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Septic Tank Overview and Design
Septic Tank Overview and Design
Septic Tank Overview and Design
Module 4
2
AAETI
Table of contents
• Technical overview
• Design basics and considerations
• Solved exercise
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AAETI What is septic tank - Introduction
Water tight Chamber 1. Septic tank offers preliminary treatment of sewage prior to final
disposal
2. Liquid flows through the tank and heavy particles sink to the
bottom, while scum floats to the top.
3. Over time, the solids that settle to the bottom are degraded
anaerobically, leading to primary level treatment of BOD load
reduction
4. Effluent must be dispersed via a Soak pit or transported to
another treatment technology.
5. Only portion of suspended solids settle in septic tank, the
dissolved organic matter and some suspended matter are
discharged from tank in effluent and will cause health hazard if
not disposed properly, therefore soak away structure is
necessary.
6. Desludging every 2-3 years
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Image Source: The Online Compendium of Sanitation Systems and Technologies (EAWAG 2014) Dübendorf: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technologies (EAWAG)
AAETI
How does the septic tank work ?
– The solids settle to the ground while scum (oil and fat) floats to the top and
liquid flows through (Physical Treatment).
– Biogas has similar properties to natural gas and can used for heating or
cooking.
– The settling capacity of the solids depends on the wastewater flow. A rather
slow flow will settle better. But a turbulent flow will increase the contact of the
new sludge with the microorganism responsible for degradation.
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AAETI
Septic tank - Design
Design basis
1. Minimum hydraulic retention time
(24-48 hours)
2. Hydraulic loading rate (number of
users)
3. Inlet designed to introduce waste
water with least disturbance- T-pipe.
4. Partition wall for tanks with > 2000 l
capacity.
5. Minimum volume for settling of solids.
6. Arrest escape of scum through outlet
7. Minimum freeboard of 0.30 m
8. Optimal emptying frequency (2- 3
years)
Image Source: IS Code 2470 Part I
9. Minimum size: 1.5mx 0.75 m x 1.0 m 6
AAETI
Basic design considerations
Step 1: No. of people
Step 2: Water usage per capita (liters per capita)
Step 3: Wastewater quantity
Step 4: Expected effluent quality
Step 5: Ground water and sub surface water table
Step 7: Type of soil
Step 8: Area available for setting up the treatment
component
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AAETI
Plan of a septic tank Gas release, 2.5m
above the roof top
Easy entry and cleaning
Vent Pipe
(75mm)
RCC wall
Chamber 8
AAETI
Section of a septic tank
Vent Pipe
(75mm)
Slab
(125mm thick) Man Hole
500 mm dia
Free Board-300mm
150mm
Baffle wall-
100mm thick
Sludge
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RCC wall (150 mm)
AAETI
Design – Exercise
• Data required • Factors affecting the choice of tank size
– Number of people – Sludge/solid accumulation rate
– Desludging (l/capita/annum)
frequency – Hydraulic retention time
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AAETI
Exercise calculations
Question: Design a septic tank for a household having five
occupants
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AAETI Step 4: Dimension of Septic tank
Assume liquid depth = 1.5 m = D Volume of tank = L x B X D
Assume tank width is W m = B 0.8 m3= (2W+W) m x W m x 1.5 m
Assume two compartment; 3W2 = 0.8/1.5; W2 = 0.53/3
Length of first compartment = 2W W = sqrt (0.177) = 0.42m
Length of second compartment = W As this width is less than recommended minimum
Total length = (2W+W) m = L width of 0.6 m, We assume Width W = 0.6 m.
The tank volume (excluding freeboard) = L x B x D = 1.8 x 0.6 x 1.5 = 1.62 m3, which is larger than
the required volume calculated in step 3. This is not a disadvantage – in practice, either the
minimum retention time will be greater than 24 hours or the tank will provide longer service than
three years before desludging. 13
AAETI
Requisites for septic tank
Septic tank outlet cannot be let out into storm water drain
Septic tank must always be followed by soak pit or dispersion trench, if not
can be connected to a farm drain for reuse
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AAETI
Thank you
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