How to choose a septic tank for your dacha: review and tips for choosing the best option

Living in a dacha allows you not only to take a break from the bustle of the city, but also to enjoy nature, clean air, and find peace.But so that nothing interferes with a good rest, you have to take care of the amenities of civilization - water supply, electricity and sewerage, right?

Are you trying to figure out how to choose a septic tank for your dacha so as not to overpay or make a mistake? We will help you in this matter - our article discusses the types of septic tanks, their structural and functional differences. After all, to choose the optimal recycler, it is advisable to get acquainted with the existing options.

The article’s material is also supplemented with recommendations for selection, colorful photos and useful videos on the manufacture and operation of different types of septic tanks.

Existing types and features of septic tanks

Manufacturers of sewerage equipment offer a variety of options designed to make suburban life easier.

Equipment options include both simple and inexpensive models and quite complex biological wastewater treatment plants.

It is quite difficult to choose just one, especially if the dacha owner is faced with this issue for the first time.

Types of recyclers and their features

In order to choose your ideal option among all the offers abounding on the market, you will need to become more familiar with the main features of the existing equipment.

All septic tanks can be divided into 2 main types, differing in their operating principle:

• accumulative;
• cleansing.

Let's look at each of these types of septic tanks in more detail.

Option #1 - storage septic tanks

The first - storage septic tanks - are the simplest. They are a container designed to collect waste from a person living in a country house. It can be made of any material.

The size of such a septic tank can be selected depending on your needs. It is optimal when the storage tank holds about 10 m³ drains.

A storage septic tank filled with sewage waste can be installed underground or left on the surface

In other words, such a septic tank resembles a modern cesspool. Periodically, as it fills, you need to clean it by calling a sewer truck.

It will not be possible to perform such an operation on your own. This is the most important drawback, because the cost of vacuum cleaner services is not small.

Therefore, all storage-type septic tanks are ideal for small families or single summer residents who rarely visit the house.

The daily volume of waste from all residents should be minimal in order to reduce the frequency of pumping waste from the storage tank.

Containers for collecting wastewater in small volumes are especially popular among seasonal summer residents. As a rule, they take plastic models

Option #2 - cleaning septic tanks

Cleaning septic tanks are more complex equipment that allows not only to collect, but also to clean wastewater.

The cost will directly depend on:

• on the level of final purification;
• operating principle;
• container volume;
• additional functions.

The purification level can range from 50-98%. Moreover, if the output needs to be obtained from dirty liquid entering the septic tank through a sewer pipe, process water with a purification degree of up to 75%, then a septic tank will be sufficient.

If the liquid component of the wastewater needs to be disinfected and purified by 95-98% for free discharge into the ground or drain, a biological treatment station will be required.

Biorefinery stations for home use are lightweight, compact, easy to install and maintain.

Such a container has three or more chambers into which wastewater flows in turn. In each compartment, mechanical or biological processes occur that make it possible to obtain a liquid with the smell of clean river water.

Moreover, it is completely safe for dumping on the terrain or watering trees, plants, and shrubs.

Material for making containers

All septic tanks are divided according to the type of material used for their manufacture.

It could be:

• brick;
• concrete;
• plastic;
• metal.

Let's take a closer look at the features of using each of these materials.

Using bricks to assemble a septic tank

From building a well using brickscollecting sewage waste. It is laid out in a special way so that the water flows for additional purification, and all impurities remain inside the structure.

This is the most inexpensive option for a septic tank that you can equip yourself.

Brick structures will require special care and periodic cleaning by calling a sewer truck. The frequency of such work depends on the total volume of wastewater

Moreover, when arranging it, it is important to calculate everything and do it correctly in order to avoid environmental pollution with untreated liquid. After all, sewage waste entering groundwater can contaminate the drinking water of nearby wells.

Features of reinforced concrete structures

Many owners with skillful hands consider the best septic tank for their dacha reinforced concrete structure. But such a project will not be cheap and will not save you from creating an additional liquid purification zone.

Moreover, a concrete septic tank can be made by pouring everything on site or you can buy factory-made blanks.

When constructing a concrete septic tank, there is no way to do without special equipment. This is a significant expense item. It is not profitable to install such equipment in rarely visited dachas

The ideal option would be to purchase ready-made reinforced concrete rings with a mounting chamfer along the edge for the construction of a sealed concrete structure.

But transportation and installation will require the use of special equipment. These are significant expenses, and the cost of high-quality concrete cannot be called low.

Metal drives

Metal storage devices and recyclers are much cheaper. But their main disadvantage is their susceptibility to corrosion.

Even the highest quality anti-corrosion coating will not save you - after a few years, aggressive drains will break the seal of the tank.

This can cause fecal waste to enter groundwater, contaminate it and the soil, and create an unpleasant odor in nearby areas.

You can find metal septic tanks on sale.Their surface is treated with an anti-corrosion coating

Application of polymer containers

And here polymer septic tanks made from polypropylene, fiberglass and low-density polyethylene.

Fiberglass models are considered the most expensive and reliable. The material contains fiberglass and special resins that give it improved characteristics.

All types of polymers make it possible to produce high-quality containers that can withstand temperature changes and the aggressive environment of sewage.

They can last 50 years or more.

The shape of polymer septic tanks can be round or rectangular. These can be cylindrical or cubic containers.

It’s good to choose a seamless option to completely eliminate seam divergence and not rely on the manufacturer’s integrity

Advantages of a purchased septic tank over a homemade one

The question of making a septic tank yourself is faced by many summer residents. After all, buying a factory analogue can result in a fairly decent amount.

Do-it-yourself construction of a sewer installation will require a lot of time and effort. But the total cost will be significantly lower.

Of course, polymer septic tanks with biological treatment cannot be made at home. But concrete or brick models will be quite feasible.

The feasibility of the construction depends on the skills of the owner, the number of residents, the frequency of visits to the dacha and the size of the plot.

Often, owners build septic tanks from reinforced concrete rings on their own. It is important to ensure the tightness of the joints

If the purpose of staying at the dacha is to periodically care for the beds, then there is no point in undertaking the full construction of a sewer system.Here you can get by with purchasing an inexpensive storage unit and calling the vacuum cleaners once every one or two years.

For more serious needs, if you have a full bathroom with a bath, sink, shower and toilet, you will need a large-volume treatment facility. In order not to waste your time on its construction, it will be easier to order a ready-made one with an installation service.

A septic tank manufactured in a factory is more reliable than one assembled in-house. And the manufacturer’s warranty will cover repairs if any defects are discovered.

This option, if financially possible, will be the most acceptable - everything is fast and of high quality.

There is no need to delve into all the intricacies of choosing a location, understand the methods of supplying and discharging wastewater, or study other nuances of arranging a local sewage system. All this can be safely entrusted to the masters.

Review of popular septic tanks

The market offers a variety of models of treatment facilities. Here you can choose the most successful option that can satisfy the needs of a particular summer resident. All septic tanks can be divided into:

• non-volatile;
• volatile.

The first ones - non-volatile — it is advisable to use it in conditions of unstable power supply or if you want to do without these costs.

These include storage tanks and septic tanks, which purify wastewater through the separation of soluble and insoluble components.

Energy dependent options generally consume a small amount of electricity. Many owners note a very small increase in monthly energy bills.

This group of septic tanks uses aerators and pumping devices, which ensures the highest degree of cleaning.

Even the simplest equipment requires proper installation and connection to the sewerage system

If we look at specific models, we can identify the most popular among users. Moreover, according to reviews from both seasonal summer residents and permanent residents, all septic tanks have proven themselves to be the best. The ratio of the quality of work and the money paid for them is quite acceptable.

According to the number of satisfied consumers and positive reviews, the following septic tanks can be distinguished:

• Greenlaws;
• Tank;
• Triton;
• Tver;
• Unilos Astra;
• Topas;
• Poplar;
• Leader;
• Eurobion.

Buyers recognize the most popular models as Greenlos, Tank, Astra, Topas. Moreover, the first model is energy independent. It also has a favorable price and ease of installation.

All 4 options are distinguished by their compactness, light weight, ease of installation, high level of wastewater treatment to the state of industrial water and the possibility of independent maintenance.

The range of septic tanks with biological wastewater treatment, such as Unilos Astra, is designed for a different number of users, both a family of 2-3 people, and for an entire street of 35-40 residents

Tank and Triton are non-volatile. The remaining models above are dependent on electricity.

Regarding the volume of the tank and the number of chambers for waste treatment, each manufacturer has several variations to suit customer needs.

For example, Unilos can offer a solution for a cottage community of 150 people - this is the Astra 150 model.

Criteria for selecting a suitable septic tank

To decide which septic tank is best to choose for your dacha, you need to carefully analyze the initial data. The answers to simple questions will determine what characteristics future sewerage equipment should have.

To make a decision about a septic tank, you will need the following information:

• frequency of visits to the dacha;
• financial opportunities;
• groundwater level (GWL);
• type of underlying soil;
• land area;
• number of residents.

The frequency of visits determines which disposal unit is needed. After all, if you plan to spend your summer vacation at your dacha, then biological treatment stations such as Astra, Topas and Topol will not be suitable.

Aerobic bacteria will not be able to survive during long-term starvation. They require sewage waste and oxygen to function properly.

But these options will be ideal in opposite conditions. When a family of 3-5 people buys a dacha, considering the possibility of year-round living in the future, then it is worth taking the arrangement of the sewage system seriously.

If funds allow, bioremediation stations will make it possible to satisfy waste disposal requests as much as possible.

If you have modest financial resources and rarely visit your dacha, you can get by with a plastic storage container with a volume of up to 10 m3². This option is convenient and easy to use - you can remove the collected wastewater once a year.

You don’t have to spend money on delivery and installation - you can deliver the septic tank to the site in your car and install it on the surface or deepen it into the ground

The groundwater level and soil type directly influence the choice of treatment facility.In case of clay deposits and high groundwater level, the option with a septic tank and filtration fields should be discarded immediately.

Purifying wastewater by 50-60% and sending it to filtration fields is fraught with environmental pollution in conditions of increased groundwater level.

Clay soils, sandy loams, loams, and clays are characterized by low filtration rates. They are classified as waterproof and cannot absorb the liquid component of wastewater.

Therefore, they are not suitable for constructing groundwater treatment systems: filtration fields and absorption wells.

Storage tanks are installed on a clay base or a sewer system is installed with the removal of the purified liquid component of the sewer masses into the drains. Disposal into the ground under such conditions is prohibited.

The second good reason for draining through a pipeline into a ditch is that the distance between the groundwater table and the conditional bottom of the filtration field or absorption well is too small. There should be at least 1 m between them.

With a small area of ​​the site, it is not possible to arrange filtration fields. For these purposes, you will need to allocate at least 30 m² and maintain the standard distance from the house and other residential buildings.

To organize filtration fields, free space on the site is required. Not all summer residents can afford it

The number of people permanently residing at the dacha directly affects the choice of the required volume of the septic tank. Moreover, it is important to correctly calculate the volume of sewage waste for 3 days.

In order for a treatment facility to efficiently perform its functions during a salvo discharge, its optimal load is required. This is especially true for biological treatment plants.

Having weighed all the factors influencing your choice, you can safely start purchasing the ideal model for your dacha.

Useful tips and nuances when purchasing

Once you understand how to choose the right septic system, you should listen to useful advice from professionals. First, it is best to choose equipment that requires minimal maintenance.

Many septic stations with biological treatment require maintenance by the owners themselves.

The simpler the system is and the less it needs control and intervention, the easier the life of its owners will be.The ideal option is when the owner of the dacha himself can perform all the necessary manipulations with the cleaning installation.

Secondly, you should try to choose energy independence. Many owners of permanent residences, having settled on dependent models, immediately take care of generators and spare batteries.

After all, such foresight will be needed not only for the functioning of the sewer system, but also for other consumers of electricity - microwaves, televisions, computers and other equipment.

Unfortunately, some summer residents do not think about groundwater pollution, installing a absorption well on their summer cottage instead of a local sewerage system

A filtration (also known as absorption or absorption) well is designed for ground-based post-treatment of wastewater treated in a septic tank.

As an independent structure, it can serve to receive and filter gray sewage - water contaminated during hygiene procedures, during cleaning, working in the kitchen, coming from dishwashers and washing machines.

Thirdly, you should try to organize the discharge of treated wastewater into the ground, and not onto the terrain. Otherwise, the exiting liquid must be purified by 98% so as not to create an environmental disaster at the site.

After all, untreated pollution can not only contaminate groundwater - it will create an unbearable stench throughout the entire area.

To organize filtering fields, there are certain rules and recommendations that you should follow

Fourthly, the service life of the selected septic tank must be equal to the service life of the house itself. This is at least 50-80 years. Accordingly, it is better to immediately discard a metal container as a storage device.

You can focus on other materials - they can last 50 years or more without corroding.

No matter how high-quality the anti-corrosion coating is, it will not last 50 years. This is fraught with big problems for the owner of a metal septic tank

Fifthly, you should take seriously the choice of installation location for the future cleaning system. Here it would be useful to focus on the standards and sanitary requirements for sewerage equipment.

Also, each septic tank has its own recommendations, set out in the corresponding instructions. It is on them that you should rely during installation.

Sixth, you need to read reviews about the septic tank you like on independent resources, for example, on construction forums. When studying all the information about it, you should rely on serious regulatory literature, and not on advertising.

Seventh, having settled on the option of purchasing a station, it is more advisable to immediately order installation. After all, its trouble-free functioning depends on proper installation.

It is worth remembering that the purchased septic equipment can perform its functions efficiently for at least 50 years. It is better not to skimp on its installation in order to avoid negative consequences from mistakes.

A properly installed septic tank will not only not interfere with everyday life, but will also save its owner from sudden breakdowns and failure of the sewer system

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Tips for choosing a septic system suitable for specific conditions:

Tips in video format about the pros and cons of various septic tanks:

Video for home craftsmen who prefer to build a septic tank themselves:

Having studied all the nuances of choosing a septic tank, you can choose the most successful option for your dacha.A landscaped area with a well-functioning sewerage system will allow the whole family to be outdoors in comfortable conditions. Moreover, local amenities, independent of local authorities, will delight the next 50-80 years with their uninterrupted operation.

Have you made a homemade septic tank for your dacha? Or did you choose a ready-made design among the models offered on the market? Please tell us about your experience of using a septic tank and the nuances of maintenance in the comments under our article.