"Dave Liquorice" wrote:

On Tue, 4 Dec 2007 13:48:46 -0800 (PST), wrote:

do you include the grey water to keep the working volumes up, or do you
restrict it to blackwater and rainwater?

Rainwater is a no, no. The volumes of even a small shower on a decent
sized roof will flush a septic tank through far to quickly...

What is the ill effect of that?

In article ,
says...
"Dave Liquorice" wrote:

On Tue, 4 Dec 2007 13:48:46 -0800 (PST), wrote:

do you include the grey water to keep the working volumes up, or do you
restrict it to blackwater and rainwater?

Rainwater is a no, no. The volumes of even a small shower on a decent
sized roof will flush a septic tank through far to quickly...

What is the ill effect of that?

I am no expert but the bacteria has to have some time to digest the
sewerage componant before the discharging water will be safe to soak away
into the surrounding land. It is not normally to put rain water through a
septic tank, this normally goes to seperate soak aways, often several one
for each down pipe.
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
"FarmI" ask@itshall be given wrote in message
...
"Sacha" wrote in message
"Charlie Pridham" wrote:

Most people I know with modern ones have a yearly contract.

I think there might be quite a lot in that last sentence, Charlie. I'm
a
bit concerned that the OP is hearing about people who haven't touched a
tank
in 15 years

If it's working and not causing any problems why should it be interfered
with?

Those who have such working installations are confident that they don't
need interference for any reason.

Mary

Incorrect attribution Mary.

On Wed, 5 Dec 2007 00:19:40 GMT, brian mitchell wrote:

Rainwater is a no, no. The volumes of even a small shower on a decent
sized roof will flush a septic tank through far to quickly...

What is the ill effect of that?

Well apart from the fact the muck doesn't stay in the tank long enough to
acted on by the bacteria effectievly the sludge gets washed into the
soakaway blocking it up...

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

"FarmI" ask@itshall be given wrote in message
...
"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
"FarmI" ask@itshall be given wrote in message
...
"Sacha" wrote in message
"Charlie Pridham" wrote:

Most people I know with modern ones have a yearly contract.

I think there might be quite a lot in that last sentence, Charlie. I'm
a
bit concerned that the OP is hearing about people who haven't touched a
tank
in 15 years

If it's working and not causing any problems why should it be interfered
with?

Those who have such working installations are confident that they don't
need interference for any reason.

Mary

Incorrect attribution Mary.

?

I didn't attribute to anyone :-)

"Charlie Pridham" wrote in message
T...


Rainwater is a no, no. The volumes of even a small shower on a decent
sized roof will flush a septic tank through far to quickly...

What is the ill effect of that?

I am no expert but the bacteria has to have some time to digest the
sewerage componant before the discharging water will be safe to soak away
into the surrounding land. It is not normally to put rain water through a
septic tank, this normally goes to seperate soak aways, often several one
for each down pipe.

I'd have thought that there will be similar bacteria in the ground to deal
with the anaerobic treatment of sewerage components. We often used to make a
'long drop' when camping, it caused no problems.

Mary

On 3 Dec, 15:43, Eddy Bentley
wrote:
Forgive me asking this "odious" question in this group, but I know that
a lot of keen gardeners live on isolated properties which are not
connected to the usual sewage system.

We have a reasonably-sized septic tank embedded in the front garden and
we understand that the previous owner had it cleaned every year, at a
cost of about £120. There has been a suggestion that this annual
cleaning is a bit excessive. On the other hand, I have read that if the
solids mount up and leave the tank and move into the soakaway area then
the soakaway area becomes clogged and you then have to build a new
septic tank at another (clean) spot - which is a real bother and a
considerable expense. So, clearly, regular cleaning is worthwhile.

But how often is regular for a two-person household?

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Eddy.

This post was also put onto UK DIY and it is interesting that nobody
here picked up on the fact that this septic tank has a soakaway rather
than an outlet to a waterway - it has been assumed that this is a
herring bone type. The OP hasn't had the courtesy to come back on
either thread and answer the questions posed to him.

His concern was that any overflow would block the soakaway system and
there would be considerable cost and difficulty rebuilding it.

On that basis he is probably right it get it maintained annually, for
peace of mind if nothing else.

I would like to challenge the vociferous cries from Sacha, Mary
Fisher, et al about the use of household chemicals and septic tanks.
I live in area of septic tanks - there must be around 20 in this
community, and one thing that is clearly apparant is that anyone we
know well here does NOT pay service to looking after their septic tank
bugs. I will admit to not having gone round my friends here and done
a detailed survey off their cleaning habits, but all (I think) have
dish-washers, washing machines, etc and I am totally unaware of them
taking any precautions with powders, etc. What I am aware of is that
like us they pump out every 10 years or more and have no problems with
their tanks. These are typically 70 year old double brick tanks
that drain into the local water courses, which are all healthy burns.

Rob

"Rob G" wrote in message
...
....

I would like to challenge the vociferous cries from Sacha, Mary
Fisher, et al about the use of household chemicals and septic tanks.
I live in area of septic tanks - there must be around 20 in this
community, and one thing that is clearly apparant is that anyone we
know well here does NOT pay service to looking after their septic tank
bugs. I will admit to not having gone round my friends here and done
a detailed survey off their cleaning habits, but all (I think) have
dish-washers, washing machines, etc and I am totally unaware of them
taking any precautions with powders, etc. What I am aware of is that
like us they pump out every 10 years or more and have no problems with
their tanks. These are typically 70 year old double brick tanks
that drain into the local water courses, which are all healthy burns.

Rob

I challenge your claim that I've been crying vociferously :-)

All I've done is repeat what happens in a daughter's case, which is
different from most because of her organic certification. Others have
asserted that their tank has never been 'cleaned' too, it shouldn't be
necessary.

Mary

In article ,
says...

"Charlie Pridham" wrote in message
T...


Rainwater is a no, no. The volumes of even a small shower on a decent
sized roof will flush a septic tank through far to quickly...

What is the ill effect of that?

I am no expert but the bacteria has to have some time to digest the
sewerage componant before the discharging water will be safe to soak away
into the surrounding land. It is not normally to put rain water through a
septic tank, this normally goes to seperate soak aways, often several one
for each down pipe.

I'd have thought that there will be similar bacteria in the ground to deal
with the anaerobic treatment of sewerage components. We often used to make a
'long drop' when camping, it caused no problems.

Mary



They can and do, but regulations deem the outflow should be safe.
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

In article ,
says...

"Rob G" wrote in message
...
...

I would like to challenge the vociferous cries from Sacha, Mary
Fisher, et al about the use of household chemicals and septic tanks.
I live in area of septic tanks - there must be around 20 in this
community, and one thing that is clearly apparant is that anyone we
know well here does NOT pay service to looking after their septic tank
bugs. I will admit to not having gone round my friends here and done
a detailed survey off their cleaning habits, but all (I think) have
dish-washers, washing machines, etc and I am totally unaware of them
taking any precautions with powders, etc. What I am aware of is that
like us they pump out every 10 years or more and have no problems with
their tanks. These are typically 70 year old double brick tanks
that drain into the local water courses, which are all healthy burns.

Rob

I challenge your claim that I've been crying vociferously :-)

All I've done is repeat what happens in a daughter's case, which is
different from most because of her organic certification. Others have
asserted that their tank has never been 'cleaned' too, it shouldn't be
necessary.

Mary



Its a pity really that we did not make clear at the beginning of this
thread that these tanks need de sludging not emptying, and the amount of
build up depends on how much usage as well as the design of the tank and
lay of the land.
A large tank of old fashioned design will seldom need attention and will
tolerate abuse, where a modern tank will need de sludging more often and
will work a lot better if some attention is payed to what goes in it.
Here I do speak from some experiance, having had to cope with ship board
systems that were physically very small for the numbers of people they
had to cope with.
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

"Charlie Pridham" wrote in message
T...
In article ,
says...

"Charlie Pridham" wrote in message
T...


Rainwater is a no, no. The volumes of even a small shower on a
decent
sized roof will flush a septic tank through far to quickly...

What is the ill effect of that?

I am no expert but the bacteria has to have some time to digest the
sewerage componant before the discharging water will be safe to soak
away
into the surrounding land. It is not normally to put rain water through
a
septic tank, this normally goes to seperate soak aways, often several
one
for each down pipe.

I'd have thought that there will be similar bacteria in the ground to
deal
with the anaerobic treatment of sewerage components. We often used to
make a
'long drop' when camping, it caused no problems.

Mary



They can and do, but regulations deem the outflow should be safe.

I'm sure that's right but it really does amuse me about The Authorities'
ideas of 'safe'. You'd think that the Earth was sterile, that all animals
from the smallest to the largest didn't deposit their excretions everywhere
:-)

And when it comes to burying animals and people in other than 'authorised'
places ... well ... !

Mary

"Charlie Pridham" wrote in message
T...



Its a pity really that we did not make clear at the beginning of this
thread that these tanks need de sludging not emptying, and the amount of
build up depends on how much usage as well as the design of the tank and
lay of the land.

Yes ... thoughtfully

A large tank of old fashioned design will seldom need attention and will
tolerate abuse, where a modern tank will need de sludging more often and
will work a lot better if some attention is payed to what goes in it.
Here I do speak from some experiance, having had to cope with ship board
systems that were physically very small for the numbers of people they
had to cope with.

I'm wondering whether it might be an idea to build one ... We'd like a
compost toilet but can't find instructions anywhere, CAT wasn't helpful.

Mary

Rob G wrote:
The OP hasn't had the courtesy to come back on
either thread and answer the questions posed to him.

Dear Rob,

"The OP" has been closely studying all of the replies from both
gardeners AND DIY enthusiasts and has been combining this with other
research BEFORE making hasty responses to all those people kind enough
and good enough to offer help.

Eddy.

On 5 Dec, 13:18, Eddy Bentley
wrote:
Rob G wrote:
The OP hasn't had the courtesy to come back on
either thread and answer the questions posed to him.

Dear Rob,

"The OP" has been closely studying all of the replies from both
gardeners AND DIY enthusiasts and has been combining this with other
research BEFORE making hasty responses to all those people kind enough
and good enough to offer help.

Eddy.

Oh come on Eddy - it's clear that we've all been wandering around in
the doo-doos asking what sort, or age, etc. of septic you have. It
would have put us out of our misery if you had really read the
answers, realised our difficulties and answered them. 'Hasty
response' doesn't come into it - if you want a reliable answer you
have to help us to help you.

It is a common problem that queries are raised in this Forum without
adequate information - fair enough the OP very often doesn't know
quite what to ask, but he /she then typically disappears and doesn't
either say thank you or leaves us wallowing trying to answer a
question without all the facts.

Rob

On 5 Dec, 10:45, Charlie Pridham wrote:
In article ,
says...



"Rob G" wrote in message
...
...

I would like to challenge the vociferous cries from Sacha, Mary
Fisher, et al about the use of household chemicals and septic tanks.
I live in area of septic tanks - there must be around 20 in this
community, and one thing that is clearly apparant is that anyone we
know well here does NOT pay service to looking after their septic tank
bugs. I will admit to not having gone round my friends here and done
a detailed survey off their cleaning habits, but all (I think) have
dish-washers, washing machines, etc and I am totally unaware of them
taking any precautions with powders, etc. What I am aware of is that
like us they pump out every 10 years or more and have no problems with
their tanks. These are typically 70 year old double brick tanks
that drain into the local water courses, which are all healthy burns.

Rob

I challenge your claim that I've been crying vociferously :-)

All I've done is repeat what happens in a daughter's case, which is
different from most because of her organic certification. Others have
asserted that their tank has never been 'cleaned' too, it shouldn't be
necessary.

Mary

Its a pity really that we did not make clear at the beginning of this
thread that these tanks need de sludging not emptying, and the amount of
build up depends on how much usage as well as the design of the tank and
lay of the land.
A large tank of old fashioned design will seldom need attention and will
tolerate abuse, where a modern tank will need de sludging more often and
will work a lot better if some attention is payed to what goes in it.
Here I do speak from some experiance, having had to cope with ship board
systems that were physically very small for the numbers of people they
had to cope with.
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwallwww.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

Thanks Charlie - that's a useful input and does explain why some of us
are somewhat at cross purposes. Considering the overall volume of my
70 year old tank (2 chambers of near enough 100 cubic feet) I can
understand why it is more likely to withstand some abuse when related
to the modern fibreglass bottles.

Rob