How to properly dispose of wastewater from a septic tank?
Hello! This summer, a septic tank Tver was installed in the summer cottage. Installation was done by the Abada company. It seems that the company is solid and we have no doubt about their competence. A specialist arrived, inspected the site, noted the high groundwater and recommended the Tver septic tank with a filtering well.
After 2 months of operation, a problem arose: water is poured over the edges of the well, that is, it is not filtered into the ground. There is a slurry around the manhole. When the pump does not work, the water level drops slightly, that is, some kind of filtration occurs, but insufficient. Then the pump begins to pump out water from the last chamber of the septic tank - the water level rises quickly and it goes astride the well.
Since the septic tank is under warranty, I called a specialist from Abad. He recommended to make a drainage ditch, but: not to divert water directly from the filtration well, but to allow some of the groundwater surrounding the septic tank to fall into this ditch, and thus they would less interfere with the filtration of sewage from the well into the ground.
The question is how to properly dispose of wastewater from the septic tank in this case? I read on this site in the article “Septic Tver”That on heavy and clay soils the device of a filtering well is meaningless. Although it seems that sand was laid under it. But the article says that the filtration field device in such soil is also not effective.
Only the discharge from the septic tank into the ditch or pond remains? But we do not have a ditch and there is no pond nearby. A specialist from Abad advised simply digging a ditch along the border of the site and believes that this is enough. To the question: what depth - he answered “as deep as possible”. But is it just that a ditch will help if it starts about 10 meters from the septic tank, passes along it and ends in 15 meters? In addition, it will have to be dug along the house, since there is a public water pipe along the border of the site, and you can’t dig it closer to the carriageway and pedestrian part of the street.
What do you recommend?
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As an option, drain “clean” water from a septic tank into a ditch or storm sewer. If necessary, lay a pipe f100-150 from the septic tank to the ditch. Take care of proper insulation of the pipe, otherwise it will freeze in the winter.If the septic tank is understated and water does not flow by gravity into the ditch, you will have to use a pump. Do not worry - it will not often work.
Think about whether you have properly organized the collection of sewage. In the septic tank - only water from the toilet. That water which is in a toilet bowl tank is quite enough for functioning of a septic tank. Drains from the shower, kitchen, and especially the washing machine will soon be “washed away” by the septic tank. Household chemicals kill the microflora of a septic tank. Direct all these waters through the pipe straight into the ditch. If neighbors have a complaint, make the grease catcher closer to the ditch.
Make sure that the septic tank does not empty during the season of elevated groundwater levels - it will surface. Yes, and that happens.
Good luck.
Good afternoon, Olga. The Tver septic tank model is quite successful and is well suited for high groundwater. It does not require special maintenance, producing biological treatment of effluents up to 95-98%.
There are various modifications designed for permanent use from 1-2 to 18 people. Perhaps in your case, the model that does not have the necessary bandwidth was initially selected.
It’s bad that you did not indicate the level of groundwater and the septic tank operation scheme now. It is difficult to give competent advice without this data. I assume your system has the form shown in Figure 1.
Two problems can be suggested:
1. The operation of the drainage pump. From your words, “When the pump does not work, the water level drops slightly, that is, some kind of filtration occurs, but not enough”, I got the feeling that it works almost constantly. This should not be. The pump is equipped with a float and, when filling the tertiary sump, completely pumps the treated effluents out of the chamber. The new content does not happen so fast that you even notice its work. This is subject to the correct septic tank volume.
Suppose the sump is full and the well is empty. The pump does not pump out the entire volume, but only overflow. The moment you actively begin to use water in the house, exactly the same volume moves into the well. The capacity of the well is 250 liters and you fill it in a few hours. Soil, not having a large water absorption, does not allow to leave such a volume in a natural way for such a short period of time.
2. A small volume of the well. Again, soil water absorption is unknown. A test should be carried out at the calculated level of the bottom of the well. Based on the result, establish such a volume and shape of the tank (well) that would allow the estimated amount of treated effluents to go into the soil without problem.
Given that this is a summer residence and does not imply permanent residence, the problem could have been solved in this way.
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By providing specific soil at the design stage, as well as without daily use of sewage, an unpleasant situation could be avoided. Details on how to install a septic tank model “Tver” can be found in this article. Dumping from a well into a ditch is an ideal solution, but due to its absence, they suggested the only possible way - to dig their own. It is more correct to call not a ditch in this case, but a boundary. It is better to run along the perimeter of the fence with a width of 15-20 cm. At the same depth. A more suitable form in Figure 2.
Solve two problems:
1. Drain the area well.
2. Solve the main problem, flooding around the well.
Since excavation work would be required, I would advise immediately to draw the conclusion of the effluents from the filtration well in between. Schematically in figure 3.
It is necessary to take into account the bias into the inside of the well in order to avoid freezing of the liquid in winter (the pipe will remain dry, the residues will gravitate back) and the installation of an additional drainage pump with a float already in the well itself. The boundary device is allowed by law to be carried out completely around the perimeter.