Clean the cesspool of sludge. The cesspool has silted up - what to do? Signs of siltation and cleaning methods

An overfilled septic tank or cesspool will make even the most comfortable home completely uninhabitable. Therefore, all homeowners have to maintain both local and autonomous systems, pumping out excess waste from time to time. But what to do if the septic tank or cesspool fills up too quickly? Let's look at ways to solve this problem.

There is only one reason for this - the soil no longer absorbs water, which fills the sump tank or goes into the filtration field (if there is one). At the same time, the refusal of the soil to accept wastewater has several explanations, namely:

Due to lack of activity The bottom layer of a septic tank or pit is covered with silty sediment, which forms a buffer film that prevents contact between soil and water. As a result, your cesspool or septic tank quickly fills up, since the liquid does not go anywhere, but remains in the container.

Siltation of the bottom in the septic tank

The walls and bottom of the septic tank or pit are covered with fat and soap deposits, the source of which is kitchen waste. If you don’t have one, then you shouldn’t even be surprised at how quickly a septic tank fills up. Fatty sediment clogs the drainage channels and blocks the flow of water through the bottom, overflows or through the side windows in the body of a homemade septic tank.

In some cases, poorly soluble grease and soapstone clog the entire inner surface of the sewer pipe, completely stopping the flow of waste to the septic tank or cesspool.

The sewer system just can't handle the waste.. There should be no less than three days' water consumption. Accordingly, an increase in the load on the water supply system (more residents spend more water) leads to the fact that the septic tank quickly fills up - the liquid simply does not have time to go into the ground
The soil just freezes, and frozen soil does not accept water under any circumstances. In addition, sometimes an ice plug appears in the septic tank or sewer pipe, blocking the movement of drains.

Now that the reasons for the failure of the sewer system have been established, we only need to understand what to do if the cesspool or septic tank fills up quickly. Therefore, next we will analyze the most effective ways to counteract specific causes of breakdown of a local or autonomous wastewater disposal system.

Restoring the absorption capacity of the soil

This method is only relevant for owners of cesspools and homemade septic tanks with an open bottom. In this case, to restore the absorbency of the soil, you will have to flush the sewer, and this is done like this:

We call a vacuum cleaner and pump out the contents of the cesspool or septic tank.
We fill the container, but not with fecal waste, but with clean water.
We let the water sit for a day, during which we do not use chlorine-containing preparations (detergents and cleaners) under any pretext.
or biological products with an increased dose of such microorganisms. If the drug manufacturer recommends this, we repeat the procedure for 5-7 days.

The meaning of these actions is to dilute the bottom silt with clean water and launch intense anaerobic and aerobic fermentation, which eats up even compacted sediment. There is no need to repeat pumping the septic tank after this procedure, but throughout the year you will have to use a fresh portion of bacteria every month to maintain fermentation.

We can recommend the following options as a starting drug:

Remember that active biological products alone will not correct the situation - you will have to give up frequent use of household chemicals. Otherwise, your septic tank will become clogged with sludge again.

Removing grease and soap residue

In factory septic tanks with a closed bottom, the main reason for the rapid filling of the sump tank is the formation of grease or soap deposits, which impedes the movement of liquid sediments through the overflow channels. However, soap and grease plugs can also form in homemade sewers. Moreover, the very fact of their occurrence is only a matter of time, if the sewer does not have a grease trap or a separate sump for kitchen waste.

To remove soap and grease plugs, you can use two methods - mechanical and chemical. Moreover, the second option works much more efficiently than the first and is implemented without any effort.

soapstone

To do this, you need to pour the required bactericidal preparation into the sinks, toilet and bathtub. And repeat this procedure until the sewerage capacity and overflows are restored.

In practice it looks like this:

We pump out the septic tank. Fill it with water. Let the water sit so that the chlorine evaporates from the liquid.
We pour preparations into sinks, bathtubs and toilets that can destroy soap and grease deposits.
We begin to use the sewer system by monitoring the capacity of the pipes and the water level in the septic tank. If necessary, add an additional portion of the drug.
After restoring the capacity of the overflow channels, we introduce supporting cultures that can absorb fat deposits.

The following options can be used as a preparation for removing soap and grease:

No drugs can solve the problem of insufficient septic tank capacity. If the daily water discharge exceeds 1/3 of the volume of the sump, then building a well or filtration field is an almost inevitable step, the only alternative would be to dismantle the old septic tank and install a new treatment plant.

Drainage well

The basis of such a structure is a shallow shaft of 3-4 meters, dug to sandy soil layers. Usually it comes off at a distance of up to 5 meters from the septic tank and is connected to the sump tank by a separate pipeline with a diameter of 110-150 millimeters. The pipe must go at a slope (towards the well), with a height difference of 2 centimeters per linear meter of line.

The walls of the drainage well are reinforced with concrete rings, the bottom of which will have to be perforated by drilling many holes with a diameter of 15-20 millimeters in its body. Clarified water from the septic tank overflows into the well and goes into the sandy soil horizon.

An alternative option is a drainage well made of polymer, assembled by 2-3 people from plastic parts (bottom, ring with pipe outlets, telescopic neck).

Filter field

This is a larger-scale system consisting of a perforated pipeline buried a meter into the ground. Moreover, the perforated pipes are laid on a sand and gravel bedding with a thickness of 25 centimeters and covered with the same mixture.

It involves digging a trench, placing bedding at its bottom and laying pipes. After assembling the pipeline, it is covered with a 20-centimeter layer of sand and gravel backfill. Finally, the trench is filled with selected soil.

The filtration field pipeline runs at a slope of 2.5 centimeters per linear meter, so the depth of the trench can vary from 1 to 1.5 meters. As a rule, at least 8 linear meters of the filtration field pipeline are allocated per user, so owners of large-volume septic tanks dig not one trench, but several, placing 5 or 10-meter sections parallel to each other.

We improve the thermal insulation of pipes and septic tanks

The problem of ice jams does not arise out of nowhere. Typically, owners of homemade septic tanks suffer from this because they ignored recommendations for deepening the structure below the freezing level of the soil. In addition, ice plugs appear in pipes that lack external thermal insulation.

To remove ice blockage in pipes, you will have to do the following:

Rent or buy a steam generator and melt the ice blockage in the pipeline.
Buy and install a cylindrical
Use modern solutions, such as -

Stories about electricity, pins and hooks are a sure way to a hospital bed. The effectiveness of homemade “boilers” is questionable, and the risk of electric shock is more than real.

Melting ice in a pipe with hot water will lead to the inevitable “return” of liquid flowing out of the pipe after contact with the fecal plug. It is collected in a separate bucket, but the smell will not go away, and it will take a very long time to spill the cork with hot water. That is why the only acceptable tool for destroying an ice plug is a steam generator.

If a plug has grown in the septic tank, binding the surface of the drain, then in this case you will have to do the following:

We open the hatch, drill several holes in the ice, getting to the liquid.
We melt the ice plug with hot steam using a rented or purchased steam generator. Moreover, our task is only to destroy the crust into individual ice floes.
After the ice crust is destroyed, fecal waste is pumped out and hot water is poured into the septic tank, which will melt the remaining ice. If necessary, repeat this procedure.
We pour drugs or into the septic tank, which will start the fermentation process in the container.
We make fires around the perimeter of the septic tank, warming the ground to the required depth.
We fill the coals of the fires with sand and cover the ground with some kind of heat insulator, such as expanded clay or sawdust, or polystyrene foam boards. Moreover, the bedding will have to be laid not only on top of the septic tank, but around it, at a distance of one meter from the walls.

Bacteria released into the septic tank will start the fermentation process, accompanied by the release of heat. The bedding on the lid of the septic tank and along its perimeter will change the depth of soil freezing in this area, eliminating the cause of the formation of an ice plug in the septic tank. After completing this work, you can use the septic tank without fear of encountering another ice jam.

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When a cesspool silts up, this is always a problem for its owner. Of course, the process of silting is inevitable, and any hole gets clogged sooner or later, but it is impossible to experience joy because of this. However, there are ways to solve this problem, and from this article you can learn how to get rid of sludge in a cesspool.

If the cesspool has silted up, what to do is a fairly obvious question. There are several types of cesspools, and each of them requires special attention. In order to clean the pit from sludge without harming the structure, the environment and your health, you need to know exactly what type of structure is being serviced.

There are the following types of cesspools:

The most popular cleaning methods include:

manual cleaning using a bucket tied to a rope;
pumping out using a pump;
pumping out the pit using a sewer truck;
biological treatment;
chemical cleaning.

How to clean a cesspool without a bottom from sludge

The cleaning process in such pits is carried out by microorganisms that are found in the soil. The problem is that they are unable to digest the sludge, so it gradually builds up, forming a blockage and blocking the operation of the pit. To eliminate siltation, you must first scoop out all the drainage from the hole with a bucket and rope, clear the silt, and then fill the bottom with a layer of gravel, thereby simplifying subsequent cleaning. It is advisable to use this method only when cleaning a small hole: it is difficult to scoop out too large volumes, so it is easier to fill up a large cesspool and dig a new one in another place.

What to do if a sealed pit with a bottom silts up

To decide how to clean a cesspool of sludge, you need to know exactly what type of pit the one on the site is, and what options can be used to clean it.

Cleaning a cesspool with a pump

To clear a silted pit, you can use a fecal or water pump connected to a reservoir for pumped out waste. The pump can be automatic (such devices are installed in a pit and work independently, pumping out wastewater as it appears) or semi-automatic (the operation of these devices must be monitored).

Before pumping begins, the siltation should be brought into a liquid state, and after pumping out the waste, it must be disposed of. When the pit is empty, it should be partially filled with water to further flush the structure. Pipelines also require cleaning, so they need to be given attention. When using a water pump, it is advisable to install a special filter to prevent clogging of the mechanisms. The fecal pump does not have this drawback and is able to work with waste immediately after installation.

Pumping out the pit with a suction pump

This method does not require any intervention from the owner of the pit. It is enough to call professional vacuum cleaners and a sludge removal machine, and the cesspool will be cleared of sludge very quickly. In addition, ordering such a service also implies that the waste will not only be pumped out, but also disposed of, so you won’t have to worry about how to remove the sludge from the cesspool and take it away from the house. When calling sewer cleaners, it is worth paying some attention to the permitting documents confirming their authority. Read also: "".

Cleaning the pit with biological products

To clean the pit yourself, without resorting to the services of a vacuum cleaner, you can use biological products. There is a fairly wide range of biological substances on the market, which can be produced in the form of powder, liquid or tablets. Biological products have a fairly large number of positive qualities: a high efficiency coefficient (the amount of waste is reduced to 20-30%), elimination of the characteristic odor, cleaning of the sewer system and pipeline (more details: " "). In addition, bioactivators are completely safe for humans, do not harm the environment and are environmentally friendly, and their use does not cause any difficulties.

The principle of operation of biological products is that all these substances contain a certain amount of bacteria that use human waste for nutrition. As a result, the unpleasant odor is eliminated, the wastewater decomposes much faster and decreases in volume.

When choosing bioactivators, you need to pay attention to the instructions, which always describe how the substance works. The only disadvantage of biological products is the impossibility of working in winter, so it will not be possible to eliminate silting of a cesspool in cold weather.

Cleaning the cesspool with chemicals

As a rule, chemicals for a septic tank are used in winter, since biological products cannot work in such conditions. However, chemicals are also not powerless: if the silted part of the waste is frozen, then there will be no result from their use.

Previously, formaldehyde and ammonium salts were used to clean pits, which are extremely dangerous for the environment and humans due to their toxicity. Today, it is best to clean pits with nitrate oxidizers, the negative impact of which on the soil is at a fairly low level. The principle of operation of nitrate oxidizers is in many ways similar to the work of nitrate fertilizers, therefore, after their use, the waste can be used for fertilizer.

A nitrate oxidizer acts on sludge, liquefying it, removing sewer odor and reducing the volume of solid waste. In addition, chemicals for cesspools and toilets work well in aggressive environments. The disadvantage of chemical cleaners is their high price.

Cleaning a silted septic tank

Cleaning the septic tank from sludge is not always required: many manufacturers supply their products with sludge pipes that prevent siltation of the system (read: ""). In the absence of such pipes, the likelihood of a blockage is quite high, and a drain pump or a sewer truck may be required to eliminate the problem.

The best means for cleaning a septic tank are the biological products described above, which break down almost all substances that enter tanks for storing and processing sewage. The only thing that bacteria contained in bioactivators cannot tolerate at all is aggressive environments. A toxic substance that gets into a septic tank will stop the life of all microorganisms inside.

Conclusion

This article discussed methods for cleaning various cesspools from sludge. Now that the answer to the question of how to clear a cesspool of sludge is known, you can safely use the sewer without fear of silting or overflowing.

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Nitrate oxidizers are considered safe chemical reagents. Their composition is similar to nitrate fertilizers, as a result they are harmless to the environment, and the product of their processing can even be used as a fertilizer. The operation of this reagent is simple: it quickly dilutes the muddy medium, removes unpleasant odors and reduces the volume of residual mass. The big plus is that they work even in an aggressive environment (an environment containing household chemical waste). The downside is the high cost of the drug.

Cleaning the septic tank from sludge

Often the manufacturer provides sludge pipes in the design of septic tanks, and the sludge is removed by gravity. If this is not the case, then there is a need to pump out the sludge. This can be done with a vacuum drain pump or using a sewer truck.

One of the modern methods of dealing with sludge in septic tanks is special biological products, the so-called “bacteria for septic tanks.” They are added to the chambers of septic tanks, they are activated and quickly break down sewage, silt and fatty layers into completely harmless neutral substances. When removing sludge with the help of bacteria, you should be aware that bacteria do not tolerate direct exposure to toxic substances such as chlorine. They just die and don't work.

Having considered all possible methods, we can safely say that you have reliable and verified information on how to get rid of sludge in a cesspool yourself or with outside help. Don't forget to take care of your cesspool; preventive measures are what will save you from hassle and expense in the future. To prevent the cesspool from filling up frequently, do preventive maintenance on time! We wish you good luck in the fight against sludge!

The design of the drainage pit and the principles of its functioning. Reasons for rapid tank filling. Methods for emptying a container from its contents.

The content of the article:

A drainage pit is a reservoir that is designed to accumulate sewage. After it is filled, the contents must be removed by technical means. In the absence of quality maintenance, the storage tank malfunctions; sewage fills the tank faster than at the beginning of its operation. Let's consider what to do if the drainage pit fills up quickly.

Features of the functioning of the sewage pit

A drainage hole is a bottomless tank dug into the ground. The walls of the container in loose soil are reinforced with brick or concrete partitions; in clay soil you can do without them. Coarse gravel and cobblestones are poured onto the bottom to prevent silting. A sewer pipe is connected to the pit, through which wastewater flows from the room to the storage tank.

The functioning scheme of the sewage pit consists of the settling of insoluble solids (toilet paper, feces, etc.) at the bottom of the pit and the drainage of purified water through the walls and bottom. The structure is being built in places with low groundwater levels, otherwise it will quickly fill with external liquid. The depth of the pit should not exceed 3 m. With such dimensions, the pump hose for pumping out sewage easily reaches the bottom of the pit.

Once a large amount of sediment has accumulated, it must be removed mechanically. Depending on the intensity of sewer use, the procedure is performed once every 2-3 months. Land owners know from experience how often the pit is filled, and if it has changed, there is cause for concern. Rapid filling of the tank paralyzes life in the house; basic amenities become inaccessible to residents. An unpleasant putrid smell appears in the house.

To ensure that the intervals between cleaning procedures do not decrease, perform regular and periodic maintenance of the drive. In the first case, the drainage pit is cleaned once a year, in spring or autumn, using a sewer machine. In this way, clogging of the storage tank is prevented, and if this is followed, there will be no problems with filling the pit. Periodic maintenance of the tank is carried out to protect the storage tank from flood waters and winter freezing.

When a pit fills with waste faster than desired, you need to find the cause of the problem. There may be several of them:

Liquid does not escape through the walls due to silting of the surfaces. A similar problem occurs if the pit is not cleaned for a long time. Feces, household waste, and solid inclusions settle to the bottom and over time create a dense crust that makes it difficult for water to drain into the ground. Fatty inclusions present in drains clog the pores in the soil and make it waterproof. Siltation of the filter layer is an inevitable process that cannot be avoided. But if you control the contents of the drains, the frequency of cleaning can be increased.
The cesspool is used more intensively than after its construction, so the amount of wastewater increases, and it does not have time to seep into the ground on its own.
There was an error in calculating the volume of wastewater from the house, which is why the pit was dug smaller. To rectify the situation, another hole is being dug nearby. Both storage tanks are connected by overflow pipes. In this case, they form a system reminiscent of a traditional septic tank. Solid inclusions settle in one tank, liquid flows into the second, which then seeps through the walls.
Effluent does not flow due to soil freezing. The problem is solved by heating frozen sewage.
The drainage pit fills quickly due to rising groundwater levels. Most often, water enters the reservoir after intense precipitation. There are other reasons: poorly organized water drainage on the surface; reduction in soil filtration properties; deterioration of moisture evaporation from the soil after asphalting the site. The consequence of groundwater entering the reservoir is siltation, accumulation of fecal waste, and the appearance of an unpleasant odor.

How to restore the operation of the drain pit?

It is mandatory to clean the drive, but this process is complex and unpleasant. At the first stage of solving the problem, it is necessary to find out why the drainage pit is filling up quickly, then clean it. The work can be done manually using available means, but it is better to use modern waste disposal methods. Today, the procedure is performed using special instruments, devices and complexes, so the role of manual labor is minimal.

Cleaning the pit using a technical method

To free the drive from dirt, a special technique is used, with the help of which the process occurs quickly, remotely, with minimal odor spread.

The fastest way to clean a drain pit is calling a sewer truck. It is equipped with a vacuum pump, tank and hoses, so the liquid is not only pumped out, but also transported to the disposal site. The customer will only need to organize access to the storage facility. Before pumping, thoroughly mix the contents of the pit with a pole with a paddle-shaped hat. After removing the liquid fraction, it is necessary to inspect the drive from the inside. If you find solid sediment at the bottom and a greasy layer on the walls, wash them with a stream of warm water, while treating the surfaces with a stiff brush. If this is not done, then after pumping the drainage hole in a private house will quickly fill up. To remove the hardened layer, fill the sediment with water and leave for several days to soften, and then remove the mass with a pump. To eliminate hard crust, add microbes to the storage tank that decompose dense fragments. Preparations labeled “Intensive” have proven themselves well. They contain colonies of organisms that can process solid elements in the shortest possible time.

If the walls are loose, there is a danger of them being washed away by strong jets of water. In this case, work is carried out with a bucket, shovel and other available means.

Also suitable for cleaning sludge sucker. This is a high-power device that can easily handle solid sediment. Many models have special nozzles that create high water pressure, allowing you to break up large inclusions.

You can pump out sewage fecal pump, without calling a sewer truck. The device easily sucks up liquid with impurities and is designed for such work. The contents of the tank are pumped out to a previously prepared place. If the container is filled frequently, you can install a pump that automatically turns on as needed. Among the inexpensive models, we can note the Aquatica 773411 unit, which lifts sewage from a depth of 5 m to a height of 12 m. It has a long service life and is capable of operating in automatic mode. For gardeners, we recommend the Chinese pump Spirut V180F, which not only pumps out feces, but is also used for watering the area.

Can also be used to clean the tank goldsmith method. Unlike the previous method, an ordinary household pump is used to pump out feces, with a funnel with a mesh with 1-2 mm cells placed on the inlet pipe. The liquid is pumped into a hole dug nearby. Due to the absence of large fragments, it will quickly absorb into the soil. Whatever remains is removed by hand with a bucket and shovel. After cleaning, inspect the condition of the bottom and walls of the tank. If necessary, fill the base with crushed stone or cobblestones to cover the clay layer.

Cleaning the drive with biological products

Microorganisms that feed on organic matter are often used to clean storage tanks. Bacteria help solve the problem of quickly filling the waste pit at a whole new level. It is enough to add them to the water according to the attached instructions and pour them into a container with feces.

Bacteria very quickly process paper, fats, particles of vegetables and fruits, etc., decomposing them into gas, water and light inclusions, while the volume of waste is reduced. They restore soil porosity, dissolve fats and eliminate silt on surfaces. A harmless liquid substance with a neutral odor remains in the pit, which can be removed with a pump.

Note! Plastic, films and other artificial materials cannot be decomposed.

The biological product is a complex of enzymes and living bacteria. They are sold in liquid or powder form, or in concentrated form, so very little of the drug is needed for the procedure.

For similar purposes they use anaerobic microbes, capable of living and reproducing without oxygen. Before use, dilute the drug in water, after which the dried cultures of microorganisms “wake up”. Study the instructions for activating the biomaterial: some drugs must be infused, others can be poured into the pit immediately.

Also suitable for processing feces facultative saprophytic bacteria, which naturally live in the soil. They are able to reproduce in the presence of oxygen and without it. In the packaging they are in a state of suspended animation. After activation, they begin to look for dead organic matter, which they use as food.

Important! When choosing microorganisms, consider the purposes for which they will be intended. There are funds for dry closets, cesspools, and sewer systems.

The biological product "Microbec" is intended for the decomposition of fecal waste in a pit. It allows you to maintain high permeability of the storage tank walls. The “Vodograi” product decomposes feces and garbage of organic origin - potato peelings, fat, etc. After processing, a disinfected liquid without odor or harmful impurities is formed, which can be used to water the garden.

In order for microorganisms to work as efficiently as possible, create the following conditions for them:

In the waste pit, the liquid should cover the solid sediment by several centimeters. If necessary, pour several buckets of water into the container.
Bacteria are active at temperatures of +4+30 degrees, so create appropriate temperature conditions.
Protect the pit from cleaning agents based on chlorine, manganese and other antibacterial agents that destroy bacteria.
Use the drug in accordance with the instructions developed by the manufacturer. For example, some substances cannot be sprayed; they only need to be poured into one place.

Biological products can be used for a long time, they will not cause harm to the area. The bacteria present in them are already present in the environment.

Remember that solid inclusions will not be completely dissolved by microorganisms to the level of carbon dioxide; the liquid will have to be pumped out with a pump or a sewer truck.

Remember! If microbes constantly live in the sewer pit, leave 30% sediment during cleaning so that they quickly restore their numbers.

Cleaning the sewage pit with chemicals

To restore the porosity of the walls, chemical reagents can be used. They have one big advantage over biological drugs - they are able to function all year round, in cold and hot weather.

The most commonly used substances are formaldehyde-based, nitrate oxidizing agents and ammonium compounds. Their features are shown in the table:

Means	Advantages	Flaws
Formaldehyde	Can be used all year round	They are very toxic, they destroy the vegetation around the pit, the water after them must be removed from the site
Nitrate oxidizers	Safety of the drug for the site	Quite expensive
Ammonium compounds	Dissolves all fat deposits on the walls and processes sludge	They work only in the warm season

The most popular among users are nitrate oxidizers based on nitrogen. They contain surfactants, which are present in preparations for cleaning dishes, so they can easily cope with dirt of organic origin. However, they are not able to decompose other household waste.

Note! Liquid water purified by nitrate oxidizers can be used for irrigation.

Cleaning the sewage pit by defrosting sewage

If the drainage pit fills up quickly due to freezing of the drains, it is necessary to take measures to defrost them. You can melt the ice with a large amount of hot water. But there are other ways.

You will need a copper wire capable of passing 2 kW, a medium hook and a metal pin 25 cm long. Hammer the pin into the center of the frozen opening, and attach the copper wire to it. Connect the other end of the wire to the electrical network using a hook. The result can be seen after 48 hours. After defrosting, remove the pin. In severe frost, you will need to heat the sewer pipe, especially near the pit.

To drain groundwater from the drainage pit, create a drainage system. Dig a trench with the bottom below the bottom of the storage tank. The width of the ditch is 15 cm. Pour crushed stone onto the bottom and place a perforated pipe wrapped in geotextile on it. It should be tilted away from the pit and drain the water into a ravine or temporary collection area. Place coarse crushed stone on top again and cover with soil. Drainage can be organized without corrugated pipes. To do this, dig an inclined trench and fill it with sand, brushwood, and large stones. To drain precipitation from above the structure, along the perimeter, also build a drainage ditch.

What to do if the drainage pit fills up quickly - watch the video:

A cesspool is considered a convenient and economical way to solve the problem of disposing of household waste. But even such a simple structure requires maintenance, which consists of regular cleaning. Ignoring the operating rules of the storage tank leads to rapid filling of the tank and additional costs to restore its functioning.

A properly constructed cesspool functions for years, requiring absolutely no attention. However, over time, the efficiency of its operation decreases and there comes a time when the waste tank is filled very quickly. At first, of course, you can save yourself by calling a sewer truck to clean the sewer. When the interval between calls is reduced to several weeks, it becomes clear that the problem cannot be solved by simply pumping it out. Meanwhile, there are several very effective methods, ranging from quite simple to radical, the use of which will force the sewer system to work with the same strength.

During the operation of the cesspool, the effectiveness of its drainage layer decreases over time

When constructing a cesspool, a leaky structure with a drainage layer at the bottom is usually used. For a long time, the drainage performed its functions, discharging liquid waste into the ground. Over time, the gaps between its elements became clogged with fat residues, food debris, and simply silt. Spontaneous sealing of the bottom of the pit occurred. As a result, wastewater does not have access to the soil layer and simply fills the container, and since a waste pit is usually built based on the three-day drainage volume, its volume is filled very quickly.

Another reason for the ineffective operation of the sewer system may be its freezing in winter. Naturally, draining water onto frozen ground will be impossible.

For the normal functioning of the sewage system in winter, it is necessary to insulate the sewer well

When the efficiency of the cesspool decreases, the following signs are observed:

The walls of the sewage tank are covered with fatty deposits, which are quite problematic to wash off;
Accumulation of bottom sediment;
Fetid odor from the pit;
The time to fill a cesspool is reduced to a week or less.

For the normal functioning of the sewage system, it is necessary to properly clean the cesspool and restore its functionality.

Removal of sludge accumulations

Silting the bottom of the cesspool

The main reason why the normal operation of the waste tank is blocked is silting of the bottom. You can overcome this problem in the following way:

First of all, you need to pump out the wastewater using a sewer truck. In order to remove sediment from the bottom of the pit as much as possible, it is necessary to drain the wastewater back from the machine under pressure. In this case, the top layer of sludge deposits will be washed away and pumped out again by the sewer truck.

You can mix the bottom sediment well using a long pole with a fungus-shaped element at its end.

Fill the bottom residues with clean water. This will further liquefy them.
Add special biological products containing bacteria directly to the pit or through the sewer system. The fact is that bottom sediments are food for many types of microorganisms. After processing, there will be very little solid residue left, because the main part of the sludge will turn into liquid, which will successfully go into the soil. It is best to add the biological product directly into the pit, splashing it along the walls.

Biological products for septic tanks will help cope with the problem of siltation at the bottom of the cesspool

As a result of the use of preparations containing bacteria, it is possible not only to liquefy solid sediment and reduce the amount of waste in the pit, but also to eliminate bad odors, as well as restore the functionality of the drainage system.

The positive side of using biological preparations is the production of organic substances that are absolutely harmless to humans and nature. They can be easily poured onto the ground.

You can pump out sludge not only using special equipment, but also using household sewage or drainage pumps. The former are preferable for compacted sludge, since they have a knife in their design that crushes solid sediment for its normal passage through the hose. During the work process, it is better to discard sludge into a compost heap and subsequently use it for fertilizer purposes.

Pumping out a cesspool with a drainage pump

Ways to improve efficiency

There are several ways to improve your sewer system. The work can take from several hours to several days, depending on the degree of complexity.

Upgrading a cesspool to a septic tank

An old cesspool can be converted into a simple septic tank

Silting of the bottom of a cesspool can be easily turned to your advantage by using the resulting sealed container as the primary chamber of a simple septic tank. In order to move one step forward in wastewater treatment, you just need to install a filtration well a few meters from the first structure and make an overflow and ventilation system. When performing this work, follow the recommendations of specialists:

You can dig a pit using earth-moving equipment or manually. The first option is preferable when arranging a septic tank away from structures. In addition, the soil loosened by an excavator will absorb water much more efficiently. The second method is much cheaper and does not require access routes for construction vehicles. It should also be taken into account that a hand-dug pit will exactly repeat the outlines of the elements for strengthening the walls of the septic tank, so this method is much more effective in hard-to-reach places or near buildings.
When choosing materials, if possible, preference should be given to factory-made concrete rings with perforations. They are durable and very effective. Their only drawback is their heavy weight, which requires installation using a crane. The way out of this situation is to manually dig in the rings by gradually removing soil from under their walls and internal space. You can also use brickwork with a gap or car tires from trucks to build a filtration well.
The overflow pipe from the sewer pit is installed half a meter below the level of the entrance to the waste sewer pipe. Typically, products with a diameter of 110 mm are used. The end of the pipe must be at least 20-25 cm away from the inner wall of the filtration well. This requirement is especially important for walls made of red brick, since its surface will not be destroyed during the draining process. Note that it is better to use discarded burnt bricks. It copes excellently with moisture and has a low cost.
When arranging a filtration well, one should not forget about sanitary standards and SNiP, which require the location of treatment facilities no closer than 30 m to the well or well, 1 m from the border of the neighboring site and 3-5 m from the nearest structure, depending on its number of floors.

When using an improved cesspool, you should adhere to the same rules as when working with septic tanks - regular use of biological products, absence of chemical components of household chemicals in wastewater, periodic removal of sludge.

Improving filtration parameters

Perforation of the walls of concrete rings greatly increases the productivity of the filtration well

Of course, after completely pumping out the sludge from the bottom of the cesspool, you can use the method of cleaning the drainage with biological products, but nothing will give such an effect as completely replacing the drainage layer. This work, of course, cannot be called pleasant, but if you manage to complete it or find a volunteer, you will get a practically new sewerage structure. To remove old drainage, you can use a bucket with a rope and a regular shovel with a short handle. After the old filling has been removed, the hole is deepened by 30-40 cm and filled with a 20-30 cm layer of small crushed stone, and then a 30-40 cm layer of coarse crushed stone, small rubble or broken brick.

If the walls of the cesspool are made of monolithic concrete rings, then perforation holes can be made in the two lower structural elements. To do this, it is better to use an electric hammer drill or impact drill and a diamond drill with a diameter of 50-80mm. The distance between adjacent holes, as well as between their rows, must be at least 25 cm. Otherwise, the strength of the structure may suffer.

Defrosting the pit

In winter, a thick layer of snow will prevent the cesspool from freezing

In rare cases, the productivity of a cesspool decreases due to waste freezing. Often this is not due to poor thermal insulation or incorrect design. It happens that “General Frost” is to blame for all the troubles, and then you will have to resort to radical measures.

In order to not wait for the spring heat to defrost the pit, you need to prepare an extension cord, copper wire, a steel rod 20-30 cm long and a grip.

When carrying out work related to electricity, be sure to follow safety regulations. Wear electrician gloves and shoes with thick rubber soles.

If the sewer pipe is frozen, then it is enough to wrap it with a copper conductor, the end of which is connected to the phase wire. After several hours, as current flows between the copper and the ground zero, the pipe will warm up and thaw. It is only important to prevent children and animals from entering the work area.

If the entire pit is frozen, then you need to drive a steel rod into its center, attach a copper conductor to it and apply phase voltage. It may take a whole day, rather than a few hours, to thaw the pit, but this will happen in any case. After completing the work, turn off the voltage and only then remove the rod with wires.

The effectiveness of its operation in the future, as well as the frequency of cleaning the sewage system, will depend on the method of restoring the cesspool’s functionality. The use of biological preparations will help postpone the call for a sewage disposal truck for a long time; it is only important to adhere to the rules for using a sewage system with a bacterial cleaning method.

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