How to choose a septic tank for a summer residence

The problem of waste disposal is quite complicated for the owners of country houses, especially if it is planned to set up an autonomous sewage system. A cesspool, which must be emptied regularly, can be considered a traditional solution. The best replacement for this design can be considered a full-fledged autonomous treatment plant. A variety of types, sizes and modifications of devices make the problem of choosing a septic tank for a cottage rather complicated. However, if you wish, you can quite figure it out.

The principle of operation of septic structures

A septic tank is a structure intended for wastewater treatment. The scheme of its device involves the presence of a multi-chamber system. Sewage enters the first tank through the pipeline from the house. This is a sump. It undergoes bacterial decomposition of effluents. In some devices, most often industrial production, special facilities are installed here that produce primary filtration of contaminated water. The decomposition of effluents occurs under the influence of oxygen-free or anaerobic bacteria. They convert the liquid entering the sump into clarified water, gas, and mineral insoluble sediment or sludge.

All septic tanks of the anaerobic type consist of several chambers. In the first, primary wastewater treatment and partial filtration take place. In the second and subsequent purification process continues

The gas formed as a result of the decomposition of the effluent is vented using a ventilation pipe, while the water flows through the overflow hole into a second tank. Here, anaerobic bacteria continue to clear the effluents. From here, clarified water can flow into the next tank or is supplied to the so-called filtration fields. After soil filtration, pure liquid is absorbed into the soil. Such structures are non-volatile or anaerobic type systems.

There is still a variety of devices that require electricity to operate. These are aerobic septic tanks with a biological treatment system. Wastewater treatment in such devices is carried out by aerobic microorganisms that cannot exist without oxygen. Therefore, a compressor that automatically switches on at regular intervals supplies air into the tanks. The process of decomposition of effluents in such plants is as quick as possible. The degree of purification of contaminated water reaches 98%.

For the operation of the aerobic septic tank, a constant flow of oxygen is necessarily required, since the bacteria contained in activated sludge die without it, and the cleaning process stops

Among the simplest structures should include a storage septic tank.This is a single-chamber sealed device designed for the accumulation of effluents, subsequently pumped out using a sewage machine. The tank is additionally equipped with a tank level sensor. This option is optimal for those who rarely appear in the country house, as well as if for various reasons it is impossible to equip an effective section for the post-treatment of wastewater.

How to choose a septic tank for a summer residence

The assortment is wide in order to choose the most suitable option for your conditions, in addition to the type of design, several more important factors should be taken into account.

Purification device volume

The required volume of the structure is calculated based on the number of people using the sewage system. In the calculations, 200 l is taken as the average daily consumption per person. The number is multiplied by the number of people living in the house. However, according to the requirements of SNiPs, the structure must contain a three-day amount of effluents, so the number is also multiplied by three. The obtained value will be the desired volume of the septic tank. It should also be borne in mind that a thousand liters is one cubic meter and correctly translate the calculated values. Product dimensions are usually indicated in cubic meters.

For country houses, where residents rarely appear or the volume of drains does not exceed 10 cubic meters, a single-chamber septic tank is quite suitable

The number of chambers of the device depends on the volume of drains. Practice shows that a single-chamber structure is suitable when the amount of effluent does not exceed a cubic meter. If up to 10 cubic meters of water is consumed per day, it would be advisable to choose a two-chamber tank. The amount of effluent in excess of 10 cubic meters will require the installation of a productive three-chamber device.

Tank material

To equip the sewage system, three types of containers are most often used:

• Plastic Lightweight and durable products are easy to install. Their service life is quite large and is estimated at several decades. The installation does not require the involvement of special equipment. However, the ease of construction, which is considered the advantage of the structure, can be attributed to one of its shortcomings, since the septic tank can simply "float" to the surface. In order to avoid this unpleasant phenomenon during installation, it is either concreted or anchored using special straps.
• Concrete A great option for a simple and durable cleaning facility. A robust, non-corrosive structure is heavy. There are two options for mounting the device. The first involves the installation of finished concrete rings with the mandatory use of special equipment. The second - pouring concrete into the prepared formwork and phased construction.
• Metal. Relatively light weight, which greatly facilitates installation, and the affordable cost of equipment make them quite popular among developers. The main disadvantage is the high likelihood of corrosion, which significantly reduces the life of the device.

Video: septic tank operation principle

When choosing equipment, the type of soil on the site must be taken into account. Sandy soils make it possible to equip efficiently working absorbing and filtering fields, so a relatively inexpensive anaerobic septic tank can be used for summer cottages. Highly located groundwater forces one to choose the most airtight design. Most often they stop at a plastic tank. In addition, the organization of filter wells in such conditions is impossible, therefore, bio-treatment is used.

A treatment plant designed to operate on clay soils should have a biological or biochemical treatment system. This is due to the fact that clay absorbs moisture very slowly; accordingly, natural soil filtration is impossible.As an option, you can lay a sand filter and install additional equipment for the removal of purified water. However, all this will require additional financial investments.

When deciding to install a device with a biofilter, you need to understand that long downtimes associated with the absence of people in the house can lead to the death of bacteria lacking the necessary nutrient medium.

In addition to all of the above, climatic conditions affect the choice of a septic tank. It is believed that for cold regions the best solution will be a concrete structure that is most resistant to temperature extremes. It is also necessary to take into account the time that is planned to be spent in the country. If a small family lives in the house from time to time, then a small anaerobic tank will be sufficient for her. Bacteria that randomly spawn in the tank successfully process the effluent into fertilizer. As measures for servicing the system, only periodic cleaning of sludge and insulation will be needed.

Concrete septic tanks, which can be equipped independently, tolerate temperature differences well, therefore they are considered an acceptable option for arranging autonomous sewage in cold regions

It is advisable to use more complex devices when it is supposed to live year-round in the country. In this case, it is worth thinking about installing the so-called deep cleaning station. They are very effective, but quite expensive. Therefore, it is possible to mount such equipment to serve several nearby houses at once. In this case, you can save and get high-quality treatment for effluents. Another option that you should definitely consider is a combination device. In the cleaning process, the anaerobic and aerobic methods are used here, which allows you to successfully combine the advantages of both.

Equipment designed for wastewater treatment is diverse. To make a choice, one should evaluate the conditions in which the structure will operate and determine its requirements for it. Then you need to consider your budget and decide whether the equipment will be bought or manufactured independently. Then it remains only to choose the right model that satisfies the cost, performance and installation conditions. Only by carefully analyzing all the factors can you buy a septic tank, which will be the best solution for the problem of wastewater treatment.