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In areas where municipal underground sewage system is Soak pit is a simple pit, square or round dug in the
absent, septic tanks are used to treat WC solid waste. ground to dispose the septic tank effluent deep under
It is a sedimentation-cum-digestion tank where the flow ground.
of raw sewage is slowed down so that the solids settle They are good when the water table is sufficiently low
down at the bottom of the tank by sedimentation. and the soil is porous.
Simultaneously the settled sewage is enacted upon by
anaerobic bacteria, which digests it to reduce the solid A layer of sand and fine gravel is spread across the
by 60-70% producing gaseous & liquid resultants. The bottom to help disperse the flow. Depth should be
sludge settles at bottom & scum (grease, fat, etc. floats). between 1.5 and 4m deep, but never less than 1.5m
We must ensure airtight condition in this chamber to above the ground water table. The Soak Pit is filled
ensure anaerobic condition. The effluent that flows out with coarse rocks and gravel. The rocks and gravel will
of the anaerobic chamber still contains large amount of prevent the walls from collapsing, but will still
dissolved & suspended organic matter and must be provide adequate space for the waste-water.
disposed off carefully into a soak pit or dispersion
trenches of absorption in soil.
A detention period of 24-48 hours is allowed. Walls must
be plastered with rich cement mortar to make it
impervious. The invert level of the outlet pipe is kept 7-
10 cm lower than the inlet pipe and tee ends are
provided at the ends so that the scum does not flow
out. Long vent pipes are added to disperse the gaseous
waste. The sludge is cleared regularly, say @ 1 year.

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 Details for small septic tanks:
Recommended construction for small septic tanks:
Top: Reinforced concrete poured 3- to 4-in. thick with two 3/8-
in. steel rods per ft, or equivalent, and a 20”×20” manhole over
inlet, or precast reinforced concrete 1’ slabs with sealed joints.
Bottom: 4” RC thick with reinforcing as in “top” or plain
poured concrete 6in. thick.
Walls: RCC poured 4” thick with 3/8” steel rods on 6” centers
both ways, or equivalent; plain poured concrete 6in. thick; 8”
brick masonry with 1” cement plaster inside finish and block
cells filled with mortar.
Concrete mix: One bag of cement to 2.25” of sand to 3cft of
gravel with 5gal of water for moist sand. Use 1:3 cement
mortar for masonry and 1:2 mortar for plaster finish. Gravel or
crushed stone and sand shall be clean, hard material. Gravel
shall be 0.25” to 0.5” in size; sand from fine to 0.25”
Bedding: At least 3” of sand or pea gravel, leveled.
Ref: Environmental engineering. Water, wastewater, soil, and
groundwater treatment and remediation - edited by Franklin J.
Agardy and Patrick Sullivan.—6th ed., Wiley, 2009

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Ref: Environmental engineering. Water, wastewater, soil, and groundwater treatment and remediation - edited by Franklin J. Agardy and Patrick
Sullivan.—6th ed. Wiley, 2009
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 450߶ manhole 100 thick 200߶ gas pipe
cover RCC slab

550 WL Scum
board
1200

Inspection Chlorination
chamber chamber
75 thk BFS 150 thk PCC
Sectional elevation of septic tank
1000

100 dia
outlet

100 dia inlet

250 600 250 750 125 1200 125 750 250 600 250
Plan of Septic tank Scale 1:50

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Soak Pit Schematic Diagram A-masonry ring B-stone or brick
aggregate C-brick chamber D-30cm thick outer casing with
coarse sand E-effluent from septic tank

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Arup Guha Niyogi 47
NBC 2016 4.5.14.5.2 Septic tanks
Septic tanks can function only when it can be ensured that the contents inside these do not freeze at low
temperature. For this purpose, the septic tanks shall be located well below the frost line. The location of
manhole openings shall be marked by staves. Fencing around the septic tanks shall be provided for
discouraging traffic over them. As the rate of biological activity is reduced by 50 percent for every 10°C fall in
temperature, the capacity of septic tanks shall be increased by 100 percent for operation at 10°C over that
for operation at 20°C.

The construction of septic tanks is preferred in rural and fringe areas of suburban and isolated buildings where
underground system may neither be feasible nor economical. Septic tanks are only recommended for small
communities and institutions whose contributory population does not exceed 300.

4.5.14.5.3 Seepage pits

Seepage pits can function only when the soil and subsoil conditions are favourable. Frozen soil extending to a
great depth would preclude the use of such disposal devices in view of the lower water absorption capacity. The
discharge of effluent should be made below the frost line.

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