DESIGN OF SEPTIC

TANK WITH SOAKPIT

o Need of Sewer System Content
o Septic Tank System
o Working of Septic Tank
o Construction details

o Design of Septic Tank

o Advantages and Disadvantages of Septic Tank
o Disposal of Effluent
o Need of Soak Pit
o Soak Pit
o Design of Soak Pit
o Working of Soak Pit
o Advantages and Disadvantages of Soak Pit
o Filter Media
Why Do we need a Sewer System ?
 Each time we flush the toilet or wash sth down the sinks
drain , we create sewage ( also known as waste water ) .
 There are three main things about waste water that make it
sth you don’t want to release into the environment : -

It Stinks . If you release waste water directly into the

environment , things get smelly very fast.
 It contains harmful bacteria . Which causes health hazard.
 It contains suspended solids and chemicals that affect the
environment.
 SEPTIC TANK SYSTEM
A Septic tank is a underground chamber made of
concrete , fiberglass or plastic through which domestic
wastewater flows for basic sewage treatment .

Settling and anaerobic digestion processes reduce

solids and organics , but the treatment efficiency is
only moderate.
Septic Tank System
•A Septic Tank is key component of the Septic System
or Sewer System.
• Septic Tank includes small towns as well as rural
areas.
• Septic Tanks are generally installed by isolated
communities like schools , hospitals and institutions.
• Septic Tank may be defined as primary sedimentation
tank.
• Having capacity to remove 60 to 70 % dissolved
matter.
View Cross Section of Tank
 Working of Septic Tank
• Sewage enter through the inlet.
• There are three layers :
 Anything that floats to the top and forms a layer known as scum layer.
 In the middle is a fairy clear water layer , which contains bacteria and
chemicals.
 And anything heavier than water sinks to form the Sludge layer.
• Compartments and a T- shaped outlet prevent the sludge and scum from
leaving the tank and traveling into the drainfield area.
• The liquid wastewater ( effluent ) then exits the tank into the drainfield.
• Finally , the wastewater percolates into the soil , naturally removing
harmful coliform bacteria, viruses, and nurrients.
 Construction Details
• Tank is designed to prevent direct currents between the tank inlet and
outlet.
• T – pipes or baffles at inlet and outlet with submerged ends to stop
currents and retaining the scum.
• Manhole covers are provided in top slab to permit inspection and
maintenance.
• Top of tank is covered with RCC slab.
• Sometimes stairs steps are also provided.
• Provide vent pipe to escape4 foul gases.
• Side sump-well with portable pump.
• Two Compartment Septic Tank.
 Design of Septic Tank
1. Detention period tank
2. Rational method

1.Detention Period Method

a. Detention period (t) is assumed in between 12 to 36 hrs
(common value = 24 hours)
b. Assuming rate of sewage flow ( lpcd) [ 90 to 150 lpcd]
and knowing population to be served ; total discharge (Q)
is determined
c. Volume is calculated by V = Q.t
d. Depth is assumed 1 to 2 m .
e. Surface area is calculated by As = V/ depth
f. Assuming L/B ratio in between 2 to 4 length and breadth can be
fixed.
2.Rational Method
a. Setting zone is kept min 30cm deep.
b. Digestion zone is provided as 0.032 meter cube/capita.
c. Sludge storage zone of 7.30 meter cube/100 persons for
cleaning interval of 1 year is provided.
d. Surface area of 0.92 meter square/10 lpm of flow is provided.
e. Free board of 0.3 m is provided.
( depth 1 to 2 m , L/B ratio 2 to 4 ).
 Advantages of Septic Tank
• Ease in construction.
• No maintenance problem ( except periodical cleaning ).
• Cost of construction is less.
• Effluent can be discharged without any trouble.
• It is suitable for isolated community.
Disadvantages of Septic Tank
• Periodicalcleaning.
• Effluent contains high BOD.
• Problem of mosquito nuisance.
• Problem of ground water contamination.
• Leakage of gases from top cover of Septic Tank may cause bad
smells and environmental pollution.
 Disposal of Effluent
Ways of Disposal of Effluent are :-

• Soak Pit
• Dispersion Trenches
• Sub-Surface Irrigation
• Leaching cess-pools.
• Treated in Trickling Filters.
• Recycling
 Need of Soak Pit
The water in septic tank is not pure that is coming out
from a primary treatment chamber. The effluent water
which is coming out of this units is called grey water .
Most of the waste water management system needs a
Soak Pit for partial treatment and this partial treatment
of efflluent water through a Soak Pit is a safe way of
discharging the water into the surroundings.
 Soak Pit

Septic Tank
 Soak Pit
A Soak Pit is a covered , porous-walled chamber that
allows water to slowly soak into the ground. The smaller
Particles are digested by
the microorganisms which
are a sustainable process of
degradation. The filtered
water is then discharged
out through the porous
wall of the Soak Pit.
 Design of Soak Pit
• A layer of sand and fine gravel is spread across the
bottom to help disperse the flow.
• Depth should be between 1.5 and 4m deep, but never
less than 1.5m above the ground water table.
• The Soak Pit is filled with coarse rocks and gravel.
• The rocks and gravel will prevent the walls from
collapsing , but will still provide adequate space for the
waste water.
 Working of Soak Pit
• As waste water percolates through the soil from the
soak pit , small particles are filtered out by the soil
matrix and organics are digested by micro-organism.

• Soak Pit are best suited to soils with good absorptive

properties ; clay, hard packed or rocky soils are not
appropriate.
 Adequacy
• A Soak Pit does not provide adequate treatment for raw
wastewater and the pit will clog quickly.
• A Soak Pit should be used for discharging pre settled
black water or grey waster.
• Soak Pits are appropriate for rural and suburban
settlements.
• They depend on soil with a sufficient absorptive
capacity. They are prone to flooding or have high
groundwater tables.
 Advantages of Soak Pit
• Can be build and repaired with locally available materials.
• Small land area required.
• Power Conservative
• Simple techniques for all users.

Disadvantages of Soak Pit

• Pre- treatment is required to prevent clogging , although eventual
clogging is inevitable.
• Negatively affects soil and groundwater properties.
 Filter Media
Media filters are a sanitation technology
that use micro-organisms that are
attached to a high surface area medium
to primarily remove soluble organic
matter ( measured as BOD or COD ) as
waste water passes through the medium.
 Result
Soak Pits constructed in Size have a depth of1.8-2.5 m and a diameter of 2-3 m.
The wall of a Soak Pit is constructed with half concrete blocks joined while the
lower part is constructed leaving some open joints to allow infiltration.
• Total Wastewater coming to Septic tank = 100*5*200*80/100 = 80000 lit/day
Detention Period = 18 hours
Capacity of tank required = 80000/24*18 = 60000lit
Capacity required for sludge accumulation = 30*5*100 = 15000lit/year
Total capacity required = 60000 + 15000 = 75000lit
Plan area of the septic tank = 75/1.8 = 41.67 m2
L : B taken as 4:1 , 4B*B = 41.67 , B = root of (41.67/4)
B = 3.25m . L = 3.25*4 = 13m.
Total depth of septic tank = 1.8 + 0.5 = 2.30m
 Conclusion
•Septic Tank have second generation technological issues that arise out of the
unscientific fecal sludge management .
• Based on the case studies on Soak Pit effects on ground it can be concluded that, the
continuous monitoring of ground water is required.
• It is concluded that the Shallow unconfined aquifer at size is polluted by septic –
tank effluent .
• It is shown that the performance of the septic tank – soak pit systems has been
impaired by hydrogeological and social factors that are incompatible with the septic
tank – soak pit system usage.
• Waste stabillization pond or sewerage , should have been considered.
• The septic tank- soak pit systems in Tanzania in general adopt design specifications
of developed countries.
• This study did not attempt to set a general setback distance between soak pits and
shallow wells .
Thank You !