SEPTIC TANK &

SOAK PITS
B U I L D I N G S E RV I C E S
YEAR – 2018-19

B Y S W A P N I L PA U L
 INTRODUCTION
• Septic tank is the underground, onsite, small scale sewage treatment
setup, which collects the sewage for the decomposition activity by
bacterial action. Sewage is a collection of waste water from
domestic purposes or commercial purposes or industrial purposes.
• These sewage produce environmental pollutions such as marine
environmental distract, bad odour to the living environment, ground
& surface water pollution and also many diseases. As to overcome
this sewage should be treated.
• when a personal (domestic or commercial) sewage is not connected
to the public sewage system then there is a need for septic tank to
treat the sewage and those septic tanks are need to be drained
using an equipment from public or private sewage cleaning sectors
(although the septic tanks are fully water tight, there is a man hole
for the cleaning purpose) unless it treated with soakage pit.
TYPES
DESIGN CONDITIONS
• In unsewered areas, every house should have arrangements for its
sewage being treated in a septic tank, effluent from which should be
given secondary treatment either in a biological filter, up flow, anaerobic
filter, on the land or in a sub-surface disposal system.
• Surface and subsoil water should not find way into the septic ‘tank.
• Under no circumstances should effluent from a septic tank be allowed
into an open channel drain or body of water without adequate
treatment.
• Wastes containing excessive detergents, grease and disinfectants should
not be treated in septic tank as they adversely affect the anaerobic
decomposition.
• Where the incoming drain is steep due to site conditions, the last
section of the drain, at least 12 m in length should not be laid at a
gradient not steeper than 1 : 50 in order to minimize turbulence in the
tank.
DESIGN CONDITIONS
• For practical considerations, a minimum nominal diameter of
100 mm is recommended.
• The pipes should be laid, as far as possible, in straight lines in
both vertical and horizontal planes; however, where bends
are unavoidable, they should be long radius bend with
cleaning eyes. Anything that is likely to cause irregularity of
flow should be avoided.
• At junctions of pipes in manholes, direction of flow from a
branch connection should not make an angle exceeding 45’
with the direction of flow in the main pipe.
LOCATION

• Septic tank should be located

at a place open to sky, as far
away as possible from the
exterior of the wall of building
and should not be located in
swampy areas or areas prone
to flooding. It should also be
accessible for cleaning.
DESIGN
1. SEWAGE FLOW
• The maximum flow to the tank is based on the number of
plumbing fixtures discharging simultaneously.
• The estimated number of fixture units and the number of
fixture units that contribute to the peak discharge in
small installations serving up to 20 persons, for residential
housing colonies up to 300 persons and for hostels and
boarding schools are given :-
2. SEDIMENTATION
• The surface area of the tank required will be O-92 m2
for every 10 litres per minute of peak flow rate at a
temperature of 25C
• A minimum depth of sedimentation shall be 250 to 300
mm.
DESIGN
3. SLUDGE DIGESTION
• Per capita suspended solids entering the tank
may be taken as 70 g/day.
• Volume of digested sludge is normally 0.000
21 m3 per capita per day.
4. DETENTION TIME
• A septic tank designed on the basis of above
3 points provides a detention period of 24 to
48 hours based on an average daily flow of
sewage.
DESIGN
DESIGN
DESIGN
DESIGN
DIMENSIONS
• Septic tank shall have minimum width of 750
mm, minimum depth of one metre below
water level and a minimum liquid capacity of
1000 litres.
• For rectangular septic tanks, the length of the
tank shall be 2 to 4 times the width. Suitable
sizes of septic tanks are at the end.
• For circular tanks the minimum diameter
shall not be less than l.35 m and operating
depth shall not be less than 1.0 m.
CALCULATIONS
• Consider the peak flow of total sewage as 30 L/min for 20 persons
• The area required for sedimentation is 0.92 x 30/10 = 2.76 m2 (when the sewage inflow rate is
10litres per minute).
• The volume needed for sedimentation is 2.76 m3 X 0.3m = 0.828m3.
• Digestion rate is 0.032m3 X 20 = 0.64 m3 (digestion rate per user at 25degree Celsius is
0.032m3).
• Sludge storage volume is 0.073m3 X 20 = 1.46 m3 for one year. ( sludge clearance rate per
person in one year is 0.073m3).
• Space above liquid level is 0.3m depth. So the volume of space above liquid level is 2.76m2 X
0.3 = 0.828m3.
• Hence, total volume of septic tank for 20 person with a sludge clearance period of one year is
= 0.828 + 0.64 + 1.46 + 0.828 = 3.756 m3
DETAILS
1. INLET
• The design of septic tank inlets shall be such as
to introduce the crude sewage with the least
possible disturbance of the settled sludge or the
surface scum.
• The pipe shall be fixed inside the tank, with top
limb rising above scum level and the bottom
limb extending about 300 mm below the top
water level.
• It is important that the invert of the benched
channel be 58 mm above the top water level
and the inlet ends of the submerged bends
should be set flush with the floor of the sump
which should be not less than 75 mm below top
water level.
DETAILS
• The inverts of the outlet ends of these bends should be between 300 and 525 mm below top
water level in the tank.
• A baffle should be provided 150 mm from the inlet end of the tank, extending 150 mm below
the invert of the inlet pipes and 150 mm above the top water level.
• For tanks in excess of 1200 mm in width, two or more submerged inlets are preferable.
 DETAILS
2. OUTLETS
• The final outlet for tanks which are less than 1200 mm wide should be by 100 mm nominal
bore dip-pipe fixed inside the tank with a top limb rising above scum level and the bottom limb
extending to about l/3 of the liquid depth below top water level.
• The invert of the outlet pipe shall be 50 mm below the invert of the inlet pipe.
• A deflector should be formed either in the structure ‘of the end ( outlet ) wall or by a
purpose-made deflector to prevent rising particles from reaching the outlet weir.
• purpose-made deflector to prevent rising particles from reaching the outlet weir. This deflector
should be located 150 mm below the base of the scum board and protrude 150 mm into the
tank
 OTHER DETAILS

3. PARTITIONS
• Where the capacity of a septic tank exceeds 2 000 litres, the tank may be divided into two
chambers by means of a fixed durable partition.
• The partition shall be located so that the capacity of the first chamber is twice that of the second
chamber.
• Suitable openings rectangular or circular with minimum dia 100 mm and maximum 150 mm shall be
provided in the partition at approximately 300 mm below TWL.
• For population of over 100, duplicating tanks, each providing half the total calculated capacity
required, should be installed and operated in parallel. This arrangement permits -11 the flow to be
passed through one unit while the other is being desludged. To enable the top water to be decanted
when desludging, a decanting valve should be provided in the wall dividing the two tanks; the invert
of this valve should be 625 mm below TWL
OTHER DETAILS
4. ACCESS OPENINGS AND COVER
• Each compartment of a septic tank shall be provided
with a rectangular access opening measuring, not
less 455 x 610 mm or a circular opening 500 mm
diameter.
• The cover to access openings shall be of reinforced
concrete or of cast iron.
• A cover shall incorporate a suitable lifting device
and when in place after installation of the septic
tank shall fit neatly and be sealed to prevent the
ingress of water.
5. VENTILATING PIPE
• Every septic trek shall be provided with ventilating
pipe of at least 50 mm diameter. The bop of the pipe
shall be provided with a suitable cage of mosquito
proof mesh.
OTHER DETAILS
• The ventilating pipe shall extend to a height
which would cause no smell nuisance to any
building in the area.
• Generally the ventilating pipe may extend to a
height of about 2 m when the septic tank is at
least 20 m away from the nearest building and
to a height of 2 m above the top of the building
when it is located closer than 20 metres.
• The ventilating pipe may also be connected to
the normal ventilating system of the building
where so desired.
 CONSTRUCTION
1. FLOOR
• It is essential that the floor of the tank be water tight and of
adequate strength to resist earth movement and to support
the weight of the tank ,walls and contents.
• The floor may be of cement concrete of minimum M 15 grade
and a minimum slope of 1 : 10 may be provided towards the
sludge outlet to facilitate desludging.
2. WALLS
• The walls should be of such thickness as to provide adequate
strength and water tightness.
• Walls built out of brick should not be less than 200 mm thick
and should be plastered to a minimum thickness of 12 mm
inside and outside with cement mortar not weaker than 1 : 3;
where they are built out of the stone masonry. They should
have a minimum thickness of 370 mm.
 SLUDGE WITHDRAWAL
• Half yearly or yearly desludging of septic tank is lesirable.
• Small domestic tanks, for economic reasons, may be cleaned at least once in 2 years
provided the tank is not overloaded due to use by more than the number for which it is
designed.
• A portion of sludge not less than 25 mm in depth should be left behind in the tank bottom
which acts as the seeding material for the fresh deposits.
• The digested sludge should be withdrawn through a dip pipe of not less than 150 mm dia
under a hydrostatic pressure of at least 450 mm.
• The sludge pipe shall deliver the sludge to the sump and be provided with a delivery valve to
draw the sludge as required.
• Portable pumps may also be used for desludging in which case there will be no need for
sludge pipe or sludge pump. Manual handling of sludge should be avoided.
SLUDGE WITHDRAWAL
• When removal of the sludge is carried out the scum in the first tank should not be disturbed
more than necessary, their scum is needed to ensure efficient operation.
• Sludge from septic tanks may be delivered into covered pits or into a suitable vehicle for
removal from the site. Spreading of sludge on the ground in the vicinity should not be allowed.
COMMISSIONING OF SEPTIC TANK
• The sewerage system should be complete and ready for operation before connection is made
to the building.
• The tank should be filled with water to its outlet level before the sewerage is let into the tank.
It should, preferably, be seeded with small quantities of well digested sludge obtained from
septic tanks or sludge digestion tanks. In absence of digested sludge a small quantity of
decaying organic matter, such as digested cow dung may be introduced.
DISPOSAL OF SEPTIC TANK EFFLUENT

• The septic tank sludge and/or cesspool wastes come only from domestic premises.
• The sludge is discharged at the sewage treatment works into an inlet valve located on an area
that has an impermeable floor capable of containing any spillages and is connected to a sealed
drainage system.
• This drainage system must be designed so that:-
1. it collects all liquid run-off from the impermeable floor; and
2. all liquids entering it are collected in a sealed sump (unless they may legally be discharged).
SOAK PITS
INTRODUCTION
• A soak pit, also known as a soakaway or leach
pit, is a covered, porous-walled chamber that
allows water to slowly soak into the ground.
• Pre-settled effluent from a Collection and
Storage/Treatment or (Semi-) Centralized
Treatment technology is discharged to the
underground chamber from which it infiltrates
into the surrounding soil.
• As wastewater (greywater or blackwater after
primary treatment) percolates through the soil
from the soak pit, small particles are filtered
out by the soil matrix and organics are
digested by microorganisms. Thus, soak pits are
best suited for soil with good absorptive
properties; clay, hard packed or rocky soil is
not appropriate
DESIGN
• The soak pit should be between 1.5
and 4 m deep, but as a rule of thumb,
never less than 2 m above the
groundwater table.
• It should be located at a safe distance
from a drinking water source
• The soak pit should be kept away from
high-traffic areas so that the soil above
and around it is not compacted.
• It can be left empty and lined with a
porous material to provide support
and prevent collapse, or left unlined
and filled with coarse rocks and gravel.
DESIGN

• The rocks and gravel will prevent the walls from collapsing, but will still provide adequate space
for the wastewater.
• In both cases, a layer of sand and fine gravel should be spread across the bottom to help
disperse the flow.
• To allow for future access, a removable (preferably concrete) lid should be used to seal the pit
until it needs to be maintained.
APPROPRIATENESS
• A soak pit does not provide adequate treatment for raw wastewater and the pit will quickly
clog.
• It should be used for discharging pre-settled blackwater or greywater.
• Soak pits are appropriate for rural and peri-urban settlements.
• They depend on soil with a sufficient absorptive capacity. They are not appropriate for areas
prone to flooding or that have high groundwater tables.
HEALTH ASPECTS/ACCEPTANCE
• As long as the soak pit is not used for raw sewage, and as long as the previous Collection and
Storage/Treatment technology is functioning well, health concerns are minimal.
• The technology is located underground and, thus, humans and animals should have no contact
with the effluent. Since the soak pit is odourless and not visible, it should be accepted by even
the most sensitive communities.
OPERATION & MAINTENANCE
• A well-sized soak pit should last between 3
and 5 years without maintenance.
• To extend the life of a soak pit, care should
be taken to ensure that the effluent has
been clarified and/ or filtered to prevent the
excessive build-up of solids.
• Particles and biomass will eventually clog
the pit and it will need to be cleaned or
moved.
• When the performance of the soak pit
deteriorates, the material inside the soak pit
can be excavated and refilled.
THANKYOU