Where to put the toilet on the site
When designing a cesspool for a country toilet, you should carefully approach the issue of choosing a place for it in the garden. First of all, measurements are carried out in accordance with the requirements of SNiP 2.04.03-85 “Sewerage. External networks and structures ”(in particular, you are interested in table No. 1, further we will give figures based on it).
The cesspool should be located at a distance of at least 8 m from its own residential building and at least 10 m from neighboring ones. At least 20 m must be retreated from the centralized water supply system, and at least 5 m from gas supply pipes. The distance from the fence with the neighboring section should be at least 1 m, and from the farm buildings and fruit trees at least 5 m.
Before the start of excavation, a drawing is made of the site and neighboring buildings. A place under the future pit is chosen, taking into account the above standards, after which the selected point from the scheme is marked on the territory.
In some cases (when the site is near an open water body), the placement of a cesspool should be coordinated with the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision and environmental protection authorities.
Also, before digging a pit, you should find out the location of groundwater in the area. It is especially important to conduct this event if it is planned to install a tank with natural filtration of waste into the soil. The lower part of such a well should not cross the groundwater level.
Cesspool options
There are two main options for executing a cesspool:
- without bottom;
- with a bottom.
When installing a cesspool with your own hands without pumping, it means the absorption of waste through the open bottom into the soil. Concrete rings, old tires, metal barrels, bricks, monolithic concrete or concrete blocks can be used to assemble such a cesspool. In the case of a cesspool that needs to be periodically pumped out, ready-made plastic containers are used.
To choose the suitable option for the site, you need to understand the features and key differences between the two systems.
Naturally filtered rake
Most often, cesspools without a bottom are collected from reinforced concrete rings. This material is durable, not afraid of hostile environment, it is easily mounted.
Such a system is suitable for both seasonal and permanent residence. The rings are mounted on a sand and gravel cushion, which filters the drains, passing them through themselves into the soil. To improve the quality of cleaning, it is recommended to fill in solutions with anaerobic microorganisms in such cesspools.
An open bottom pit is placed at a distance of at least 5 m from the foundation of the structure and 20 m from the source of water supply. The depth of the pit depends on the level of groundwater, the lower part should be less than 0.5 m below the groundwater level.
Open bottom cottages should be agreed with the appropriate services, otherwise the owners risk a fine.
Comparison of the cesspool and septic tank we have already carried out in this article.
Rake with a bottom
Bottom systems are installed in areas with clay soils and low groundwater level. In this case, the filtration of wastewater through the soil is not possible, and therefore apply the cumulative option. The size of the tank should correspond to the level of water consumption in the house, but if more than 4 people live permanently, you will need to purchase special sewer systems.
To dispose of accumulated waste, it is necessary to call a dump truck, therefore, when placing a cesspool on a site, the possibility of accessing special vehicles should be taken into account.
Cesspools with a bottom require the mandatory organization of ventilation pipes, which remove the gases generated during the operation of microorganisms during wastewater treatment.
Necessary materials and tools
For independent installation of a country toilet with an odorless cesspool, the following tools will be required:
- angle grinder;
- shovel;
- building level;
- buckets;
- hammer drill;
- drill with a set of drills.
Materials needed:
- waste storage tank (metal barrels, bricks, concrete rings, tires);
- sewer pipes with a diameter of 100-110 mm;
- set of nozzles and couplings;
- geotextiles;
- sealant;
- slate;
- sand;
- fine gravel;
- cement;
- waterproofing mastic.
Cesspool calculation
Before starting work, it is necessary to calculate the volume of capacity into which family waste will fall.
When calculating the following norms should be taken into account:
- almost 200 liters of wastewater per person per day. Thus, the monthly volume of effluents in a family of four will be at least 20 m3 (the indicator is important when calculating the volume of a sealed container);
- during the construction of open bottom pits, it should be borne in mind that the filtration of effluents in sandy soils is 15% faster than in loams;
- a single volume of sewage removal does not exceed 10 m3, which is equal to the volume of approximately four concrete rings with a diameter of 2000 mm;
- when calculating the volume of capacity, an insurance stock of at least 10% should be taken, since it is not always possible to quickly call a cesspool truck.
Marking and earthworks
When preparing a pit for a cesspool, the following rules and recommendations must be observed and taken into account:
- The marking is carried out according to the plan for linking the cesspool to the buildings on the site.
- The diameter of the pit should exceed the diameter of concrete rings, tires or barrels by 300-400 mm so that the walls do not interfere with installation.
- The depth of the pit should exceed the height of the rings by 200-300 mm, which will be required to create a sand and gravel pillow.
- If a non-filtering well of concrete rings is mounted, a monolithic slab is poured on the bottom or finished slabs are laid, after which the joints between them are carefully sealed. You can put the rings in the well after a full set of strength of the concrete base.
Sump Pit Instructions
Consider the arrangement of cesspools made of various materials.
Concrete rings
The construction of this structure resembles an ordinary well.
How to dig a pit for concrete rings? At a given depth (below the groundwater level not less than 0.5 m), a little wider than the size of the ring. Depending on the type of pit, the bottom can act as a filter or be completely monolithic.
To connect the pit with the toilet, a trench is dug, into which sewer pipes are laid. In the summer, the pipes will work without interference, but in order to prevent the water from freezing in the winter, the pipes are insulated.
The well is closed with a concrete cover with a hatch for pumping sewage.
Car tires
Dig a pit with a width exceeding the diameter of the tires by 300-400 mm. At the bottom, a sand and gravel pad 200 mm thick is arranged. Tires are stacked one on top of the other with sealing joints with a plumbing sealant. The lid is made of boards or plywood with mandatory treatment with antiseptic agents.
Monolithic concrete
The pit is made with a margin of 500 mm in width. A formwork is being prepared, into which a reinforcing mesh is laid. Cement-sand mortar is prepared from cement grade M300 in proportion to sand 1: 2.
After pouring concrete, it is necessary to wait at least 10 days for a sufficient set of strength. The finished concrete ring is coated with waterproofing mastic. At the bottom of the pit, a sand and gravel pillow with a thickness of 200 mm is arranged. The lid of the cesspool with a pumping hole can also be cast from concrete.
Metal barrel
The option is suitable for houses with a population of no more than 2 and for sandy soils with a low level of groundwater.
Holes with a diameter of 10-15 mm are made in the walls of a metal barrel with a volume of 200 l in increments of 200 mm, and wrapped with geotextile from the outside in height, securing it with wire.
The lid is hermetically fixed in diameter and a hole is cut under the inlet sewer.
Dig the pit to a depth exceeding the height of the barrel by 300 mm, the bottom of the pit 200 mm should be filled with fine gravel. Lateral voids are also filled with gravel.
Brick
Let's consider step by step the organization of a brick pit:
- a pit breaks out under the size of a future cesspool;
- at the bottom of the pit, a sand and gravel cushion is made with a thickness of 200 mm;
- along the perimeter of the pit, according to the size of the masonry, formwork is arranged and a monolithic concrete slab is poured;
- After gaining strength of the base, proceed to the laying of brick walls. The easiest way to make a well is square or rectangular. Wall thickness - one brick;
- External and internal walls are plastered with clay mortar;
- in the trench they lay a sewer pipe connecting the pit and toilet in the house;
- the lid of the cesspool is arranged from boards or cast from concrete, providing a hole for the hatch with a diameter of 500 mm.
Cesspool Cleaning Recommendations
After installing a country toilet with a cesspool, you should consider a system for pumping sewage, even if natural filtration into the soil is assumed.
When using anaerobic microorganisms, the processing of feces takes place directly inside the tank, but filtering and processing the waste in the filtration well will not work without residue. Periodically, such systems need to be pumped out completely to clean the walls and replace the drainage.
If a pit with a bottom is mounted in a private house, pumping will have to be done much more often. The sewage machine is ordered as the pit is filled with sewage, since the liquids simply have nowhere to go. Therefore, when the owners plan to install a cesspool for the toilet in the country, it is necessary to provide a convenient access to the well, taking into account the fact that usually the length of the sewer hose is from 10 to 20 m.