ROLE OF THE SEPTIC TANK

Anaerobic fermentation of solids.

Generally adopted for final disposal of domestic
sewage without giving rise to health hazard.
Reduce the load of pathogens in the effluent.
Hold the effluent for 2-3 days for improved safety.
Retain solid material to prevent blockage of
further disposal system.
LOCATION :
Away from the building.
Should be avoided in areas prone to flooding.

The Septic Tank

Schematic of conventional septic tank
Access opening near side wall at
least 600 mm diameter

Inspection opening
150 mm diameter

Inlet

At least 25 mm
Liquid level

At least 75 mm

Liquid depth

20% of Liquid depth

(150 mm, minimum)

Outlet
Water line

Scum
Scum clear space
(75 mm, minimum)

Clear space

20% of
Liquid depth

Inspection opening 150

mm diameter

40% of
Liquid depth

40% of
Liquid depth

Scum clear space

(300 mm, minimum)

Sludge

First compartment 2/3 length

Sludge

second compartment 2/3 length

Total length equals two to three times width

0.2D

0.4D

Manhole

Inlet
Outlet

Scum

Liquid

Solids
Solids

Sludge
Sludge

Two compartment septic tank

Compartment
baffle

The soak-away
Absorption field treatment of septic tank effluent
Absorption trench system

Distribution box
septic
tank

Absorption trench
1/2 to 1 meter

backfill

1/2 to
1 1/2 meter

150 mm

Gravel or crushed rocks

Drainage tile
(100 mm diameter)

The field requires periodic

maintenance, diversion of the flow at
distribution box and repacking of the
rock fill, removal of plant roots etc.
Absorption field treatment of septic tank effluent
Absorption trench system

Distribution box
septic
tank

Connection to a sewage system:what are

the alternatives?

Conventional sewage connectionexpensive

Small bore sewage system: less expensive
use road-side drains, and hope for the best.
Unfortunately this is the common outcome

Comparison between the sewage systems

combined sewer
sanitary sewer
Storm sewer

Small bore is near surface, and runs full

Small bore

Conventional

Small bore is PVC pipe, conventional is

made from concrete
Conventional

Small bore

Conventional requires heavy machinery

and regular pumping stations to
maintain flow

small bore installation is simpler, and as

the pipes are light and fit in small
trenches

Sewer lines can rise or fall, the system

operates under slight pressure

There is a BIG but! Small bore systems

cannot handle solids. So all connections
MUST be to septic tanks

House
connection

Interceptor
tank

Small bare sewer

Where do we go from here:

The effluent must be disposed of in a sanitary
manner
The system should be inexpensive and easy to
manage
Tropical areas do have long hours of sunlight, why
not exploit this.
We can by using oxidation ponds

Lay out of an oxidation pond system

Stabilization pond layout and details

Aerobic pond
Facultative
pond
Inlet

Aerobic pond
Interpond connection
Aerobic pond

Anaerobic
pond

Outlet

Plan layout
(not to scale)

5,400

4,000

Varies

Water line

300
100 mm of
Selected fill

Precast
concrete
slabs

1
3

Water line

Precast concrete slabs for

Protection against wave erosion

Detail of a typical embankment

In the maturation pond, pathogens are

reduced: the water an be released to a river

Anaerobic

Facultative

Organic matter
Pathogenic organisms

Maturation

SOAK PITS
A soak pit is a hollow circular or rectangular pit.
Soak pits are used when water table is low and
ground is limited.
Minimum horizontal dimension should be 1m , the
depth below the invert level of the inlet pipe be
1m.
The pit should be covered at top raised above the
adjacent ground to prevent damage by flooding.