My Septic System Experiment

[Tractor Seabee]

Petrix, is it possible you could do a simple sketch showing various parts; size, model, manufacturer, and important dimensions. Maybe you should market your idea.

Ron

 

[Pettrix]

Petrix, is it possible you could do a simple sketch showing various parts; size, model, manufacturer, and important dimensions. Maybe you should market your idea.

Ron

I will sketch it up and give the best info I can. There are companies out there that sell aeration kits for septic tanks but they run about $1,000 - $1,600 for the systems. I did my own setup for $300 which included the air pump and diffuser (see previous posts for equipment info).

SUPPLIES:
Hakko 40L air pump ($180)
Matala EPDM Air Diffuser stick ($60)
Air Tube Diffusers - Air Diffusers
5/8" weighted heavy duty air hose
3/4" rigid PVC pipe




3/4" PVC pipe from garage to septic tank riser. This was buried next to the 4" ABS sewer line. (see pic)

Then it coverts to 5/8" rubber weighted air hose which connects to the diffuser using brass & plastic air barb fittings.
The rigid PVC you see in the picture is used to keep the diffuser from floating to the top of the water since I attached the diffuser to the PVC using a SS clamp and zip ties. The plastic septic tank access lid, once closed, keep the PVC pipe in place and thereby keeping the diffuser stick underwater. The PVC stick was cut to length once everything was in place.

The air pump sits inside a garage to keep it protected and out of the elements.

 

[Bird]

We used to have an aerobic system, but instead of a leech field, it ran out to two sprinkler heads so it watered a fair sized part of the yard. That worked well for us but might not be as good in colder climates up north. Of course you never knew when the sprinklers would come on, it just depended on when the level of water reached a certain point in the last tank. And you never knew which way the water was going to start when it came on, but they were sprinkler heads that gradually rotated. Only once, when I was on my way to the barn, did it come one and catch me full broadside.:laughing: But at least in appearance and smell, it was just clean water.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Have been around more than a few yard where you could smell the difference. People are not always real good about keeping the chlorine (or what ever is used) in the treatment container.

 

[Pettrix]

We used to have an aerobic system, but instead of a leech field, it ran out to two sprinkler heads so it watered a fair sized part of the yard. That worked well for us but might not be as good in colder climates up north. Of course you never knew when the sprinklers would come on, it just depended on when the level of water reached a certain point in the last tank. And you never knew which way the water was going to start when it came on, but they were sprinkler heads that gradually rotated. Only once, when I was on my way to the barn, did it come one and catch me full broadside.:laughing: But at least in appearance and smell, it was just clean water.

The system you mentioned are engineered aerobic systems that are much more advanced than my setup but they also cost about 2-3x more than a conventional system. The use lift pumps and such. They are supposed to get chlorine injection tabs to disinfect the water before it goes into the public area.

My system is just a conventional gravity fed system that I modified with air to change it from anaerobic to aerobic.

I've seen those sprinkler setups you mentioned. Definitely not potable water but good for grey water use in watering trees and grass.

The cleaner the effluent, the better for both the environment and the water table. Eventually the water from your septic tank system makes its way back into the drinking water table for those on well systems. The ground acts like a filter also, the deeper the well, the more filtration water has to go through before it gets picked up by your well.

 

[MacLawn]

We rented a house that had this system, was supposed to put chlorine tablets in it, but as a renter, that was not my responsibility. I never did. The water ran on top of ground on neighbor's land! No one knew it until he was clearing it off. I was surprised at how short drain pipes were! About 15'. I have 3 100' drain fields on ours, but might like to put this kind of pipe in it. Be pretty easy to do at my place I think.

 

[buickanddeere]

A 250 watt solar panel or two and a dc pump should move enough air every day to keep the tank aerated ?

 

[bunyip]

I was thinking that and a battery to keep it going at night too.
Is a windmill an option, we are on the coast and rarely have a day with no breeze, inland would be different.

 

[buickanddeere]

I was thinking that and a battery to keep it going at night too.
Is a windmill an option, we are on the coast and rarely have a day with no breeze, inland would be different.

Aeration would not have to be 24/7.

 

[bunyip]

My train of thought was that solar needs to be regulated so putting in a battery would be a minor addition to an MPPT controller, we have a two tank treatment system which runs on mains power, our council/shire does not allow septic systems any longer.