Choosing the best septic tank for a country house

In country private houses, and even more so in summer cottages, there is practically no centralized sewage system. In this case, each homeowner decides what to do with the wastewater on their own. Differences in design, installation and wastewater treatment require serious selection. Therefore, let's consider the options and make a choice - which septic tank is better for a private house.

Types of septic tanks

This is a plastic, fiberglass or concrete container in which wastewater is processed. There are various design and technical solutions that affect the efficiency of the installation and ease of maintenance.

Device types

Let's immediately understand the types of septic tanks. They are accumulative and with anaerobic purification. Accumulative is just a sealed container from which waste is removed by a sewer truck. Septic tanks with anaerobic wastewater treatment are already wastewater treatment plants (VOCs), although they also require additional treatment on the ground or in filtration fields.

Storage septic tanks

These are sealed tanks of different capacities. The device consists of one compartment into which sewage flows. The main role is reduced to the function of collecting waste, which is pumped out by a sewage truck with a period depending on the number of people living in the house.

Septic tank Termit

The disadvantage in the form of the need for pumping is compensated by a number of positive points, these are:

• Cheap.
• Takes up little space on the site.
• There is no need for a post-treatment system that takes up additional space.
• You do not need to focus on salvo discharges from home.
• Safe for the environment.
• Autonomy and non-volatility.

disadvantages

• We need a free entrance for the car.
• The need for pumping.
• Pumping payment.

Septic tank

Consists of several cameras. There may be two of them, but more often there are three, and in each there is a wastewater treatment. Let's consider how drains are cleaned using the example of a two-chamber septic tank. The design may vary slightly, but the principle of operation remains the same.

Septic tank

Sewage from the house (1) falls into the first chamber. As a result of settling and fermentation, heavy fractions precipitate (3), and light fractions rise upward. Here, anaerobic bacteria multiply and decompose organic debris.

The cleanest runoff is in the middle. It is here that the overflow is made and the drains enter the second chamber. Here the process with the work of anaerobic bacteria continues. Further, relatively clean water rises to the outlet (4) and goes to further post-treatment.

To obtain the best result, three chambers are made, and even a mechanical filter is installed in front of the outlet pipe. Septic tanks purify wastewater by 50-75%, additional treatment is necessary for great results.

Pros:

• Good purity.
• Reliable construction.
• No electricity needed.

Minuses:

• When installing, take into account the types of soil.
• You need a permit to operate.
• It is necessary to periodically clean the first compartment from sediments.
• Increased area of ​​the underground part including infiltrates and drainage wells.
• The need to buy bacteria and in some cases biofilters.

Biological purification systems

More complex multi-chamber systems for a country house, called biostations, can purify wastewater by 96-97%.That allows them to be dumped into the ground or reservoir. This high quality of cleaning is provided by aerobic bacteria with forced air enrichment (aeration). Such bioremediation systems can have a compressor or even two for air injection, as well as pumps for transferring to tanks.

Bioseptic for a country house is the best choice

Pros:

• compactness;
• no additional treatment required;
• infrequent cleaning and pumping;
• installation in any soil.

Minuses:

• you need an electrical network for the operation of aerators;
• complex service;
• a ban on the use of certain chemicals to prevent the death of aerobes.
• high price.

Based on this, choosing a septic tank for a small country house or summer cottage, where the residence is inconstant, a reasonable solution would be - a septic tank. Here are the options sewerage devices in the country.

For country houses, the best solution would be a bio-purification station. A storage septic tank is also a good solution with the possibility of regular and inexpensive pumping.

Selection options for a country house

There are also important selection criteria - this is the material of construction, the amount of drains and the type of soil with the level of groundwater.

Materials

• Concrete. A durable self-assembly option using formwork.
• Rings. Strong. We need special equipment and sealing during assembly. How to make septic tank made of concrete rings.
• Brick construction. Sealing required. Complex installation.
• Plastic containers. Lightweight, durable, but can be damaged by rodents. Destroyed at low temperatures.
• Metallic. Sealed, durable. Corroded, need protection.
• Fiberglass. Lightweight, durable, long-lasting. Does not crack in frost.

Soil type and GWL

Soil parameters and water table also affect the choice. On soils that absorb water well and up to a groundwater level of more than 1 meter, it is better to put a sump with a drainage well.

And on soils with poor absorbency, you cannot make a post-treatment system. And as an option, a septic tank or a biostation is better. It is also worth doing with a large GWL.

Overall dimensions

The size of the septic tank is also calculated from the number of drains. It is generally accepted that there are 200 liters per person per day. And based on the norms, the capacity of the septic tank is calculated for the 3 day rate of each resident, plus a 30% supply.

From here, another choice is made, so with drains less than 1 m3, a single-chamber septic tank is chosen. Less than 10 m3 - two-chamber, and if more than 10 m3 then three-chamber. Self-made devices are calculated at random.

Review of popular septic tanks

Do not rely on this review as a rating. This is a description of the popular bioseptics on the market.

Septic Tank

The body is made of polypropylene, additional rigidity is given by thicker vertical ribs (wall thickness 10 mm, rib thickness - 17 mm). The neck is welded to the body, as a result the seam is almost monolithic. Manufacturers say that the internal structure is designed so that the effluent is 70-75% purified. This is a very good indicator.

Septic Tank: appearance

Installation is simple, there is no anchoring or other measures to prevent surfacing. With strict adherence to the installation rules, the septic tank does not float even with a high level of groundwater.

If we talk about the model range, the Tank-mini is suitable for servicing 1-3 people, and there are for 10-35 and even 150. So there will be no problems with choosing the required performance.

Septic tanks Termit

The internal structure of the Termit septic tank is very similar to the Tank described above. Only its walls are thicker. This is not only the manufacturer's words - it is felt by weight.

Features:

• The caps do not twist, but simply slip on.
• In the last chamber, in the filtering cone, pumice is poured (from below, it is placed in the nets) and gravel (it is placed in the nets on pumice, serves not only for final purification, but also for holding expanded clay). A “beard” is attached to the bottom of the camera - a special fabric “algae” with a colony of bacteria.All this improves cleaning, the effluent is light at the outlet.
• There is a difference in installation. When installing in an area with a high groundwater level, a reinforced concrete slab must be installed or poured onto the bottom of the excavation, to which the VOCs must be attached. Otherwise, the setup is exactly the same as that of the Tank.

• 

  Septic tank Termit - traditional solution, thicker walls

If we talk about reviews, the owners talk about the high quality of workmanship - everything is done with high quality, the performance is solid, the neck seams are neat, the pipes are welded well. If the installation is done according to the instructions, there are no problems during operation.

Septic Mole - interesting solutions

The manufacturer of this type of equipment is the Kirov company Aquamaster. Septic Mole looks different from those described above. This is a smooth cylindrical body, to which the necks are welded (there is a standard equipment, but if you wish, you can make the neck higher or lower). Each unit is equipped with two covers - the outer one to protect it from precipitation, the inner one, insulated with expanded polypropylene foam, will protect it from freezing.

Vertical septic tank Mole

Standard septic tanks Mole

There are two versions - vertical and horizontal. The horizontal ones for easy installation have a flat bottom, at the bottom they are equipped with an extended “skirt”, which prevents the tank from floating up at a large GWL. Also "skirts" can be in vertical models. If you have an anti-float device, you do not need to attach to a concrete slab.

These models look, maybe not as impressive as the Tank or Termite, but for 7 years of production they have not had a single case of destruction of the container, and this says something.

Septic tank Mole with anti-surfacing device

If we talk about the internal structure, then the Mole can be two or three-chambered. Better three-chamber - a large degree of cleaning. In general, these manufacturers have very interesting solutions:

• With a large number of gray drains (from a bath, from a bathroom, etc.), it is possible to bring them directly into the second chamber, bypassing the first (it is possible to weld the inlet pipe).
• The inlet and outlet pipes from the tank are available for cleaning - if necessary, the blockage can be removed.
• If it is impossible to determine the exact place of entry of the sewer pipe from the house, an adapter is installed on the inlet pipe, which makes it possible to change the angle of entry.
• When overflowing from the first to the second chamber, the drains are additionally cleaned - a biofilter is installed there.
• A filter is installed in the third chamber to clarify the treated wastewater.
• If necessary, a pump can be installed in the third chamber (you can put it on the filter bed, or you can weld a shelf). This is useful for high GWL when pumping to an intermediate well or filtration fields is required.
• To prevent the septic tank from flooding with groundwater, it is possible to install a sewage check valve at the outlet.

Horizontal model

These are all standard solutions for a septic tank Mole. Quite a good set of options that allows you to get equipment by making this choice.

Special solutions

There are two options for the Mole septic tank, which differ in the principle of operation: a composting septic tank and a natural cleaning complex. The composting septic tank Mole in the inlet chamber has two additional storage tanks for solid fractions and a grease trap. The effluent goes directly to the storage for solid fractions, where most of them remain. Then they are poured into the grease trap, where light components remain. Already partially purified water enters the first compartment and goes through a full cleaning cycle.

These additional containers are removable. When they are filled, they are taken out, the contents are buried in the ground away from the site. After some time, the collected waste is processed by microorganisms and worms living in the soil.

What does such a device give? With this method of disposal, a sewer truck has to be called up once every 3-5 years.Take out the accumulated waste - once every three months, with a service of three people.

The Mole natural cleansing complex works as described above. It differs in volume and is suitable for a small country house, a detached building, which has a toilet. In general, the solutions are really worth considering.

Installation features

If the Mole is used with a “skirt” against surfacing, it is not necessary to additionally attach it to a concrete slab. Backfilling - according to the manufacturer's recommendation - with clean sand. Filling with a mixture of sand and cement is prohibited. There are no other features. In general, we can conclude that VOC Mole for a home or summer cottage is a good choice.

Septic Rostock - a unique overflow system

This specimen differs not so much in its external structure as in its internal structure. The tank is divided into two chambers, but the second one has a still horizontal perforated partition, on which a filtering layer is laid. From the upper part of the second chamber, clarified wastewater goes for additional treatment (without this, they cannot be dumped onto the ground).

Design features

For the final purification of effluents, the manufacturer has a filter in which expanded clay is used as a filter element. Such a pair, according to the manufacturer, provides 90-95% purification.

Septic tank Rostock - internal structure

There are several unique solutions in this design:

• • A flow damper installed at the inlet. This is a pipe through which drains come from the entrance. It is not solid, it has a cut out sector directed from the side opposite from the partition. Thus, manufacturers make the drainage path longer.
  • The overflow from the first chamber to the second also has an unusual shape. This is a thin layer module. Its structure is not specified anywhere, but the overflow occurs from the bottom / up, which reduces the amount of suspended matter entering the second chamber.
  • The second chamber contains a tee with overflow pipes installed at an angle. Water rises along them from the bottom to the top. Due to the nature of the movement of water, less contaminants enter the inclined pipes.

Septic tank Rostock - internal structure

As you can see, this design also has interesting solutions. Operational experience suggests that they work, cleaning at the outlet of the septic tank is quite normal.

Installation nuances

To protect this structure from surfacing, it is necessary to dig niches on the sides of the pit (the dimensions are traditionally 20-30 cm larger than the dimensions of the septic tank), into which the anchors are installed. Most often these are curb stones with ribbon cables attached to them (the usual ones do not fit). The ends of these cables are fixed around the body.

Sand filling with spillage

Backfilling is carried out using sand while filling the container. Water is immediately poured into the filter cup (gray container), then into the main chamber. Sand is poured in layers, shedding it for compaction.

Concrete septic tank Aspen

This type of local sewage system differs from all others in the material of the body - it is made of concrete. With a high groundwater level, this can be useful - it will not push out, and concrete is stronger.

Manufacturers position this structure as a mechanical and biological installation. A biological component is added to the usual septic waste processing using anaerobic bacteria and fermentation. Manufacturers recommend adding a certain amount of bacteria to the sewer every two weeks (flush it down the drain through the toilet or sink). They recommend the French "Biosept", which they themselves also sell, but not against the use of other drugs.

The structure of the concrete septic tank Aspen

Manufacturers say that the septic tank will have to be pumped out in 3-5 years. In principle, this is possible - bacteria significantly reduce the amount of sediment. But no one bothers to use them in other treatment plants.

Aspen appearance

In this brand, you can choose from three models - for 6 people (up to 1 m3 / day), for 12 people (up to 2 m3 / day) and for 18 people (up to 3 m3 / day). As you can see, there is no model for small houses.

Installing it will be expensive. Firstly, the costs of transportation, and secondly, for installation, since it can be installed in the pit only with a crane. But the case is certainly reliable, and the system itself is simple and reliable, but nothing special is different.

Installing a homemade septic tank

The choice of this option is sometimes justified. This saves money. But before construction, you need to obtain permission from the SES, and during construction, observe the norms of SNiP.

Outcome

For a small house or a house with temporary residence, it is better to choose a small storage capacity. Septic tanks, complemented by a post-treatment system, are suitable if soils and groundwater permit.

Biological treatment plants are best chosen for homes with permanent residence. But for the most part, it all depends on the desire of the owner and his capabilities.

It is up to you to decide what is best for your home. Please read the design carefully before purchasing. In addition to the principle of operation, pay attention to the fact that the installation is convenient in service.