Even the simplest type of sewage system with a cesspool can significantly increase the level of comfort in a suburban area. However, this solution has a significant disadvantage - the container for the accumulation and primary processing of wastewater requires periodic removal of the contents. Agree, cleaning of cesspools must be carried out according to the rules so that no damage is caused to the environment.

For owners of private houses and summer cottages not connected to centralized sewer networks, we offer scrupulously verified, systematic information about the methods and specifics of cleaning. With our help, you will be able to choose the best option for disposal of wastewater accumulations and learn how to implement it.

A detailed description of the methods used in practice is based on the personal experience of household owners. The requirements of utility standards are taken into account. The information is confirmed by photo and video applications.

Modern summer residents and homeowners have three main ways to do this:

• removal of sewage by pumping;
• use of preparations for biological decomposition of waste;
• chemical cleaning.

When figuring out how to effectively clean a cesspool, you should consider the specifics of using each of these methods. Depending on the situation, only one of them may be needed, but often it is necessary to carry out cleaning activities in combination. For example, after using biological drugs, additional pumping of sewage may be necessary.

When should cleanup activities begin? The work strategy should be thought out at the stage of creating a sewerage system, for example, by providing access roads for a sewer truck.

There is no need to wait until the drains fill the last cubic centimeter of the container. Excessive filling of the cesspool increases the likelihood of contamination of the area several times. If two-thirds of the tank is occupied by wastewater, it is time to reduce its level using available means.

Method #1 - emptying and pumping out the cesspool

If desired, the cesspool can even be cleaned manually, using an ordinary bucket on a rope. Owners of small summer cottages do just that. This work is extremely unpleasant and requires preparation. First, you should wear a protective suit or other clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty. This is necessary in order to protect the skin, the drains can be quite aggressive.

For mechanical cleaning of cesspools, special machines are used - suction pumps, which pump out the contents of the container and take it away for disposal.

Then you need to take care of protecting the respiratory tract, and it’s not just the characteristic stench. The fumes emanating from the sewer contain methane, the inhalation of which is extremely dangerous for humans. For the same reason, it is not recommended to carry out cleaning work alone, especially if work is planned inside the cesspool.

If the one below becomes unconscious from the toxic fumes, a partner can help him. In addition to a protective suit and respirator, you need to wear high rubber boots or shoe covers, as well as gloves.

You will also need a sealed container into which the contents of the cesspool will be disposed of. Later, this sewage must be taken to the place designated for its disposal.

The distance between the sewer truck and the cesspool should be no more than four meters. This point should be considered when choosing a location for the sewer system, as well as during further redevelopment of the site

Manual cleaning is a long, dangerous and unpleasant task. If your budget allows, it is better to use a special one rather than a bucket to pump sewage into a container.

Things will go much faster, there will be significantly fewer dangerous contacts with a lot of wastewater. But in this case we must not forget about security measures.

To clean the cesspool with your own hands, you can use a fecal pump. This pump needs to be flushed periodically as it becomes clogged with solid waste.

It is much more convenient to clean the cesspool using specialized equipment, for example, a sludge sucker. This is a machine that drives up to the site and pumps out wastewater through a special wide hose.

The distance between the suction pump and the cleaning object should be no more than four meters. This technique does not service pits more than three meters deep, but such deep structures are usually not found.

For the sake of safety, when manually cleaning a cesspool, it is better to perform all procedures together: one works below, and the second insures it from above

Even when constructing a pit, you should take into account this nuance: vacuum cleaners charge not for the volume of pumped out waste, but for each visit. In order to reduce costs, it is necessary to calculate the volume of the cesspool so that a quantity of wastewater that is a multiple of the capacity of the suction pump is intended for pumping. At the same time, you need to remember that pumping begins if the pit is two-thirds full, and not “to capacity.”

Method #2 - biological decomposition of wastewater

The process of recycling wastewater with the help of microorganisms is widely used in various septic tanks and industrial VOCs. But today, even for cesspools, a line of biological products has been developed that can do what is not possible when emptying cesspools - reduce or completely eliminate the unpleasant odor characteristic of sewers.

Depending on the form of release of preparations for biological treatment, their preliminary preparation may be necessary. Usually the granules or powder just need to be dissolved in a small amount of water

The sewage disposal truck leaves, and a suffocating sewer spirit hovers over the site for several more hours, or even days. The use of biological drugs significantly improves the situation.

To do this, you need to choose a suitable product and use it in accordance with the instructions. Available in the form of gels, liquids, powders, granules, etc.

Microorganisms decompose the contents of the sewer into water and environmentally neutral sludge. From the permeable pit, water flows into the surrounding soil, and silt gradually accumulates. Naturally, the degree of such purification is lower than that of high-tech VOCs; the water cannot be used for irrigation, and the sediment cannot be used as fertilizer. But the speed of filling the cesspool is reduced significantly.

Of course, the sediment from the sewerage structure itself will not go anywhere; it also needs to be removed or pumped out using the method described above using sewer trucks. There is another important nuance - not all wastewater can be processed using bacteria.

Special preparations are intended for biological cleaning of cesspools. Some of them are designed to recycle toilet paper dissolved in drains

Inorganic waste that enters the sewer accumulates at the bottom and reduces the amount of free space in the storage tank. Aggressive household chemicals, such as those containing chlorine, can create an environment that is harmful to microorganisms. Owners of washing machines and dishwashers should be careful in this regard.

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Method #3 – use of chemicals

If biological treatment is just a holiday for the environment, then the use of chemicals can pose a threat.

To remove waste from cesspools, the following are most often used:

• formaldehyde preparations;
• nitrate oxidizers;
• ammonium salts.

Even those who are far from chemistry know that formaldehyde is a dangerous substance. Its only advantage is its relatively low price. This drug is toxic and can cause cancer. For these reasons, formaldehyde is practically not used to clean cesspools.

Cleaners based on nitrate oxidizers have much better safety characteristics. Their composition is close to the components of fertilizers of this type, i.e. If the dosage is correct and the instructions are followed, this cleaner is completely safe. These drugs have a high price, which is fully justified by their high efficiency.

Ammonium salts are an effective chemical for cleaning cesspools, but such chemicals must be used with caution in accordance with the instructions

When added to the sewer, the drug effectively dilutes waste, while simultaneously neutralizing unpleasant odors. After the effect of the drug ends, the processed contents of the cesspool can be quickly pumped out and disposed of.

Another useful property of nitrate cleaners is that their effectiveness does not decrease upon contact with even the most aggressive household chemicals. Products of this type are suitable for cleaning not only the pit, but also the entire sewer system.

There is currently no accurate data on how safe drugs based on ammonium salts are. Therefore, when using this product, like any aggressive chemical, you need to carefully study the instructions and follow them exactly.

The presence of chlorine-containing agents in wastewater may weaken the effect of using this drug, but according to reviews, it copes well with unpleasant odors.

Waiting until the septic tank is filled to the top is a bad strategy. Cleaning should begin when the amount of sewage is 60-70% of the container volume

When choosing a sewer cleaning method, you should take into account your specific situation. For example, if you need to clean a cesspool under a separate toilet, you should pay attention to products that can dissolve not only drains, but also toilet paper.

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Solving the siltation problem

Siltation is a serious problem for both permeable and sealed cesspools. In the first case, the liquid part of the sediment will not be able to enter the ground due to the dense silt layer that covers the internal walls of the structure. In the second case, sewage will have to be pumped out more often, since deposits will reduce the volume of the container.

One of the signs that sludge is forming inside a cesspool is the appearance of a characteristic unpleasant odor - hydrogen sulfide vapor. When figuring out how to clean a silted cesspool, you must remember that in this case you need to do more than just neutralize the waste or pump out the contents.

If your cesspool fills up too quickly or often silts up, you may want to consider upgrading it with an additional container and overflow

All plaque should be removed from the walls and bottom of the container. To do this, chemicals or chemical cleaning methods are used, but a combination of these methods is often most effective. During mechanical cleaning, the bulk of the sewage is first pumped out. After this, you need to supply water under strong pressure using a hose into the container.

The inner surface of the cesspool is treated with a jet in such a way as to break up the silty sediment and dismember it into individual small particles. Processing is carried out until the container is filled by approximately 25%. After this, the contents are either sucked off and then disposed of.

To chemically clean a silted structure, chemical cleaners are used that are designed to dissolve solid inclusions - the nitrate oxidizers already described above. They usually also cope with silty deposits. After some time, all or almost all of the contents will become liquid and can be pumped out without problems.

It is worth noting that the use of chemicals will be much more expensive than emptying by pumping, but this operation is easier to perform and will take less time. In the process of physically removing sludge, you will have to put up with a large amount of dirt, which is usually accompanied by this procedure.

In cesspools without a bottom, you will also have to clean or update the sand and gravel filter located at the bottom. The safest thing to do would be to remove the entire contents of the filter and re-install the clean components: a layer of sand, crushed stone and/or gravel about 40 centimeters thick.

To prevent siltation of the cesspool, it is recommended to drain water from it to a filtration field. It is best to do this at the stage of creating the structure, but if desired, you can perform this operation later. To do this, you need to install a horizontal one at about half the height of the cesspool to drain liquid waste.

If the cesspool is silted, it should be immediately pumped out and the walls cleaned using a scraper or chemicals, such as nitrate oxidizers

To install a filtration field, you need to excavate the soil to the level of laying the outlet pipe. A layer of agrofibre is laid down, and crushed stone is poured on top. A pipe coming out of the cesspool is laid on this “cushion”. The pipe must be perforated; you just need to make holes in it at equal distances.

Another layer of crushed stone is poured on top of the pipe, and then covered again with agrofibre. It turns out that the pipe is surrounded on all sides by filter materials. This will ensure rapid removal of liquid contents from the cesspool and its safe disposal in the soil.

If problems with the cesspool begin to occur more often, it makes sense to improve the operation of the structure in accessible ways. Some arrange it, which functions like a septic tank. To do this, next to the existing container, they arrange another one, approximately the same.

The first container should be sealed, and the second should be permeable or without a bottom. It is possible to make the second container airtight, but then provision should be made for the juices to be discharged to a filtration field or to a drainage well. The overflow between these two sections is installed with a slight slope in the upper third of the containers.

First, the wastewater will flow into the first compartment, where it will settle, solid waste will sink to the bottom, and the liquid component of the sewer content will overflow when it reaches the desired level.

The second compartment will receive mainly liquid waste, which will quickly move to the filtration field for further disposal. As a result, the pit will have to be cleaned much less frequently, and the likelihood of siltation of the structure will noticeably decrease.

Freezing of sewer pipes occurs most often due to flaws during installation. If this happens, the pipe needs to be heated to restore the sewer system.

In winter, the drainage in the cesspool may freeze, which will lead to problems in the operation of the sewerage system. To correct the situation, the frozen mass must be thawed. Traditionally, or is used for this. If there is no power supply, fires are lit next to the frozen pit, a blowtorch is used, etc.

For craftsmen who have at least a little experience working with electricians, another method of defrosting a cesspool is available - heating directly using electric current. A metal pin is driven into the middle of the frozen cesspool to approximately the freezing depth.

Then you need to take an electrical cable of a suitable length. Its end is stripped and connected to the pin, and 220V power is supplied to the opposite end.

It may take quite a lot of time to completely defrost the structure, sometimes you need to wait about a day, it all depends on the size of the pit. When performing this type of work, it is imperative to comply with electrical safety requirements, for example, use protective rubber gloves, shoes, etc.

If it is not the pit that freezes, but the sewer pipe leading to it, this indicates flaws in the laying of communications, for example, the trench was not deep enough or there is no insulation. These problems can be corrected in the summer, but during cold weather, care should be taken to defrost the pipes.

Electric current can also be used for this. At the end of the cable you need to strip a section equal to the circumference of the pipe. To calculate this value, you simply need to multiply the pipe diameter by 3.14, i.e. to the number “pi”.

The protected wire is then wound around the frozen pipe. Power is supplied to the cable; after a couple of hours of such heating, the contents of the pipe will melt and the operation of the sewer system will resume.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

A practical option for cleaning a silted cesspool is presented in this video:

Here we demonstrate the procedure for pumping waste out of a cesspool using a fecal pump, which should be washed periodically:

The process and result of using a bioactivator to clean a cesspool can be seen in this video:

Although a cesspool is a very simple option for an autonomous sewer system, it requires proper maintenance and timely cleaning. Modern means allow you to get rid of waste accumulated in a building quickly and efficiently.

Still have questions about cleaning cesspools? Or maybe you know other equally effective methods and have already tried them in practice? Ask your questions and share your experience in the block located at the bottom of the article.

If you have a country house, then you have probably installed an autonomous sewer system, one of the components of which is a cesspool that acts as a septic tank.

And, as you know, like any technical structure, a wastewater storage tank needs regular maintenance. Most often, for this purpose it is customary to use the services of a sewer truck, which must be done at least once a year.

But there are other ways to clean a sewage pit, for example, using a special biological product.

Biological product for cesspools

What is caustic soda and how is it made?

The basis of many chemicals intended for cleaning sewer systems is caustic soda.

In terms of its chemical properties, it is considered the strongest base that belongs to alkalis.

Sodium hydroxide, or popularly called “caustic,” is a white powder or granules.

It must be used carefully, because it is a complex chemical and has toxic properties, corrodes almost any organic matter, and is also volatile.

This is what caustic soda looks like

The drug sodium hydroxide functions by performing electrolysis of an aqueous solution of sodium chloride.

This process is carried out in three ways:

1. mercury;
2. diaphragm;
3. membrane

Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda)

The special properties of this substance include non-flammability, non-explosiveness, causticity, hazard class 2.

Sequence and rules for using a chemical substance

It is known that cleaning a cesspool with caustic soda is very effective, but in order to achieve a good result, you need to follow the rules for its use.

For example, you should understand that chemically active products not only combat the unpleasant odors that waste has, but they can also negatively affect the soil.

Considering this, you should not abuse their use.

Moreover, if you visit forums where those who have already tried caustic soda communicate, you can find out that it can have a negative effect even on humans.

Do not overuse caustic soda

One of the main safety rules when using chemicals is to ensure the absolute tightness of the pit.

Otherwise, there is a risk that insects may appear and spread the infection beyond the septic tank.

We should not forget that the accumulation of gases in a large volume is explosive; therefore, you need to take care of a working ventilation system.

Caustic soda must first be diluted in water.

We have figured out how to dissolve fat in a cesspool, now we can move on to the sequence of use.

To do this you will need:

• plastic bucket 10-12 l;
• scoop or small shovel;
• rubber/nitrile gloves;
• glasses and mask.

It is immediately worth noting that caustic soda is not poured into the cesspool in powder form, but is first diluted in water.

First, using a scoop, pour the required amount of soda into the bucket (from 2 kg to 4 kg), this depends on the volume of the pit.

After this, the powder is poured into 7 liters of water and stirred. As it dissolves, heat is released; as a result of a chemical reaction, the water in the bucket heats up to 60 degrees Celsius.

When the soda has completely dissolved, the resulting solution can be poured onto the bottom of a sewage pit or septic tank, but without removing gloves and masks.

The period of active action of the composition is 4 minutes; according to the number of washing cycles, there should be 2 of them.

The period of action of the active composition is 4 minutes

Do not forget to follow safety precautions, because this product is a very strong alkali.

In case of contact with skin, it causes chemical burns, and with longer contact it can cause serious ulcers and eczema.

That is why it is imperative to use reliable means of protection; if it gets on the skin, you need to wash everything off with plenty of water or even a solution of boric acid (2%).

If the eyes are affected, they should be rinsed with warm water for 5 minutes.

If signs of irritation appear, then this is a reason to consult a doctor.

It is necessary to use protective equipment

Effective chemicals for dissolving grease in pits

In the process of restoring normal operation, you cannot do without chemically active substances if, after several years, you are faced with such signs of poor cesspool performance as:

• silting of the bottom;
• the appearance of an unpleasant odor;
• contamination of walls with fractions that are difficult to wash off;
• fast filling.

This is what a silted drain pit looks like

Don't know how to clean grease from a drain pit? Just buy one of the biologics below and you can make cleaning your sewer system hassle-free.

Now, in addition to caustic soda, the following biological products are widely used for septic tanks and cesspools:

Septifos drug



Scarab drug



Drug Kalius

• Waste Treat;

  

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.

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.

The question of how to get rid of sludge in a cesspool is far from idle, since siltation of a cesspool is a predictable and inevitable phenomenon. The owner will know that this process has begun by the unpleasant smell emanating from the pit and gradually spreading throughout the entire area. Silty deposits form on its walls, making it difficult for liquid to flow out, which leads to slow cleaning of the sink and toilet in the house. There are several options for solving the problem, but you should not put this issue off for a long time. The pit itself will not clear itself, and its condition will only worsen.

• Sewer well without bottom. It is an open pit dug on the site without any additional processing. It is the simplest and most inexpensive way to arrange a cesspool, but not very effective, since the well quickly silts up and emits an unpleasant odor.
• A sealed structure, the bottom of which is filled with concrete, and the walls are lined with bricks or concrete.
• A septic tank is the most effective cleaning system, which has a complex design and is capable of accumulating and processing waste. It is quite expensive, so it is not used very often.

Sludge deposits sooner or later appear on any structure. There are several ways to remove sludge from a cesspool. The choice of one method or another depends on the type of sewer system.

Methods for cleaning a cesspool from silt deposits

Cleaning a sewer pit from sludge is not a pleasant job. If you are not ready to do it yourself, it is better to use the services of a sewer cleaning company. But it is necessary to take into account that the length of the hose of the sewer machine is only three meters; for deeper holes, special equipment is used - a suction pump with a hose 16 meters long. Sludge is pumped out very quickly and without the participation of the site owner, who also does not have to worry about waste disposal. However, the services of professional vacuum cleaners are not cheap. There are several methods of manual cleaning that can be done without the involvement of specialists.

Cleaning sewerage with a sewer machine

Mechanical methods for removing sludge

An open cesspool can be cleaned the old-fashioned way - with a bucket, rope and shovel. Simply put, scoop out liquid waste from it with a bucket, and then use a shovel to collect all the sludge from the bottom of the well. After this, you need to let the hole dry and fill the bottom with gravel to facilitate subsequent processing. This method is quite labor-intensive and is only suitable for shallow cesspools. In some cases, it is easier and more effective to bury a well filled with feces and build a new drainage hole.

Another mechanical method is to dissolve the silty sediment in water. To do this, first pump out 2/3 of the waste from the pit using a fecal pump. Then fill 1/3 of the hole with water, which must be supplied under high pressure. The flow of water will wash away the silt from the bottom. After this, the waste can be pumped out with a fecal pump.

Scheme of installing a pump in a sewer well

Note! For primary pumping, only a fecal pump with a grinder is suitable. If a water pump is used for secondary cleaning, then you need to stock up on additional nozzles. To avoid damaging the equipment, they will have to be changed very often.

How to remove sludge using biological products

Biological products for cesspools are available in liquid and dry form

Any types of cesspool structures can be cleaned using biological preparations, which consist of living microorganisms and enzymes. During their life processes, bacteria absorb waste, eliminate unpleasant odors and produce organic and mineral substances, which can later be used as compost.

The drugs are produced industrially in the form of powders, tablets, cassettes or liquids. In dry products, bacteria are in a dormant state and are activated only when they enter a favorable environment. There are no special rules for choosing a specific product; the only mandatory condition for their use is strict adherence to the attached instructions. If the purified mass will be used as a fertilizer, experts recommend using biological products in the form of tablets. Powder products are best used in pits that have been pre-cleaned. In this case, you can even water the garden with the resulting liquid.

Biological products must be used in liquid form. Products must be diluted in strict accordance with the instructions.

Note! One liter of concentrated liquid preparation is capable of cleaning 2 cubic meters of waste.

The bacteria used for cleaning do not destroy the materials used to make cesspools and are absolutely harmless to the environment and humans.

Microorganisms are sensitive to chlorine, alkalis and acids, so it is not recommended during their use to drain waste containing household chemicals, from which they may die. In addition, bacteria cannot work at temperatures below +4 °C.

How to clean a pit using chemicals

Unlike biological ones, chemical drugs work effectively all year round. They can be used to clean septic tanks, open and sealed cesspools. Chemicals do an excellent job of eliminating unpleasant odors, decomposing organic compounds, and reducing bottom sediment. However, they must be used very carefully, since they aggressively affect beneficial microorganisms and promote the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. Chemicals can cause corrosion of metal parts of the sewer system.

Chemical preparation for cleaning drain pits

Note! Waste that has undergone chemical treatment cannot be used to fertilize the soil.

Chemicals are divided into three types:

• Formaldehyde. In recent years, they have been used extremely rarely, as they contain carcinogens and are very toxic.

• Products based on ammonium compounds. With their help, you can quickly eliminate unpleasant odors and speed up the decomposition process of organic waste. However, their effectiveness is noticeably reduced by contact with household chemicals.

• Nitrate oxidizers. They contain surfactants that help quickly liquefy waste. Nitrate-based products can work in any aggressive environment and are considered the most effective and safe among all chemicals.

Despite all their effectiveness, chemical and biological agents are not a panacea for the formation of silt deposits. Their use can only delay for some time the pumping out of waste using sewage disposal equipment.

How to get rid of worms in a cesspool

Worms grow in cesspools quite often, since any place where sewage and waste accumulates serves as an excellent breeding ground for them. The development of the larvae proceeds quite quickly, so do not delay cleaning. There are several ways to get rid of worms in a septic tank.

• Chlorination. Poisonous gas is very toxic. But it acts only on the surface and cannot penetrate deeper layers. To achieve results, the procedure will have to be repeated several times.

• Treatment with boiling water. When exposed to high temperatures, the worms die instantly. This method also requires periodic repetition.

• Treatment with chemicals. Any insect control means can be used in the form of tablets, granules or powder, which must be dissolved in water according to the instructions and poured into the cesspool.

Cleaning a cesspool of sludge is a problem that periodically arises in any private household. You need to understand that it will not resolve itself. Regardless of which of the above methods you use, in order to achieve the effect, events will have to be carried out regularly.