Types of local sewerage structures

Many people associate local sewage in a private house with a concrete well that exudes unpleasant odors and requires periodic pumping. However, the sewage system can be absolutely safe, convenient and invisible. You still have to take care of it, but you will need to do it less often, which will significantly reduce costs and time for maintenance.

The principle of operation of an autonomous sewage system

Not all new settlements or dacha complexes are equipped with a central sewerage system, and drains from the toilet, bathroom and kitchen need to be disposed of somewhere. Depending on how much time you plan to spend in the house or in the country, you can install an autonomous sewage system.

The principle of its operation is as follows:

• From every household appliance that uses water - a washing machine or dishwasher - drains are piped to the central riser. The same goes for the toilet, bath, sinks.
• Dirty water flows down the central riser into an outer pipe located at a slope. Then it flows into a sump, a two-chamber septic tank, a cesspool.
• In the cesspool, the biological decomposition of liquids can occur or it is simply taken out by a sewer truck.

Methods for cleaning a cesspool or septic tank are different. Depends on the scheme of the sewage system. There are methods:

• Chemical. With the help of reagents, solids precipitate, the liquid is pumped out and disposed of. The method is rarely used, because the drugs are expensive and mostly poisonous. After them, you can not use more environmentally friendly methods, since the harmful environment will kill the bacteria.
• Biological. Based on the work of anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms. There is a technology for producing gas and organic fertilizer from the faeces of farm animals. It is mainly used on large farms and completely recycles waste. The house and outbuildings are heated by the methane produced.
• Mechanical. This is the simplest way, based on regular pumping of wastewater and their removal off site. Not the most environmentally friendly and profitable, but simple and cheap. You can do it yourself without any help.

Which sewage system to choose for a private house or summer cottage depends on the budget and technical capabilities.

Advantages and disadvantages of an autonomous sewage system

Even the newest technologies have their drawbacks. Firstly, they are expensive and require preliminary calculations carried out by specialists. Expensive constructions are a consumption of materials and labor remuneration of workers. But if you live in a private house permanently, then there is no other way out - you need to make a two or three-chamber well and filtration fields in order to less often order a car and take out waste. It is better when the wastewater from the toilet enters a separate septic tank and is processed by bacteria, and the water with chemicals will be in another sump.

If possible, you should get some benefit from the recycled fluid. If the budget allows, it is recommended to buy equipment for methane production or to make fertilizers for the vegetable garden using biotechnology.

The storm water drain must not be mixed with faeces. A large amount of precipitation can lead to overflow of the septic tank and their spill over the site.In addition, rainwater can be collected and used in hot weather to water garden plants.

The advantage of installing a stand-alone system is the environmental friendliness of the environment. In some types of sewage systems, there is not even a smell and it is not visible on the site, since the hatches are painted in the color of grass and are hidden by vegetation. It doesn't matter when they plan to start a centralized system - people can count on the comfort and uninterrupted operation of their own sewerage system.

Types of structures

Local sewer systems are distinguished by the complexity of the design, the method of waste processing. The arrangement of cesspools as a septic tank is prohibited by law. With an open bottom or walls, untreated water enters groundwater and poisons drinking wells. This method can only be used for rarely used outdoor toilets, which do not get chemistry. Waste is utilized with biological preparations of aerobic bacteria, which turn them into fertilizers for the soil. A few years after the constant operation of the cesspool of an unpressurized pit, its walls cease to absorb liquids and it is necessary to change the place for the septic tank.

When using a cesspool for a private house, you will have to strictly control the flow of water, which is not very convenient if you live there permanently. A container that fills quickly requires frequent pumping out, which forces residents to spend money on a car.

Storage tanks

This is a sealed and environmentally friendly way of arranging the sewage system. It consists in installing a plastic container of any volume in the ground. The only advantage is in the cleanliness of the site and space saving. Water consumption will also have to be taken into account in everyday life, as well as often remove wastewater.

If you install a fiberglass container, it will last over 50 years.

Mechanical septic tank

This is the most optimal system in terms of value for money and comfort, as well as environmental friendliness. The principle of operation is based on step-by-step wastewater treatment. Septic tanks consist of 2, 3, less often - 4 containers. Getting into the first tank, heavy coarse particles settle to the bottom, water is poured into the next compartment. And so on until it is completely cleansed. In multi-chamber systems, the degree of water purity before entering the ground is about 98%.

Special solutions of bacteria are added to septic tanks to speed up the processing of organic matter and destroy the smell. But here you need to choose the right drug, since not all microorganisms are able to break down chemistry. There is an option to use special detergents that do not contain chemicals, but they are expensive - this must be taken into account.

The septic tanks are located underground, which saves space. Water is supplied by gravity, that is, the system does not depend on electricity.

Disadvantages:

• If, after multi-stage filtration, the liquid enters the filtration fields, then sooner or later they become clogged and it is necessary to change the drainage layer and the soil above it.
• The construction is expensive, especially if the installation is carried out by specialists.
• Control is required of how much solids have collected at the bottom and when they need to be disposed of.

The more compartments there are, the cleaner the outlet water is. If biological methods of post-treatment are used, then it is possible to divert wastewater into a reservoir.

One of the types of septic tanks is a biological treatment station. This is essentially the same equipment, only designed for the work of microorganisms that are in biologically active sludge. Such systems are most often installed in entire villages. They are volatile, as they have pumps, monitors for control, sensors. It is expensive to install a biological treatment plant for one private house, so summer residents cooperate to buy equipment.Many firms produce fully equipped equipment for private local objects - all that remains is to order, buy, bring to the site and install. The most famous are Topas, Unilos, Losbel, Eurobion.

The main criteria for choosing a sewage system for a private house

For the separate arrangement of household, storm and drainage sewerage systems, a considerable investment of funds and labor will be required: renting equipment for digging trenches and holes, building materials - containers and pipes, professional workers who will draw up a project and control the progress of the process. It is also not recommended to save on home sewage, since these communications will have to be used constantly.

Depending on the type of soil, a completely sealed structure or a septic tank with an open bottom is chosen. On sandy soils, the liquid is absorbed faster, and on clay soils, the process takes a long time and overflow may occur.

The selection criterion is the material from which the sewer is made. Better and more reliable if it is made of synthetic plastic pipes. They are lighter in weight, cheaper, but are not inferior in strength to metal, cast iron or concrete.

Installation rules for autonomous systems

If you make an autonomous sewage system on your own, you need to adhere to the following rules:

• before starting work, a plan and markup of the site should be drawn up, the location of the well should be determined;
• start work with the arrangement of internal wiring, which is brought out;
• then earthworks go on - trenches, pits, measurements of the slope of pipes, after which the internal system is connected to the external one and tested;
• after checking the work, a sand pillow is poured under the pipes, covered with soil and tamped.

After the installation is completed, the site is decorated: tiles or stone are laid. In places where observation shafts are located, it is recommended to make a mark in the form of a colored stone or something bright.

Features of operation and maintenance

If the pipes are laid correctly and made of durable material, it will not be necessary to repair the sewer soon. In case of blockages, you can get inside the pipes using a cable, but this rarely happens, since the plastic has smooth walls and the adhesion of dirt is possible only in the absence of a slope.

Once a year, it is recommended to use special preparations for odor elimination: Dr. Robik, Vodogray, Tamir, Yunibak.

The price of a local sewage system for a country house depends on the area of ​​the site and the number of drainage points inside the building. The type of sewer also matters. It is much cheaper to build with your own hands from scrap materials than professional reliable durable systems.