What is Soak Pit and Its Pros & Cons

The Soak Pit which may be additionally called soakaway or soakage pit is a closed rectangular or circular, covered up construction with porous or perforated walls, which is connected to the first treatment unit or directly connected to the washroom and even some specific sorts of toilet.

It allows water to slowly penetrate into the bottom. Soak pit, which is lined with porous materials that provide foundational support to stop the collapse of the underground chamber, can also be used for separate treatment of greywater (water from domestic sanitation, like showering and from kitchen areas).

How Does Soak Pit Work!

The soak pit receives effluent from the first treatment unit or washroom/latrine for the safe disposal of wastewater (greywater and black water) and gradually allows the effluent to percolate into the encompassing soil.

As the effluent contains organic materials in it, (as it’s grey and black water), the water in it percolates through the neighboring soil from the soak pit, small particles within the effluent are filtered out by the soil matrix and organic matters are digested by microorganisms.

Thus, soak pits are best suited in porous soils with good infiltration and absorptive properties. Hard-packed clay and rocky soils aren’t suitable for the development of a soak pit.

The workings of the soak pit are almost like a leach field but it occupies considerably less space than a leach field also as less operation and maintenance work. But they will also generally receive less influence, and groundwater pollution is often greater than it’s in leach fields.

Need for Soak Pit:

The effluent from a primary treatment unit (e.g. tank, twin-pits for pour-flush toilets, biogas settler, anaerobic baffled reactor, etc.) and wastewater or greywater from industry or domestic use are impure, thus can’t be allowed to directly release within the environment.

If it’s discharged within the open it creates not only unhygienic conditions and foul odor but can also invite epidemics and diseases. So a particular degree of treatment must be provided thereto before it’s safely disposed of on the bottom. For such partial and lightweight treatment soak pit is provided. Where it also recharges the groundwater below.

Soak pit is additionally an excellent way of collecting and using stormwater to recharge and lift the groundwater table. Which makes it a viable option for rainwater harvesting.

The Function of Soak Pit:

A sock pit serves the functions as given below:
1. It collects the wastewater from the first treatment unit or domestic use.
2. It purifies the collected wastewater to some extent and is a partial treatment unit.
3. It allows the discharge of relatively clean and non-harmful water to the encompassing ground.
4. It permits the reuse of wastewater to recharge the groundwater.
5. It also can serve the only function of collecting and infiltrating stormwater from the paved areas to the bottom and permit relinking the world below to the hydrological cycle.

Applications of Soak Pit:

The soak pit doesn’t provide adequate treatment to the raw wastewater and may get clog really easily.
It should be made sure that only pre-settled black or grey wastewater post-primary treatment is admitted within the soak pit.
Soak pits are appropriate technology for rural and suburban areas. Soak pit relies on sufficient absorptive capacity of the soil. in order that they aren’t appropriate for areas susceptible to flooding or have the status.

Advantages of soak pit:

The advantages of constructing a soak pit are as enlisted below;
1. The soak pit are often built with locally available materials and is straightforward to repair.
2. The soak pit may be a very simple technology to construct, operate and maintain for all types of users.
3. Installation of soak pit requires quite small acreage compared to other technology like say a leech field.
4. The soak pit also helps to recharge the groundwater table below.
5. Very minimal initial cost and operation cost is required for the soak pit. So it’s very affordable.
6. it’s power conservative technology and is sustainable.
7. it’s an appropriate technology for rural or suburban areas without a correct system.

Disadvantages of Soak Pit:

There also are some disadvantages of soak-pit as enlisted below;
1. the first treatment of wastewater is important to stop the high risk of clogging.
2. Installation of soak pit may negatively affect groundwater and soil properties, just in case it’s too near the groundwater table or effluent is very toxic.
3. it’s not an appropriate technology for countries/areas with colder climates.
4. Soak pits aren’t very effective and efficient technology where the daily volume of discharged effluents is high.
5. Soak pits are only suitable for areas where the soil is porous and allows the percolation of water.
6. If the groundwater table is a minimum of 2 m below the soak pit then it’s suitable.
7. it’s not an appropriate technology for the highly congested area.

Also Read: Septic Tank Function and Design