How to Build a Septic Tank

For health and hygiene, it is important to connect a waste disposal system to a septic tank. If a house is built in a locality where there is still no underground sewerage system, a septic vault is necessary. The same is true for piggeries and other similar animal farms. So here are steps on how to build a septic tank.

Decide the Dimensions

The right dimensions for a septic vault construction is determined by the size of the family or farm it is intended for. To have a good idea, a family of five people will need a tank dimension of 90mm by 250mm with a depth of 150mm. While a farm of 10 cows will need a dimension of 200mm by 500mm and a depth of 200mm. Better yet, consult the metric standards for the locality where the construction is to be located. This is vital on how to build a septic tank.

Decide the Spot for Construction

The ideal places for constructing a residential vault are the backyard, underneath the garage, or any side adjacent to a street. The closer it is to the street the better. However, for farms, the tank should be built as far away from the street as possible. Septic vault construction for residences should be away the dining room, kitchen, living room, and bedrooms.

When deciding where and how to build a septic tank, it is better to anticipate future repairs. Locate it close to service areas than living areas. When maintenance is to be done, it should not interfere with activities in the living areas.

Begin Excavation

Dig through the dimensions. If the depth requires 200mm, this means the excavation should be 180mm. The remaining 20mm is for concrete pouring at the top. This makes it level with the concrete ground. Dealing with how to build a septic tank should also consider how to properly dispose of excess land fill and debris from excavation.

Two Chambers

For a well planned procedure on how to build a septic tank, make sure to place two chambers in it: the digestive chamber and the leaching chamber. This is done by simply dividing the tank into two parts with this ratio: seventy percent for the digestive chamber and 30 percent for the leaching chamber. The leaching chamber receives wastes from the house or farm. Its bottom should touch rock bottom, without application of concrete. Waste is then transferred from it to the digestive chamber. This chamber should have a concrete base.

Hollow Blocking

Arrange 10mm deformed steel bars at the bottom of the digestive chamber. Space them at 50mm on center spacing, both ways. Cover with concrete. For tank walls of both digestive and leaching chambers, provide a 30mm-wide base with a 10mm thickness around them. Insert vertical 10mm deformed steel bars spaced at each 6th hole of a concrete block. Also provide horizontal supports using 10mm deformed steel bars each second layer of concrete blocks. Place the blocks by inserting the steel bars through the holes. Fill holes with concrete mortars.

Top Covering

The septic vault construction should provide a man hole and two hand holes for the top cover. This cover should have 10mm deformed steel bars spaced at 20mm on center spacing, both sides. With the help of wooden forms, place openings for the man hole, hand holes, and the cover itself. Then pour concrete with a 10mm-thickness.

Concrete Curing

Let the concrete harden and cure for 2 to 3 days before the tank can be operational. This tank should serve well for ten years or more before siphoning off is necessary.