Each owner of a summer cottage or a country house is faced with the problem of arranging and maintaining an autonomous sewer. A properly constructed waste pit for several years may not require special attention. But over time, many owners begin to notice the appearance of a strong unpleasant odor or overflow capacity. Any type of sewage system, whether it be a sealed septic tank or a small cesspool, requires proper care. Timely regular cleaning provides protection against a number of possible problems. There are several ways to pump sewage. Consider their advantages, disadvantages and choose the best.
What determines the need for pumping
A cesspool is a fairly simple construction for the accumulation of sewage, in which no treatment takes place. Purification takes place only through the disposal of sewage. The pit itself is already a potential source of danger, and requires timely pumping to avoid environmental pollution of your territory and surrounding areas.
If you do not pump out waste in time, there is a risk of disruption to the functioning of the waste system. Gradually, the siltation of the bottom occurs, which in turn leads to:
- tank overflow;
- the appearance of an unpleasant odor in the surrounding area;
- the inability of the sewage system to cope with its functions.
Pumping Methods
Do it yourself
It is possible to pump out with your own hands, provided that the size of the cesspool is small. The procedure is not pleasant: a minimum of comfort for home owners, unpleasant odors throughout the site. But often, this is one of the few methods that are available in villages or dachas that are far from the center, where there is no way to call specialists or the call will be quite expensive. Yes, and it is unprofitable to order a tank for pumping a small volume.
An independent pumping procedure can be carried out in two ways:
- Manually
- Using pump
Without pump
The process is not the most pleasant, dirty - you will need protective clothing, high rubber gloves, respiratory protection. The time spent also does not apply to the advantages of this method. Cleaning is carried out using a bucket with a rope, which scoop up waste from the pit into a prepared container. In this way, it is impossible to completely get rid of waste, and the contents of the tank also need to be disposed of somewhere.
The only advantage of manual pumping is the financial component, or rather its absence.
With pump
The difference from the manual method consists only in using a pump instead of a bucket and the possibility of maximum cleaning of the pit.
It is recommended to use a specialized fecal pump, which differs from the usual one in increased productivity, quality and an integrated filter. Some models are also equipped with a blade for crushing large particles, which allows you to crush large fractions of waste, not to clog equipment and to serve longer.
It is possible to pump out with a normal water pump, but with their help, only liquid can be pumped out. Heavy fractions of fecal matter will remain in the pit. To get rid of them, after some time you still have to turn to a bucket with a rope. The container with drained sewage is also transported to a place designated for local authorities for disposal. For a conventional pump, the installation of additional filters is mandatory, without which the equipment will quickly fail.
Independent pumping methods are possible subject to the temporary residence of a small number of people, otherwise the evacuated masses will have to be exported several times a month or even a week. The way out of this situation will be a separate large capacity where it is possible to store sewage, and after accumulating a sufficient volume, dispose of it using a sewage machine.
Sewage machine
In urban and surrounding areas, as well as in large regional centers, this is the most popular way to clean cesspools and septic tanks. The reason is the availability of organizations and specialized equipment that provide sewage services.
The advantage and attractiveness of this method are:
- comfort, minimal waste of time;
- lack of need to carry out a complex of labor-consuming, unpleasant work;
- ordering a car is done through a phone call, and ordering special equipment at a convenient time for you.
It remains only to meet the machine and control the process: the waste must be completely removed, without residues. Incomplete pumping of the pit may cause further siltation of the bottom.
Among the disadvantages, the following points can be distinguished:
- the cost of the services of trash cans is quite high;
- the septic tank should be located as close as possible to the fence, for a convenient approach of the equipment, and so that the suction hose can reach the bottom of the pit. In the absence of conditions, the procedure will be impossible.
Biological substances
For sites that do not have access to special equipment, an excellent solution can be "pumping out" using biological products that are safe for the environment. They include bacteria that accelerate the decomposition of organic waste that processes solid waste into water. The purified water then goes into the ground if the bottom is not airtight. Or it can be pumped out and used for watering beds or flowers.
Benefits:
- Ease of use: the drug is poured directly into the toilet, flushing water. Also, a product diluted with water can be applied directly to the pit.
- Manufacturers offer various drugs designed for different types of septic tanks: a stand-alone toilet, cesspool or compost. Information is indicated on the packaging.
- Safety for humans, nature.
- No need to worry about waste collection.
The effectiveness of microorganisms is achieved with regular use, according to the recommended schedule in the instructions. However, keep in mind that their action is suppressed by aggressive chemicals, which could be considered a minus. But by restricting household cleaners to the sewage system on the day of pumping, you will give bacteria complete freedom of action.
Conclusion
It's hard enough to talk about which method is better. Each of them has its pros and cons. It would be more correct to say about the pumping method that is right for you. You need to proceed from the individual situation: the territorial location of the site, the ability to call specialists, volume, type of septic tank.
If speed and comfort are important, the best option is the services of specialized equipment. In conditions of impossibility to call the scavenger, efficiency and speed will ensure biological products.
If the cost of services matters, the only option is the manual method. But there can be no talk of any convenience and speed. Other methods cannot be called economical, they are approximately the same in cost.
It is worth noting that the combination of several methods becomes the optimal solution for many owners. For example, at a remote cottage site, biological treatment is combined with pumping out by a pump. And residents of the central regions use septic drugs, which can reduce the number of calls to the services of a cesspool machine.
