DOMESTIC SEWAGE TREATMENT

(SEPTIC TANK AND SOAK PIT)

Submitted to:- Submitted by:-

Prof. A.B. GUPTA OM PRAKASH
MNIT, JAIPUR RAMKISHOR YADAV
TRILOK CHAND GUPTA
VIJAY PAL OLA
 WHY DO WE NEED A SEWER SYSTEM?

 Each time we flush the toilet or wash sth down the

sink's drain,we create sewage (also known in polite
society as wastewater).
 One question that many people might ask is, "Why
not simply dump this wastewater onto the ground
outside the house, or into a nearby stream?" There
are three main things about wastewater that make it
sth you don't want to release into the environment:-
 It stinks. If you release wastewater directly
into the environment, things get very smelly
very fast.

 It contains harmful bacteria. Which causes

health hazard.

 It contains suspended solids and chemicals

that affect the environment.
 SEPTIC TANK
 INTRODUCTION
 CONSTUCTION DETAIL
 DESIGN
 WORKING
 CLEANING
 INSTALLATION TIPS
 POTENTIAL PROBLEM
 ENVIROMENT ISSUES
 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
 DISPOSAL OF EFFLUENT
 INTRODUCTION
 In rural areas where
houses are spaced so
far apart that a sewer
system would be too
expensive to install,
people install their
own, private sewage
treatment plants.
These are called
 A septic tank is a key component of the septic
system or sewer system.
 In North America approximately 25% of the
population relies on septic tanks; this can include
suburbs and small towns as well as rural areas
 Septic tanks are generally installed by isolated
communities like schools, hospitals & institutions.
 Septic tank may be defined as primary sedimentation
tank.
 Having capacity to remove 60 to 70% dissolved
matter.
 CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
 Tank is designed to prevent directs currents
between the tank inlet and outlet.
 T-pipes or baffles at inlet & outlet with
submerged ends to stop currents and retaining
the scum.
 Manhole covers are provided in top slab to
permit inspection & maintenance.
 Anearobic decomposition
Organic materials +Nutrients CH4+ CO2 + NH3+H2S+ Biomass
 Top of tank is covered with RCC slab.
 Sometimes stairs steps are also
provided.
 Provide vent pipe to escape foul gases.
 Side sump-well with portable pump.
 Two Compartment Septic Tank.
 DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
 CAPACITY OF SEPTIC TANK:-capable of
storing sewage flow during detention period
&extra volume of sludge for .5 to 3 yrs.
 INLET AND OUTLET TEES

 DETENTION PERIOD:- 12 to 36 hrs

(adopted 24hrs)
 LENGTH TO WIDTH RATIO:- Length is 2
to3 times of width.

WORKING
Sewage enter through the Inlet.
 There are three layers
1. Anything that floats rises to the top and forms a
layer known as the scum layer.
2. Anything heavier than water sinks to form the
sludge layer.
3. In the middle is a fairly clear water layer. This body
of water contains bacteria and chemicals like
nitrogen and phosphorous that act as fertilizers,
but it is largely free of solids.
Organic matter is digested by bacteria.
Digestion of settled sludge is carried out by
ANAROBIC DECOMPOSITION also called sludge
digestion.
Due to decomposition foul gases are produced
thus mass of sludge is decreased.
BOD of water also decreased .
 The water in the tank is not pure water, it is
called gray water because it still contains
organic materials that need to be filtered
out.
 As more water enters from influent the
water level inside the septic tank rises and
gray water will exit through effluent.
 CLEANING
 “Prevention is better than cure”
 Regular septic tank cleaning is the only way to
prevent septic tank systems from clogging and well.
 Pumping is only way of cleaning.

 Frequency of cleaning depends on volume of

solids, amount of indigestible solids and the
ambient temperature.
 So there is no “rule of thumb”
because period of cleaning very from
few months to so many yrs.
 Generally this very from 6months to
4-5 yrs.
 Sludge from tank disposed after
drying.
 INSTALLATION TIPS
According to vastu the location of the septic tank
should be such north west corner under any condition.
Do not construct the septic tank higher than the plinth
level of the building. The best bet would be to
construct it at ground level.
The septic tank should be at least 2 feet away from the
wall or plinth.
 POTENTIAL PROBLEMS
 Oils and grease are difficult to degrade can cause
the inlet drains to block.
 Flushing non-biodegradable items (cigarette butts
& cotton buds) clog a septic tank.
 Chemicals (pesticides, herbicides)and inorganic
materials(paints or solvents)damage the working
of a septic tank.
 Roots from trees may clog and rupture them.
 Excessive water entering the system will overload it and cause it
to fail.

 Septic tanks by themselves are ineffective at removing nitrogen

compounds that can potentially cause algal blooms in receiving
waters

 All toilet paper are not suitable to dispose in septic tank(some

toilet paper was specifically marked as suitable for use in septic
systems and some was not).
 ADVANTAGES
 Ease in construction.
 No maintenance problem(except periodical cleaning).

 Excellently functioning ST can considerably reduce

suspended solids &BOD from sewage.
 Due to digestion reduction in volume is about 60%
&reduction in weight is about 30%.
 It is suitable for isolated community.
 It is a completely passive system.

 Small area required.

 Low initial & operation cost.

 Effluent from ST is disposed without much trouble.

 DISADVANTAGES
 IfST is not properly functioning, effluent will
be very foul &dark.
 Leakage of gases from top cover of ST may
caused bed smells &environmental pollution.
 Periodical cleaning, removal and disposal of
sludge remains a tedious problem.
 DISPOSAL OF EFFLUENT
 Ways of disposal of effluent are:-
1. Soak pit.
2. Sub-surface irrigation

3. Leaching Cess-pools.
4. Treated in trickling filters

5. Recycling.
 SOAK PIT TANK

 INTRODUCTION
 DESIGN
 WORKING
 ADEQUACY
 HEALTH ASPECTS
 MAINTENANCE
ADVANTAGES & DISADAVANTAGES
 WHY WE
NEED SOAK
PIT TANK ?
 REASON

The water in the septic tank is not pure, it is

called grey water because it still contains
organic materials that need to be filtered out.
 INTRODUCTION

A Soak Pit is a covered, porous-walled

chamber that allows water to slowly
soak into the ground. Pre-settled effluent
from septic tank is discharged to the
underground chamber from where it
infiltrates into the surrounding soil.
 DESIGN

A layer of sand and fine gravel is spread

across the bottom to help disperse the flow.

Depth should be between 1.5 and 4m deep,

but never less than 1.5m above the ground
water table.
The Soak Pit is filled with coarse rocks and
gravel.

The rocks and gravel will prevent the walls

from collapsing, but will still provide
adequate space for the wastewater.
A-masonry ring
B-stone or brick aggregate
C-brick chamber
D-30cm thick outer casing
with coarse sand
E-effluent from septic tank
 WORKING
As wastewater percolates through the soil from the
soak pit , small particles are filtered out by the soil
matrix and organics are digested by micro-
organism.
Soak pit are best suited to soils with good
absorptive properties; clay, hard packed or rocky
soils are not appropriate.
 ADEQUACY
A Soak Pit does not provide adequate treatment
for raw wastewater and the pit will clog quickly.

A Soak Pit should be used for discharging pre

settled black water or grey water .
Soak pits are appropriate for rural and
suburban settlements.

They depend on soil with a sufficient

absorptive capacity. They are not
appropriate for areas that are prone to
flooding or have high groundwater
tables.
 HEALTH ASPECTS
 The technology is located underground and
thus, humans and animals should have no
contact with the effluent.
The Soak Pit is located a safe distance from a
drinking water source (ideally 30m).
 The Soak Pit is odourless and not visible.
 MAINTENANCE
 the effluent should be clarified or filtered well to prevent
excessive build up of solids.
 The Soak Pit should be kept away from high-traffic areas.
 Particles and biomass will clog the pit so need to be cleaned or
moved.
 For future access a removable lid should be used to seal the
pit.
 ADVANTAGES
 Can be built and repaired with locally available
materials.
 Small land area required.
 Power conservative.
 Can be built and maintained with locally available
materials.
 Simple technique for all users.
 DISADVANTAGES
Pretreatment is required to prevent clogging,
although eventual clogging is inevitable.

Negatively affects soil and groundwater

properties.
 SUB-SURFACE IRRIGATION

 Introduction

 Design
 Working
 Advantages

 Limitations
 INTRODUCTIO
 Effluent is delivered directly to the infiltrative surface
of the soil using specially manufactured polyethylene
tubing with built-in turbulent flow emitters.
 Subsurface irrigation is a highly-efficient watering technique.
 It reduces outdoor water use by 30 to 40 percent.
 DESIGN
 It consist a masonry chamber (Distribution box) where the
effluent of septic tank uniformly distributed an underground
network.
 Emitter lines placed on 2 foot centers with a 2 foot emitter
spacing such that each emitter supplies a 4 sq. ft area.
 These lines are placed at depths of 6-10 inches below the surface.

 Absorption trench 30 to 90cm wide filled with gravel(15cm

thick) layer and well graded aggregate(15cm thick layer).
Sub-surface Disposal System
 WORKING

 Septic tank effluent is allowed to enter into a masonry

chamber (distribution chamber).
 from where it is uniformly distributed an underground
network of open jointed pipe ,into absorption trench
called dispersion trenches .
 The suspended organic matter present in the effluent
will be absorbed in the absorption trenches.
 The clearer water seeping down to the water-table
may come up to the plant roots throughly capillarity
,thus fulfilling their irrigation water demands.
 ADVANTAGES
 Health risks are minimized.
 The system is easily automated.

 Consumption of nitrates by the plant

material is increased.
 The systems are durable and have a long
life.
 Disposal of water by means of
evapotranspiration by the plants is
maximized.
 LIMITATIONS

 Emitter clogging:-This clogging is usually the result of

insufficient water filtration, lateral flushing and/or chemical
injection.
 Salt accumulation
 Mechanical damage
 Crop establishment
 Soil structural effects
 REFRENCES

Guide- Dr. Urmila Brighu, MNIT Jaipur

 Sewage Disposal & Air Pollution Eng. BY

S.K.Garg
 http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki.com

 http//home.housestuffworks.com

 http//septictank.org/wp.com
 Any

Question