Features of the design and functioning of an infiltrator for a septic tank, the advantages and disadvantages of an additional wastewater purifier. Making a product with your own hands, device installation technology. The price of an infiltrator for a septic tank and its installation.
A septic tank infiltrator is a device that is used in a local sewage system to improve the cleanliness rate of effluent at the outlet of the system. Products are made from different materials and differ in design, but the principle of operation is the same. Let's talk in more detail about the device of an infiltrator for a septic tank and the features of its operation.
Features of an infiltrator for a septic tank
In the photo, an infiltrator for a septic tank
The septic tank infiltrator is the last link in the home drainage system through which water is disposed of into the soil. It is installed after a septic tank that cleans wastewater only by 60-75%.
It is impossible to drain a rather dirty liquid into the soil, because bacteria will contaminate it. The degree of cleaning is indicated by the manufacturer in the product passport, so the user can independently decide on the use of the device. It is recommended to purify wastewater after septic tanks Unicos, Tank, Triton-mini.
An infiltrator for a septic tank is installed in small areas where there is not enough space for organizing full-fledged filtration fields.
If the local sewage system has a powerful device for treating dirty water, for example, a biological treatment plant, a soil filter is not required. Such systems are equipped with compressors supplying fresh air to the tank. Thanks to the constant supply of oxygen, organic matter is decomposed by almost 100%. However, such septic tanks are very expensive, and not every user decides to purchase them. Therefore, simpler drives are very popular, without forced ventilation. The content in them does not mix, and the decomposition of organic matter takes three times longer than in a deep biological treatment station. To achieve the desired result, the clarified liquid is directed to soil filters. An infiltrator for a septic tank is one of the types of post-purifiers and acts, in fact, as a horizontal drainage well.
The product has a very simple design - it is a box without a base with flanges for connecting pipes for supplying liquid from a storage tank and for ventilation. The body is usually made of durable plastic with stiffening ribs. Outwardly, it looks like an overturned large basin or trough. Additional treatment takes place in a layer of sand and gravel poured under the device. It also serves as the base of the structure. After passing through the soil filter, the water is discharged into the soil to a depth of no more than 1.5 m.
The infiltrator for a septic tank operates according to the following scheme:
- Water from the last compartment of the accumulator flows by gravity through a pipe into the after-cleaner.
- Inside the box, the dirt remaining in the drains reacts with oxygen and decomposes into its constituent parts. This process is called wastewater nitrification.
- The resulting gases are discharged outside through the ventilation hole, and the liquid seeps through the soil filter, in which the denitrification process takes place - the final purification of wastewater from impurities.
Scheme of a septic tank with an infiltrator
There are several types of septic tank infiltrators. Let's consider their features in more detail:
- Factory made products … These are small devices measuring about 1.2-1.8 by 0.8x by 0.5 m, in the shape of a trapezoid, in which the base occupies a smaller area than the upper part. They all have their own characteristics, allowing the user to choose a product for a specific case. For example, the Triton model is sold as a standalone unit for any type of drive. The product is often called a septic tank infiltrator Tank, because included in the scope of delivery of the septic tank. The devices are very durable and can withstand significant loads. Septic tank infiltrators Tank are available in various designs and differ in the field of application - for each type of soil there is its own model. If you choose the wrong device, its efficiency will decrease by 30%.
- Homemade constructions … For areas with deep groundwater, you can make a post-cleaner from concrete rings. Horizontal products, repeating factory forms, are assembled from metal. The simplest products for soil filters can be made from a large diameter plastic pipe, preferably corrugated.
- Infiltration tunnels … This is a type of infiltrator for septic tanks, in which water flows down and sideways through special holes. Outwardly, they resemble a hangar. The boxes are sold in sections that can be connected to each other to create structures of unlimited length. Such post-purifiers are designed not only for the disposal of sewage, but also for drainage of the site. Infiltration tunnels "Graf 300", "Stormbox", "Bioecology" are recommended for summer cottages and country houses.
The characteristics of the most popular infiltrators for septic tanks are shown in the table:
| Model | Dimensions, mm | Weight, kg | Capacity, l | Maximum load, tons / m2 |
| Triton 400 | 1800 х800х400 | 14 | 400 | 5 |
| T-0.25 | 1100x650x1000 | 13 | 250 | 4 |
| Polex-300 | 1220x800x510 | 11 | 300 | 3, 5 |
| LEOPARD | 1500х1500х450 | 15 | 900 | 3, 5 |
Read also which is better - a septic tank or a cesspool
Advantages and disadvantages of septic tank infiltrators
The principle of operation of a septic tank
Infiltrators for septic tanks have the following advantages
- High quality water outlet. Once in the soil, the liquid does not contaminate it.
- Light weight. The device provides quick installation without the use of special equipment.
- Reliability. The strength of the structure is provided by thick walls and stiffening ribs, which allow it to withstand high pressures from the outside and from the inside. The product can be buried to a great depth.
- Versatility. The devices are used on all types of soil. If there is a large amount of sand in the soil, one box is enough; on dense soils, several of them will be needed to increase the filtering area.
- Compactness. A septic tank infiltrator takes up a very small area. It replaces 800 kg of crushed stone or 36 m of drainage pipe.
- Large volume of liquid to be disposed of. The design can handle any number of drains. Emergency drains from the bathroom or washing machine are not terrible for the device.
- Simple installation. The post-cleaner does not require a large pit. The hole is dug with ordinary garden tools. For reliable operation, it is enough to ensure the tightness of the joints in the joints of pipes with a septic tank and a box.
- The ability to make your own hands. An infiltrator for a septic tank is easy to make on your own, while rare tools and devices are not needed.
- Preservation of the ecology at the site. The use of the device avoids waterlogging of the area. After the start of operation, the degree of humidity on the site will not change.
- Low cost. The use of the product is much cheaper than other options for waste disposal, for example, using a storage device together with a deep biological treatment station. Buy an infiltrator for a septic tank is within the power of users with any income.
- Ease of maintenance. The soil filter does not require periodic cleaning - all layers from the walls are removed by the incoming liquid. Dirt does not accumulate in the box, so a flush truck is not required. After installation, the product does not need maintenance and supervision; additional equipment is not needed for these purposes.
There is only one drawback of the post-cleaner - it takes up space on the site.
