The main differences between a septic tank and a cesspool
Before choosing where sewage waste will be discharged, you need to understand the features of the septic tank and cesspool.
- The price of a septic tank will be significantly higher, since it represents not only a container, but also a complex ecosystem.
- When arranging a pit, you will need to dig one container while arranging a septic tank at least two, or even three.
- In the septic tank, wastewater will be purified, after which it will be poured into a second container, and from there it will go into the ground. The contents are pumped out from the cesspool and taken to the nearest well of the central sewer system.
- The owner of the cesspool will periodically have to pay for the services of a sewer truck, but there is no need to remove water from the septic tank.
- A cesspool has a larger volume compared to a septic tank, otherwise it will have to be pumped out too often.
In principle, both options for discharging wastewater from the house have their advantages and disadvantages, which are worth writing about in more detail.
Sewage treatment stations
Biological treatment with aerobic bacteria (in the presence of atmospheric oxygen) is the most effective, but the equipment and preparations are expensive. The devices are energy dependent, since it is necessary to constantly aerate the wastewater to maintain the vital activity of bacteria. With the right technology, the degree of sewage waste treatment reaches 99%, after which the liquid can be used as process water.
The systems are compact and easy to use.
The main differences between a septic tank and a cesspool
Its main difference from a cesspool is the ability to clean the collected waste, while in the pit it simply accumulates. Of course, you can also pour a chemical or biological agent into a cesspool to speed up waste processing, but in a septic tank all these processes occur faster and more efficiently.
Another important difference is that in a septic tank, waste is processed through natural processes. Anaerobic bacteria turn waste into completely harmless sludge
If the septic tank is installed correctly, there will be virtually no odor on the site. This is much more difficult to achieve with a pit, especially if it is not airtight.
Pros and cons of a septic tank
The advantages of a septic tank include the ability to manufacture it in different ways and from different materials. This can be a sealed container made of metal or plastic, concrete rings, or a well lined with brick.
After treatment, wastewater becomes practically harmless to the environment, so it can be discharged into the ground. If you wish, you can also call the vacuum cleaners, but this can be done less frequently.
A septic tank also has disadvantages. Firstly, water purification is not one hundred percent, so minor environmental pollution occurs. Secondly, the installation of a septic tank itself is quite labor-intensive and requires more costs. You will also have to replenish the septic tank biomaterial from time to time.
So, we have explained in detail the principles of operation and arrangement of a septic tank and cesspool. Now it’s up to the owner to decide what to give preference to.
What is a cesspool
A cesspool (drain) is the simplest storage facility for human waste. There are three types:
- Leaky. The walls and bottom of such an engineering device are not insulated in any way. In rare cases, they have primitive insulation in the form of sheets of roofing felt, car tires or old boards, hastily knocked together. This type of pit is sometimes called absorbent, since the liquid is absorbed over the entire area of the walls and bottom.
- Partially sealed. This type of pit has completely sealed walls, but the bottom is open. Walls are most often sealed with brickwork or sheets of iron, which are welded at the corners. In fact, if you lay crushed stone at the bottom, you will get the simplest single-chamber septic tank - a treatment device.
- Completely sealed. Usually the walls and bottom of such a pit are reinforced with reinforced concrete.
Which is better, a septic tank or a pit?
A cesspool is a waterproofing type structure whose task is to collect water and sewage waste. As a rule, it is built in the private sector or at the dacha, that is, in those places where it is not possible to install a central sewer system.
Before equipping a cesspool on your site, you need to choose a special place for this away from the house. It should be located so that there is free access for a sewage disposal truck. The structure can be made in the form of a rectangular concreted recess or simply a round pit. Its size and capacity are determined based on the number of residents of the house and the drainage that is poured out. It is worth noting that it is not recommended to place a cesspool near a well, vegetable garden or various buildings. Otherwise, the water from the well will become undrinkable, and the vegetables that grow in your garden may absorb harmful substances that seep into the ground.
A cesspool, unlike a septic tank, has a number of disadvantages that you need to be prepared for. All waste that falls into the pit is not processed, but is sent directly to the bowels of the earth. Therefore, most of the harmful elements remain on your territory. After some time, the pit is completely filled and needs to be cleaned. Also, a significant disadvantage of this structure is its fragility and constant unpleasant odor, which must be extinguished with special vacuum cleaners. After a few years, it is necessary to carry out repair work for the full functioning of this sewer system.
Among the advantages of this cesspool are simplicity of construction, ease of maintenance and minimal maintenance costs.
The difference between a septic tank and a cesspool
A septic tank, unlike a cesspool, is a more acceptable type of modern sewage system. It is a structure that collects and purifies household wastewater from residential buildings, cottages and low-rise buildings in the absence of a central sewage system. Its work consists of biological purification and gravitational sedimentation using bioenzyme preparations, as well as the use of forced and natural post-treatment methods. Bioloading and biofilters can act as purifiers. Such a structure can purify about 95% of water. The main thing that makes any septic tank better than a cesspool is the use of a biological natural cleaning method in it. An anaerobic process occurs inside the structure, as a result of which large fractions are converted into sludge.
This sewage system is completely energy independent and does not require any electricity. It is also easy to install and does not require special knowledge in the field of autonomous systems. Maintaining a septic tank is not difficult. It is only necessary to remove sediment through discharge pipes several times a year.
Despite many advantages, such sewer systems also have a number of disadvantages. To install a septic tank, you will need to use a large area of your site, and this, in turn, will be additional waste. Installations with filtration fields cannot be used in areas with high groundwater levels. It is also difficult to use such systems when the overall soil absorption is poor.
If we compare the advantages and disadvantages of a cesspool and a septic tank, the latter will be a more balanced type of sewage system. It is much more efficient in operation and safer for the environment.
Conclusion
There is no single correct answer to the question of which is better and more rational – a cesspool or a septic tank. In each specific case, you must first find out the composition of the soil and calculate the planned volume of waste. Only by comparing the desired power or capacity of the installation with the available financial capabilities can you make the right decision.
Construction of a cesspool at a high groundwater level (video):
Pros and cons of a cesspool
An undoubted advantage is the lower price of pit construction. And if you know an excavator operator, you can even negotiate a barter with him. The container itself can be welded from metal or purchased ready-made.
There is no need to do any additional work after digging in the container. Unless to level the soil after excavations and improve the territory
It is important to ensure constant access of the sewer truck to the outlet of the container
The container is sealed, so wastewater will not get into the ground. But periodically you need to check whether the metal has corroded.
The disadvantage of a pit is the need for constant pumping of sewage waste, which costs money. It is also necessary to close the outlet, since the smell from the container will interfere with a full life.
Advantages and disadvantages
Having studied the main differences between waste disposal options, it is worth assessing the advantages and disadvantages of each option. After weighing all the pros and cons, you can decide which option is better.
Pit
Let's start by looking at the advantages and disadvantages of drainage pits. It should be noted that this option has few advantages, these are:
- Low cost of construction. Considering that most summer residents carry out construction with their own hands and use available materials for construction, building a pit will cost almost nothing;
- Simplicity of design. Anyone can build a drainage pit on their own; special skills are not required.
This structure has significantly more disadvantages. This:
- Unsafe from an environmental point of view. Only a sealed pit is safe, and this option is rarely built at dachas.
Advice! In many areas, the construction of filter drainage pits is prohibited, so the construction of such an autonomous sewer system will be an administrative violation. It is necessary to build a sealed storage tank or septic tank.
- Poor performance. The drainage pit can only be used with a small amount of waste. If you want to equip your cottage with a bathtub and other plumbing fixtures that require large amounts of water, it is better to install a septic tank.
- Unpleasant smell. The spread of unpleasant odors throughout the site is an inevitable factor in the use of drainage pits.
Septic tank
The advantages of septic tanks used in local sewage systems are significantly greater. Main advantages:
- Full autonomy and low maintenance. An ordinary septic tank works without the intervention of the owners; the septic tank needs to be serviced infrequently.
- Variety of options. Septic tanks can be purchased ready-to-install or built yourself.
Advice! Ready-made septic tanks usually have a plastic body. To build tanks yourself, it is necessary to use materials that are resistant to corrosion. Most often, reinforced concrete or brick are used for this purpose.
- Different performance. Septic tanks can accept a significant amount of wastewater; you just need to choose the right model capacity.
- Smell. A normally operating septic tank does not emit any unpleasant odors.
The disadvantages of using these settings include:
- The need to use post-treatment. Even the most modern energy-independent septic tank cannot purify water better than 75-80%, so the organization of additional treatment is mandatory.
- High price. Construction of a septic tank will require investment. Even if you don’t buy a ready-made model, but build the tanks yourself, you will still need to purchase materials, and often rent special equipment. Additional costs will have to be incurred when constructing devices for post-treatment.
General information about septic tanks
What is the difference between a septic tank and a cesspool? A septic tank is a more modern and functional type of modern sewage system for private homes. This structure collects and purifies household wastewater from houses, cottages and dachas if there is no central sewage system. The difference between a septic tank and a cesspool is that it implements biological wastewater treatment. It settles sewage and purifies it using bio-enzyme preparations.
Various models purify wastewater by 90-95%. They use a natural biological method of purification through an anaerobic process. Large household fractions are converted into sludge. These designs are non-volatile and generally operate without electricity. Sludge is removed from septic tanks several times a year.
Distinctive features
Unlike a septic tank, a cesspool does not process household waste; it immediately goes into the ground. They can be broken down with chemicals or powders, but they are completely ineffective against organic matter. Because of this, harmful substances, unpleasant odors and poisons remain on the site. The cesspool requires regular pumping. The septic tank, in turn, completely recycles household waste thanks to the action of microbes.
Moreover, septic tanks use a natural biological method of treatment using an anaerobic process.
Which is better, a cesspool or a septic tank?
When choosing a septic tank or cesspool, you must pay attention to the evaluation and selection criteria. Pay attention to the features of your territory
If you have a large plot and a small number of people live in the house, and you come to the dacha only in the summer, then you can build a cesspool and pump it out at regular intervals. If you live in a country house for a long time, you need water to water the garden, and you don’t want there to be unpleasant odors outside, then opt for septic tanks
Pay attention to the features of your territory. If you have a large plot and a small number of people live in the house, and you come to the dacha only in the summer, then you can build a cesspool and pump it out at regular intervals
If you live in a country house for a long time, you need water to water the garden, and you don’t want there to be unpleasant odors outside, then opt for septic tanks.
When choosing a septic tank, consider:
- What volume of wastewater can it process?
- How long will it function;
- How many cameras does it have?
If you decide to install a cesspool, be prepared for the fact that when it is completely filled with household waste, if you do not pump it out in time, there will be a smell of rot and flies in the area.
Popular septic tank models and types of cesspools
There are several options for pits:
- Absorbing (the bottom is not isolated from the soil, insoluble particles remain inside, it slowly fills with waste).
- Partially absorbent (this is a storage tank in which sealed walls are installed, but there is no sealed bottom).
- Sealed (this is the best option for a summer house, since it is the safest, but a sealed pit requires pumping out 2-3 times a month).
The choice of septic tank model depends on the number of chambers you need to process wastewater:
- If no more than 1 cubic meter of wastewater is generated in your house per day, a single-chamber septic tank is suitable.
- A two-chamber design is needed if the flow rate is 1-10 cubic meters of water.
- More than 10 cubic meters - you need a three-chamber model.
If a family lives at the dacha for a short period of time, storage units are suitable. These are reservoirs for storing wastewater. If a family lives in a house permanently, then an overflow-type structure is needed, in which wastewater not only accumulates, but is also purified
Pay attention to the following septic tanks: Chistok, Bars, Septic tank Evost
The simplest facility for the disposal of liquid household waste in the absence of a connection to
https://vivoz-gbo.ru
What are VOC AND AU
Local treatment facilities (LTP) are a deep biological treatment station that uses bacteria. Microflora can be created naturally or started artificially. They are characterized by compactness and a high degree of purification: up to 95-98%.
VOCs and aeration units are the most effective devices for autonomous sewerage. The high degree of purification allows the discharged water to be used for washing cars and watering lawns. Their common drawback is energy dependence.
Local treatment plants can be used periodically. Long breaks in operation do not affect their filtering ability, and even after six months of inactivity, VOC can effectively clean wastewater.
ACs are more demanding in terms of operating conditions. Just 8 hours of lack of electricity can lead to the death of biobacteria, after which the installation will return to normal mode for about a week.
All this time, the wastewater will not be treated enough to be discharged onto open ground. But if the correct operating mode is observed, their degree of purification is higher than that of VOCs.
Also, aeration units need to be preserved for the winter (if they are not planned to be used).
Expert opinion
Ilya Kozhevnikov
Design engineer. 10 years of experience
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When choosing a local treatment plant, you should take into account not only its productivity, but also the maximum permissible burst discharge, which is limited due to the small size of VOCs.
What to choose in the end: a septic tank or a pit?
When choosing, you need to take into account several important factors and answer a couple of simple questions for yourself.
Soil types
On sandy and sandy loam soil, if the volume of wastewater does not exceed 1 cubic meter. m/day, it is better to equip a simple filtration well (partially sealed cesspool). The length and width of the pit should be at least 2 m, and the depth should exceed the soil freezing line by 0.5-0.8 m. The walls should be strengthened and concreted, and a crushed stone bedding should be placed at the bottom, which will act as a bottom filter. Instead of concrete, you can use brick or rubble stone. On this type of soil, you can install any type of septic tank without any problems.
When installing sewerage on clay soil, you need to remember that in winter the sewerage elements will experience serious stress. Therefore, the septic tank and cesspool must have strong walls. On rocky soils, it is necessary to dig a pit until it reaches clay or sand - soft soil, through which excess moisture will be removed.
Location of groundwater
If the aquifer is too close to the surface of the earth, then it will be quite difficult to equip a septic tank, especially if the soil itself on the site is poorly permeable to water. In this case, it is recommended to make a sand and gravel embankment so that the difference between the level of the drainage pipe and the groundwater horizon is at least one and a half meters.
High groundwater is also dangerous because the septic tank can float up in the first spring, when abundant snow melts. To avoid this, the septic tank chamber must be filled with approximately 1/3 of the total volume with ordinary water, and installation should be carried out on a concrete slab, connecting it to the device using steel cables or chains.
Nearby waters can flood a septic tank or pit, so they need to be properly waterproofed. This is also necessary in order to avoid the entry of sewage into the soil. In general, in such an area it is better to use completely sealed septic tanks equipped with a pump for emergency water release.
Land area
A septic tank requires 2-5 times more space than a pit, since two-chamber and three-chamber devices take up quite a lot of space. However, the pit also requires a fairly large area, since in accordance with sanitary requirements, such devices (and septic tanks too) should be located no closer than 2 m from the fence, 5 m from a residential building, 3 m from other buildings , 25 m - from a well or well. To install a full-fledged treatment facility, for example, a two-chamber septic tank with a filtration field, at least 25 square meters will be required. m. of land.
Family composition
A lot depends on the number of people who constantly use the toilet. Perhaps, for one person, if he does not plan to start a family in the near future, a partially sealed cesspool measuring 2x2x2 m will be sufficient. If special preparations are added to it during use, then waste will need to be pumped out for year-round living no more than 1 time in 3 -5 years. But if finances allow, you can also install a septic tank. Accordingly, for 2 people, the frequency of using the services of vacuum cleaners is reduced by 2 times.
There are three types of septic tanks, each of which is designed to process a certain volume of wastewater:
- single-chamber – up to 1 cubic meter. m/day;
- two-chamber – up to 10 cubic meters. m/day;
- three-chamber - over 10 cubic meters. m./day.
It is clear that the larger the family, the more cameras there should be in the septic tank. A three-chamber septic tank will also be needed if, in addition to the toilet, it will process wastewater from the kitchen and bathroom.
Pit for a toilet in the country
The main structure that provides comfort in the country is the toilet. You can build it yourself if you know the theoretical fundamentals. First of all, you should decide whether it is necessary to build a cesspool. It is made airtight if the groundwater is high. If they are located 2.5 m below ground level, you can make a cesspool without a bottom.
According to sanitary standards, the toilet is located more than 12 m from buildings and 20 m from water sources. It should be removed at least 1.5 m from the neighbor’s fence.
Access to the pit must be provided for a sewer truck. Her sleeve length is 7 m.
The cesspool toilet should not be located in a low area. There the hole will quickly fill with rainwater.
If you plan to remove wastewater by tanker truck, the volume of the pit should be at least 3.6 m3. It is quite possible to build a two-chamber septic tank for such a volume. Structurally, it will be distinguished by the presence of a partition and overflow between sections. The walls are made of concrete, brick, stone. New materials are emerging, such as plastic rings, from which airtight walls can be assembled. You can make do with improvised means: slate or car tires.
