New Septic Tank

Birroc

Registered User
Messages
278
Any advice on picking a septic tank for my new build.

Some people tell me to get the old reliable (and cheap) concrete tank but I am told these need a huge percolation area.

Others say get the big plastic ones which aerate the sludge using pumps etc. They sound good but they dont have a great capacity it seems and need to be emptied annually.

any advice appreciated.
 
check what it says in the conditions of your planning permission. this may have specified the quality of the output from the system, which has to be complied with (and certified by the supplier to meet this output).
check your planning application documents for a site suitability test, which will have been carried out. this should indicate the size of the percolation area required given the characteristics of your site.
 

Planning docco says very little. Just that it be in line with EPA wastewater treatment guidelines. The percolation test was good. The percolation area on the engineers plan is large but we have room for it.
 
Planning docco says very little. Just that it be in line with EPA wastewater treatment guidelines. The percolation test was good. The percolation area on the engineers plan is large but we have room for it.

If your site was deemed suitable for a conventional septic tank and percolation area then put that one in. As long as they are installed correctly and managed by desludging, then they are the best system to install.
 
If your site was deemed suitable for a conventional septic tank and percolation area then put that one in. As long as they are installed correctly and managed by desludging, then they are the best system to install.

What is a "conventional septic tank" ? I am getting different opinions.
Is it a concrete tank with 2 chambers and an overflow pipe for excess liquid? How much would one cost?
 
Yeah - 2 chamber septic tanl with inlet and outlet......standard precast one will cost €600ish
 
a standard septic tank has two chambers, and does not have an 'overflow pipe' as this would somewhat defeat the purpose! most concrete manufacturers make them, shouldn't be hard to scource.
your percolation area will have been sized by your agent at the required size for your ground conditions, and you shouldnt build one half the size...
double check the requirements with your engineer, as if you put in the wrong system, it might be picked up in an inspection if your are ever selling the property.
 

I meant an outlet pipe when I said overflow pipe. An outlet pipe to discharge the liquids (rather than the Sludge...)

My engineer said the percolation area would be large but I must get back to him on that.
 
Typical percolation area would be 150 sq metres, we went 20 metres wide by 7.5 metres depth, so its tucked at back of site, a raised one.

Secman
 
Just completed or rather still completing a build. Same advice as the others. Both our engineer and the tank supervision person said if you have permission for a standard tank, thank your lucky stars and go with it. We tried the round plastic version, it didn't work and we had to get a concrete one from a local supplier. The concrete was a lot cheaper. We'd had concrete tank for 10 years or more at our last house and never had any issues. Between your engineer and tank supervisor they will work out what's to be done in setting out the area.
 
Thanks everyone for the advice.

I will go for a concrete tank and a large percolation area.

Shure my output smells of roses usually so I dont forsee any problems...