Septic tanks, tight tanks, and cesspools are all designed to hold sewage and are systems used for waste operation especially when a connection to a consolidated external wastewater service isn’t practical or available.
Septic Tank Cost and How it Works
A septic tank allows wastewater to flow into a leach field where it undergoes a filtration process. A tight tank is just an enclosed tank with no outlet. The septic system has been around for well over 100 years now, ever since the invention of the septic tank, which had its patent in England around 1900. A large part of North America continues to utilize septic tanks for private sewage disposal. One main reason why the septic tank system has become so popular is because of its eco-friendliness and convenience compared to other styles of waste disposal.
The septic tank is the primary element of the septic system, part of an elaborate distribution system that sends only the effluent (water) to a distribution box that has outlets for multiple perforated pipes.
Baffles in the septic tank help the waste from reaching the outlet, and the unrestricted tank terrain contains bacteria where it works to digest the solid waste. Depending on the percolation tests (ground immersion capacity) the network of perforated pipes spread the wastewater over as wide an area as necessary for proper immersion. Sludge and solid waste don’t make it out of the septic tank when duly maintained. The waste digested by the tank’s bacteria is converted to liquid effluent or sinks to the sludge as waste.
The average cost of installing a new septic tank system is$3,900. The septic tank cost ranges from $1,500 to $5000 for a typical gallon tank, which is an ideal size for a three-or four-bedroom home. This cost is inclusive of the tank itself, which costs $600 to $200 or more.
Tight Tank Cost and How it Works
Tight tanks are enclosed tanks with limited waste storage. They’re almost the same as septic tanks but have no outlet for wastewater, which is why they must be pumped out regularly. Tight tanks are discouraged in utmost cases except for when all other options have been exhausted and there are no other options available.
All styles operate the primary thing of separating the three types of organic waste in a sewage disposal system but because sinks and tight tanks warrant the capability to filter waste and the sewage ultimately contaminates the girding soil, they’re considered outdated and are illegal or discouraged in most areas. However, there are likely regulations ensuring that tight tanks will be pumped and cleaned out on a regular basis.
If you live in an old home with one of these, you’ll likely need consistent maintenance. No matter what type of sewage system your home runs on, you need regular service. On average, the cost of installing a new tight tank is $250 per 2000 gallons.
Cesspool Cost and How it Works
The cesspool is an important ancient waste disposal system. It dates back to ancient Rome and most likely to ancient Babylonia when the first pipes were constructed.
The cesspool is simply a perforated concrete or block ring, it is connected to a well-liner but with holes, buried underground. There’s no wide distribution of effluent. Everything dumps to the cesspool, sludge piles up at the bottom, and effluent and waste drain through the holes directly into the soil.
The cesspool sludge needs to be pumped constantly to keep lower holes open for water inflow, and frequently the cesspool requires relocation when soil becomes clogged to the point that wastewater is pooling at the ground.
Due to the frequency with which the waste needs to be pumped, the cost of maintaining these systems is frequently further than most people would want to pay. To put it in perspective, having a cesspool pumped out costs between $287 to $542.
Still, your only likely wastewater choices are a septic system or the general waste system of your city. If you’re constructing a new home. This would depend on whether your property can connect to the public system or not.
If you are using a tight tank or a cesspool, don’t be surprised if city regulations ask you to replace your current system with a septic system.
