Septic tanks/beds

[arete92]

Hello,

I need some information regarding septic tanks. I am aware there are various sizes; I am looking for a single family home price. I just want a basic leak safe tank that functions as intended can someone provide any contacts and how much you paid for yours? thanks

 

[Yourmaninvegas]

I use this companies tanks for tinacos:

https://www.aquaplastica.com/en/homepage-dominican-republic/

The septic tank I have currently I had custom built. They dug a hole, laid down a concrete slab, built the walls using block. Covered the block. Sealed it. Laid another concrete slab on top. I lost track of how much I paid for it. Because there were so many cost overruns and delays. The grey water runs off into my septic field. The solids will have to be pump out. I had it built with two chambers so I can add another building to it when I am ready.

 

[windeguy]

Unless someone did it very recently, they won't be able to provide accurate pricing for the materials since they have gone up considerably near term.

Depending upon your area, it could be easy or hard to dig down. We had sand, so very easy.

We also have two stage septic systems for our house and our apartments. Eventually they will need to be pumped out when the first stage fills up as mentioned in post 2 above.

 

[chico bill]

Size of tank does not depend to much on ground percolation, but the length of perforated lines to distribute the waste water does.
Figure 50'-75' per bedroom (or per inhabitant). Tank size should be 1200-2000 gallons for a 3 bedroom place.
You can get plastic tanks now (poly tanks) and those can be offloaded by a couple of men, but even a 1200 gallon dual compartment tank is $2,500 plus shipping and to the DR I say not practical.
Leach trenches should be about 30" wide with 2' of rock and about 2' of dirt cover above the rock with a membrane covering the rock to prevent dirt penetrating down. 4" perforated leach pipe with perforations down. Slope is also important 1/4" per foot. Too steep and the water all flows to the lowest point too fast and does not distribute

You won't find many real septic system installers here - they seem to think an open bottom tank is all you need

Remember the more you put down you kitchen sink and to some extend laundry the more likely you are to seal the ground pores and 'grease up' the system.
You will have to use crushed rock as your leach field stone, as clean river stone is not sold in quantities in this country.
If you can buy 2" crushed rock then you can make that work.

After installation and just before occupancy fill partially with clean water and dump in a powdered enzyme (such as Rid-X) to start the bacteria eating the waste.

Happy crapping

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/9bY_SNBVxdexE6g3TOB-p_qFAtG3rZNN9FiCJnG2X7dM9HNVvS-hDWvu7hmJ83cLJCYpd2QAR5SWVKSYtKYYxICEmsOHipW8KZDGUfzOlxxON53JZypN3pmnCiel7j0uykRnsg=w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu

 

[bob saunders]

Size of tank does not depend to much on ground percolation, but the length of perforated lines to distribute the waste water does.
Figure 50'-75' per bedroom (or per inhabitant). Tank size should be 1200-2000 gallons for a 3 bedroom place.
You can get plastic tanks now (poly tanks) and those can be offloaded by a couple of men, but even a 1200 gallon dual compartment tank is $2,500 plus shipping and to the DR I say not practical.
Leach trenches should be about 30" wide with 2' of rock and about 2' of dirt cover above the rock with a membrane covering the rock to prevent dirt penetrating down. 4" perforated leach pipe with perforations down. Slope is also important 1/4" per foot. Too steep and the water all flows to the lowest point too fast and does not distribute

You won't find many real septic system installers here - they seem to think an open bottom tank is all you need

Remember the more you put down you kitchen sink and to some extend laundry the more likely you are to seal the ground pores and 'grease up' the system.
You will have to use crushed rock as your leach field stone, as clean river stone is not sold in quantities in this country.
If you can buy 2" crushed rock then you can make that work.

After installation and just before occupancy fill partially with clean water and dump in a powdered enzyme (such as Rid-X) to start the bacteria eating the waste.

Happy crapping

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/9bY_SNBVxdexE6g3TOB-p_qFAtG3rZNN9FiCJnG2X7dM9HNVvS-hDWvu7hmJ83cLJCYpd2QAR5SWVKSYtKYYxICEmsOHipW8KZDGUfzOlxxON53JZypN3pmnCiel7j0uykRnsg=w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu

We have a separate grease trap for the kitchen and laundry room. Our Septic system has three chambers in the tank, the third being filled with carbon as a filter.

 

[AlterEgo]

I’ve seen one being built in the campo. Enough said.

 

[ctrob]

I’ve seen one being built in the campo. Enough said.

I can imagine. Any pics?

I could tell some stories! But I won't. They're all Stateside septic tales. But I got some whoppers.

 

[Tom0910]

Depending upon your area, it could be easy or hard to dig down. We had sand, so very easy.

This is very important advice. I watched them add to a septic system at Casa Mañana in Sosua a few years ago while I was living next door and they had to bring in an excavator with a hammer attachment and they hammered away for over a week getting through the bedrock or whatever it was. Could not have been cheap.

 

[AlterEgo]

I can imagine. Any pics?

I could tell some stories! But I won't. They're all Stateside septic tales. But I got some whoppers.

No pics. First they built a rectangular cement box with 2 chambers that catches the paper etc before it disintegrates. Then about 50’ away they dug a big hole, like a cistern size. I don’t know the depth, but I couldn’t see the digger’s head, he used a ladder to get out. Pipe was run underground from that cement box to the hole. Big cement cover was poured over hole. That was it.

 

[Yourmaninvegas]

Something to be said for not living in a country that over regulates you...

Actually, I ordered and read an excellent book before having mine installed. Anticipating that I would be the only one making the demands on how the system should be built. Figured I better learn what I was looking at when it was being built. That way I could make changes if I didn't like something.

The Septic System Owner's manual - by Lloyd Kahn

Not that it means anything...but my **** hole was dug by hand.

 

[Yourmaninvegas]

You can get plastic tanks now (poly tanks) and those can be offloaded by a couple of men, but even a 1200 gallon dual compartment tank is $2,500 plus shipping and to the DR I say not practical.

Yes here is company that sells them right here in the Dominican Republic...

https://www.aquaplastica.com/en/homepage-dominican-republic/

 

[malko]

No pics. First they built a rectangular cement box with 2 chambers that catches the paper etc before it disintegrates. Then about 50’ away they dug a big hole, like a cistern size. I don’t know the depth, but I couldn’t see the digger’s head, he used a ladder to get out. Pipe was run underground from that cement box to the hole. Big cement cover was poured over hole. That was it.

The crazy thing is that it works !! lol.

I have-- basically-- that same set up, and it has worked just fine for 12+ years.......

Perks of living in the campo, not many people around, so even if the septic tanks are iffy, Nature can accomadate. That its if they even have a septic tank in the first place.

Obviously, the more people the more problems sewage causes.

 

[windeguy]

The only septic systems I have seen built here are a dual chambered affairs with the first chamber to collect the waste built with cement block that has a concrete bottom with a hole at the top to pass the liquid part to the second chamber which has a sand bottom. And that is it.
When the first chamber fills up, you have it pumped out.

I see others have reported there are more complicated systems that are closer to ones used in developed nations. I just have not seen them.

 

[Yourmaninvegas]

The only septic systems I have seen built here are a dual chambered affairs with the first chamber to collect the waste built with cement block that has a concrete bottom with a hole at the top to pass the liquid part to the second chamber which has a sand bottom. And that is it.
When the first chamber fills up, you have it pumped out.

These system works.
I know you are an engineer.
But my research indicates that in developed countries the more complicated systems are due to over regulation.
Not scientific or engineering need.
Personally I am pleased that I do not live in a country that is over regulated.
But the future looks like the 🇩🇴 is following in the footsteps of more highly developed nations in that regard. 😞

 

[windeguy]

As an Electronic Design Engineer with a specialty in digital and embedded microprocessor design, I can assure you I didn't know my butt from a hole in the ground when it came to septic systems either here or back home in the USA. I simply observed their being built here and said, "Hmmm."

 

[william webster]

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Masonry septic tanks with a soakway as example above (Google and you will find plenty of information and plans) is common throughout the tropics. In DR most construct a two chamber tank (sludge settlement chamber first with baffle wall to second chamber) and the waste eating bacteria are very lively in warm temperatures. You could have a grey water collection tank after the masonry septic tank and use that grey water for irrigation.

There is nothing complicated to this and a 'maestro' will readily construct if you discuss details.

There are plastic propriety tanks too and locally made as link:

http://superseptico.com/
============================================================

Thanks to a former DR1 member..................

 

[NanSanPedro]

View attachment 6056
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Masonry septic tanks with a soakway as example above (Google and you will find plenty of information and plans) is common throughout the tropics. In DR most construct a two chamber tank (sludge settlement chamber first with baffle wall to second chamber) and the waste eating bacteria are very lively in warm temperatures. You could have a grey water collection tank after the masonry septic tank and use that grey water for irrigation.

There is nothing complicated to this and a 'maestro' will readily construct if you discuss details.

There are plastic propriety tanks too and locally made as link:

http://superseptico.com/
============================================================

Thanks to a former DR1 member..................

Idly curious about gray water in the DR. Is there such a thing? From what I can tell, all is plumbed into 1 line. Is that correct?

 

[AlterEgo]

Idly curious about gray water in the DR. Is there such a thing? From what I can tell, all is plumbed into 1 line. Is that correct?

Probably supposed to be. Not at our house. Our washing machine drains to the back of the house (we also have a traditional drain there) and the new shower from our master bath drains off the side of the house, we built it that way. Less watering and water waste.

Many years ago, when I was a kid, we’d bought a home on Long Island with a septic system. One day it overflowed out of the drain and down the driveway. Afterwards my father hooked up the washer drain hose so it would drain out of the basement onto the cement patio and into the yard. My mother was upset, she was certain the detergents and bleach would kill the lawn. Just the opposite happened, we had the greenest lushest yard. Sewers came in soon after, and that was the end of the gerryrigged hose.

 

[Yourmaninvegas]

Idly curious about gray water in the DR. Is there such a thing? From what I can tell, all is plumbed into 1 line. Is that correct?

I purposely had the drains plumbed into separate black and grey water lines. Black water heads directly into the septic tank. Grey water is used for irrigation.

 

[malko]

I purposely had the drains plumbed into separate black and grey water lines. Black water heads directly into the septic tank. Grey water is used for irrigation.

Water from the sink goes directly to the Conuco........ and weird and wonderful things grow where it flows out 😀.

Water from the toilets go to the septic tank.

Water from some showers go to the Conuco, and others to the septic tank 🤔🤔

Washing machine water goes out to the Conuco....... not the best option, but there you go, easier that way.

Swimming pool water drains out on my land out-back...... that would be totally illegal back home, because it is quite dangerous. But not many other options here in the campo, sadly.😭😭😭