity supply, and will cost a fair bit to install (which is VERY site dependent).

6m pump for 2 bed

EachPenny

You also need to ensure the design of the pumping facility avoids septic conditions occurring, that the manhole the pumps discharge into is ventilated to avoid overpressure problems, and that the existing pipework is adequate to cope with a surge when the pump(s) start.

Be aware that on top of installation and maintenance, the running costs of sewage pumps is considerable. Something you'll want to bear in mind if you will be living in the house, and something which will potentially concern buyers when you come to sell.

Pumps have a limited life, especially if they are used in short stop-start mode. You should ensure the system has a warning alarm to alert you (or future owners) if the pump has failed as otherwise you will have to deal with clearing overflowing sewage - and if there are neighbours at a lower level to you then that could potentially mean insurance claims for damage to their property.

If the system you go for only uses a single pump then you need to ensure the reserve capacity is enough to deal with the volume of sewage the house produces between the failure alarm being triggered and when you can realistically get the pump replaced. Once that reserve capacity is used up you would have to stop using any water (e.g. showering, washing, flushing toilets) or risk sewage flooding in the garden.

Personally I'd want to buy and keep a spare pump so whoever you get to do the maintenance could replace the pump using your 'spare' rather than having to wait for one to come from the suppliers, which could add to the delay. Not all maintenance companies would agree to that, so it would be a further thing to ask about and consider as part of the project.

ryder72

What you are looking for is a pumping station for sewage. You will have to size it to suit the property.

I have lived in a property with such a system for some years now. This has been installed to counter adverse invert levels on the mains sewers. The system has proved to be very reliable. We have always had a single pump system. Twin pumps nearly double the price of the system though they do add a degree of safety to the system. I would rather have a single pump system, adequately sized and with an alarm to warn you of a failure in the system to allow remedial action.

Furts

There are simple guidelines to principles, which raises a question. Your son is on a shared tank. This is unlikely to have been sized for future development. Indeed had it been so it could have been expensive and problematic. So you need a design which includes the feasibility of this tank. I suspect a larger tank will be required.

NSBRC at Swindon have some exhibits - cannot recall exactly what -
which you may wish to look at, discuss, and zap the barcodes for info.