CE 333: Environmental Engineering II

January 2017 Semester

Level-3, Term II

Lecture 05:
Septic Tank System

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman

Professor of Civil Engineering
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
BUET
Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman
 Septic Tank System
“Septic Tank System” consists of:

A “Septic Tank” + System/ arrangement for

disposal of septic tank
effluent (e.g., soakage pit)

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman

 Septic Tank System
(Septic Tank Soakage Pit)
Major Option in All Urban Areas (including some Slums)

Scum

Sludge
Sludge

3
 Septic Tank

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman

 Septic Tank
A septic tank is a buried, water tight
receptacle, designed and constructed to
receive wastewater from a home.

Its purpose are to separate solids and scum

from liquid, to provide limited digestion of
organic matter, to store solids, and to allow
the clarified liquid to discharge for further
treatment and disposal

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman

 Performance of a Septic Tank
Under normal design conditions:
- BOD removal : 25 – 50%
- SS removal : up to 70%
“Detention time” is the most important factor
governing performance.
Other factors affecting performance include:
- position of inlet and outlet devices in tank
- ambient temperature
- nature of influent wastewater
- organic content

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman

 Processes in a Septic Tank
4 major processes:
(1) Separation of suspended solids
(2) Digestion/ decomposition of sludge and scum
(3) Stabilization of liquid (i.e., decomposition of
organic matter)
(4) Growth of microorganisms

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman

 Processes in a Septic Tank
(1) Separation of Suspended Solids and Scum:
Results in the formation of:
- a “sludge layer” at the bottom
- a floating layer of scum at the top
- a relatively clear layer of liquid in the middle

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman

 Processes in a Septic Tank
(2) Digestion/ decomposition of Sludge and Scum:
Anaerobic bacteria decomposes organic matter
in sludge and scum, and produces volatile acids,
methane (CH4).

The formation of gases in the sludge layer causes

irregular floatation of sludge flocs that settle
after the release of gas at the surface.

(3) Stabilization of Liquid:

Organic materials in the liquid are also stabilized
by anaerobic decomposition
Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman
 Processes in a Septic Tank
(4) Growth of Microorganisms:
A large variety of microorganisms grow, reproduce and
die during biodegradation processes in the tank. Most of
them are separated out (by settling) with solids.
However, a large number of microorganisms (bacteria,
virus, protozoa, helminthes) survive the processes in the
tank and remain in the effluent, the sludge and scum

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman

 Use of Septic Tank System
• Predominant system in areas with “piped water
supply”.
• Also used with “pour flush” toilets, particularly in
communal toilets in urban slums and low-income
communities (LICs)
• In many cases, only septic tank is used without
soakage pit [primarily due to lack of awareness, lack
of space, due to poor infiltration capacity of soil,
and to save money]

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman

 Pour-flush toilet with Septic Tank
in Kallyanpur Pora Bosti

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman

 Design of Septic Tank
• Based on Brazilian Septic Tank Code
• The tank is considered to be made up of 4 zones, each
serving a different function
– Scum storage zone
– Sedimentation zone
– Sludge digestion zone
– Digested sludge storage zone

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman

 Design of Septic Tank (contd.)
(1) Volume required for Sedimentation:
Time allowed for sedimentation of settable solids is
given by:
th = 1.5 – 0.3 log10(Pq)
where, th = minimum hydraulic detention time (days)
P = population served by septic tank
q = wastewater flow (lpcd)
Tank volume (m3) required
for sedimentation,
Vh = 10-3 [Link]
Sedimentation zone
(Vh)
[Note: A minimum detention
time of 1 day is often used.
The value of th should not be less than 0.2 days]
Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman
 Design of Septic Tank (contd.)
(2) Volume required for Sludge Digestion:
Tank volume (m3) required for digestion of sludge is
given by,
Vd = 0.5 x 10-3 [Link]
where, td = time (days) needed for anaerobic digestion of sludge
P = population served by septic tank
td varies with temperature (T, °C), and is given by (Mara, 1996),
td = 30 (1.035)35-T

Sludge digestion zone

(Vd)

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman

 Design of Septic Tank (contd.)
(3) Volume required for Sludge Storage:
Tank volume (m3) required for storage of sludge is
given by,
Vsl = C x P x N
C = rate of accumulation of digested sludge
= 0.06 m3/person/yr, for N < 5
= 0.04 m3/person/yr, for N > 5
P = population served by septic tank
N = desludging interval (years)

Sludge storage zone

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman
(Vsl)
 Design of Septic Tank (contd.)
(4) Volume required for Scum Storage:
Scum accumulation rate
= 30 – 40% of sludge accumulation rate

Thus, Vsc = 0.40 Vsl

where, Vsc = Scum storage volume, and
Vsl = Sludge storage volume

Scum Storage (Vsc)

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman

 Design of Septic Tank (contd.)
Total Effective Volume of Septic Tank,
V = Vsc + Vh + Vd + Vsl
• Based on experience, effective depth of a septic tank is
usually set between 1.0 to 1.5 m.
• Higher x-sectional area is advantageous; hence, for the
first trial, select an effective depth of about 1.0 m, and
determine the x-sectional area “A” (round off to nearest
reasonable value).
• Then proceed with determination of effective depth of
each zone (i.e., Vzone/A). Special consideration is required
for sedimentation zone (as explained below).
• A free board of about 250 mm (0.25 m) is usually kept
Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman
 Design of Septic Tank (contd.)
Depth of sedimentation zone and “depth of clear space” (see
“Fig.) are estimated as follows:
(i) Depth of sedimentation zone, h = Vh / A
(ii) Minimum clear space depth = (a + b) = 0.075 + dsc
a = submerged scum clear depth (distance between underside
of the scum layer and the bottom of outlet “tee”)
= at least 75 mm (0.075 m)
b = dsc = sludge clear depth
(distance between the
top of sludge layer and
bottom of outlet “tee”
dsc = 0.82 – 0.26A (minimum 0.3m)

Compare “h” with “(a+b)”, and

use the greater depth in design.
Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman
 Design of Septic Tank (contd.)
Depth of sedimentation zone and “depth of clear space” (see
“Fig.) are estimated as follows:
(i) Depth of sedimentation zone, h = Vh / A
(ii) Minimum clear space depth = (a + b) = 0.075 + dsc
a = submerged scum clear depth (distance between underside
of the scum layer and the bottom of outlet “tee”)
= at least 75 mm (0.075 m)
b = dsc = sludge clear depth
(distance between the
top of sludge layer and
bottom of outlet “tee”
dsc = 0.82 – 0.26A (minimum 0.3m)

Compare “h” with “(a+b)”, and

use the greater depth in design.
Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman
 Design of Septic Tank: Other Considerations
(a) Shape and Dimension:
• Tanks with greater surface area and reasonable
depth (usually 1.0 to 1.5 m) are preferred, since
higher surface area increases surge storage
capacity
• Rectangular perform better than square tanks;
cylindrical tanks have also been found satisfactory

• Common shape and dimension of single-

compartment septic tanks:
Rectangular with length three times the width

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman

 Design of Septic Tank: Other Considerations
(b) Compartments:
• Properly designed single compartment tanks
usually provide acceptable performance
• But a two-compartment tank is reported to
perform better than a single-compartment tank
of same capacity in removing BOD, SS and organic
colloids.

• Common form of septic tanks:

Two compartments;
First compartment (inlet side) being 2/3 of the
total length, while second compartment being
1/3 of the total length
Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman
 Treatment and Disposal of
Septic Tank Sludge and Scum
• In Bangladesh, sewerage system is non-existent except for
Dhaka, where it covers only about 21 percent of population.
• Septic tank (with or without soakage pit) is the predominant
method of wastewater disposal in urban areas; direct disposal
of wastewater into drains and lowland is also common.
• Pit latrines are predominant in low-income urban areas (and
throughout the rural areas).
• Thus, huge quantities of septic tank sludge as well as fecal
sludge (from pit latrines) are produced in urban and rural
areas.
• Sludge (septic tank/ fecal) is a major source of pollution, and
also major source of methane (a greenhouse gas) emission.
Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman
 Treatment and Disposal of
Septic Tank Sludge and Scum
• Assuming 35% population coverage by septic tank and 30 g of
dry solids/ sludge per person per day, about 132 tons of solid
sludge is produced each day in Dhaka.
• Septic tank/ fecal sludge should be regularly removed and
disposed of in a safe manner. However there is no septic tank
sludge treatment/disposal facility in Bangladesh.
• Consequently, septic tank/ fecal sludge are deposited in
lowlands, drains, khals, on road sides, and domestic/ storm
sewer lines via manholes.
• This hazardous practice promotes spreading of pollution and
diseases (and also methane emission).
• Sewerage master plan of DWASA (2012) provides a
framework for septic tank sludge collection and treatment.
Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman
 Treatment and Disposal of
Septic Tank Sludge and Scum
• In the context of Bangladesh, treatment of septic
tank sludge/fecal sludge and treatment of municipal
wastewater are equally important.

• However, there is no proven technology for large-

scale treatment of septic tank/ fecal sludge in the
country.

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman

 Design Problems
(1) Design a septic tank to serve a household of 10 persons, who
produce 90 lpcd of wastewater. The tank is to be desludged
every 3 years (assume an average temperature of 25 C)

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman

 Solution
Population served by septic tank, P = 10
Desludging interval, N = 3 years
Wastewater flow rate, q = 90 lpcd

Estimate Volume of Septic Tank:

(a) Volume required for Sedimentation (Vh):
th = 1.5 – 0.3 log (P.q) = 1.5 – 0.3 log (10 x 90) = 0.61 days
Vh = 10-3 [Link] = 10-3 x 10 x 90 x 0.61 = 0.55 m3

(b) Volume required for Sludge Digestion (Vd):

td = 30 (1.035)35-T = 30 (1.035)35-25 = 42.3 days

Vd = 0.5 x 10-3 x P x td = 0.5 x 10-3 x 10 x 42.3 = 0.21 m3

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman

 Solution
Estimate Volume of Septic Tank (contd.):
(c) Volume required for Sludge Storage(Vsl):
Vsl = C.P.N = 0.06 m3/person/yr x 10 x 3 = 1.8 m3

(d) Volume required for Scum Storage(Vsc):

Vsc = 0.4 x Vsl = 0.4 x 1.8 = 0.72 m3

Overall Effective Volume of Septic Tank,

V = Vh + Vd + Vsl + Vsc = 0.55 + 0.21 + 1.8 + 0.72 = 3.28 m3

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman

 Solution
• After estimation of effective tank volume, select area of tank “A”,
such that effective depth remains within 1.0 to 1.5 m.
• Higher surface area is advantageous.
• Let us select, A = 3.0 m2 (round off to a reasonable number)
(i.e., effective depth = 3.28/3.0 = 1.09 m)
Now estimate depths of different zones separately:

(a) Depth of sludge digestion zone = Vd/3.0 = 0.21/3.0 = 0.07 m

(b) Depth of sludge storage zone = Vsl/3.0 = 1.8/3.0 = 0.60 m
(c) Depth of scum storage zone = Vsc/3.0 = 0.24 m
(d) (i) Depth of Sedimentation zone (h)
(ii) Depth of clear space (a + b)

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman

 Solution
(i) Depth of sedimentation zone, h = Vh/3.0 = 0.55/3.0 = 0.183 m
(ii) Depth of clear space (= a + b)
a = submerged scum clear depth = 0.075 m
b = dsc = sludge clear depth = Maximum of (0.82 – 0.26A) or 0.30 m
b = 0.30 m
Depth of clear space = 0.075 + .30 = 0.375 m > 0.183 m

Total effective depth of septic

tank = (0.07+0.60+0.24+0.375) m
= 1.285 m
With a freeboard of 0.25 m,
Total Depth of Septic Tank = 1.535 m
= 1.50 m
(always round off)
(here, effective freeboard = 0.215 m)

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman

 Solution
X-sectional area of septic tank = 3 m2
Considering rectangular shape, with length = 3 x width,
Overall internal dimension of tank = (3.0 x 1.0) x 1.5 m
If two compartments are used:
(2.0 x 1.0) x 1.5 m + (1.0 x 1.0) x 1.5 m

Draw the designed septic tank:

• Plan showing dimension of chambers
• Section showing depths of different zones
• Sections showing positions of inlet, outlet (including size
and lengths of vertical limbs), and partition wall

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman