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Anil Agarwal Environment Training Institute

DESIGN ASPECTS OF ONSITE TREATMENT

TECHNOLOGIES FOR FAECAL SLUDGE MANAGEMENT
IN RURAL AREAS

Date: 2nd-10th February 2022

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Module 4

TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW AND DESIGN

CONSIDERATION OF SEPTIC TANK SYSTEM

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Table of contents
• Technical overview
• Design basics and considerations
• Solved exercise

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AAETI What is septic tank - Introduction
Water tight Chamber 1. Septic tank offers preliminary treatment of sewage prior to final
disposal
2. Liquid flows through the tank and heavy particles sink to the
bottom, while scum floats to the top.
3. Over time, the solids that settle to the bottom are degraded
anaerobically, leading to primary level treatment of BOD load
reduction
4. Effluent must be dispersed via a Soak pit or transported to
another treatment technology.
5. Only portion of suspended solids settle in septic tank, the
dissolved organic matter and some suspended matter are
discharged from tank in effluent and will cause health hazard if
not disposed properly, therefore soak away structure is
necessary.
6. Desludging every 2-3 years

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Image Source: The Online Compendium of Sanitation Systems and Technologies (EAWAG 2014) Dübendorf: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technologies (EAWAG)
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How does the septic tank work ?
– The solids settle to the ground while scum (oil and fat) floats to the top and
liquid flows through (Physical Treatment).

– Anaerobic microorganism living in the bottom sludge start to degrade the

organic fraction of the wastes, transforming it into methane (CH4), carbon
dioxide (CO2), hydrogen (H), nitrgoen (N) and hydro sulphide (H2S) = Biogas.
This process called anaerobic digestion (Biological Treatment).

– Biogas has similar properties to natural gas and can used for heating or
cooking.

– Ventilation is necessary if biogas is not recovered.

– The settling capacity of the solids depends on the wastewater flow. A rather
slow flow will settle better. But a turbulent flow will increase the contact of the
new sludge with the microorganism responsible for degradation.
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Septic tank - Design
Design basis
1. Minimum hydraulic retention time
(24-48 hours)
2. Hydraulic loading rate (number of
users)
3. Inlet designed to introduce waste
water with least disturbance- T-pipe.
4. Partition wall for tanks with > 2000 l
capacity.
5. Minimum volume for settling of solids.
6. Arrest escape of scum through outlet
7. Minimum freeboard of 0.30 m
8. Optimal emptying frequency (2- 3
years)
Image Source: IS Code 2470 Part I
9. Minimum size: 1.5mx 0.75 m x 1.0 m 6
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Basic design considerations
Step 1: No. of people
Step 2: Water usage per capita (liters per capita)
Step 3: Wastewater quantity
Step 4: Expected effluent quality
Step 5: Ground water and sub surface water table
Step 7: Type of soil
Step 8: Area available for setting up the treatment
component

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Plan of a septic tank Gas release, 2.5m
above the roof top
Easy entry and cleaning

Vent Pipe
(75mm)

Man Hole Outlet Pipe (100

Inlet Pipe (100 mm) mm)
500 mm dia

Waste Entry Point

RCC wall

Chamber 8
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Section of a septic tank
Vent Pipe
(75mm)
Slab
(125mm thick) Man Hole
500 mm dia

Free Board-300mm

Inlet Pipe (100 mm) 400mm Outlet Pipe (100

450mm mm)

150mm
Baffle wall-
100mm thick
Sludge
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RCC wall (150 mm)
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Design – Exercise
• Data required • Factors affecting the choice of tank size
– Number of people – Sludge/solid accumulation rate
– Desludging (l/capita/annum)
frequency – Hydraulic retention time

Guidelines from CPHEEO Manual & IS 2470 (part 1&2)

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Exercise calculations
Question: Design a septic tank for a household having five
occupants

Step1: Daily volume of sewage; A = P x q

Where P = Population and q = sewage flow per day
If each person flushes 10 liters four times a day, the sewage flow;
q = 4 x 10 = 40 liters per person per day;
Therefore, A = 5 x 40 = 200 liters
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Step2: Volume of sludge: B = P x N X S

Where P = Population, N = Time interval
for desludging, S = Sludge accumulation
rate
Assuming, N is 3 years, S = 40 liters per
person per year (l/person.year) Retrieved from:
https://forum.susana.org/media/kunena/attachments/633/Accummulationrates.png

Therefore, B = 5 x 3 x 40 = 600 liters

Step 3: Total volume = C = A + B = 200 + 600 = 800 liters = 0.8 m3

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AAETI Step 4: Dimension of Septic tank
Assume liquid depth = 1.5 m = D Volume of tank = L x B X D
Assume tank width is W m = B 0.8 m3= (2W+W) m x W m x 1.5 m
Assume two compartment; 3W2 = 0.8/1.5; W2 = 0.53/3
Length of first compartment = 2W W = sqrt (0.177) = 0.42m
Length of second compartment = W As this width is less than recommended minimum
Total length = (2W+W) m = L width of 0.6 m, We assume Width W = 0.6 m.

Length of first compartment (2W) = 2 x 0.6 = 1.2 m

Depth of tank from floor to cover
slab = 1.5 m (liquid depth) + 0.3 m Length of second compartment (W) = 0.6m
(freeboard) = 1.8m = D Total length = 1.2 + 0.6 = 1.8 m = L

The tank volume (excluding freeboard) = L x B x D = 1.8 x 0.6 x 1.5 = 1.62 m3, which is larger than
the required volume calculated in step 3. This is not a disadvantage – in practice, either the
minimum retention time will be greater than 24 hours or the tank will provide longer service than
three years before desludging. 13
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Requisites for septic tank

Septic tank need to be periodically desludged ( local municipality must ensure

this service) Desludging reduces the risk of overflow and clogging

Septic tank outlet cannot be let out into storm water drain

Septic tank must always be followed by soak pit or dispersion trench, if not
can be connected to a farm drain for reuse

Septic tank should be a water tight structure

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Thank you

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