Concrete rings sceptic tank

[Jacko77]

Hi everyone,

We have made our house in Hua Hin, and this is globally good, would it be for the black water sceptic tank. The grey water sceptic tank works fine, but we have to empty the black water one every week when it rains.

Now, I thing I know why, but I need your opinion before I digg.

The grey water tank was made by digging a large hole, in which the builder put 2 sets on 3 concrete rings, linked by a pipe. In front on the rings, he threw stones in the rest of the hole, which would represent 3 times the volume occupied by the 2 sets of rings. And then he covered all with soil.

Yet, the black water sceptic tank has also 2 sets of concrete rings, linked by a pipe, but there are no stones in front, only soil. And this one fills fats, and doesn't empty.

Could it be that the space between the stones poored in the whole in the front of the 2 concrete rings act as a third tanks or as a drain, where the water can easilly leave the rings ? This would explain why the black water tanks doesn't empty ? Huu, what do you gentlement think ?

Cheers in advanced for your pecious help

[Naam]

your "blackwater" thingy is not a septic tank but one of the usual Thai builder jokes. what you need is are two sealed tanks connected in a row (three are better) in which rainwater cannot seep and a pipe to an area where the overflowing liquid can drain.

[Gsxrnz]

Yes.....I was sceptical as well.

[NanLaew]

If the water table rises which is common enough in LOS in the rainy season, even the properly built septic systems can have problems. Maybe multiple tanks will alleviate the OP's issue?

Looking at Naam's diagram, if one did add a second or third tank, one would need to have a decent sized bit of land for all that no? Just googled septic systems and most seem to have just the one tank although I did a low-profile, 3-tank system on a UK website. Maybe hotels or commercial buildings would need more tanks?

[Jacko77]

Thanks to all for your answers, but the fact is here: concrete rings do work indeed. They work for my grey water tank, they work for my neihgbours, and they worked for the previous water I have occupied before,

Can I ask you what is your opinion about the digging a hole and pooring stones in it, will it allow black water to spread out of the tanks ?

[Iolare]

I hope this is not highjacking the post, but I also now have a concrete rings "septic tank," and I'd like some advice about how to change it to something more sanitary and effective in the wet season. The house nestled in the mangrove trees in the accompanying picture is on stilts and the toilet is cemented to concrete rings that are embedded in the sea floor.

This abuts my land and the plan is to fix it up for use as a guest house. The picture was taken from the terrace of my place and the pond is about where the water table is, so the land below it is pretty saturated this time of year. I want to dig a plastic tank into the land and as you can see there is plenty of space for a drain field. I fear that the perforated piping and the tank will quickly fill up and the system won't work in the wet season. Any ideas of what to do in this case?

[NanLaew]

Thanks to all for your answers, but the fact is here: concrete rings do work indeed. They work for my grey water tank, they work for my neihgbours, and they worked for the previous water I have occupied before,

Can I ask you what is your opinion about the digging a hole and pooring stones in it, will it allow black water to spread out of the tanks ?

If I understand you correctly, that would mean the leach or drain field would be in the immediate vicinity and surrounding the back water septic tank? Not sure if that is entirely sanitary, probably not. If there's enough space to install and plumb in a second tank, that may help as it is doubling the capacity of the system. If the groundwater is really shallow, then a third tank may be needed and you could make the hole bigger, fill with stones (same as the grey water septic) as I assume it would be furthest from the house.

[Jacko77]

Thanks to all for your answers, but the fact is here: concrete rings do work indeed. They work for my grey water tank, they work for my neihgbours, and they worked for the previous water I have occupied before,

Can I ask you what is your opinion about the digging a hole and pooring stones in it, will it allow black water to spread out of the tanks ?

If I understand you correctly, that would mean the leach or drain field would be in the immediate vicinity and surrounding the back water septic tank? Not sure if that is entirely sanitary, probably not. If there's enough space to install and plumb in a second tank, that may help as it is doubling the capacity of the system. If the groundwater is really shallow, then a third tank may be needed and you could make the hole bigger, fill with stones (same as the grey water septic) as I assume it would be furthest from the house.

oookay, so indeed the fact of filling the hole with stones (or gravels) would help. Actually, the balck water is comming to the surface of the surrounding soil, altough we already have 2 tanks (with 3 concrete ring each). So adding one more tank and filling with stones around (or gravels ?) might do it then.

[Naam]

If the water table rises which is common enough in LOS in the rainy season, even the properly built septic systems can have problems. Maybe multiple tanks will alleviate the OP's issue?

Looking at Naam's diagram, if one did add a second or third tank, one would need to have a decent sized bit of land for all that no? Just googled septic systems and most seem to have just the one tank although I did a low-profile, 3-tank system on a UK website. Maybe hotels or commercial buildings would need more tanks?

when i wrote "tanks" i meant the number of "chambers". these chambers/partitions help the bacteria to break down biologically whatever is flushed down. makes it easier for Mother Nature to do rest in the drainage area.

problems during the rainy should'nt arise if a proper slope from the last chamber to the drainage area exists. hotels and commercial buildings don't need more but bigger tanks. land size is not necessary an issue, it's the percolation capacity of the drainage area that counts.

[Naam]

Thanks to all for your answers, but the fact is here: concrete rings do work indeed. They work for my grey water tank, they work for my neihgbours, and they worked for the previous water I have occupied before,

Can I ask you what is your opinion about the digging a hole and pooring stones in it, will it allow black water to spread out of the tanks ?

of course concrete rings "work" Jacko... if the area around the overflow can take the shitty liquid. but they "don't work" in a civilised country where the best scenario is that the authorities seal up your home till you install a proper system and the worst case scenario is that you serve a prison sentence and pay a hefty fine not to talk about the cost involved digging out x-number cubic meters and have it hauled away to a special disposal site.

that of course does not apply in Thailand where any àrsehole can contaminate the groundwater with his shit.

Edited July 18, 2013 by Naam

[Naam]

Thanks to all for your answers, but the fact is here: concrete rings do work indeed. They work for my grey water tank, they work for my neihgbours, and they worked for the previous water I have occupied before,

Can I ask you what is your opinion about the digging a hole and pooring stones in it, will it allow black water to spread out of the tanks ?

If I understand you correctly, that would mean the leach or drain field would be in the immediate vicinity and surrounding the back water septic tank? Not sure if that is entirely sanitary, probably not. If there's enough space to install and plumb in a second tank, that may help as it is doubling the capacity of the system. If the groundwater is really shallow, then a third tank may be needed and you could make the hole bigger, fill with stones (same as the grey water septic) as I assume it would be furthest from the house.

oookay, so indeed the fact of filling the hole with stones (or gravels) would help. Actually, the balck water is comming to the surface of the surrounding soil, altough we already have 2 tanks (with 3 concrete ring each). So adding one more tank and filling with stones around (or gravels ?) might do it then.

additional tanks won't help if rainwater can seep into your tanks. i explained the function of multiple tanks or chambers in another posting. what you need is a spread out drainage area or keep on pumping sh*t for the rest of your natural life.

[Naam]

lolare,

the only feasible solution is forced draining by a sump pump meant for this purpose. i have applied that system in my Florida home as well as in my home in Thailand.

in your case a mound would be necessary.

Edited July 18, 2013 by Naam

[Iolare]

lolare,

the only feasible solution is forced draining by a sump pump meant for this purpose. i have applied that system in my Florida home as well as in my home in Thailand.

in your case a mound would be necessary.

j

Thanks for that information Naam. I was pretty sure that a simple septic tank with drain field wouldn't do the job in this case, but I was hopeful that there would be something other than continuously pumping the tank out available as a solution. I'll investigate the pump tank with mound. I've heard of mound systems but never before had a need for one, so I don't know how they operate. I really appreciate the lead.

[Naam]

I'll investigate the pump tank with mound. I've heard of mound systems but never before had a need for one, so I don't know how they operate. I really appreciate the lead.

no worries! it's not rocket science but a rather simple principle. the pump is necessary because you can't use a slope to discharge the "black water" and the same applies to the mound. for aesthetic reason plan some vegetation on the mound, you will be surprised how plants and bushes will love your "discharge".

note: if possible don't use a normal sump pump where the intake might be clogged with a small solid particle in no time. even in Thailand dedicated septic tank pumps are available (price 4-6k Baht) which are able to pump solid particles up to 12mm.

would you like a small sketch?

[Naam]

[Iolare]

SEPTICLO.JPG

I appreciate the additional information and the sketch. In the case of my little guest house, usage would be quite light, with only one toilet and not too many friends and relatives over the course of a year. How high above the normal ground surface would he mound be, and now large in diameter? From the sketch I see that the outlet pipe to the mount is two inch pvc, then it looks like the distribution lines within the mound are only 1/2". Is that correct? Could the mound be as far as 10 meters from the pump tank?

Did your systems either in Florida or Thailand require any service? I will do the right thing and put in the proper system, but I'd like to know if it was problematic at all for you.

Thanks again, Naam, ay the way, I recall your troubles with a koi pond, and I wanted to point out that I've been very lucky with my pond in the picture which is stocked with catfish and talapia. It feeds families of monitor lizards, turtles, kingfishers, and sea otters.

[Naam]

How high above the normal ground surface would he mound be, and now large in diameter?

-for your purpose you need approximately 4-5m³ of non-clayish and non-laterite soil mixed with 1m³ of gravel (5-10mm).

-the mound does not have to be round, any shape will do.

-if you go for a round mound, diameter ~5-6m, about 20% of the surface should be higher than 60cm.

-the length of the distributing ½" pipes should be ~80cm connected to the supply pipe (center of the mound). i've drawn only 4 pipes, but 6 or even 8 would distribute the waste water much better.

-talk to a gardener in your area and explain to him the purpose. he will suggest the optimal plants for the mound.

-note: immediate planting is mandatory! otherwise heavy rains will destroy your mound in no time.

Could the mound be as far as 10 meters from the pump tank?

the mound can be anywhere. even a very small pump can deliver the liquid much further and higher.

Did your systems either in Florida or Thailand require any service?

no service at all until this very day (19 years!), home in Thailand now 7 years with flawless working septic system.

summary: nothing beats forced drainage.

if you need more detailed sketches i will be happy to provide them.

I've been very lucky with my pond in the picture which is stocked with catfish and talapia. It feeds families of monitor lizards, turtles, kingfishers, and sea otters.

that is what we are missing here. my former 2 kilometer view is reduced to 12m and the huge variety of wild life is limited to a few birds and my two dogs

this is what we gave up in Florida:

Edited July 19, 2013 by Naam