How to make a sewer pit in the country. Do-it-yourself cesspool for a private house. Pit from a plastic barrel

If a person lives in a house, it must have sewerage, since waste products still need to be disposed of somehow. And it's hard to disagree with that, isn't it? The modern industry offers many solutions: from multi-section septic tanks to neat dry closets. But the usual cesspool in a private house is still relevant and in demand.

But, before proceeding with the construction of a cesspool on the site, you will have to weigh the pros and cons. After all, an incorrectly chosen place, and the design of the cesspool itself, subsequently, threatens to turn into many problems. The most common of these is the appearance of an unpleasant odor. We will tell you how to avoid this problem.

In the article, we have collected and summarized information about the types and design features cesspools. In addition, here you can find helpful tips and recommendations on how to choose and build a sewer on the site. The material is accompanied by thematic photos and videos.

Cesspool- This is perhaps the oldest and simplest type of sewerage. It is a depression in the ground in which sewage is accumulated and partially processed.

Any drain contains a certain amount of bacteria that absorb and convert these accumulations. Part of the filtered effluent passes into the underlying soil.

Everything that has not been recycled and has not gone into the underlying layers should be periodically removed from the cesspool so that the container does not overflow.

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Self-built cesspool suburban area can be great solution, which can replace central system sewerage. Of course, on the market today there are a huge number of different processing systems that can become the main element of an autonomous sewer system, but they all have one drawback that prevents such structures from getting to every site - too high price. That is why the issue of arranging a cesspool remains relevant, and it is this issue that will be considered in this article.

Choosing a place for a cesspool in the country

When the choice has been made, and the decision to build a cesspool has been made, the first thing to do is to choose a good place for its location. By and large, the choice of location is based on the capabilities of the site and personal preferences, but it is imperative to follow all the rules described in the relevant regulatory documents (in more detail: "").

The main rules include the following:

  • drain hole in the country should be located at least 12 m from a residential building;
  • there must be a distance of at least 1 m between the fence and the pit;
  • sewerage must be removed from water sources by at least 5 m;
  • it is advisable not to equip a cesspool near the orchard.

Size calculation

The dimensions of the drain pit directly depend on both the number of people living in the house and the nature of the soil on the site (read: ""). For a family of three to four people, a pit with a volume of more than 18-20 cubic meters is needed: the average monthly volume of waste in this case is about 12-13 m3. Next, the structure of the soil comes into play. If the soil on the site has a good water permeability, then it will be enough to make a small margin of the volume of the pit, adding about 40% of the monthly volume of effluents to the calculations. In the event that the earth does not pass liquid well, then the volume must exceed the calculated one for the monthly flow rate.

Do-it-yourself cesspool device

The most common types of sewer pits include the following:

The simplest design is brick. Knowing its dimensions, you need to purchase the required amount of material. The bottom of the brick drain pit is concreted to simplify its further pumping. Concrete can also be used to create walls, but brickwork demonstrates the best performance characteristics (more: ""). The masonry itself must be done in a checkerboard pattern so that it is easier for water to go into the soil.

From above, the pit is closed with a ceiling or a solid slab. It is necessary to make sure that there is a hatch in this plate, which will allow pumping out drains from the pit. If the ceiling is not additionally insulated, then the distance between the upper edges of the walls and the ground level should be about 30 cm. When the slab is installed, it can be covered with earth, thereby creating a thermal insulation layer that will prevent sewage from freezing.

Drainage pit made of concrete rings

Experts say that a do-it-yourself cesspool in the country, made of concrete rings can last up to 100 years. There are reasons for this statement: firstly, concrete itself is quite strong and able to withstand high loads, and secondly, this material resists well the effects of fermentation and decay, which often occur in drains. In addition to a long service life, a pit made of concrete rings boasts complete independence from the type of soil and the nature of the movement. ground water, does not pollute the latter at all, and is quite easy to install, not to mention use.

When the place for the pit is chosen, and its dimensions are calculated, you can begin the selection of suitable rings. In most cases the best option are factory products, and together with them it is worth ordering special equipment that will not only simplify the delivery of rings, but also carry out their installation right at the installation site - most companies provide such services.

The process of creating a drain pit begins with the bottom, which must be filled with a concrete solution made in a ratio of 1: 6 (cement and crushed stone, respectively). The solution is poured into the pit and leveled. After a few days, the mixture will completely harden. If the ambient temperature at the time of construction is high, the mortar must be sprayed regularly with water, otherwise the cured concrete will crack, which is inevitable when the mortar sets too quickly.

After waiting for the concrete to completely harden, you can start laying the rings. After installing all the rings and aligning their position, it is necessary to insulate all the seams. Bicycle chambers, rubber gaskets or liquid glass can be used as a sealant. When using liquid glass, it should also be added to the cement solution, after which the gaps between the rings should be smeared with the resulting mixture.

Usually, internal waterproofing is a sufficient condition for the normal functioning of the structure, but when high level soil water, it is worth isolating the pit from the outside to protect it from moisture. When mounting the rings, it is worth taking care of their connection to each other: for this purpose, you can use the rings, which are equipped with special "locks". Ordinary concrete rings are attached to each other with metal brackets. Above the upper ring, a floor slab is installed, equipped with a hole for the hatch.

Creation of a septic tank

To create an integral system capable of playing the role of a septic tank, one more pit will be required, and its depth should exceed the depth of the previous one. The second cesspool in the country with their own hands is created a little differently. Firstly, the bottom of the structure does not need to be poured with concrete mortar: it is enough to install the rings in the prepared pit. Secondly, the upper rings of both pits must have special holes in which pipes will be mounted to provide overflow Wastewater between holes. The depth required to lay the pipe will depend on the dimensions of the pit and local climatic conditions. For example, in cold regions, the pipe is mounted about 80 cm from the ground.
For the high-quality operation of a septic tank, it is desirable to use biological preparations that allow the system to process wastewater into harmless substances. Being cleared, drains will fall from the first tank to the second, through the bottom of which they can go into the soil. Many biological products have a high purification factor: some substances are able to remove 98% of all harmful substances, after which it can be used to water the garden or garden trees.

Having created a hole and mounted the rings, a drain pipe is laid. The slope of the pipe should be about 15 degrees. The average pipe diameter is approximately 15 cm: with this diameter, drains are able to pass through the system unhindered. After completing the installation of all structural elements, you need to test it by carrying out a control descent. If everything works fine, then the pit and pipe are buried, after which the work on creating a septic tank is considered completed.

Cesspool made of plastic in the country

Cesspools, for the arrangement of which plastic tanks are used, are considered quite simple in their design (in more detail: "").

Such a cesspool in the country with their own hands is created according to the following principle:

  1. Choosing a place for a pit;
  2. Digging a pit;
  3. Installation of a concrete pad;
  4. Creation of a 10 cm sand layer;
  5. Installation of a tank in a pit;
  6. Backfilling the pit with a mixture of concrete and sand in a ratio of 1: 5;
  7. Backfilling the structure with a layer of soil.
Plastic tanks must be installed so that the number of bends in the pipeline is minimal. If this is not possible, you should try to make obtuse angle pipe turns to minimize the likelihood of blockages. The pipeline must be laid deeper so that the drains in winter time years did not freeze, blocking the current through the pipes. At a high level of groundwater, the tanks are installed in concrete insulating wells.

Conclusion

All described options for waste pits are in demand and in demand. Regardless of the type of construction chosen, the relevant rules and regulations must always be observed, and the system will function normally for several decades.

For the normal operation of the sewer system in conditions country house, it is important to consider the design of the drain tank. A do-it-yourself cesspool is an affordable option for organizing sewage disposal. Exist various options from which you can choose the most suitable for yourself.

Cesspool for a small family

It makes no sense to equip complex multi-chamber cesspools for a small country house or private cottage where 1-2 people live. Before starting the construction of any drain, you need to calculate its required volume. One adult can spend up to 0.5 cubic meters of water per day. If the amount of wastewater in 24 hours does not exceed 1000 liters, then the following design options are quite suitable:

  1. Pit from tires;
  2. A small tank made of concrete rings;
  3. Plastic container.

These options are suitable even if 2 people live in the house (but various water-consuming devices are not connected to the drain).

The arrangement of such containers is very similar to each other. First of all, a place is being prepared for the future pit. The cesspool should be located at a distance of 12 meters from the house, 10 from the garden or garden, 20 from the road and 50 from the reservoir (well, well, lake). These SNiP rules are strictly controlled and their non-compliance is punishable by fines.

How to make a cesspool with your own hands from car tires, concrete rings or plastic barrel:

  1. The diameter of the hole in the ground is calculated. When working with plastic, it is also recommended to take into account the dimensions of the metal box, which will further protect the structure from deformation;

  2. The maximum depth of the pit is 2 meters. Also, keep in mind that the pit should have a small protrusion from above to insulate the walls and install the lid;
  3. The waste tank can be closed and open type. In the first case, the bottom is simply covered with fine gravel for filtration. solid waste. In the second, the bottom is completely sealed. Experts insist on the arrangement of closed cesspools, since they are safer for the environment than open ones;
  4. For the manufacture of the bottom in the pits of their tires or concrete rings, bricks, cement pouring or special plates can be used. When laying bricks or pouring cement, a formwork is preliminarily prepared that matches the shape of the future tank. After the container is poured with mortar or stacked with several layers of bricks. For a plastic barrel, there is no need for an additional bottom;

  5. When the solution is completely frozen, the process of installing concrete rings or tires begins. During installation, the rings are bound with reinforcement, and the joints are treated with a solution. The tires are fastened with a bolted connection, the seams between the individual tires are closed with a sealant. If no difficulties should arise when laying concrete rings, then to simplify the installation of tires, their end parts are cut off to create a flat plane;

  6. When working with a plastic barrel, first the bottom is covered with small gravel, a metal casing is installed on top of it. It is a rigid mesh that will protect the barrel from the pressure of soil masses. A barrel is placed in the casing;

  7. All that was left was to bring pipes from the house to the tank. Sewer outlets stretch at a slight angle - this will help to avoid stagnation of drains. The pit is connected to these pipes with the help of couplings. The joints are subsequently sealed;
  8. After installation work is completed, the walls around the tank are additionally compacted with a layer of earth. This will prevent distortion of the structure. If you took advantage of the idea with concrete rings, then it would be better to strengthen the walls of the pit with stones, rubble or any other building rubbish;

  9. It remains to install ventilation, a hatch and insulate the protruding parts of the pit. It is best to buy a double lid - it will eliminate the spread of unpleasant odors as much as possible. The most practical are plastic hatches. Ventilation is not a necessary part of the waste tank, but it is still better to install an outlet pipe.

On average, such structures require cleaning once a month with intensive use and 2 times a season with rare use.

Multi-chamber cesspools

For a medium and large family, the options described above are not appropriate. First of all, because of frequent cleanings. If the average daily amount of drains in your family exceeds 2 cubic meters, then it is better to pay attention to brick, concrete or multi-chamber special cesspool tanks.


Their arrangement from single-chamber differs only in that. That several pits are being prepared at once: for the black compartment, the sump and the finishing one. They are connected to each other with a special pipe. The liquid is pumped from one container to another in a natural way or by a pump.

After acquiring a plot for a country house or cottage, the new owner is faced with the question of how to make a cesspool? Not even a day can be done without this attribute on the site. Depending on the period of stay country house or in the country, you must choose the type of toilet.

Original outdoor toilet for giving

For year-round living in a house outside the city or frequent vacations in the country, when you need to use daily, in addition to the toilet, shower and sink, it is necessary to build a cesspool. If the cottage is used as a place of rest on weekends, then it is enough to build a cesspool with your own hands to collect sewage under this one.

General requirement to the choice of a place for does not exist due to the difference in sites in terms of soil composition, landscape, availability of access roads. But the location of the toilet and cesspool is strictly regulated building codes and rules.

According to them:


If the site is crossed, you should not choose a low place for construction, as the cesspool will be filled with melt and rainwater. When choosing a high elevation of the site, there is a possibility that the toilet will collapse due to soil erosion. An important factor in choosing a location is the prevailing wind direction on the site.

When using a sewage truck for pumping sewage, you need to take care of its convenient and safe access, given that the standard length of the hose is 10–15 meters, of which about three meters are immersed directly into the pit.

Characteristics of cesspools

The cesspool is designed to collect domestic wastewater and sewage for individual buildings where there is no central sewerage. According to its characteristics, it is divided into filtered and hermetic.

Filtered sump example

Filtered or absorbent cesspool

A characteristic feature of the pit is the absence of a bottom in the structure, due to which sewage, passing through the filter elements, such as sand, crushed stone, brick waste, enters the soil. This reduces the number of calls to the sewage truck and saves money. The construction of such an object does not require much skill from the performer. However, if a large volume of water is consumed, then the cesspool and the soil are not able to accept it.

Summer cottages, where the volume of sewage is up to 1 m³ per day, are mainly equipped with a filtered septic tank directly above the toilet cabin.

In country houses and cottages, an absorbing pit is often used in separate sewers for use under domestic wastewater: bacteria for cesspools have time to process particles of shampoos, powders and other similar elements before they enter the soil.


This is what an absorbent cesspool looks like

The main condition for canceling the construction of a filtered septic tank is the presence of soil water at a depth of two meters and above from the surface.

Sealed cesspool

The construction methods of a hermetic septic tank are identical to those absorbed, with the exception of the installation of the bottom and the high-quality sealing of the pit throughout the volume. For this, bitumen is suitable for insulation inside the tank and clay - outside.

Septic tank as a constituent element of a treatment facility

To solve the problem of receiving and cleaning sewage, they use. This is a technically complex design that allows using biological products to treat wastewater. The simplest is a container with a pillow of sand and gravel laid out at the bottom, through which the crude mixture passes.


An example of a multi-chamber septic tank for a house

A more complex septic tank design consists of two or three tanks connected to each other by overflow sewer pipes. In the first, mechanical wastewater treatment is performed, in the second, bacteria are used for cesspools, bringing the effluent and liquid to a state suitable for technical needs.

Installation of the third tank increases the degree of stonecrop up to 60% of the initial degree of contamination due to settling of particles in the liquid. In addition, sediment in the form of silt can be a valuable fertilizer for the garden. However, building a septic tank is a rather laborious and costly operation.

Materials for building a septic tank

The design of the cesspool can be built from a variety of building materials. Depending on the complexity of the work and the level of funds, septic tanks are built from bricks, plastic containers, monolith, concrete rings.

There are craftsmen who build a cesspool in the country from large used tires.

Calculation of the size of the cesspool

To calculate the size of the pit, you need to provide the following:

  • The number of people living in a house or in a country house, subject to the consumption of 180 liters of water per person per day;
  • Soil composition. So, clay soil is reluctant to let liquid through, and the volume of the septic tank must be built with a margin;
  • The margin from the surface of the site to the filled cesspool should be at least 1 m in order to prevent, during heavy rainfall, sewage from going beyond the boundaries of the cesspool;
  • The depth of the septic tank should be no more than three meters, as this is the optimal height for the productive operation of the sewer machine.

Cesspool ventilation

The potential for unpleasant odors from the cesspool makes it necessary to take seriously the issue of equipping it with ventilation for air circulation.

Cesspool ventilation scheme

If in the factory plastic container the manufacturer has already provided channels for ventilation, then when a cesspool is being built from other building materials, it is necessary to lay holes for the ventilation pipe.

Good sealing of the floor slab and a tightly closing well hatch through which cesspools are pumped out will help to reduce the smell emitted by the pit. In sanitary premises, it is enough to install a pipe with a diameter of 50 cm on the roof along the channels used to extract from gas boiler or building ventilation.

To equip ventilation in a latrine, it is enough to install a plastic or asbestos pipe with its lower end into the pit, through the floor, by 15 cm, and with its upper end into the roof of the toilet at a height of 20–30 cm from it.

The pipe diameter must be at least 100 mm. A deflector is installed on top to protect against precipitation and enhance ventilation draft.


Drawing for the manufacture of septic tank ventilation

Can't spoil country toilet drilling holes, and fix the exhaust pipe on its back wall. The effect will be the same.

Maintenance of a septic tank and a cesspool with drugs

If at the dacha the volume of sewage is less than 1 m³, and they do not contain impurities from chemical elements, then the microorganisms present in the soil will themselves clean up the wastewater, and this issue will not bother the owner. If the volume is larger, then various means and preparations are used to speed up the cleaning.

A cesspool cleaner based on chemical cleaning can be as follows:


Biological preparations for cesspools are designed to decompose household and fecal sewage with the help of natural microorganisms, for which fats, proteins, cellulose, starches and feces are the basis for their energy. They apply for various kinds wastewater and a large volume of their use.

The most popular biopreparations according to the type of their application are:

  1. For latrines and pits: Dr. Robik, Sanex, Micropan.
  2. For dry closets: Biola, Biofresh, Sunnifresh.

Features of biological products in a septic tank

The biological product Dr. Robik is recognized as the most effective tool, because it contains concentrated bacteria for cesspools and can process difficult compounds and easily break down tissues, phenols and fats.

Those who came to consumer market Biological products successfully replace chemicals that threaten human health, nature, accelerate the wear of metal products, have Negative influence for the life of the pit.

One and perhaps the most important drawback of a biological product for cesspools is that, unlike a chemical agent that acts at any ambient temperature, an antiseptic is productive at an air temperature of +4 to +30 degrees.

That is why the issue is so acute in the cold season.


The performance of biologics may decrease for the following reasons:

  1. With irregular use of sewage. First of all, this concerns a country septic tank. Microorganisms will work unproductively and may even die. Therefore, simple sewage should not be allowed for more than two weeks. The ideal liquid level above solids is at least two centimeters.
  2. When entering the sewerage of household chemicals containing chlorine. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a biological product, the performance of which does not decrease even if chlorine and other chemical components enter the wastewater.
  3. When antibacterial filters, manganese or drugs penetrate into the sewage.

Mechanical maintenance of a septic tank

In a country house or in a country house, periodic maintenance of septic tanks is required, and when they are filled, pumping out cesspools.

Pumping out by machine

It is not a problem to entrust the pumping out of sewage to enterprises that have sewage equipment. It is enough to contact and determine the time of work. Untimely pumping of cesspools can lead to wastewater overflow, and it will be very difficult and unpleasant to eliminate this oversight. Good specialists will qualitatively clean the cesspool septic tank and remove the problem of waste disposal, but it will be quite expensive.

If there is a septic tank with a small volume on the site, then work on cleaning it can be done independently.

Pumping out manually with a pump

Cleaning of cesspools is carried out both with the help of a pump and without it. The choice of fecal pumps on the market is very diverse both in terms of cost and performance. Pumps are available with a cutting device, which eliminates clogging of the hose.

Cleaning can also be carried out using a water pump with a filter pre-installed on it.
Before starting work, it is necessary to find a sealed, tightly closed container of sufficient volume. The cesspool pump will pump sewage into it.

Manual pumping without pump

Cleaning the pit without a pump is carried out using a bucket on a strong rope and a shovel. Manual cleaning of cesspools is carried out by scooping sewage with a bucket and moving them into a container. This process is extremely unpleasant and dirty.

The only plus in manual cleaning pits is a better removal of silt and solid formations from the walls and bottom of the septic tank.

After cleaning, the collected sewage must be disposed of in specially designated places. Therefore, it is worthwhile to calculate the benefits of using a sewage machine that will do this work more than once.

In the suburban area, I want to create the most comfortable living conditions.

There is usually no central sewerage in such areas.

There is no need to purchase and install expensive equipment, such as a septic tank.

Most people live in the country during the warm season. You can solve the problem with waste disposal by equipping a drain pit with your own hands.

Before starting the construction of a drain pit in the country, you should pay attention to the following factors


To determine the required volume of the drain pit, it is taken into account

  • The number of people living in the house. Average consumption 200l/day per person.
  • Accommodation. Permanent or temporary

Attention! a cesspool is dug no less than 5 meters from the dwelling and 25 meters from the water source.

There are two types of holes

  1. without bottom
  2. Sealed.

Pit for drains without a bottom

The simplest type of construction. Drains go into the ground on their own, waste and garbage are pressed. After operation, the pit is dug in and settled in a new place, or vacuum trucks are called, and pumping is performed.

Such a pit is not designed for a large amount of wastewater, a maximum of one cubic meter. This type of structure is not allowed to be installed above the water source. Drainage can spoil drinking water.

The main disadvantage of such pits is the mass of restrictions during construction. 50 meters from all water intakes, location level, groundwater accounting, distance from home, etc. for non-compliance with standards and pollution of groundwater, a large fine is charged.

Tire Pit:

  • A pit is being prepared with a depth of not more than 0.8 m.
  • The bottom is covered with large gravel, the layer thickness is 0.4 m
  • Tires are being prepared. The sides are aligned for a snug fit. On the last part of the wheel, a hole is made for the drain pipe.
  • Tires are installed one on top of the other, extremely evenly.
  • The pit is filled with soil and covered with a lid.

Pit from a plastic barrel:


Sealed pits

Such structures are much more reliable than the previous ones. Their installation does not depend on the occurrence of groundwater, they do not harm the environment. A pit is assembled from materials such as wood, concrete and concrete rings, brick. When the structure is ready, waterproofing is performed. Such a hole can be of any size.

Brick pit:

  • A pit breaks out
  • The bottom is covered with sand and gravel, well compacted and poured with cement mortar.
  • After solidification of the bottom. The walls are lined with bricks. You can use any brick, even second-hand or make laying of stone.
  • The outer side of the brick structure is waterproofed with roofing material.
  • The space between the roofing material and the ground is filled with concrete mortar.

Pit from reinforced concrete rings:

Installation is more labor intensive. A crane will be required to install the rings or an auxiliary structure is being built for this purpose.

  • The pit is being prepared
  • The rings are lowered and connected by grooves. The number of rings depends on the depth of the hole. standard height rings 1 m.
  • Joints are sealed with cement mortar.
  • The bottom is being equipped (the technology is the same for sealed pits)
  • The void between the rings and the ground is filled with soil.

The design has clear advantages - reliability and long service life.

plastic pit:

The structure is sold ready-made. Installed in a pit. Fall asleep with soil. Plastic is the most durable and reliable material.

Wood pit:

Installation is difficult. And wood is not a cheap material.

Concrete pit:

  • A pit breaks out right size and depth
  • Assembling formwork
  • Poured with concrete
  • After the walls harden, the auxiliary structure is removed and the bottom is made.
  • After complete drying, the pit is ready.

Conclusion

Two-chamber home-made septic tanks are also being built.

Sometimes two types of drain pits are used in one area. Without a day for a shower, washbasin, bath, but sealed for the kitchen and toilet.

Attention!

For any type of pit, a hole is required for supply sewer pipe. Pipes are laid under a slope of 7 cm, to organize a good gravity flow.

Sealed pits are subject to periodic cleaning of solid sediment. Bacteria can be added to closed-type pits, and bioactivators can be added for better decay. You will have to call the vacuum cleaners much less often.

Pits made of concrete, concrete rings and bricks can be without a bottom.

Aerobic microorganisms can be added to drainage pits. They are natural and harmless. environment, help speed up the process of splitting, for the work of these bacteria requires oxygen.

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