How to make a septic tank from concrete rings? A septic tank made of concrete rings - a construction scheme and do-it-yourself laying (105 photos) How to properly install rings for a septic tank

19.06.2023Heading: Calculation

Achievements of engineering thought in construction do not stagger the imagination like discoveries in the field of high technologies. Nevertheless, they are not inferior to them in their significance for our life. A good example is a septic tank made of concrete rings for a private house, which replaced a cesspool. In this structure, the most important process for the environment takes place - the cleaning of sewage by microorganisms. Dirty water that has passed the septic tank becomes safe for humans and nature.

Unlike a cesspool, which accumulates sewage and is not able to absorb a large amount of water, a septic tank does an excellent job of this task. Three processes simultaneously take place in it: dilution of effluents, their settling and decomposition of organic sediment. The rate of biological treatment in a septic tank is hundreds of times higher than in a cesspool. Due to the active processing of organic matter, the volume of bottom sediment in it is minimal, which allows pumping out once every 2-3 years.

The question arises, why is the option of reinforced concrete rings good, because instead of it you can use a monolithic or plastic container?

There are several reasons for this decision:

Installation of a prefabricated reinforced concrete structure is simpler, easier and faster than working with concrete, reinforcement and formwork;
When using plastic containers, it becomes necessary to anchor them to a concrete slab. Otherwise, groundwater can push them out of the ground;
A septic tank made of reinforced concrete rings is stronger and more durable than plastic.

For the successful construction of such a structure, you need to have an idea about its calculation and the main stages of installation. Useful information on this topic can be found in our article.

The volume of wastewater is the basic value taken into account when designing any treatment plant. Sanitary standards set it at the level of 200 l / day per person. In addition, the capacity of the septic tank should be equal to 3 daily volumes of sewage. Based on these two conditions, the capacity of the structure can be calculated. So, for example, a family of 4 people will need a septic tank with a volume of: 4 x 200 l / person x 3 = 2,400 liters. (2.4m3).

The second issue that needs to be resolved is the number of cleaning chambers: one, two or three. If no more than 3 people permanently live in the country house, then you can limit yourself to one camera.

With a larger number of residents (4-6 people), the sewerage system in the country house of concrete rings is made two-chamber. It copes better with a large flow of sewage. Three cleaning tanks are used in houses where several families live.

Each chamber of the septic tank performs certain tasks:

In the first one, sedimentation of effluents and anaerobic (oxygen-free) decomposition of organic matter takes place. Heavy particles sink to the bottom here, while light particles float to the top. The clarified water flows through the pipe into the second chamber;
In the second tank, the effluents undergo additional bacterial treatment and are discharged into a filtering trench or well. Oxygen (aerobic) decomposition of organic matter takes place here.

The choice of filtration method depends on the level of groundwater and the type of soil. In the absorbing well, water goes into the ground through perforated walls and a bottom covered with fine gravel.

Two-chamber septic tank from reinforced concrete rings with a filter well

With a high level of soil water and soil that does not absorb moisture well (clay, loam), an absorbable trench is made (filtration field). A perforated pipe wrapped with geotextile is laid in it and covered with drainage material (crushed stone, gravel + sand). Due to the large length of the pipe and the presence of a filter bed, the final cleaning process is normal even in heavy and wet soil.

Three-chamber septic tank with a filter trench

Having determined the capacity, the number of chambers and the type of filtration structure, you can proceed to the choice of a place on the site. A diagram will help you with this. It indicates the minimum allowable distances from the treatment plant to water sources, trees and the road.

Sanitary breaks between septic tank, water source and other facilities

From this diagram it can be seen that the largest distance of the sewer facility should be from the source of drinking water (50 meters). On a summer cottage with an area of 5 acres, this requirement is not feasible. Here you will have to install a device for disinfecting drinking water with an ultraviolet lamp or use an imported bottled one.

In addition to observing sanitary breaks, the septic tank must be placed so that its chambers can be reached by the hose of the sewage truck.

Construction materials

In order to make a septic tank from concrete rings with your own hands, you need to buy the following materials:

polypropylene pipes with a diameter of 12-15 cm (the length is determined by the length of the sewer route);
pipes for ventilation of cells (diameter 8-10 cm);
plastic tees of the same diameter;
concrete rings (the diameter depends on the volume of the chambers);
cement-sand mortar for sealing joints;
hydrophobic impregnation for concrete or bituminous mastic for waterproofing;
concrete cover with an inspection hatch;
plastic perforated pipes with a diameter of 10-15 cm for a drainage trench (filtration field).

The correct choice of the type and diameter of the rings is of great importance for the normal operation of the septic tank. It is best if you buy concrete rings with a bottom at a construction warehouse. This will free you from the need to pour a monolithic slab and seal the contact area.

If such products are not available, then buy standard circles, but only with a locking joint, which increases the tightness and strength of the joints. The diameter of the sections and their number are selected based on the estimated capacity of the primary and secondary chambers.

Cylinder volume formula

The number of concrete circles is determined by dividing the volume of the cleaning chambers by the volume of one circle. If the number turns out to be odd, for example, 7 pieces, then one circle is added to an even value. For each container in a two-chamber septic tank, therefore, there will be 4 concrete circles.

The number of round concrete sections for the filter well can be taken equal to the number of chamber rings. If the groundwater is deep, then the well can be dug 1-2 meters deeper.

Construction technology

The device of a septic tank from concrete rings begins with digging a pit. Its size should be equal to the outer diameter of the chambers plus 30-40 cm for the mounting gap on each side and 5-10 cm of space between the rings.

If circles with a bottom are purchased, then a sand cushion 15-20 cm thick is made under them. It is needed to evenly distribute the weight of concrete to the ground. When determining the depth of the pit, do not forget to take into account the thickness of the bedding!

When using ordinary well circles without a bottom, a concrete slab with a thickness of at least 10 cm will have to be poured under them. It must be protected from cracks with a reinforcing mesh (rod diameter 10-14 mm, step 10-15 cm).

Installation of concrete rings for sewerage is carried out on cement mortar M500. It is evenly distributed over the entire contact surface. Having completed the installation, holes are marked and punched in the upper part of the chambers for passing pipes: sewer, overflow and leading to the filtering well (trench).

A plastic “tee” is put on the end of the sewer pipe entering the primary chamber. The same is done with the overflow and outlet pipes. Tees perform an important function: they do not allow contaminants floating on the surface of the water to clog pipes and go to other compartments of the treatment plant.

Having installed the rings, they are treated with hydrophobic impregnation outside and inside. Having covered the compartments with concrete covers, revision hatches are attached to them. Holes are punched in the covers of the primary and secondary chambers and ventilation pipes are placed in them.

An important nuance is the creation of the correct slope from the exit point of the house sewer to the entrance to the first chamber. Its optimal value is 2% (for 1 meter of length, 2 cm of height difference). In order to do this work without errors, we suggest studying the sketch of the treatment plant in the figure.

Scheme of a two-chamber septic tank with a drainage ditch

If your septic tank will work with a filtration well, then it is better to buy round sections with drainage holes for it.

Circles for a drainage well

It should be remembered that the drainage well is made only in soil that absorbs moisture well (sand, sandy loam). In loam and clay for final cleaning, a filtration field is equipped or a drainage trench is dug.

Before laying the perforated pipes, the bottom of the trench is covered with fine gravel (layer 20-30 cm) or gravel to create an absorbent substrate. The pipe is wrapped with geotextile. It will protect it from silting with soil particles carried by storm water.

The cost of concrete rings

Estimated prices of reinforced concrete products for 2017 for a treatment plant look like this:

An ordinary ring with a lock KS 10-9 (inner diameter 100 cm, height 90 cm) in different regions can cost from 1,700 to 2,300 rubles per piece;
KS 15-9 - 3000-3 600 rubles / 1 pc.;
Cover with a hole for the hatch 1PP 10-1 (diameter 100 cm, thickness 15 cm) - 1200-1700 rubles / piece;
1PP 15-1 - 2,400-3,000 rubles / piece;
Ring with a bottom KCD 10-9 (diameter 100 cm, height 90 cm) - 2600-3200 rubles / piece;
KCD 15-9 - 4700-5700 rubles / piece.

Starting a septic tank

After completing the installation and filling the sinuses of the pit with excavated soil, the septic tank chambers must be filled with clean water. Its level should be several centimeters below the bottom mark of the upper overflow pipe connecting the primary and secondary chambers.

Some owners do wrong, believing that it is better to fill the sewage treatment plant with sewage. We remind them that the principle of operation of the septic tank is to dilute sewage, and not to accumulate it. Therefore, by the beginning of work, it must have clean water.

There is another important nuance. For effective cleaning, special cultures of bacteria that decompose organic matter must be introduced into the containers. They can be bought in hardware stores in the form of a dry concentrate.

If you know how to make a septic tank out of concrete rings, your suburban home will be truly comfortable. Such sewerage will ensure efficient collection of wastewater and their high-quality treatment.

Such a local sewer system may consist of 1–3 tanks. Single-chamber structures are used extremely rarely, since they, in fact, are an ordinary cesspool that needs to be cleaned frequently by calling a sewage truck.

But systems with 2 and 3 tanks for wastewater disposal are now quite popular among owners of country houses.

System with two tanks for wastewater disposal

Consider the device of a three-chamber septic tank, in which the separation of wastewater into separate fractions is carried out. Structurally, it consists of:

the main tank designed for the accumulation of wastewater;
the second chamber - a well, where the already clarified wastewater is filtered;
aerobic fermentation tanks;
a sewer pipe (usually plastic products are used), through which wastewater is removed from a residential building.

The first and second tanks are made on a screed of cement and sand from (the number of the latter can be different, it all depends on the volume of the septic tank), they have inlets and outlets for drains, a cast-iron hatch necessary to seal the structure, as well as a wooden cover that covers the rings .

In the first tank, wastewater is processed and clarified (this process is also called natural purification). As a result, pure water and silt are formed in it. In the second well, the unclarified solids settle to the bottom. And the third container is needed for aerobic fermentation. It is necessary to properly equip the ventilation in it, and then the sewage system will not need to be pumped out at all - the purified water will be absorbed into the soil by gravity.

Sewerage from reinforced concrete rings should be placed at least 30 meters from water sources used for drinking and household needs, and no closer than 5 meters from a residential building.

T It is also necessary to properly equip the entrance to the cleaning system. Do not forget that the septic tank from the rings is mounted using fairly large equipment. It should easily reach the sewerage installation site. Yes, and later you may need to call a machine for pumping wastewater.

Septic tank made of reinforced concrete rings

Experts strongly recommend installing a concrete sewer on an elevated site. In this case, neither melt water nor heavy rainfall will flood the septic tank. If there are no hills on the site, you need to call specialists in geodetic work. They will analyze the soil (find out the characteristics of the land and the level of groundwater) and suggest the best place to install an overflow sewer structure.

The volume of the septic tank depends on the volume of the rings that will be used to equip the sewer. There are general recommendations for the capacity of the system, which take into account the water consumption of the family. Usually, for houses where 2-4 people live permanently, a septic tank with a volume of about 2 cubic meters is enough. For a family of 5-7 people, it is better to build a more spacious structure - a 3-4 cube.

A sewer pit is dug manually using shovels, or with an excavator. In the first case, you are guaranteed to receive a pit of the dimensions you require. Then it will not need to be adjusted to the geometric parameters of the sewer from the rings. But the excavator will do all earthworks many times faster. You choose.

Even when you decide to build a septic tank with a minimum volume, a foundation pit is dug under it with a depth of 2 meters or more. The width of the pit is taken with a margin of 30–40 cm. In an overly tight pit, concrete products, when lowered, can simply get stuck without reaching the bottom.

For each tank you need to dig your own hole (build a septic tank with two wells - prepare two pits, with three - three). At the same time, the distance between the pits is maintained at the level of 100 cm (it is better to take even a little more).

Pit for a well

The bottom of the pits must be concreted with a standard mortar based on and cement (the ratio of components is 3 to 1). After applying such a composition, you should wait 6–7 days, and only after that proceed with the installation of reinforced concrete products. The latter at the joints are always sealed with the already described sand-cement composition.

One more feature. If you want to build a septic tank with one well, there is no need to concrete the bottom of the pit. Instead, you need to mount a simple pillow for drain drainage.

Do not forget at this stage to dig a trench along which the pipe will pass from the dwelling to the sewer. The depth of such a ditch is half a meter. The pipe is inserted into the first tank of the septic tank through the hole. It is easy to make it with a perforator.

Rings must be unloaded only in a vertical position. Concrete products must not be rolled or pushed because of the risk of their cracking and the impossibility of subsequently creating an airtight structure.

Rings are carefully installed on a concrete base. They need to immediately make holes for incoming and outgoing pipes. The whole system, as you understand, will be connected into one whole - drains will flow from one container to another. Therefore, such a septic tank is often called overflow. Cut holes with a grinder and a puncher - the work is laborious, but doable.

Installation of rings on a concrete base

A lid should be mounted on the last concrete ring in each tank, in which there is a place for installing a plastic or (better) cast-iron hatch. Typically, covers are made of concrete, but they can also be built from durable wood 4-5 cm thick.

Mounted wells are connected to each other by pipes:

the first and second reservoirs at a height of 25–30 cm from the soil surface;
the second and third - at a height of about 50 cm.

Note! Pipe laying is carried out at an angle. For each linear meter of a tubular product, it should be 20 mm.

The next stage of work is the waterproofing of the rings. It is produced with polymer-based mastics - Hydroisol or Hydrotex, a solution of glass (liquid), ordinary bituminous mastic. It is necessary to isolate containers both from the inside and outside. Increased attention should be paid to the joints between concrete products.

After that, start backfilling the wells. It’s great if you can pour clay on them, which will serve as an additional shutter for drains (this natural material practically does not allow moisture to pass through). Serve the clay in layers of 25-30 cm and tamp each layer. Your septic tank is ready!

One of the main elements of the autonomous sewer system of a private household or country house is a septic tank. There are structures made of brick, plastic or iron tanks. But the most common option is the construction of a septic tank from concrete rings.

The construction of a house outside the city limits should begin with the creation of a sewer. It is not easy to design it correctly and carry out all organizational measures. You need to think about everything in order to avoid mistakes. Improper arrangement of the sewer system will lead to the fact that it will be impossible to live in a house in comfortable conditions.

To build a functional septic tank with your own hands on a personal plot, you need to know how to do it and what should be taken into account when carrying out installation work. Among the materials that have an affordable cost, which are used in the creation of local treatment facilities, concrete rings are most in demand.

Advantages and disadvantages of septic tanks from rings

In a home-made septic tank made of concrete rings, they are one of the main elements of an equipped sewer. These products are of high performance.

Tanks built from them, due to the technical advantages of reinforced concrete products, have high strength and excellent resistance to aggressive substances.

Among the advantages of septic tanks made of concrete rings, it should be noted:

Affordable cost. Since this construction product has a low cost, many owners of suburban real estate, even those with limited financial resources, can afford to build a reservoir from it.
Durability and strength. Concrete surpasses brick in strength parameters and is not inferior to such material as natural stone. It can withstand increased pressure and is not dangerous for volumetric volley discharges. The service life of septic tanks for giving with their own hands from rings can reach more than 50 years.
G tank tightness. Thanks to high-quality waterproofing, the construction of concrete rings is resistant to groundwater from the outside and absolutely tight from the inside.
capacity. Such containers are capable of collecting a large amount of wastewater, so the procedure for cleaning them can be performed once for several years.

If you build a septic tank from rings, reinforced concrete will cost less than polypropylene containers.

But this design also has disadvantages, which include:

Big weight. Before you make a septic tank from concrete rings, you will need to order special equipment to move these heavy elements.
The presence of the possibility of penetration of waste fluid into the underlying layers of the soil. This problem can occur during the operation of the septic tank as a result of cracks in the concrete or due to depressurization of the joints, which leads to the loss of its protective functions.

Before you arrange a septic tank of concrete rings, it is advisable to analyze all the pros and cons of this building material. You should also evaluate your own capabilities regarding the use of special equipment.

Construction options

The device of a septic tank made of reinforced concrete products is not considered too difficult work. It can have a two- or three-chamber design. Regardless of the type of execution, in the course of its maintenance, it is necessary to apply for the services of vacuum trucks and order special equipment to remove solid waste that collects on the internal surfaces of the tank.

A single-chamber septic tank made of rings is a storage tank that functions on the principle of a cesspool; it is equipped much less frequently. Property owners prefer these structures, if necessary, to equip the sewer system for small country houses in which the owners live in the summer or during their holidays, provided that the volume of effluents is insignificant.

Another important reason for choosing a single-chamber reservoir is the high level of groundwater occurrence, as well as the predominance of clayey rocks in the geology of the territory.

A septic tank with two wells or three chambers is installed when creating autonomous treatment facilities for suburban households, which are intended for permanent residence when the planned volume of sewage is large.

In the process of arranging a two-chamber structure, if it is supplemented with a filtration field or a filter well, the first chamber is a sealed container with a limited amount of oxygen. It will certainly be equipped with a concrete or cast-iron hatch, and, in addition, with a line for supplying and discharging wastewater. The second compartment is provided with a ventilation pipe in order to provide oxygen access.

On the sewerage scheme of concrete rings, consisting of two or three tanks, the waste masses are subjected to multi-stage treatment by settling and filtration:

In the first storage tank, a pre-treatment process takes place, during which large suspensions settle and, under conditions of lack of oxygen, are decomposed, and anaerobic bacteria are involved in the processing of organic matter. In the second tank, the cleaning and filtration process continues, but aerobic bacteria and oxygen are already involved in it.
Decayed organic residues that look like silt sink to the bottom, and clarified effluents flow into a drainage well, which is also called a filter or absorption well.

From there, through holes in the walls, the water that has undergone post-treatment is filtered through the sand and gravel layer and sent to the soil. When the personal plot is located on soils that have sufficient filtration properties and are well absorbent and permeable to liquid, and the level of groundwater occurrence is low, it is better to give preference to the septic tank, in which the clarified liquid is redirected to the absorption compartment.

On soil with a depth of underground water layers reaching only 2.5 meters, the cleaning process becomes impossible, since there must be at least one meter between the lowest point of the drainage well for a septic tank made of concrete rings and ground water.

In this situation, the treated effluents would be better taken to the drainage fields. But the arrangement of such systems requires an area with many square meters.

Choosing the location of the treatment plant

When designing a septic tank, the sanitary zone is placed so that organic waste cannot penetrate into the fertile soil and the source of drinking water. For this reason, you must adhere to the relevant building codes that regulate how to properly make a septic tank from rings or other building materials.

The wastewater treatment system in a suburban area is equipped taking into account the provisions:

SNiPa 2.04.03.85 - it reflects the rules for the construction of external sewer facilities;
SanPiN 2.2.1 / 2.1.1.1200-03 - this document lists the requirements that should be met when creating zones that are considered environmentally unsafe.

According to these standards, so that the foundation of the household does not get wet due to emergency leaks, the septic tank must be placed so that it is lower than the residential building.

When choosing a place, they certainly take into account the presence of natural reservoirs with running waters. The distance to them, which should be kept, cannot be less than 5 meters. In this case, the gap to the trees should be 3 meters, and to the bushes - about a meter.

It is also necessary to find out where the gas pipeline passes under the surface of the earth. It is necessary that the distance to it be at least 5 meters. But it should be borne in mind that it is forbidden to have vehicles above the place where the treatment structure is planned to be buried, since they can destroy the entire structure with their weight.

How to make a septic tank

To equip a strong and durable cleaning system in a private household, you need to have information regarding the basic rules of this process:

The distance between the rings of the septic tank - wells should be no less than half a meter. At the same time, the gap filled with bitumen will act as a buffer in the event of ground movements.
Mandatory is the presence of gravel-sand or crushed stone cushion. Thanks to this layer, the immobility of the septic tank is ensured even if the soil under the tanks is not stable. A cushion is also needed to drain fluid if the well is leaking.
Do not neglect the creation of waterproofing. In order to equip the correct septic tank from concrete rings, it is necessary to seal the seams between adjacent products, for which several different types of insulating materials are used, which process the inner surface of the chambers and their outer walls.

If you adhere to the technology, how to properly make a septic tank from concrete rings and carefully observe all the installation conditions, then you will not often have to invite specialists to clean and repair the storage tank.

Installation technology of a treatment structure made of concrete rings

Work on the arrangement of a durable and reliable septic tank from the rings is not a complex undertaking. You can do them yourself. If the arrangement of several chambers is being designed, a linear principle is used, in the implementation of which concrete columns assembled from rings are placed along one line.

After the receiving compartment on the overflow diagram of the septic tank from the rings, there are tanks installed in close proximity to each other. At a considerable distance from them, a filter column is mounted.

Step by step work on the creation of a treatment facility on a personal plot is as follows:

Measurement and design.
Preparation and acquisition of necessary materials.
Digging a pit and creating a pillow.
Installation of concrete rings and insulation of joints.
Installation of overflow pipes.

Measurement and design

To ensure effective treatment of wastewater, it is necessary to create conditions under which they can be inside the storage tank for three days. For this reason, the volume of a septic tank made of concrete rings is determined taking into account the total three-day volume of effluents.

Water consumption in accordance with the daily consumption norms for one family member when using household household appliances is about 200 liters. By a simple calculation, it can be determined that for a family consisting of 2 to 3 people, the minimum volume of the treatment plant should be approximately 2 cubic meters.

But for a cottage where 5 - 6 households permanently live, the construction of a structure capable of accommodating 3 - 4 cubes is required. Experts advise when determining the volume of a septic tank to make a small margin, since if strangers arrive, there is a risk that the norm will be exceeded. To eliminate the consequences of incorrectly made calculations, there will be significant financial costs.

When deciding on the choice of which rings to make a septic tank, and how many of them will be required, it must be borne in mind that the actual volume must exceed the calculated figures. This is due to the fact that as the tank fills, the drains rise to the location of the overflow holes - they never reach the top edge. For this reason, the calculated volume of the waste liquid should only reach the level of these pipes.

Preparation of required materials

It is desirable that the purchased rings for the septic tank have locks. Their presence contributes to the simplification of the installation process and at the same time prevents the displacement of elements under the influence of frost heaving of the soil. Before you buy rings, you should pay attention to the even location of the seats. You also need to inspect the locks for integrity.

In addition, you will need:

sewer pipes;
heat-insulating roll materials;
waterproofing mixtures;
river sand;
small-sized crushed stone;
cement mortar;
mounting foam;
a container for preparing a solution;
perforator;
ladder;
level;
wide brush.

To make an overflow septic tank from concrete rings with your own hands, polypropylene or asbestos-cement pipes are laid between the wells, which are marked “for external sewage”. The diameter of these products should be equal to from 110 to 120 millimeters.

Creating a pit and "pillow"

The best period for excavation is the hot months or the first frosty days. The fact is that then the level of occurrence of groundwater is the lowest.

The pit can be dug manually by hiring a team of craftsmen or using an excavator. The costs for the services of diggers and the call of special equipment are comparable in size. The dimensions of the dug pit should be larger than the dimensions of the mounted rings by about 50 - 80 centimeters.

This will make the installation process much easier and will allow for external waterproofing of the seams of the building elements. When calculating the depth of a septic tank from concrete rings, they take into account the height of the filtration cushion, which is 20 - 30 centimeters, the parameters of the rings and the thickness of the slab - about 15 centimeters.

The pit for the arrangement of the treatment structure should be made two-tiered, while the second chamber is buried below the first by 50 centimeters. Another option is to dig a separate hole for each tank. For laying sewer pipes, trenches are dug, which are laid below the freezing level of the soil.

The trench parameters are selected in accordance with the dimensions of the rings used to create the chambers. They are usually made 50 centimeters wide and 120 - 150 centimeters deep. The bottom of the dug trenches is placed under a slight slope equal to 2 - 3 centimeters per linear meter. It is better to pre-measure the distance between the two extreme points and multiply it by the slope value in accordance with the norm.

If this condition is observed, the gravity flow of drains will be ensured. The bottom of the finished trenches is leveled and tamped, covered with sand until a layer 10 centimeters thick is formed. Then it is rammed again. To pour a concrete slab, use cement mortar. When there is a bottom in the lower ring, the screed can be omitted.

In this case, it is enough to apply crushed stone filling, laying it in a 20-centimeter layer. The effect should be achieved when the pillow sags a lot. To achieve its maximum density, it is necessary to alternate the rammer with pouring gravel with water.

Installation of concrete rings and joint insulation

The arrangement of the septic tank begins with the installation of its closed part, which is the lower ring with a bottom. It is placed so that the walls are strictly vertical. Compliance with this condition ensures the stability and strength of the entire structure.

If a bottomless ring is used as the base, the base should be concreted. For this purpose, a concrete screed 30 cm thick is poured at the bottom of the pit.

Its dimensions should be 20 centimeters larger than the diameter of the ring used. It usually takes up to two weeks for the concrete to finally harden. After he has acquired the required strength, proceed to the installation of the first ring. It is impossible to do this without outside help. This work will require the participation of several assistants.

To protect the treatment structure from leakage, as well as to reduce the harmful effects of underground water sources on concrete, the junction of the base with the lower face of the ring is covered with a moisture-resistant cement mortar.

In order to provide waterproofing, deep penetration impregnation or bitumen-based mastic is used. For the processing of concrete rings, compositions are used that contain cement, for example, "Aquacement".

To conduct internal insulation, the use of toxic compounds is unacceptable. If you operate such a structure, bacteria that process wastewater and sewage will die in it. When a septic tank is installed from 4 concrete rings or their other number, the following is installed for each product.

To make the structure more durable, metal brackets are attached to its outer side. The points of their fixation are concreted, after which they are covered with an insulating layer.

The rings are placed in the pit with lifting equipment. The joints between them are qualitatively sealed. The voids formed between the outer surfaces of the tanks and the walls of the pit are filled with a mixture of soil extracted during the digging process and sand. The existing "pockets" are evenly filled by alternating the composition and filling with water.

The upper part of the structure, located above the freezing mark of the soil, must be insulated. The fact is that in severe frosts there is a possibility of an ice plug inside the container. In such a situation, the efficiency and speed of cleaning slows down significantly.

As a heat-insulating material, it is most convenient to use pieces of expanded polystyrene or purchase finished products called "shells". In the upper part of the tanks, consisting of concrete rings, there are necks equipped with holes for creating sewer manholes, which are then covered with cast-iron covers.

In the second compartment of the structure, a ventilation pipe is certainly placed, which should rise 70 - 80 centimeters above the ground.

Installation of overflow pipes

Their location depends on the level of the pipeline coming from the house. There is a certain technology for how a septic tank made of concrete rings works. Its structural device provides for the movement of effluents by gravity. The highest point of laying the sewer pipe should be located below the freezing level of the soil.

The overflow on the opposite wall of the chamber is made approximately 15–20 centimeters lower than the feed point. To bring the sewage disposal pipe into the tank wall, using a perforator, holes of the required size are made. To fix the pipe in concrete, it is better to use mounting foam, which can retain moisture and act as a damper pad.

The introduction of pipes into the wall of the ring is qualitatively sealed. The inlet pipes coming from the house, as well as the overflow pipes located between the chambers, are supplied with tees. These parts, placed at the ends of the outlet and inlet pipelines, will provide unhindered access in case of need to clear blockages.

In order to increase the resistance of pipes to sub-zero temperatures, it is desirable to cover them with a layer of heat insulator, and place a protective casing on top.

Filtration well device

Such a tank can be mounted exclusively on a soil base, which passes liquid well and absorbs it. When there are sands, gravel-pebble or gravel soils under the conditional bottom, then the treated effluents will freely penetrate the soil.

In the lower part of the well, a soil filter is poured about a meter, while it is necessary that the fractions of the backfill become smaller in the process of increasing the height. First, sand is poured into the bottom with a layer of 30 - 40 centimeters, a layer of fine gravel 30 - 40 centimeters thick is formed on top of it. As a rule, the upper filtering tier is large crushed stone or gravel, which is covered with a layer of 20 - 30 centimeters.

If it is planned to dispose of the waste liquid through the bottom and walls, then the lower ring of the drainage system is made perforated. It is mounted according to the same technology as products with solid walls. Crushed stone is poured into the voids between the walls of the pit and the rings.

When creating a filtration field, perforated pipes are used. They are placed on a gravel-sand "pillow", which ensures the penetration of the treated waste masses into the soil layers located below, and are covered with geotextiles from above and then covered with earth.

Ways to save on construction

If it is not possible to use special equipment and order a service from a team of professionals, the following methods are used. In order not to dig a pit and then immerse the rings into it, you can equip a simpler septic tank from concrete rings. The soil in this case is removed gradually as the ring deepens. This technology is based on the fact that it falls down due to its own weight.

The concrete bottom is poured later. It will only be inside the ring. The big disadvantage of this method is the impossibility to produce heat and waterproofing of the outer surface of the structure. Since the bottom is located only inside the ring, the reliability of the structure is reduced.

There is another way - the construction of a septic tank that looks like a triangle. By choosing this option, you can save space for installing rings and significantly reduce the amount of land work. But at the same time, it should be borne in mind that the revision entrance will be one for three rings of the septic tank, and all overflows will need to be equipped outside its reach.

If you follow the chosen technology and follow the safety rules during the installation of the treatment structure, it will last for several decades without the risk of displacement of the elements and their collapse.

It is planned to crash into the main water pipe. What is the best way to make a well for valve maintenance?

If the main pipe has already been laid. It would be best to dig a hole at the tie-in 50-60 cm lower than the bottom of the main pipe. Pour a concrete base as the bottom of the well, 10-12 cm thick. Lay around the circumference a brickwork of ceramic red bricks with an inner diameter equal to the inner diameter of the planned well to a height of about 10-15 cm above the surface of the main pipe. In the place where the main pipe enters and exits, install sleeves from a metal or plastic pipe of such a diameter that it is possible to fill the space between the outer walls of the pipe and the inner walls of the sleeve with mounting foam. Rings and other products will be installed on the already erected and plastered brickwork. Next, you will make a hole at the desired point and size in the wall of the ring and run the embedded pipe through this hole.

Whether to put rings on solution?

If you are making a septic tank, and do not put the bottom on the base, there is no point in sealing all the seams! The only thing you need to put on the solution is the top cover, the neck (KS7-1.5) and the hatch so that your septic tank is not filled, in addition to domestic wastewater, also with storm water.

If you put the bottom on the base and / or you do not have a septic tank, but a water well, then we recommend that you do the following:

install all rings without mortar, except for the top cover, neck and hatch;
place the top cover and necks on the solution;
after installing all the products, go down into your well and close all the cracks with the remaining solution;
at the end of all work, you can still smear the inner surfaces of the walls of the well with liquid glass. Prepare a solution (cement, liquid glass, sifted fine sand in a ratio of 1: 1: 1) and re-putty the well.

Why are the rings attached to each other?

Usually the rings are fastened in cases where the pit turned out to be very large. Well, for example, because the pit was dug with a large excavator or instead of soil there was sand that constantly crumbled, respectively, the pit has a large diameter.

In order to ensure that when backfilling, again in a mechanized way, the rings are not accidentally displaced relative to each other by the mass of the soil being filled up, they are fastened together. There are many ways to fasten. Our rings have mounting holes, if they (the holes) are placed strictly one above the other, it will be possible to twist the rings with a wire rod.

Or prepare metal plates with holes and fix them in 3-4 places at each joint of the rings. You can see this process at this link.

If the pit was dug by hand, that is, after installing the well, sinuses no more than 30 cm wide remain around it, there is no need to fasten the rings with each other. You will simply fill the sinuses evenly with soil around the circumference of the well and will not move the rings relative to each other. It is absolutely pointless to fasten the rings in all cases.

Why do you need to paint the rings with a primer?

According to science, any concrete product installed in the ground must have a protective primed surface. These primers (bituminous primers and mastics) protect the concrete from groundwater attack. After all, the structure of concrete has small pores, into which, in the absence of a protective surface of the concrete product, water enters. The autumn-spring period has a particularly negative effect on reinforced concrete products, when during the day the positive temperature on the street changes to negative repeatedly. Concrete grades are even divided into classes according to “frost resistance”. Therefore, in order to extend the service life of concrete products, it is desirable to prime them, and for 2 times. We provide such a service to our customers as priming the surface of reinforced concrete products, and deliver the products to the site already processed.

Do I need to put the bottom on the bottom of the septic tank?

When installing septic tanks according to sanitary, environmental and epidemiological requirements, it is required to install a bottom on the bottom of the well, and seal the seams between the products with a solution, thereby ensuring the tightness of the septic tank as a whole. Thus, runoff does not enter the groundwater. In most cases, when installing septic tanks, the bottom is not installed. The goal is to save on the cost of the bottom and, in the future, on pumping out the cesspool. Yes, indeed, the drains will go into the ground, therefore, they will have to be pumped out much less often. There are, only a few “significant BUT”. First, it is a violation of environmental regulations. Secondly, it is up to you to live on this earth, in the future, saturated with “impurities”. Thirdly, in the case of acceptance into operation of a septic tank, environmentalists check the presence of a solid foundation at its bottom. Fourth, when constructing a well in your area, there is a very high probability of poor water quality. However, with deep groundwater (deeper than 20 meters) and high soil density (clay), installing a septic tank without a bottom will not lead to anything catastrophic. IMHO

How to make a septic tank out of concrete rings on the site (inside the yard)?

Indeed, there are cases when it is necessary to make a sewer septic tank inside the site where unloading with a crane is not possible. In such cases, the septic tank is made of rings of small diameter (up to 1 meter). The rings are rolled and installed in the pit by digging. Another option is to make a septic tank from small rings, for example KS7-3, whose weight is not more than 120 kg. They can be manually lowered into the finished pit.

How to choose the volume of a septic tank?

The volume of the septic tank (working) is calculated based on the amount of water consumed by the inhabitants of the house. On average, a person consumes about 200 liters of water per day. Multiplying this figure by the number of residents, and multiplying by another 5, we get the volume required for a septic tank. For example, for a family of three, you will need a septic tank with a volume of 3 m³. Although, of course, soil plays an important role, sandy soil absorbs water well, and clay soil, respectively, poorly. Therefore, if your soil is “hard clay”, then it would be better to make a septic tank one and a half times more calculations.

A septic tank made of concrete rings is a practical solution to the problem of drainage and processing of sewage in private houses that do not have a connection to central communications. Its use has become widespread in the arrangement of autonomous treatment facilities for country cottages and summer cottages.

Specifications

An overflow concrete septic tank is a tank consisting of one, two or three compartments. The number of sections depends on the estimated volume of wastewater and the intensity of the drain, therefore it is calculated for each project individually.

For a country house with a large number of residents, a three-chamber septic tank is suitable, in which the first two tanks are sealed, and the last one is equipped with a crushed stone bottom filter and serves to drain wastewater into the ground.

The role of the first compartment is to receive and defend polluted water. It is in it, with the help of anaerobic bacteria, that the effluent is separated into a liquid component and sediment. The bottom of the first compartment is tightly concreted. This eliminates the leakage of contaminated liquid into the soil and prevents contamination of the site. The volume of the first chamber must be at least half the volume of the entire cleaning system.

The second chamber is called drainage and is designed for additional filtration of wastewater. To do this, additional filters are installed in the compartment, made of gravel-sand or gravel-crushed stone mixture. The bottom of the second chamber is also carefully concreted.
To improve the quality of cleaning, the second compartment is often equipped with an aeration system. In the third compartment, the final purification of polluted waters is carried out, which is possible thanks to a filtration system through a sand and gravel substrate. This chamber has no bottom, and the filtered liquid goes into the ground.

A two-chamber septic tank is the most common type of autonomous treatment plant. and is a structure consisting of two wells with a height of 90 cm and a diameter of 70 to 200 cm. The best option is a well consisting of three rings with a diameter of one meter.

The first section receives and settles dirty water and has a sealed design. There is no intermediate link in the form of an aerator here: from the sump, the liquid immediately enters the second well for filtration, from which it goes into the ground through the sand-gravel filter system.
The overflow of water between the tanks is carried out thanks to the transition pipe, which is located at a certain height, and the water, having reached its level, begins to overflow into the second compartment.

A single-chamber septic tank is a storage tank in which water is not cleaned and drained. Contaminated liquid from such structures is pumped out independently using drainage pumping equipment.

Advantages and disadvantages

The popularity of concrete septic tanks and a large number of positive reviews are due to a number of undeniable advantages of these structures:

The availability of materials and a simple design make it possible to build a treatment plant on your own.
Operation does not require the installation of drainage pumping equipment, which greatly simplifies the use and significantly saves the budget.
High mechanical strength and durability of concrete rings guarantee a long service life and overall reliability of the septic tank.
Ease of maintenance of two- and three-chamber models is due to the absence of the need for regular pumping of liquid masses.

Due to the large usable volume, the septic tank is suitable for permanent use as the main sewer. The risk of overfilling and backwashing of dirty masses is excluded.
The walls of the tanks have a high resistance to the aggressive effects of sewage.
The large weight of concrete rings ensures good stability of the structure and does not allow groundwater to displace it from the ground.
Due to the frost-resistant properties of reinforced concrete products, it is possible to use rings for arranging septic tanks in any climatic zone. However, in places with a sharply continental climate and in northern latitudes, additional thermal insulation of the pipeline system and tanks will be required.

The disadvantages of concrete septic tanks include the need for careful sealing of the joints between the rings. It is also noted that it is impossible to use structures in flooded areas due to the increased hygroscopicity of concrete. The weight of the rings involves the use of construction equipment during their transportation and installation, which is also referred to as a design disadvantage. In addition, single-chamber tanks need regular sewage pumping, and multi-chamber tanks need periodic cleaning of the sump. Many users also note that in case of untimely maintenance of the septic tank, an unpleasant odor may spread.

Volume calculation

Before proceeding with the purchase of rings and installation, you should draw up a diagram and determine the number of chambers, the volume and dimensions of the future structure. The number of sections is determined depending on the number of people living in the house and the intensity of their use of the water supply. For a family of three, it will be enough to install a two-section model, however, if 4 or more people live in the house, then it is better to choose a three-section option. To accurately determine the volume of wastewater, the average daily flow should be calculated.

If the water supply system is not equipped with metering devices, then you can use the average consumption rate, which is 200 liters per day per person. Based on this, for a family of four, the capacity of the septic tank should be at least 800 liters per day.

When calculating, it should be borne in mind that the longer effluents are retained in the settling tanks, the better their cleaning takes place. To increase the duration of the presence of dirty water in the first sections, they resort to increasing their volume.

Given the building codes, the structure must contain a three-day volume of wastewater.

Based on the standards, the installation of a single-chamber septic tank will be appropriate only if the total daily volume of effluents does not exceed one cubic meter. A two-section model can handle a load of up to 5 cubic meters per day, and a three-chamber model is designed to receive and process 8 m3. The volume of the sump must occupy at least half of the total volume in a three-section model, and at least 2/3 in a septic tank consisting of two compartments.

Site selection and preparation

The choice of a place for installing a septic tank must be approached very responsibly, taking into account sanitary standards, the possibility of unhindered access to sewage equipment, the proximity of groundwater and its fluctuations by season, the remoteness of the foundation of the house, the distance to the bathhouse, garden and vegetable garden, the depth of soil freezing.

The septic tank should be installed above the groundwater level at a distance of 7-20 meters from the house. It is not economically feasible to locate the structure further. Relating the system to a greater distance will require more material, in addition, this increases the risk of breakage and leakage of sewer pipes due to the greater length.

The most optimal location for septic tanks is the border of the site and the street. This placement provides a convenient entrance for sewage equipment, and the absence of the need for its arrival in the yard. Also, there will be no need to pull the hoses, which, when rolled up, can contaminate the beds and the yard with their contents. The distance from the treatment plant to the well or well is the most important criterion for determining the location. It should not be less than 30 meters.

The terrain should also be taken into account. It is not recommended to place a septic tank in pits and recesses. Such placement can lead to the ingress of rain and melt water into the structure. Sewer pipes must be located at a certain angle, while the pipeline itself must be made absolutely straight, avoiding corners and tie-ins.

Installation subtleties

The main material for arranging septic tanks are concrete rings, which differ in height, diameter, wall thickness and brand of concrete. For the installation of sedimentation tanks, models that are more resistant to aggressive external influences, as well as products with low surface permeability, should be purchased.

The height of the rings varies from 29 to 90 cm. The most common and sought-after models are 0.9 m high with a diameter of 90, 100, 150 and 200 cm. The price of the rings varies from 1.2 to 1.8 thousand rubles and depends on the quality of concrete and sizes. The cost of low models ranges from 680 to 1050 rubles.

It should be remembered that the marking can indicate both the outer and inner diameter of the ring, so this nuance must be taken into account when choosing a cover.

In addition to reinforced concrete products, during the construction of a septic tank one cannot do without sand, gravel, cement, crushed stone, liquid glass, polymer or cast iron hatches, perforator, pipes and fittings.

The total cost of treatment facilities varies from 38 to 70 thousand rubles and depends on the number of tanks, their height and the length of the pipeline, which, in turn, depends on the distance between the house and the treatment facilities. When arranging a septic tank in areas with a cold climate and winter soil freezing, the costs will increase and will depend on the power of the thermal insulation being formed.

Installation of the structure begins with digging a pit, the diameter of which should be at least 30 cm larger than the diameter of the rings. Such a margin is necessary for ease of installation and arrangement of waterproofing. After completion of earthworks and tamping the walls and bottom of the pit, you can start laying the rings.

Installation can be done in two ways: using a truck crane and manually.

The manual method is more labor intensive and time consuming. Its essence lies in the fact that after digging a shallow pit and placing a ring there, the person carrying out the digging must carefully dig the soil under the ring from the inside and take it up. After the first ring has completely gone into the ground, the second ring is placed on top, and digging and excavation continue. Gradually, under its own weight, the structure will go down. Burying the rings continues until the entire structure is lowered to the required depth.

The laying of the rings must be accompanied by high-quality sealing of the joints between them. Slots should be well smeared with cement mortar. Otherwise, the contaminated liquid will go into the ground and cause soil pollution. The waterproofing of the walls of the wells is carried out on both sides with the help of special solutions for reinforced concrete products. The bottom of the first and second settling tanks is concreted, and a bottom sand-gravel filter is formed in the filtration compartment.

The installed tanks are interconnected by pipes, and the places of their exit from the rings are tightly waterproofed with liquid rubber. The use of an elastic sealant is necessary in order to eliminate the risk of damage to the pipeline during seasonal movements or soil shrinkage. The installation of sewer pipes going from the house to the septic tank is carried out at a slight slope: the height difference must be at least three centimeters per linear meter. This will promote the free flow of fluid and eliminate its stagnation.

To determine the slope of the entire length of the pipeline at the design stage of the treatment plant, it is recommended to draw up a drawing that will accurately display the required number of meters of pipes and the angle at which they will be located. If the treatment plant is to be used in a cold climate, it is recommended to insulate the sewer pipes and overflow pipes. This will help to avoid freezing of the liquid, prevent pipe rupture and the need for rework.

After laying all the rings, arranging waterproofing, installing connecting pipes and sewer pipes, you should proceed to the formation of the floor. All tanks must have an airtight lid that will not allow an unpleasant odor to spread throughout the area. As such a cover, a concrete slab with holes for hatches is often used.

If it is not possible to purchase a finished product, you can form a floor frame from reinforcement and fill it with mortar. It should be borne in mind that the independent manufacture of the top cover requires building skills and additional time. From above, the cover is covered with earth, and hatches made of cast iron or especially durable plastic are inserted into the holes.

When building a septic tank with your own hands, you should remember about the exhaust ventilation device. For its arrangement, a high pipe is installed in the floor slab, which will guarantee the absence of unpleasant odors on the site. The height of the ventilation pipe must be at least four meters.

When installing a septic tank in soil with a high aquifer, the necessary measures should be taken to protect the integrity of the structure. To do this, it is necessary to increase the overall strength of the structure. It is recommended to fasten the rings with metal ties, and during installation, form an additional sand and gravel cushion, placing it around the tanks. These measures will help to reduce the subsidence of the structure and improve its thermal insulation.

After the installation work is completed, the septic tank should be started. To do this, it is required to saturate it with anaerobic bacteria, which in the future will carry out the processing of polluted effluents. There are two ways to fill a septic tank. The first is to fill the tanks with dirty water and then settle it for two weeks. After that, several buckets of silt sediment are poured into the settling tank from an already operating septic tank, the exact amount of which is calculated independently and is about two buckets per cubic meter of liquid.

The second method is simpler, it consists in filling the sump with a ready-made solution consisting of strains of anaerobic bacteria. You can buy the composition in specialized stores of household chemicals.

When buying, you should pay attention to the fact that only anaerobes are used for this type of treatment plant. Products with aerobic microflora are not suitable.

Service

To ensure the proper operation of the septic tank, it is necessary to control the level of effluents, regularly pump out the liquid and clean the septic tanks. At least twice a year, after winter colds and summer rains, it is necessary to inspect the tightness of the connection of branch pipes and inter-annular seams and check the ventilation.

It is recommended to clean the pipeline annually. Removal of bottom fats is carried out every 2-3 years, while part of the sludge is left to restore the microflora after cleaning. It is also necessary to monitor the amount of sludge in the settling tanks: its share should not exceed 25% of the total volume of the tank.

In order to determine the effectiveness of a homemade septic tank, an analysis of the effluents coming out of the last filtration compartment should be carried out.

The system is considered to be properly functioning if the outlet effluents are cleared by at least 70% in relation to their original state. A lower cleaning rate indicates that the drainage system is not working properly and the bottom filters are in poor condition.

When inspecting, repairing and maintaining a septic tank, safety precautions must be observed. It must be remembered that gases formed in sedimentation tanks inhabited by anaerobic microflora can be dangerous to humans. Before carrying out any work inside the wells, it is necessary to ventilate the tanks well, and when descending inside, it is necessary to use safety belts, protective masks and respirators.