Methods for pumping out a cesspool

The placement and construction of a cesspool on a land plot largely depends on how it will be cleaned. This question should be puzzled already at the planning stage. You need to assess your ability to provide adequate care. After all, untimely pumping and overflow of the pit can cause significant harm to the ecology of the surrounding area and people - to cause the development of harmful bacteria and the accumulation of toxic substances. What pumping methods exist, in which cases can they be used and how to determine the time of the procedure?

How to know when it's time to pump out a hole

The pumping out time depends on the type of the cesspool itself:

1. If the tank is built according to all the rules of an autonomous sewage system: it consists of two interconnected tanks connected by an outlet pipe (one sealed and the second with a filtering layer). In this case, to determine the pumping time, you need to check the level of deposits in the pit with an ordinary wooden stick. The stick, the length of which should be at least the height of the tank, must be lowered to the very bottom, then get it out and visually determine the level. It should be no more than 1/3 of the depth. In this case, the operation of the sewerage system is possible without restrictions. The excess of the level of dense masses, reaching almost to the outlet pipe, is an indicator for the termination of the use of the septic tank and its cleaning.
2. A sealed container requires termination of operation when it is completely filled. This can be determined visually by simply looking into the reservoir.

Pumping frequency

The frequency of the procedure depends not only on the type of pit, but also on its volume, as well as the degree of load. For example, a small tank located in a summer cottage, which is very rarely used, can be cleaned every 6 months. A small pit of constant use, it is recommended to pump out every month.

There are often cases when the filling rate begins to increase, and pumping is required more and more often. The reason may be:

• insufficient care of the sewer system: rare cleansing, which leads to the formation of a massive layer of solid deposits;
• silting of the drainage layer;
• winter period - freezing of the soil, the reservoir itself;
• spring-autumn periods - rise in the level of groundwater.

The most common cause is siltation, which results in water accumulation in the pipeline. It is possible to determine the contamination of the cesspool, the need for pumping out, not only by the increase in its filling, but also by the unpleasant odor that appears in the adjacent territory.

The problem of filling the cesspool can be solved by pumping out the accumulated sewage, flushing the walls and bottom, treating with chemicals or replacing the drainage layer.

Pumping methods

With your own hands

The sump can be pumped out on your own. The problem of self-cleaning consists in a large amount of time spent and the need to remove waste to specially designated places for disposal. To transport the contents, you need to purchase a sealed barrel with a lid, which you will have to take out in your car or order another car.

Manual way

Requires minimal cash costs, takes a long time. The procedure is not pleasant, so it is necessary to prepare unnecessary clothes that you do not mind throwing out later (or a protective suit), rubber gloves, a respirator for breathing protection.You will also need a bucket with a tied rope and a container into which the waste will be drained. With the help of a bucket, the contents of the pit are poured into a prepared tank.

This method is possible only for small-volume tanks. It is used in suburban areas remote from the centers, with periodic residence. This is the most "ancient", unpopular method. Unpleasant work, which, once done, they are trying to find more acceptable options.

Special pump

Manual cleaning of a sump with a bucket does not completely get rid of waste. It is possible to pump out sewage to the very bottom using special pumps.

It is allowed to use the following types of equipment:

1. Water pump. It should be used very carefully. It is not suitable for pumping solids. Therefore, it is recommended to install an additional filter in order to protect the equipment from overload and keep it working.
2. Fecal pump. Manufacturers offer a variety of models, from low-power semi-automatic units to automatic units equipped with chopping knives that can handle large volumes of large solids.

If the pit is small and fills quickly, then an automatic pump should be preferred, which does not need to be removed to the surface. Such a unit does not require human participation; it can be constantly kept in a pit. When the contents of the pit reach a certain level, it automatically starts filtering and pumping out waste.

Pumping is carried out into a prepared tank for storage and further removal of sewage. After that, the drain pit is filled with water and pumped out again. This is necessary to completely clean the walls and bottom.

Before pumping out, it is recommended to liquefy the contents of the pit in order to facilitate the work of the equipment. This is especially true when using a water pump. For this, chemical or biological preparations are used that accelerate the decomposition process:

• Chemicals quickly decompose feces, turning them into a liquid. There is a sharp decrease in the total mass of deposits.
• Biological products contain bacteria that feed on organic waste. They break down organic matter into water, carbon dioxide and a small amount of sludge, which settles in a small amount to the bottom. The constant use of these drugs can significantly reduce the number of pumping out of sewage.

Waste disposal machine

The simplest, most demanded and expensive way of pumping out a cesspool is the service of a sewer. The sewage truck is equipped with a tank, a pump and a long hose, with the help of which a quick and high-quality cleaning of the sewer tank is carried out. This method is preferred due to the mass of advantages:

• Convenience: the call of special equipment is carried out by phone, on the required day and time. The owner of the house only needs to provide access to the cesspool and control the quality of pumping. Working with the same sewage company, making sure of the quality of the services provided, even the need for control may disappear.
• Comfort: the owner of the house is spared from participating in a complex of lengthy and unpleasant work.
• Speed: depending on the volume of the cesspool, the age of the previous pumping out, the required time for cleaning takes from 15 to 30 minutes.
• Possibility of pumping out large volumes: from 3 to 16 m3.
• Pit flushing is also possible with a machine by re-injecting the liquid.
• There is no need to take care of the disposal of sewage. Waste disposal companies must have contracts with disposal sites.

It is impossible to use the services of a sewer truck only in cases where there is no access road to the sewer hatch. It should also be borne in mind that the hose of the machine must reach the very bottom, otherwise complete cleaning will be impossible.Therefore, it is recommended to position the septic tank so that the equipment can approach the pumping point as close as possible. This method may not be cheap for owners of plots located at a remote distance from urban centers, where companies providing services for this special equipment are located.

Many owners of summer cesspools of small volume also use the services of calling special equipment. But to save the budget, they combine this method with manual cleaning, accumulating waste in tanks. After accumulating a sufficient amount, the sewers pump out sewage not only from the pit, but also from the storage tank.