Septic tank sewerage, what is it?
Translated from English, the word “septic tank” literally means “a structure for mechanical wastewater treatment.”
And speaking in engineering language, this is the settling and fermentation of sewage sludge with the subsequent removal of this sludge by a sewage disposal machine. There is another, more expensive way to dispose of wastewater, and it involves decomposing the wastewater with the help of oxygen and organic bacteria. Both methods are based on the arrangement in the ground of one or more (depending on the characteristics of the soil and the level of groundwater) polyethylene or plastic tank into which wastewater will flow.
The first method (in professional language it is called anaerobic or oxygen-free) involves the decomposition of waste naturally, without the use of an electric air compressor.
The second method (aerobic) is deep biological treatment, as a result of which waste is converted into harmless components. But this will no longer be, in fact, a septic tank, but an entire treatment station, the operation of which requires an air compressor.
In addition, the degree of purification in septic tanks and stations is different: in the first case, up to 70% of wastewater is purified, in the second – up to 95%.
However, the price will be completely different.
How to choose a septic tank for a private house and cottage
Price order
If on average in the Moscow region you can buy a septic tank from the manufacturer at a price of 20 to 80 thousand rubles and more, depending on the number of people living in the house, then for deep cleaning systems the prices are much higher and reach 400 thousand rubles.
Additionally, the price of a particular septic tank or station is also influenced by the “promotion” of the manufacturer, the material from which they are made, the model and technical capabilities.
So what type of autonomous sewer system should you choose?
Of course, you need to choose taking into account your financial capabilities, general level of comfort, the distance of your country house or cottage from sewage services and the total volume of water consumption.
In this article we will try to understand the variety of septic tanks. Their advantages and disadvantages. Price categories of individual models. We will try to choose the best offer on the market.
Reviews about autonomous sewerage Rostock
In general, we can say: where professionals worked on the sewerage project, the autonomous sewerage Rostock gives only positive reviews
.
Where sellers work on technical solutions, the result can be unpredictable, which affected several facilities installed by third-party companies. In general, we can give one piece of advice - think about the correct and safe organization of any autonomous sewage system and respect the right to a healthy environment for your loved ones and neighbors. For a more complete study of the Rostock system, we suggest watching our two-hour webinar.
Selection parameters and calculation of septic tank volume
Our selection will be based on the following criteria:
- Number of family members: 2-3 people. Only sometimes do guests come to you.
- Or you visit your dacha (country house) only on weekends in the summer, and live permanently only during your vacation.
Let's take the average wastewater consumption per person as a basis. This is 200 liters per day. Consequently, the volume of household wastewater per family will be 400-600 liters, and at peak load times 1000-1200 liters.
This means that the volume of the septic tank must be appropriate - from 2 cubic meters / day. "Why?" - you ask. Yes, because the number of tanks where it ends up depends on how much wastewater there is.
In the settling chamber, the wastewater is divided into different fractions: the heavy ones sink to the bottom, and the lighter ones remain at the top, then entering the next tank, where it is cleared of other organic impurities, and only then enters the soil.
Therefore, we advise you to choose a two-chamber septic tank with an overflow or a septic tank with one horizontal or vertical tank, divided into 2 parts.
Brief description of the model
The Tank type treatment plant is a molded plastic container with internal partitions. That is, despite the fact that the septic tank looks solid on the outside, inside it is divided into several separate chambers.
The septic tank is manufactured in a factory; it has a durable cast body with stiffeners. This manufacturing method makes it especially strong and durable.
Advice! A Tank-type septic tank can serve for 50 years without requiring replacement and maintaining all its performance characteristics.
Principle of operation
- Through the supply pipe, wastewater generated when water is used in the house is supplied to the first chamber. It functions as a sump.
- While in the sump, wastewater is divided into fractions, heavy particles fall to the bottom, and water overflows into the next chamber.
- Here the second stage of purification begins - the processing of organic inclusions by bacteria.
- Then the water is fed to a biofilter, at the exit of which it is approximately 75% purified.
Advice! In order to achieve complete purification of water, a special device is used - an infiltrator, which works like a soil filter.
Modifications
Septic tanks have different capacities, that is, they are designed to process different volumes of wastewater:
- Tank 1 is capable of meeting the needs of a family of up to 3 people, as it processes 600 liters of waste per day;
- Tank 2 is designed to process wastewater up to 800 liters;
- Tank 2.5 is perfect for installation in a house with up to 5 people;
- Tank 3 will successfully process 1200 liters of wastewater;
- Tank 4 is suitable for a large house or group of houses with up to 9 people living in it and is capable of cleaning up to 1800 liters per day.
Advice! Any model of a Tank type septic tank is equipped with an infiltrator. The number of infiltrators that need to be installed for post-treatment of water at the outlet of the installation is determined by the performance of the model and the characteristics of the soil. The lower the soil permeability, the greater the number of infiltrators will have to be installed.
Material of manufacture
The next question is the material from which the septic tank is made. Fiberglass or polyethylene?
Fiberglass is usually fiberglass impregnated with resin, and due to this it has a fairly durable structure. Fiberglass products are comparable in strength to metal. Septic tanks made of fiberglass are absolutely not subject to corrosion and can be used when working with high-temperature wastewater or aggressive liquids.
A polyethylene septic tank is not inferior to fiberglass in its strength, but its advantage is that it is less susceptible to fractures as a result of loads or soil shifts in the pit itself. In terms of price they are not too different.
We now move on to choosing a septic tank model.
Septic tank: price and negative reviews
The most advertised brand in Russia on the autonomous sewerage market is the Septic Tank model range. The price with turnkey installation is from 15 to 60 thousand rubles, depending on the chosen model.
Septic tanks Tank are indeed very popular and relatively inexpensive.
From the outside, the septic tank looks like a sealed plastic container, divided into several sections. According to the manufacturer, this septic tank Tank purifies wastewater from impurities up to 98%, but whether this is true has not been confirmed by any independent laboratory tests.
Despite the large number of positive reviews, these septic tanks are still criticized by buyers. Basically, the criticism comes down to the fact that there are cases:
- When the buyer has not calculated the volume of wastewater, and the wastewater flows either into the “return” or onto the surface;
- When the walls or bottom of the septic tank cannot withstand the pressure and cracks form in the body.
- Also, the design of the septic tank itself requires its installation by a specialized company, otherwise the manufacturer does not bear a warranty. And this is additional financial costs.
- Another drawback is the small thickness of the tank walls compared to the thickness of other septic tanks.
Negative reviews about the Tank septic tank on one of the sites
Another important detail is regular cleaning of the tank itself. Tank septic tanks must be constantly monitored.
Reviews about septic tanks
We thought for a long time, weighed all the pros and cons, and finally decided to install a septic tank in the country, since on cold and dank spring-autumn days it was uncomfortable to run to the toilet outside. We read forums, talked with friends and acquaintances, everyone suggested completely different models of septic tanks, some advised simply burying the storage tank and calling a sewer truck several times a season and pumping it out, but this seemingly simplest option did not suit us - we didn’t want all this bustle. We contacted several local companies installing septic tanks for consultations; they even sent specialists who could not give clear answers to our questions or recommend a specific model based on our requests. But we wanted the septic tank to be as simple as possible, with a minimum of electronic filling, thin hoses that could become clogged over time, and with a forced discharge of water at the outlet, since we didn’t want to dig up the asphalt road to lay a drain pipe. Therefore, we chose the “Tver-0.75PN” model with an additional chamber for collecting liquid at the outlet of the septic tank and an automatic drainage pump for forced pumping out of it as it accumulates. "Tver" also won over the fact that a blockage cannot occur in it, because the movement of sewage inside the station occurs by self-overflow from chamber to chamber, and also because the compressor, which supplies air for mixing and oxidizing the contents of the septic tank, is located in a heated room, and not inside the station itself in harsh conditions of high humidity, which, of course, negatively affects its service life. ' caught our eye while studying a well-known forum about construction, reviews about it were different, both bad and good, but the company has been on the market since 2006, and this is a lot and suggests that this is not a sharashka for one season, but a team experienced and well-versed in all the nuances that may arise when installing a septic tank and putting it into operation, as they provide a guarantee for their services. Having called there, I got to Arkady, who asked me various intelligent questions (number of residents, seasonality of residence, presence of small children - they can accidentally flush something down the toilet, which will lead to a clog in the septic tank, etc.). I recommended this model of septic tank, which we settled on. They did not enlarge the necks of the station, because there is a natural slope of the site to the place of its installation and therefore there was no need to deepen the sewer pipe. Based on the sketch I drew of the installation location of the septic tank on the site, they calculated and emailed us an estimate for the installation work, which we studied, approved and agreed on the installation date. Denis's team installed it. During the installation process he showed himself to be a top-class professional. We arrived early in the morning, manually dug a pit, transported all the excavated soil outside the site, installed the station, filled it with water, simultaneously sprinkling sand around the perimeter, connected all the necessary communications (not forgetting about the mandatory, according to technology, drain riser) and put the station into operation - everything is based on technology. The whole procedure took one day of light, which is very fast. Denis gave us comprehensive advice on the septic tank, which once again confirmed his high qualifications and knowledge of his business. We drew up an agreement and paid for the work upon delivery, although many people now work on prepayment. Very good news was the 8% discount from Superseptic. As a result, the Tver-0.75PN biological treatment station copes with its tasks perfectly, no problems arose, we are very satisfied. Therefore, I highly recommend ' for installation work!
Septic tank Topaz
The Topaz septic tank competes with Tank in popularity. But here a different cleaning technology is used - the so-called aerobic cleaning process (we already talked about it above), and it is designed for permanent or seasonal residence.
It is necessary to install an additional pump for Topaz septic tanks, which will forcibly remove purified water.
If manufacturers recommend installing the Tank on sandy or sandy loam soils with low groundwater levels, then Topaz is installed in any type of soil.
But the price will be different: if a Tank 2.5 septic tank will cost you on average about 36,000 rubles, then to buy a Topas 5PR septic tank you will have to pay 80,000 rubles. High cost is the only drawback of the Topas septic tank.
Negative reviews about the Topaz septic tank on one of the sites
Also, septic tanks from other manufacturers under the trademarks “Rostok”, “Tver”, “Dochista”, “Microbe” and “Termite” are in demand.
Advantages and disadvantages
Let's consider what positive aspects there are in the operation of septic tanks of this type, and what may cause consumer dissatisfaction.
Pros of septic tanks
Almost all reviews about septic tanks of this model are positive. Having studied the opinions of consumers, we can note the most significant advantages of the installation:
- Strength. Many consumers do not trust ready-made septic tanks, considering plastic to be a fragile material that cannot withstand loads. However, the Tank has a cast (seamless) body, the wall thickness is 15-16 mm, and there are stiffening ribs. Thanks to these qualities, the body is able to withstand the loads exerted by the soil, so during installation there is no need to concrete the walls and bottom of the pit.
- Practicality. At a relatively low price, it has a long service life. The manufacturer promises that a septic tank of this brand will be able to serve for half a century or more.
- Reliability. All parts of the septic tank that come into contact with the liquid are made of corrosion-resistant material. In addition, the design of the installation does not contain complex components that could fail over time.
- Easy installation. Installation is a fairly simple job that only takes a few days to complete.
- Energy independence. The tank does not require a power supply, which is important, since in holiday villages there are power outages. And you won’t have to pay for extra kilowatts.
Advice! Despite the fact that installing a Tank septic tank is quite simple, it is worth entrusting this work to specialists. Since self-installation does not exclude errors that will lead to poor operation of the sewerage system.
- Quite a high degree of purification. As already mentioned, after going through all stages of purification in the installation body, the water comes out 75% purified. And after passing through the infiltrator, the water is 98% purified, that is, it is considered technically pure.
Cons of septic tanks
Despite the fact that negative reviews of septic tanks are quite rare, the model, like any other thing, is not without its drawbacks:
- In order for the septic tank to function properly, it is recommended to clean it regularly. That is, the owners will have to call sanitation workers, provide free passage to the septic tank, and pay for their services. This may not be entirely convenient, especially if the holiday village is located at a considerable distance from the city. If cleaning is not carried out in a timely manner, the sediment will begin to compress and thicken. Over time, so much of it will accumulate that the volume of the chambers will be significantly reduced, that is, the performance of the septic tank and the quality of cleaning will be significantly reduced.
Advice! To increase the time interval between cleanings, it is recommended to use special bacterial additives for septic tanks. The use of such preparations allows you to reduce the amount of solid sediment and you have to use the services of vacuum cleaners less often.
- Another drawback is the need to prepare a pit for installing a septic tank. Of course, if it is possible to dig a hole using excavation equipment, then there will be no problems. But if you have to do the work manually, the installation process can greatly slow down the process.
- When installing a septic tank, one should also take into account such geological characteristics as the level of groundwater. If the water is high, then the installed septic tank Tank will definitely create problems. When the pit is filled with water (for example, during a spring flood), it may float up. And this will lead to the destruction of the connections of the housing with the inlet and outlet pipes.
- In addition, high GWL (groundwater level), as well as clayey soil, can lead to the fact that purified water will not drain well, lingering in the septic tank.
- In Tank septic tanks, chemical cleaning is not used, and this can cause an unpleasant odor. To eliminate this unpleasant phenomenon, you will have to again contact companies that provide sanitation services. Specialists will be able to perform chemical and biological cleaning of filters and completely clean the installation of waste. All these measures will get rid of the smell, however, they will require additional costs.
Customer Reviews
Below are customer reviews about Tank installations:
- We had an ordinary cesspool on our site, my husband categorically did not want to spend money on a septic tank, they say, everything is fine, why spend extra money! Well, I saved some money! We came from Rospotrebnadzor and issued a hefty fine for the fact that our pit was polluting groundwater. We still had to purchase a septic tank; we chose the Tank, since the models are not particularly expensive and, judging by the reviews, durable. We bought it in winter at a discount and installed it in spring. Now I don’t know grief: I don’t have to worry that the cells will overflow if I go to the shower one more time. And there are no complaints from Rospotrebnadzor.
- We bought a septic tank Tank for our house, since we live in the house all the time and we are all tired of the smell of sewage from the cesspool. The guys from the company installed it for us, they did everything quickly and carefully. It worked for more than a year, no problems have arisen so far, and most importantly, there is no such nasty smell on the site. But we have children playing in the yard. Of course, buying a septic tank is a little expensive for our family, but I think it was worth it. You can pay for convenience and lack of smell.
- We used the Tank septic tank for 7 months, everything was fine. And then an emergency happened: a piece of pipe broke out of the first compartment. I had to call the specialists. They arrived, fixed the problem and said that we ourselves were to blame for the breakdown. Too much water flowed into the septic tank for several days in a row, which is why the accident occurred. We had nothing to object to this, since, indeed, guests came to us for the holidays. And our model (I later looked in the passport) is designed that no more than 4 people will use it. So read passports before inviting guests.
- I wanted to install a Tank septic tank at the dacha, but nothing worked out. It turns out that this model requires a lot of space: the septic tank itself plus four infiltrators. But we only have 6 acres, and the area is built up. So, this installation is exclusively for spacious areas; it is not suitable for a small dacha.
So, before you decide to purchase an installation for an autonomous sewer system, you should carefully study the technical characteristics of the model you like. In addition, it will be useful to read reviews of people who use septic tanks in practice, to find out what problems may arise during operation. Only after weighing all the arguments should you make a purchasing decision.
Septic tank Rostock
The range of Rostok septic tanks is presented in three versions: “Mini”, “Dachny” and “Cottage”.
It differs from the septic tanks already discussed in that it is made of polypropylene using seamless technology and has an original design, which is equipped with a damper for the incoming wastewater flow to avoid “stirring up” the sediment.
The disadvantages include the high cost of installation, which is almost the same as the product itself (40-45 thousand rubles) plus dependence on groundwater.
Septic tank Tver: negative reviews and disadvantages
Let us now consider a septic tank under the trade name “Tver”. The price of this septic tank will range from 65 to 80 thousand rubles.
The price increase occurs due to four-stage wastewater treatment, so this septic tank does not require aeration fields.
This Tver septic tank needs to be cleaned once a year.
The disadvantages of septic tanks in Tver include, perhaps, the only one, but a very serious one: it is a septic tank chamber where fermentation and putrefactive processes occur, and from this an unpleasant odor appears (or may appear).
An example of a negative review about a septic tank Tver
septic tank or independent sewerage
What creates comfort or discomfort in the home? These are little things and nuances that are not written about on the Internet and that arise during the course of your stay. What you don’t think about right away and brush it off. I decided to collect all these little things using my own experience and numerous stories of my clients.
Warm floors are a great thing! I regret that I didn’t make enough of it, now I conclude that there is never too much warm flooring.
Although heated floors are a cool thing, they are not a replacement for heating at all.
It is better to have several heating circuits so that each circuit can be turned off and adjusted.
It is better to install batteries that have their own regulation and the ability to turn off autonomously.
Sewerage - all drains must be insulated, or even better, immediately put a heating cable between the pipe and the insulation.
Think about where the wastewater goes after the septic tank? I have a public drain, but it freezes in winter and cannot cope with our water flow. To be honest, I didn’t think about this when installing the sewer system.
When insulating walls or floors and ceilings, the insulation must be laid as tightly as possible, otherwise you will get a “balalaika” effect. Imagine a balalaika (guitar, domra, etc.) and if you knock on its wooden body it will make a characteristic booming sound. This is exactly what floors and walls that are not completely filled with insulation sound like.
The walls, roof and ceilings were insulated - great, but what about the foundation? And not only that, there’s also a blind area. It also needs to be insulated. The task is to completely insulate the house from the cold; you should get a cocoon, then the house will be warm and heat loss will be minimal.
Once a year, you need to check the insulation in the roof for moisture. Just reach in with your hand and touch it. Often, after turning on the heating, a lot of condensation forms, which the existing vents in the roof cannot cope with. The manipulation is simple, if you notice that the insulation is wet, you don’t need to rush to change it, it will dry out, but you need to install additional vents on the roof to prevent condensation from accumulating.
There should be a lot of sockets in the house. I miss them. Especially in those places that you don’t think about right away. For example, on the stairs or where the air conditioner is installed under the ceiling.
Large houses cannot do without transition switches. This is when you turn it on in one place and turn it off in another. For example on the stairs.
When planning an electrician, it is better to make as many groups as possible so that at the slightest short circuit you do not lose power to the entire house. In addition, it is always easier to find where the closure is when the groups are small.
Lay the TV antenna together with the electrical wiring right away.
A garage in the house is not convenient. In fact, it turns into a workshop, warehouse or any other utility room. A car, if you use it every day, is usually parked under a canopy and not in a garage. Imagine - winter, slush, you come home from work late in the evening. The car is dirty, and in this condition you drive it into the garage. At night she stands in a warm garage, everything flows from her onto the floor and evaporates. This is bad for both the machine and the building.
In wooden houses, when laying flooring or wall coverings, do not forget about sliding elements and gaps.
It is better to immediately plan at least a small room for household items in the house. needs. Ours is already filled with my husband’s very important tools, things that the children have outgrown or are not old enough to use, old equipment, in general, everything that can be called “don’t throw it away, it’s for the dacha!”
In attic houses, before starting construction, pay attention to the lowest point of the ceiling height. It should not be lower than 1.5 m; if lower, it is very inconvenient and a lot of usable space cannot be fully used.
It is better to make doorways of standard sizes, so as not to overpay for an exclusive one later.
Plan a place for a fireplace or billiard table right away - they will need a foundation.
Plan in advance for a good staircase, with normal steps and width. With a comfortable lifting angle.
Plan the site before construction begins. Where will you have a utility block, where is the bathhouse, where is the children's playground? Perhaps, due to access roads, you will have to start construction not from the house, but, for example, from the utility block.
When laying a septic tank, there should always be access roads for the sewer truck nearby.
Be sure to keep diagrams of all laid communications. This applies to both external and internal communications.
Plan the site and laying communications taking into account its development for 10-20 years in advance.
That's all for now, I'll add a post as thoughts come to me
Other brands
Often, the inflated price for a particular septic tank depends on the advertising budget and the marketing “packaging” used by sewer system manufacturers.
Septic tanks Dochista (price from 30 to 40 thousand rubles), septic tank Microbe (mini-septic tank, the price of which varies from 10 to 17 thousand rubles) and septic tank Termite (price from 24 to 60 thousand rubles) are less known, less, so to speak, “ promoted."
But their work is based on the principle of wastewater treatment common to all septic tanks: sedimentation of wastewater and subsequent biological purification.
What should you pay attention to when choosing an autonomous sewer?
When installing an autonomous sewer system, certain technical parameters must be observed. The choice of one or another autonomous sewage system depends on the load it must withstand and on your financial capabilities.
What technical parameters should you pay attention to:
Relief of your site- Soil type
- Features of the climate zone
- Site size (how much space can be allocated to install the system)
- System load volume
conclusions
The choice depends not only on how many users of the septic tank there will be and not only on the amount of money for the purchase, but also on a number of other factors:
- Do you want to install a septic tank yourself or invite specialists.
- Does the territory of your site allow you to create an aerobic zone or not?
- Do you have enough patience, strength and time to control the operation of the septic tank or do you need to “set it and forget it?”
- Are you ready to put up with the occasional unpleasant odor or not?
- Is there a sewage disposal service nearby, prices for services in the Moscow region average from 800 rubles per cubic meter? m.
Nobody wants to bother themselves with various technical problems. Nobody wants to tighten screws and nuts, doesn’t want to check the level of wastewater in the sewer, doesn’t want to sit and wait for a sewer truck.
We come to a country house to relax, listen to birdsong, go to the forest to pick berries and mushrooms, barbecue and enjoy nature. Instead of thinking about the consequences when opening a water tap or flushing the toilet. Therefore, our choice: a complete cleaning septic tank, as they say, from “a” to “z”. And the choice of a specific model is yours!
