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Last Updated: 1 December 2016
[PHA 24,510] Construction of septic tanks178
178
[subreg (1) am LN 26 of 1960 reg 3, effective 26 February 1960]
(2) Where the domestic waste water is treated separately the volume of a septic tank shall be computed by allowing not less than 200 gallons for a tank serving 8 persons or part thereof, and an additional 10 gallons for each person in excess of 8 served by such tank. Where the local authority requires domestic waste water and sewage to be treated in the same tank, the volume shall be computed by allowing not less than 400 gallons for a tank serving 8 persons or part thereof and an additional 50 gallons for each person in excess of 8 served by such tank.
(3) A septic tank shall be divided into 2 compartments by a screen or baffle wall situated approximately two-thirds of the length of the tank from the inlet end; and such wall shall finish 4 inches below the top of the tank over not less than one-third of its length. The compartments shall be connected by 2 openings not less than 8 inches wide and 6 inches high placed so that the invert of the openings is at a level corresponding to half the depth of the liquid in the tank.
(4) An inspection opening shall be provided in the top over each compartment, and shall be sealed with an air-tight slab or plate of adequate strength and finished at or above ground level; and such slab or plate shall not be covered with earth.
(5) The inlet to a septic tank shall be through a “Y” or square junction, and no “Buchan” or other trap shall be used. Such junction fitting shall be so placed that the socket end is not less than 2 inches below the top or cover of the tank and the spigot end is situated at about half the depth of the liquid in the tank and not more than 12 inches below the seal. The socket end of the inlet fitting shall be left unsealed for use as a cleaning eye.
(6) The outlet from a septic tank shall be through a square junction fitting, and in a minimum sized tank the invert of the outlet fitting shall be 2 feet 6 inches above the bottom of the tank.
(7) Where septic tank effluent can be disposed of by means of a field drainage system, such system shall be constructed as follows. The drains shall be formed with open-jointed agricultural drain pipes laid centrally in a 12 inch deep gravel surround. The minimum depth of the trench shall be 18 inches and the minimum width shall be 18 inches. The joints between pipes shall be protected by strips of tarred paper to prevent entry of soil into the system. No individual drain shall be longer than 75 feet, and where greater length is required this shall be achieved by laying a main distributor at right angles to the contours and laying branch distributors at a grade of 1 in 200 along the contours at lateral intervals of 10 feet.
(8) Where the local authority considers that the soil is unsuitable for disposing of septic tank effluent by means of a field drainage system, or that there is insufficient land available for the construction of a field system, or that the use of a field drainage system would constitute a nuisance or a danger to public health, then the septic tank effluent shall be treated in a properly designed and properly constructed percolating filter in accordance with a model plan approved by the Board. Filter effluent shall not be discharged directly into any watercourse in which there is inadequate diluting flow during dry weather, but shall be allowed to soak away by means of a properly constructed irrigation system or leaching cesspool or cesspools.