Septic tanks for summer cottages: which is better?
As a result of the vital activity of each family, household wastewater is formed. In the absence of centralized sewer systems, the only solution is septic tanks for a summer residence, which we will try to describe in detail below.
The content of the article
Video: comparison of septic tank materials
What is it, device and principle of operation
A septic tank is called an underground sealed tank with several chambers, inside which domestic wastewater is clarified to an acceptable level in order to be discharged into the soil for natural additional treatment. Therefore, a household water treatment system should be built together with a filtration field or well.
Answering the question of a septic tank for a summer residence which is better and more economical in operation, you should familiarize yourself with the design, varieties of underground water treatment tanks. The design looks like:
- a tank buried 1 - 2.5 m with internal partitions or several wells made of concrete rings connected by overflow pipes;
- service hatch (pumping out activated sludge, cleaning the walls, repair);
- ventilation for removing gases;
- infiltration system in the form of a field, trench, well.
In the chambers of the septic tank, wastewater is clarified according to the scheme:
- the first compartment is a settling tank, in which, when liquid accumulates, large insoluble substances precipitate;
- the second compartment - the drains flow into it through the upper pipe, which is a water seal that blocks the access of air, this chamber is called a meta tank, in which anaerobic bacteria naturally reproduce, feeding on the organic matter contained in the sewage, decomposing it into solids and gases;
- the third compartment - the substances formed during the decomposition of organic matter settle to the bottom, the clarified water is settled;
- infiltration systems - liquid purified to 65 - 70% flows by gravity into a well without a bottom, covered by a third with a natural filter (shungite, crushed stone, granite chips) or perforated pipes laid in a closed loop, in parallel rows inside a similar material, wastewater seeps into the ground, is further purified soils fall into aquifers.
Helpful information! The water treatment system is connected to the external, internal sewage system, therefore, for each plumbing fixture in the house, a water seal, a riser of a fan tube or a vacuum valve is required. Otherwise, the emitted gases will penetrate into the dwelling, reducing the comfort of living.
Related article:
Septic tanks without pumping 10 years. The device of treatment facilities for summer cottages without pumping out, as well as installation tips in a separate publication of our portal.
Varieties, placement and calculation of the volume of cameras
To adequately evaluate septic tanks for a summer residence and which one is better, you should take into account the nuances:
- with a daily water demand of more than 10 cubic meters, three chambers are required inside the tank;
- if 1 - 9 cubic meters of effluents leave the building, two chambers are enough;
- one chamber can be used at a flow rate of less than 1 cube.
Helpful information! The standards of SP 32.13330 recommend the volume of the first chamber of the settling tank, equal to three daily water requirements of the family with a flow rate of less than 5 cubic meters per day, or 2.5 norms with a higher water consumption.
Calculator for calculating the volume of a septic tank based on the number of residents
Anaerobic
Inside a classic septic tank, organic matter is decomposed by anaerobic bacteria that do not need air. The water treatment system is non-volatile, but has disadvantages:
- the need for infiltration systems;
- water cannot be reused, activated sludge is prohibited as fertilizer;
- emission of dangerous methane with an unpleasant odor;
- There is a lot of solid sediment, the chambers are pumped out often.
In multistage water treatment systems, anaerobic chambers are installed at the very beginning, as they allow to remove large fractions, to process the bulk of organic matter.
Aerobic
Since aerobic bacteria need air, it is forced into the chambers by compressors. This stage of post-treatment allows increasing the quality of water up to 85 - 90%. Therefore, the drains can be reused for glaze, hygienic treatment of tracks, auto. The sediment is much less, there are no methane emissions. Activated sludge is suitable for fertilization beds, you can pump it out yourself, without calling a sewer truck.
Aaerobic structures fully meet the requirements of which septic tank is best installed in the country for the following reasons:
- the operation of this dwelling is seasonal or periodic;
- in the absence of the owners, the compressors are not turned on, the colonies of aerobic bacteria die.
This option is only suitable for year-round dwellings.If a multi-chamber septic tank has both anaerobic and aerobic compartments, when disconnected electricity or if the owners leave the dacha, sewage treatment will be carried out according to the first scheme. Dead bacteria are replaced with new ones at the beginning of the season, the compressor is connected.
When choosing a septic tank for a summer residence, which is better, it should be noted that this equipment should be 4 m away from the foundations, 5 m from fence neighbors.
The industry produces tanks with internal chambers for underground operation from several construction materials:
- concrete - high-quality waterproofing is required to achieve the maximum operational resource;
- metal - an anti-corrosion coating is required, installation by special equipment, the resource is minimal;
- polymers - polypropylene has insufficient rigidity, therefore, polyethylene septic tanks with stiffeners are more in demand;
- fiberglass - is expensive, has practically no drawbacks.
The input nodes of the external sewerage system, the outlet pipe are easier to seal in polymer tanks. However, with a small depth of the container, heaving forces act on it, pushing the underground container to the surface. Therefore, polymer septic tanks are placed in a pit on a flooded or factory plate, the equipment body is tied to it.
Overview of models, recommendations
When choosing a septic tank for a summer residence, which one is better The tank occupies a leading position in the sales rating. These are cast seamless modifications of tanks with a 10 - 17 mm wall with tunnel infiltrators. The remaining positions in the TOP 5 are occupied by models:
- Triton - Micro version for giving 180 l, vertical type, annual sludge pumping;
- Topas - 50-year resource, cuboid, aerobic processing of sewage, all models are volatile, water can be reused, sludge is a fertilizer;
- DSK - made of sheet propylene, designed for 450 liters of daily wastewater, complex configuration, weighs 60 kg, manually mounted;
- Cedar is a model with a replaceable biofilter, volatile, 3 m high and weighing 150 kg.
If a decision is made to build septic tanks for a summer residence with your own hands, which construction method is better can be determined by comparing the resource of the implemented projects. The cheapest are concrete rings, from which one well with partitions or several wells are made one after another, each of which serves as a separate chamber, is tied to two adjacent pipes - overflow + upper branch pipe to equalize pressure.
Helpful information! There are more than two hundred manufacturers of plastic septic tanks. Therefore, it is recommended to pay attention not only to the design, principle of operation, but also the prices in the region.
Conclusion
Thus, a septic tank can be made independently or you can purchase a ready-made tank for wastewater treatment, depending on the daily water consumption. For summer cottages, anaerobic non-volatile options are recommended for periodic or seasonal operation.
Video: how to make a septic tank in the country with your own hands