One of the effective methods of conducting sewage in private houses is the installation of a ready-made and fully working system. Usually they are called "septic tank." The professional name is an autonomous wastewater treatment plant. In this article we will talk about such a product as a septic tank "Topas".
Septic tank models
Typically, these stations are boxes the size of a human height (or higher). The material is polypropylene, this allows you to increase the service life of the station several times relative to metal structures. In particular, this material is not susceptible to corrosion and decay, and is also chemically neutral with respect to the environment.
Depending on their size, Topop septic tanks can have different capacities and throughputs:
- for a family in which there are less than 4 people, Topop 4 is the best option;
- in cottages or houses where usually 4 to 20 people live, the more powerful models of Topop 6 - Topop 20 in terms of productivity and volume are used;
- whole hotels are already used in hotels or a group of houses, which are much larger in size than those designed for fewer people (they can be designed for 150 people).
The septic tank is powered by an electric compressor.
Also septic tanks are divided into categories based on the depth of the pipes from the house. They have brief characteristics that make it easy to make a choice:
- “Standard” - models in which the pipes are located only 80 cm underground. They are specially marked and are usually used in very small houses by area and population;
- "Long" (from the English. Long - long). Depth varies from 80 to 140 cm. For a more convenient installation they have an elongated neck, which makes it easier to connect directly to the station itself;
- "Long mustache." Depth from 140 to 240 cm.
To install the necessary station, you need to clearly understand how many people will be constantly in the house, and how many will come on time. This will help you choose a model with the performance you need for the given conditions. But in addition to the number of people in the building, it is necessary to take into account also the ground water at the installation site and the required communication height.
By the way, in most cases, certified services carry out the free selection of Topop septic tank, based on the individual conditions of your site.
Device and principle of operation
The Tapas treatment plant is divided into 4 sections. Each of them undergoes phased wastewater treatment. The septic tank manufacturer claims that after all stages of treatment, the effluent will be cleaned by 98%. Specially developed aerobic bacteria that live and multiply in the presence of oxygen participate in the quality and thorough processing of hazardous waste. No need to worry about the location of the station to maintain oxygen levels, because for this in each individual compartment there is the so-called aerators that supply oxygen to it.
The principle of operation of the “Topas” septic tank is no different from the work of other cleaning systems. At the very beginning, all wastewater flows directly into the intake chamber, where it is processed by the microorganisms already mentioned above (located in the drainage system). At the stage of filling the entire chamber with water, air supply begins for the active life of bacteria. During this stage of cleaning, all large particles of dust and sand settle at the bottom, and fat and other harmful substances rise up.
In the next compartment there is a filter with large fractions. It is a large pipe in which there are holes. A pump is installed in the inside of the pipe, the function of which is to suck out water. At the same time, they pass through the filter of large fractions and already at the pump become much cleaner. After the pump, the drains are for some time in the receiver, where they are once again cleaned with aerobic microbes by 45-50%.
Further, this water falls into the second compartment, but not all, but in parts. The branch has the name "aeration tank". Two aerators are installed here, which lift up all the remaining large particles to the surface of the water with a powerful jet of air. Due to the fact that the chamber has the shape of a pyramid, particles quickly settle. Here the degree of purification is an additional 20-30%.
The pumps pump the half-purified wastewater further into the third compartment. All that remains on the surface goes into the stabilizer chamber.
Both the third and fourth chambers do not differ in structure or principle from the first and second. So in fact, you can divide the work of the entire station into two stages. The first one is thoroughly cleaned, in which water is purified by 60-70%, and the second one is the final cleaning of what remains. In the fourth chamber after the last stage of processing, water flows through the ground into a container for the accumulation of industrial water or into a filtration column. It is advisable not to allow full filling of the container.
The device of the “Topop” septic tank is not complicated, since its work is based on aerobic bacteria, which under certain conditions are able to process dirty water more effectively than any other technical system.
Please note that if the station is not provided with electricity for a long time, the aerators will stop working and the bacteria will die. Settling new organisms is quite a costly pleasure, so it’s better to monitor the energy supply and take timely actions that contribute to the work of aerators.
Advantages and disadvantages
An autonomous station has both significant advantages and a number of subtleties and features that you need to know about.
Benefits:
- It is the most effective, no other station will fully replace it;
- with proper operation does not require repair;
- does not adversely affect the ecology of the environment.
Disadvantages:
- direct dependence on the supply of electricity;
- the need to carry out preventive work (prevention is the most important factor on the path to a long life of the device) so that the station does not fail (2-4 times a year);
- drainage restrictions, i.e. water is drained in a certain volume at a certain time until all is gone. With an excessive amount of effluent exceeding the passport indicators, there is a need to turn off the station and start it again, which requires a lot of time, and sometimes a specialist’s call.
- In some cases, some large and insoluble objects must not be drained into the sewer, as this can end in failure - the object will fall into the drain grate, the water will not pass and begin to stagnate, and the station will most likely fail, as it will not work correctly due to lack of water;
- in dachas and other houses where they live only in certain seasons, the system should be preserved, otherwise all aerobic bacteria will die.
Reasons for having negative reviews
In 90% of cases of dissatisfaction with the operation of the septic tank, they are based on the fact that users forget that the system must be continuously operated, microorganisms need air, and the system has the correct connection to the main electricity supply system. Many complain that the submersible float sometimes does not fulfill its direct function, without noticing that the collection compartment is almost empty or, on the contrary, is full. Otherwise, Topas is superior to all other similar systems.
DIY installation and connection
Before installing the “Topas” septic tank, it is necessary to study the site and make markings - there should be no trees, bushes, buildings within a radius of several meters.
Pit preparation
The preparation of the pit is an essential part of the installation of Topas.
- A pit breaks out with a depth equal to the height of the device, taking into account the dusting of 10 cm of a layer of sand.
- The width of the pit should be 30-40 cm larger than the overall dimensions of the septic tank (this must be taken into account when choosing a place).
- Leveling and tamping the base.
- Sand is poured into the bottom layer by layer, each layer is spilled with water until it reaches the required height. The last layer should be as even as possible (not by eye, but by level).
Installation of equipment
- A trench breaks out from the house to the pit. Its width is at least 25 cm (usually this does not work out so much, but it should be made as narrow as possible). The slope of the pipe should be 2-3 cm per 1 meter.
- At the bottom of the trench 10 cm of sand is poured, which is compacted to 5 cm and leveled according to the slope.
- A polypropylene pipe with a diameter of 110 mm is placed on the finished bottom of the trench.
- All pipe sections are connected through o-rings and additionally carefully lubricated with silicone sealant.
- On top of the pipe from the house to the pit, a VVG 4 * 1.5 mm cable is placed, which is placed in a pipe made of polyethylene with a diameter of 20 mm.
- The trench is covered with sand.
- A septic tank itself is installed in the pit using a crane or do it yourself on the ropes.
- It checks the level of its position, and then proceed to connect.
Connection
- Power connection. The lid opens, according to the instructions, the wires are connected (the system is not complicated, you can figure it out yourself).
- Connection to the sewerage. The pipe in the trench is led from one end to the house, and from the other side it is applied to the septic tank, circled in diameter, a hole is cut to the desired diameter, which is then lubricated with the same silicone sealant, a pipe with a bell is inserted into this hole (the bell goes outside and fits well septic tank body).
- The entire joint is fixed with a 7 mm thick polypropylene tape.
- First start. It should be noted that the bacteria will not immediately begin to act effectively and multiply, so the first month after connecting, the water will be slightly cloudy.
Septic tank maintenance - mandatory procedures
Maintenance should be carried out 1-4 times a year (cleaning of excess sludge, not necessarily with the call of a specialist). It is necessary to remove foreign objects from the first compartment that cannot be processed by organisms.
Cleaning filters and airlifts
Cleaning Instruction:
- power off;
- interruption of the air supply by disconnecting the hose from the housing; do the same with the pumps;
- washing filters with water, preferably under pressure;
- cleaning the air cleaner nozzles with a needle or similar sharp object;
- reassembling the construction, pouring water to the desired level (for correct operation), starting the septic tank.
Removing excess sludge
If the sludge that enters the stabilizer chamber is not cleaned at least once every three months, it will start to flow back into the first compartment and the water will become even dirtier due to stagnant sludge.
It follows:
- turn off the power supply;
- prepare rubber gloves and a bucket;
- open the plug and, simultaneously placing the hose in the chamber and the bucket, start the pump (you can use the fecal one), the sludge and sewage will be completely pumped out;
- after the pumping process, fill the chamber with clean water and close the plug.
Conservation
If you intend to live in the house only in the summer, mandatory preservation of the “Topas” septic tank for the winter is required. It is required so that the bacteria contained in the compartments do not freeze. If they start to freeze, they will inevitably die. It is not necessary to carry out conservation immediately before the start of frost, it is better to do this in advance in the fall.
- With the help of foam or mineral wool, the hatch is insulated;
- Do not drain water from all compartments, clean them of debris;
- All necessary parts that are involved in the cleaning process are disassembled, dried, cleaned and cleaned in a dry, ventilated room.
These measures will help to effectively preserve the septic tank so that microorganisms go into suspended animation until next summer.
How to avoid operational problems
By observing all the rules for using the Topop septic tank, as well as following the operating tips, you can save the system a long life. Within a few years of proper maintenance, it will become more efficient and will not fail.