A cesspool is the simplest device for accumulating household waste. However, its installation requires compliance with safety standards. Bacteria in wastewater can lead to poisoning or infection if they somehow enter the human body - through drinking water or vegetables grown on the site.
Regulatory Requirements
Green spaces will also suffer from excess moisture. The assimilation of some nutrients is impaired, and the root system simply rots from lack of oxygen. You need to choose a place for a future cesspool, observing the rules:
- Do not place near sources of drinking water, especially wells, the depth of which coincides with the depth of the groundwater. The artesian well is powered by other sources, so the close location of the septic tank does not harm it. The cesspool should be at least 30 meters from the well.
- You can not place a pit near a dwelling, especially if it is not sealed, but has an open bottom. This also applies to storm sewers, for which concrete perforated rings are often chosen. The water is clear, but it can erode the foundation. The septic tank is dug at a distance of more than 5 meters from the nearest wall.
- When arranging a leaky pit, the properties of the soil are taken into account. Sand is better at absorbing waste and filtering it. Clay practically does not allow moisture to pass through, therefore, on loams it is better to make the bottom closed. On this score, you need to consult with geologists or entrust the sewerage device to professionals.
- The volume is calculated based on the number of people living in the house. On average, this figure is 150 l / day, excluding the washing machine and dishwasher.
- A simple septic tank will have to be periodically pumped out and taken out, so the place should be available for a large sewer truck. There are options when the main storage is done at the end of the site, and the second septic tank is closer to the road. To pump waste, a fecal pump is installed.
- So that the smell of the sewage system does not bother the residents, it is necessary to provide a sealed cover. The concrete version allows the stench to pass through, so it's better to buy a plastic one.
The walls of the cesspool should not let waste into the ground, so they are additionally rubbed with cement mortar.
It is important to comply with these requirements also because there are special regulatory authorities that can issue a fine or demand to correctly make a sewer pit in a private house, based on existing standards.
Types and arrangement of cesspools in private houses
- Eternal septic tank. This is a single-chamber structure with an open bottom, where excess liquid is absorbed. Solid waste can be recycled with bacteria-based products and used as organic fertilizer on site. This is not dangerous, on the contrary, it contributes to an increase in the amount of humus in the soil. One condition is necessary - that the soil absorbs water well.
- Two or three chambered concrete pits. This is an improved version. In the first compartment, solid waste is stored, in the second and third compartments, the liquid is purified and absorbed into the ground.Such a structure should rarely be cleaned and removed. On average, this happens once a year.
- Home biological treatment plant. This is a more expensive facility, but the purity of the outlet water reaches 98%. This liquid can be discharged into a body of water without harming the environment or fish. The effluent is purified by the activity of microorganisms that process organic matter. The station operates in automatic mode, but it requires power consumption. It is more profitable to do such objects with the joint efforts of several residents in order to reduce the cost of sewerage.
- Plastic constructions. Purchased septic tanks are lightweight and can be installed and connected independently without the use of construction equipment.
In some cases, residents lay out a brick drain pit, which takes more time and also requires sealing with cement mortar. A temporary budget option that is more suitable for a country toilet is a septic tank made of car tires. In this case, you should not rely on tightness.
Designing and carrying out the necessary calculations
If there is an unforeseen delay in disposal, the pit must be made with a margin. According to the norms, its depth cannot be more than 2.5 m, therefore it is recommended to make two containers so that the remainder flows into the next one and is absorbed into the soil there.
Before buying materials, they calculate how many meters of pipes it will take to arrange the highway, taking into account the slope. Then they mark the site and the junction of the internal sewage system with the external one.
There should be no sharp turns and changes in height. If it is impossible to do otherwise, inspection wells must be installed in such places, through which you can carry out maintenance and clean blockages.
Required tools and materials
Depending on what material the cesspool will be made of - light or heavy - it is necessary to prepare the tools.
In any case, you will need a building level to horizontally level the containers. For plastic and concrete structures, you will have to fill the bottom with cement mortar. It is advisable to lay down the reinforced mesh so that the movement of the soil does not damage the platform.
For heavy structures, you will need a crane during installation, and an excavator for digging a trench. It will be difficult to do this by hand with a shovel.
Long rope and pegs are needed to mark the trenches to accurately define the pit boundaries.
Installation steps
After all the preparatory measures, earthworks begin - digging a pit with a margin along the walls, concreting the bottom and installing a plastic or concrete septic tank. To make it convenient to pump out the drains, the bottom is made at an angle.
It is necessary to calculate the depth of the pit and trench for the pipe so that the inlet coincides with the pipe. Next, concrete rings are installed using options with locks or simple products. For plastic containers, you need to strengthen the walls so that the soil does not damage the container. For this, the walls are poured with concrete and reinforced. Alternatively, a mesh of reinforcement around the container.
The joints between the concrete rings are sealed with water-repellent mortars or cement. The inlet must also be sealed so that the leaking liquid does not get into the ground.
When constructing two or three septic tanks in a row, it is necessary to ensure that the inlet pipe of the first tank is above the overflow hole in the second.The same goes for the second and third containers.
To eliminate the risk of waste getting into the soil between the walls of the septic tank and the ground, a hydraulic lock is made of clay. It does not allow moisture to pass through, therefore it is well suited for this purpose. Wet clay is applied in a layer of about 10 cm around the container and carefully tamped. The rest of the space is covered with sand and soil.
Calculation of the scheme of the cesspool device for a house with permanent residence and its installation within 1 - 2 days will cost the owner an average of 50 thousand rubles, taking into account consumables - concrete rings and floor slabs, hatch covers, materials for insulation.
The price also includes delivery of materials and installation. Prices may differ depending on the type of soil and installation features, as well as the distance over which building materials must be delivered.
