Septic tank drainage - average price?

[max-man]

What's the average price for a small/moderate septic tank to be drained? The solids in mine seem to need draining once a year at about £80 a throw - is this an average price or to much?

Thanks

[Tony Williams]

That's about the same as around here, if the access is straightforward. Every year seems a little excessive though.

[biff]

If it really is a septic tank and not a cess pit, it really should not need emptying every year. There should be a somewhat solid crud on the surface and liquid below. It's best not to disturb this. Biology works its magic and almost everything solid gets digested. Eventually there will be some build up of mineral at the bottom from washing the carrots etc but with normal domestic use this takes a long time. It has been 15 years since my septic tank was emptied and the products of a family of six have passed through it. Of course you mustn't put chemicals that are harmful to bacteria down the drain.

[max-man]

I thought it was excessive too. Then again, it's not a huge tank (but is mostly only used by two people).

[max-man]

Ah, good point - how can you tell the difference?

Mine looks to consist of two parts each with a metal cover - one for the solids, one where the liquid drains off (presumably from the solids parts). I would GUESS they're both about 10 feet deep and maybe

3 or 4 feet wide.

I see. Well, last year I had it drained because although the 'crust' started off pretty low down (it was a year drained before we moved into our current property which is now two years ago) - but looking at it in about October of last year the 'crust' was pretty near the top.

It's now seemingly filling up again - so should I be leaving it?

Perhaps the liquid isn't draining off correctly from the 'solids' part into that for the liquid residue?

[Tony Williams]

In article , max-man wrote: [snip]

Ah! That's where the crust /should/ run.

Just under the crust is water, and below that is the solid waste, merrily digesting away. The level in the first chamber should rise until the water level comes up to the connecting pipe into the 2nd chamber. The second chamber should also fill until it's water (only) level comes up to it's outlet. They should both then stay at their respective levels for years.

The thing to keep a serious eye on is that there should be no solid matter floating on the surface of the second chamber and so going down your outlet pipe. This will clog your easement, which can be very expensive to renew.

[max-man]

It SHOULD be at that level all the time then?

One slight problem I have with the solid waste tank is as follows:

The main inlet pipe has a U shaped bit of metal (might be plastic - I'll refer to it as a hoop from now on) around it which presumably prevents waste from going back into the inlet pipe and also allowing waste to freely flow into the tank. The inlet in mine though sometimes gets clogged as solid waste and/or loo paper gets stuck between the exit of the inlet pipe and the hoop. I think this is happening because the hoop is too close to the inlet pipe but expanding the hoop (or perhaps even shortening the pipe a bit as it does seem to stick in too far) would be a messy business.

I can clear any blockage by pushing a pole down onto the waste in the hoop then all is well .... until the next time.

What also concerns me re the crust is if this rises ABOVE the hoop - surely that will also cause a blockage?

Ahhh, I see.

Noted, will keep an eye on that.

Many thanks

[The Natural Philosopher]

Thats what it cost me to empty a klargester.

Apparently its as much the charge the council makes for accepting the shit, as the emtpying...

[Rick]

Mines 50 quid, inc VAT.

Rick

[S Viemeister]

Lucky. Scottish Water charges much more than that.

Scheduled/Contract £108.97; Non scheduled £182.98; Urgent response £275.50 or more

Eight years ago, it would have cost me only GBP 27.50

Sheila

[Rick]

One of the local farmers comes out with a vacume tank on his tractor, and drags the muck off to the sewage works. He can only come in summer, else his tractor slides down the field when he tries to turn, such are the joys of living in remote places.

Rick