Septic Tank Design | Septic Tank Construction | Septic Tank Details | Septic Tank Design Example | Septic Tank Design For Home
What Is Septic Tank?
A Septic tank is basically an underground structure made of concrete, fiberglass, or plastic thought which is domestic sewage water stored for primary treatment. A proper septic tank design is essential to the proper working of this underground system.
A septic tank is also known as a sewage collection system is also treats sewage on a small scale which is common in areas with no connection to main sewerage pipes.
Septic tank system design is one type of onsite sewage collation system. It is estimated that about 25 % of the population in North America depends on septic tanks. This system can include suburbs and small towns as well as rural areas. In European countries, dependency is limited to rural areas only.
The term “septic” is expressing the anaerobic bacterial condition that immerges in the tank and which decomposes or mineralizes the waste discharged into the tank. Sometimes additional decompose bacterial agents added to the tank will accelerate the digestion of solids in the tank.
A septic tank generally has the capacity of sewage is between 1,000 and 1,500 gallons which are connected to an inlet wastewater pipe at one end and to a septic drain field at the other.
Wastewater from the house is directed into the septic tank. This tank is designed which allow the heavy solid waste to settle down from wastewater.
The bacteria available in sludge partially decomposed this solid waste. Light-weighted waste like grease, oil particles floats and forms a layer of scum on top of the wastewater.
Baffles wall system is provided at the inlet and outlet of the tank to help prevent scum and solids from escaping.
Septic Tank Design
Septic tank design example for home as follows,
The proper capacity of a septic tank is essential otherwise wastewater backflow toward the house. The septic tank design considering a future increase in wastewater generation design proper capacity septic tank which can last long for years.
Septic Tank Design Drawing
Septic tank design example calculation for residential building is given below:
Let’s take one example of House — 5 Members
Daily Water Usage for a House — 5 Person
- Cooking — 10 Liters
- Bathing & Toilet — 90 Liters/Person, So for 5 person — 450 liters/Day
- Washing clothes & Utensils — 35 Liters
- Cleaning House — 15 Liters
- Other — 10 Litres
Total — 520 Litres/Day Approximately
In septic tank design, we consider detention time as 3 days. So the designed tank should have the capacity to retain the household wastewater for at least 3 days.
Total wastewater in 3 days — 520×3 = 1560 Liters
So, we take more than that about 2000 Liters capacity minimum for a home. For the Septic tank design, the depth of the tank should not be less than 1.8m.
Take sludge settled down per person — 30 liters/year. So here we take sludge removal 2 years once.
Total Accumulated Sludge = 30 litres x 5 persons x 2 years = 300 Litres
Total Septic Tank Capacity = 2000+300 = 2300 Liters
We know that 1 cubic meter = 1000 Liters = 2300/1000 = 2.3 Cum
Area required @ 1.8m depth = 2.3/1.8 = 1.2 Sqm
We take Length and Width ratio of Septic Tank is 4:1 or 2:1
Length(L): Breath(B) ratio taken as 4 : 1
So, 4 B x B = 1.2 Sq. m where B=0.54m
(Note: Minimum width of tank should not be less than 750mm)
So that L = 4×0.75 = 3m
L — 3m; B — 0.75m;
Depth = 1.8+0.3 = 2.1m (free board should be provided at least 300mm)
Septic Tank capacity = 3 x 2.1 x 0.75 = 4.725 Cum
= 4.725x 1000
Septic tank design capacity = 4725 Liters
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Septic Tank Design 3 Chambers | 2 Tank Septic System Design
Septic Tank Design Images
Septic Tank Design
British Standard Septic Tank Design
The British standard is given following the formula septic tank design and calculates the wastewater flow for a septic tank.
C=A + P (rq + ns)
Where,
C — Capacity in liters
P — Number of People
A — 2000 Litres as constant
R — Detention period of Sewage in Days
Q — Sewage Flow in liter per day
N — Number of years
S — Sludge accumulation in litres per person/year
Simplification of (rq + ns) = 180 Litres
We can Rewrite the formula C=A + 180 P
C = 2000 + (180 × 5)
= 2900 Litres (Septic tank design capacity)
Septic Tank Construction Details
Nowadays, the design of the septic tank main has two chambers each of which is equipped with a manhole cover. These chambers are separated by means of a dividing wall which has openings located about midway between the floor and roof of the tank.
Septic Tank is installed where there is no proper drainage system. In order store, the Wastage or sewage for 10–30 Days Septic tank is constructed and the same is designed. This tank is usually installed below 1.5m-1.8m from ground level.
The details of the construction of the septic tank are as follows,
- Firstly, the wastewater from the house is allowed to enter the tank through an inlet pipe, allowing solids to settle and scum to float. During the period of detention, solid settle down is get digested by an anaerobic process reducing the volume of solids.
- The remaining water is then diverted into the second chamber where further settlement takes place with the excess liquid then draining in a relatively clear condition from the outlet into the drain field or seepage field.
- This comparatively clean water now taken to a distribution chamber where the wastewater is channeled into one or more perforated pipes set in trenches of gravel.
- Under this system water slowly infiltrates (seeps) into the underlying soil.
- The bacterial components and waste of this water trapped or adsorbed by soil particles or decomposed by microorganisms.
- The septic tank treatment almost removes disease-causing organisms, organic matter, and most nutrients (except nitrogen and some salts).
- The partially cleaned wastewater then either moves to the groundwater or evaporates from the soil.
Septic Tank Cleaning
The Septic tank treatment system requires regular and periodic cleaning to avoid the build-up of sludge and eventual escape with the effluent into the drainage field. If this happens, it may clog the leach field piping requiring expensive repairs.
In the septic tank cleaning process, the periodic time interval of the tank emptied depends on the volume of the tank relative to the input of solids, the number of indigestible solids, and the ambient temperature.
Generally, septic tank systems require cleaning rarely more than once a year, and by careful management, many users can reduce emptying to every 3 to 5 years.
While cleaning the septic care should be taken that, only a small residue of sludge should be left in the tank. Anaerobic decomposition is rapidly restarted when the tank refills.
A well-designed and properly maintained septic tank system is odor-free. The periodic inspection of the tank should last for decades with no maintenance.
If a septic tank is a well-maintained concrete, fiberglass, or plastic tank should last about 50 years.
Read More: Design Of Staircase Calculation — Riser And Tread
Septic Tanks Potential Problems
Sometimes excess wasting of cooking oils and grease can fill up the upper portion of the septic tank and can cause the inlet drains to block. It is a fact that grease and oil are often difficult to degrade and can cause odor problems and difficulties with periodic emptying.
Flushing material such as sanitary towels, cotton buds, etc. which are non-biodegradable hygiene nature will rapidly fill or clog a septic tank and these materials should not be disposed of in this way.
Some people use a waste grinder to dispose of waste food will cause a rapid overload of the system and early failure.
Septic tank system damage due to some chemical contact such as pesticides, herbicides, materials with high concentrations of bleach, or any other inorganic materials such as paints, solvents, etc. Such materials inhibit bacterial function.
Roots of a tree growing above the tank and shrubbery or the drain field may clog and or rupture them.
Excessive water in the septic tank due to some plumbing leakage may lead to an overload of the septic tank system.
FAQs:
What is a septic tank and how does it work?A Septic tank is a system designed for the onsite collation of sewage. The word septic means an anaerobic bacterial condition that immerges in the tank and which decomposes or mineralizes the waste discharged into the tank.
Working: In the septic tank, the wastewater from the house is allowed to enter the tank through an inlet pipe, allowing solids to settle and scum to float. During the period of detention, solid settle down is get digested by an anaerobic process reducing the volume of solids.
What are the disadvantages of a septic tank?Disadvantages of septic tank
1. Sometimes with excess wasting of cooking oils and grease can fill up the upper portion of the septic tank and can cause the inlet drains to block.
2. Some people use a waste grinder to dispose of waste food will cause a rapid overload of the system and early failure.
3. Roots of a tree growing above the tank and shrubbery or the drain field may clog and or rupture them.
4. Excessive water in the septic tank due to some plumbing leakage may lead to an overload of the septic tank system.How often should you empty your septic tank?Generally, septic tank systems require cleaning rarely more than once a year and by careful management, many users can reduce emptying to every 3 to 5 years. While cleaning the septic care should be taken that, only a small residue of sludge should be left in the tank. Septic Tank MeaningA Septic tank is basically an underground structure made of concrete, fiberglass, or plastic thought which is domestic sewage water stored for primary treatment.Septic tank constructionSeptic Tank is installed where there is no proper drainage system. In order store, the Wastage or sewage for 10–30 Days Septic tank is constructed and the same is designed. This tank is usually installed below 1.5m-1.8m from ground level. Septic tank design for homeThe proper capacity of a septic tank is essential otherwise wastewater backflow toward the house. The septic tank design considering a future increase in wastewater generation design proper capacity septic tank which can last long for years.
Watch Video: Septic Tank Design Calculations
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