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Septic tank design specifications:

These model septic design regulations discusses the design specifications for septic tanks, including septic tank size requirements,
septic tank cover access, septic tank characteristics, steel septic tanks, tanks for aerobic septic systems, and related details.

We discuss septic tank materials, sizes, compartments, strengths, installation details, and special requirements for fiberglass,
polyethylene septic tanks, concrete septic tanks, and for aerobic treatment unit construction.

We also provide an ARTICLE INDEX for this topic, or you can try the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find
information you need.

Regulations Governing Septic Tank Design

This document uses the New York State wastewater treatment standard for individual household septic systems (Appendix 75-A) to
provide an example of state regulated design and installation of both conventional tank and leach field septic systems and alternative
septic system designs, including raised septic systems, septic mound systems, intermittent sand filter septic systems, and evaportion-
transpiration septic systems. Effective Date: 12/01/90 Title: Appendix 75-A.6 -

(a) General information about Septic Tank Design

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(1) Septic tank capacities shall be based upon the number of household bedrooms. An expansion attic shall be considered as an
additional bedroom.

Table 3 given below specifies the minimum septic tank capacities and minimum liquid surface areas

Table 3: Minimum Septic Tank Capacities & Properties Based on Number of Bedrooms

Number of Bedrooms Septic Tank Size (Gallons) Minimum Liquid Surface Area (Sq.Ft.)

1, 2, or 3 1000 27

4 1,250 34

5 1,500 40

6 1,750 47

Notes to the Table Above

Septic tank size requirements for more than six bedrooms shall be calculated by adding 250 gallons and seven square feet of surface
area for each additional bedroom. A garbage grinder shall be considered equivalent to an additional bedroom for determining tank size.

A thorough table of septic tank size requirements and methods for calculating septic tank size are found separately at SEPTIC TANK
SIZE.

(2) Septic tank covers shall always be accessible. Where manholes are more than 12 inches below final grade, an extension collar shall
be provided over each opening. Extension collars shall not be brought flush with the ground surface unless the cover can be locked to
prevent tampering. Driveways or other facilities shall not be constructed above septic tanks unless specially designed and reinforced to
safely carry the load imposed.

(b) Design and Installation of Septic Tanks

(1) General Requirements for Septic Tanks.

The following applies to all septic tanks regardless of material.

(i) A minimum liquid depth of 30 inches. The maximum depth for determining the allowable design volume of a tank shall be 60 inches.
Deeper tanks provide extra sludge storage, but no credit shall be given toward design volume.

(ii) The minimum distance between the inlet and outlet shall be six feet. All tanks shall meet the minimum surface area requirement for
the specific design volume specified in Table 3. The effective length of rectangular tanks should not be less than two nor greater than four
times the effective width.

(iii) Tanks must be watertight, constructed of durable material not subject to corrosion, decay, frost damage, or cracking. After installation,
all septic tanks shall be able to support at least 300 pounds per square foot (psf).

(iv) Tanks with a liquid depth of 48 inches or more shall have a top opening with a minimum of 20 inches in the shortest dimension to
allow entry into the tank. Tanks with a liquid depth less than 48 inches shall have a top opening that is at least 12 inches in the shortest
dimension.

(v) Tanks shall have inlet and outlet baffles, sanitary tees or other devices to prevent the passage of floating solids and to minimize
disturbance of settled sludge and floating scum by sewage entering and leaving the tank. Outlet designs such as gas deflection baffles
are strongly recommended in all tanks. Inlet and outlet baffles shall extend a minimum of 12 inches and 14 inches respectively, below the
liquid level in tanks with a liquid depth of less than 40 inches, and 16 and 18 inches respectively, in tanks with a liquid depth of 40 inches
or greater. The distance between the outlet baffle and the outlet shall not exceed six inches. Baffles shall be constructed of a durable
material not subject to corrosion, decay or cracking.

(vi) There shall be a minimum of one inch clearance between the underside of the top of the tank and the top of all baffles, partition
and/or tees to permit venting of tank gases. Multi-chamber and multi-tank systems shall also be designed to permit the venting of tank
gases.

(vii) Tanks shall be placed on at least a three inch bed of sand or pea gravel. This will provide for proper leveling and bearing. Additional
instructions provided by the manufacturer shall also be followed.

(viii) There shall be a minimum drop in elevation of two inches between the inverts of the inlet and outlet pipes.

(ix) Garbage grinders. An additional 250 gallons of capacity and seven square feet of surface area is required when a garbage grinder
can reasonably be expected at the time of construction or in the future. A gas deflection baffle or other acceptable outlet modification,
and a dual compartment tank or two tanks in series must also be provided.

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(2) Design Specifications for Multi-compartment septic tanks or tanks in series.

(i) Dual compartments are recommended for all tanks and shall be required on all tanks with an interior length of ten feet or more.

(ii) The first compartment or tank (inlet side) shall account for 60 to 75% of the required total design volume. (iii) The baffle separating the
compartments shall extend from the bottom of the tank to at least six inches above the invert of the outlet pipe.

(iv) Compartments shall be connected by a four inch vertical slot at least 18 inches in width, a six inch elbow, or two 4-inch elbows
located at a distance below the liquid level equal to one-third the distance between the invert of the outlet and the bottom of the tank. At
least one access manhole shall be provided into each compartment.

(v) Tanks in series should be connected by a single pipe with a minimum diameter of four inches.

(vi) The volume and surface area for meeting the requirements of Table 3 shall be based upon the total volume and surface areas of all
the tanks and chambers.

(3) Design Specifications for Concrete septic tanks

(i) Concrete used for septic tank construction shall have a minimum compressive strength of 2,500 pounds per square inch (psi) at 28
days set; 3,000 psi concrete is recommended as a minimum.

(ii) Wall thickness for concrete septic tanks shall be a minimum of three inches unless the design has been certified by a New York
licensed professional engineer as complying with all appropriate requirements for thin-wall construction. All walls, bottom and top shall
contain reinforcing to assure support for 300 psi.

(iii) All concrete septic tank joints shall be sealed such that the tank is watertight; joints below the liquid level must be tested for water
tightness prior to backfilling.

(iv) The walls and floor of cast-in-place septic tanks shall be poured at the same time (monolithic pour).

(4) Design Specifications for Fiberglass and Polyethylene Septic Tanks

Fiberglass or polyethylene (plastic) septic tanks must meet the following additional requirements:

(i) Fiberglass or polyethylene septic tanks shall not be installed in areas where the groundwater level can rise to the level of the bottom of
the septic tank.

(ii) Particular care must be taken during installation, bedding, and backfilling of Fiberglass or polyethylene septic tanks so as to prevent
damage to tank walls. The manufacturer's installation instructions shall be followed.

(iii) All Fiberglass or polyethylene septic tanks should be sold by the manufacturer completely assembled. If, because of size, the tank is
delivered to the site in sections, all joints shall be sealed with watertight gaskets and shall be tested for water tightness after installation,
and prior to backfilling.

(5) Design Specifications for Steel Septic Tanks

Steel septic tanks must have a label indicating corrosion protection complying with Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., Standard UL-70 or
equivalent.

(6) Design specifications for Aerobic Septic Septic Tanks or Aerobic Treatment Units (ATUs)

A homeowner may choose to install an aerobic unit instead of a septic tank under the following conditions:

(i) The aerobic treatment unit shall have a label indicating compliance with the standards for a Class I unit as described in the National
Sanitation Foundation (NSF) Standard 40 or equivalent.

(ii) The rated capacity of the aerobic treatment unit shall be equal to or greater than the design flow as determined from Table 1.

(iii) The absorption system that follows the aerobic treatment unit shall be sized in the exact same manner as it would for a septic tank.

(iv) aerobic treatment unit which do not include as a standard feature a service contract which provides for, as a minimum, semiannual
inspections and annual pumping for three years or more are prohibited.

(v) The surface discharge of aerobic treatment unit effluent is strictly prohibited [in some states such as New York, but permitted in other
U.S. states such as areas of Texas].

Septic Tank Water-Tightness Design Specifications

See SEPTIC TANK LEAKS for a table of septic tank water tightness test procedure & critera for concrete septic tanks

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Reader Comments & Q&A

On 2020-09-26 - by (mod) -

What is the inside depth of a tank for use as a cistern ?

Loper

There is not one single "right" depth for a water storage cistern, Loper.

You're on a page sporting an article about septic tanks.

Cisterns, used to store water, are discussed starting at CISTERNS, WATER STORAGE

Please take a look at that page and you'll see various types of cisterns ranging from home made to factor-built tanks.

Don't hesitate to ask follow-up questions.

On 2020-09-26 by Loper

What is the inside depth of a tank for use as a cistern

On 2020-05-05 by danjoefriedman (mod) - what are the standards for clothes washing machine.

BD

I'm not aware of a septic standard that specifically addresses washing machines.

If you are asking if a clothes washer is taken into account when sizing the septic system, that's one of several approaches (calculating
the actual daily wastewater volume or load), but usually for code and approval purposes for a US Residential septic system the local
authority either counts number of occupants or number of bedrooms, and figures that specific appliances like washing machines are
already factored into the load by counting people.

On 2020-05-04 by bdoster@bellsouth,net

what are the standards for clothes washing machine.

does count as a bedroom or what.

On 2019-03-24 - by (mod) -

Risa no one can answer the question based on just the septic plan - you need to know the soil percolation rate.

On 2019-03-24 by Risa

Assuming this was the septic design installed for this property, would this be a big enough system for a 3 to 4 bedroom house?
IMAGE LOST by older version of Clark Van Oyen’s useful Comments code - now fixed. Please re-post the image if you can. Sorry. Mod.

On 2019-03-12 by (mod)

See SEPTIC TANK DESIGN STRENGTH SPECS

On 2019-03-12 by Anonymous

Are there weight bearing specifications for private home septic tanks e. g. should it withstand driving a vehicle over it?

On 2018-12-04 by susan

for a two compartment septic tank, the liquid level of both are possibly of same level?

On 2017-07-30 by mustafa

how can i calculation a septic tand for a school wich have 3000 student and this septic Discharge after 30 days.

On 2017-07-30 by mustafa

pl answer

On 2016-12-23 - by (mod) -

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The outlet is normally a bit lower than the inlet pipe. Otherwise we'd risk sewage backing up in the inlet piping system.

On 2016-12-23 by BALIRE HENRY

Hi,thanks for the great work you are doing but I'd like to find out,are the outlet and inlet of a septic tank put at the same level or the outlet
is lower than the inlet and if so, why?
Thank you!

On 2016-04-12 - by (mod) -

Please search InspectApedia.com for SEPTIC TANK SIZE to read some common sizes and dimensions;

Variations in shape of a tank will of course change its dimensions.

On 2016-04-09 by Anonymous

what are outside dimensions of concrete 1500 gal septic tank

...

Continue reading at SEPTIC TANK DESIGN STRENGTH SPECS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the
complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• SEPTIC CLEARANCE DISTANCES - distances for septic tank or drainfield to property features
• SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS - home
• SEPTIC TANK DESIGN STRENGTH SPECS
• U.S. SEPTIC AUTHORITIES & DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS - start of this series

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James Vanzandt · Apr 8, 2021

Distance from property line to maintain?
Like · Reply · Flag

danjoefriedman (mod) · Apr 8, 2021

@James Vanzandt,

Take a look at SEPTIC CLEARANCE DISTANCES - distances for septic tank or drainfield to property features

inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_Clearance_Distances.php

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and let me know if you're left with any other questions

Thanks
Like · Reply · Flag

danjoefriedman (mod) · Oct 20, 2020

Andy

If the septic system is draining by gravity rather than using pumps, then the D Box must be lower than the tank in order for to receive effluent by gravity
from the tank.

The amount lower (change in elevation) depends on the distance from the tank. You can figure you need a slope of 1/8 to 1/4 inch per foot of horizontal
distance.
Like · Reply · Flag

andy · Oct 20, 2020

do the septic tank and D box have to be on same level or can the D box be lower the the septic tank
Like · Reply · Flag

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