Mains sewer or septic tank?

gpawson · 2 Sep 2015

I need a bit of advice! I am nearing the completion of my self build and am in the process of sorting the waste connection! The mains sewer is situated on the side of the main road, 17 metres away from where it would need to be connected to! I have been quoted a price of £4500 to connect to the mains sewer, this does not include the £300 permit from the council to dig into the verge or the £200 Welsh water inspection cost! I am also worries there may also be hidden costs once starter which may push the price upwards of £5000

I am wondering what kind of price I am looking at to install a septic tank with the relevant soak away? Do I need planning for a septic tank or would you suggest to take the hit of £5000 and just connect to the mains sewer?

Your help and advice would be much appreciated

Burnerman · 2 Sep 2015

Some of your considerations have to be:
Where would the outfalls soak away to.....who's land etc;
Are there any water courses nearby that could be polluted by effluent;
Would there be access for a vehicle to empty the tank from time to time;
How porous is the land you wish to drain to (this will determine the length and design of the soak away

Can you get the necessary fall on your soakaways?
John

Nige F · 2 Sep 2015

Absolutely no doubt in my opinion - go for the main sewer connection . It's there forever and you wouldn't believe the hassle that can occur with cesspools.

roy c · 2 Sep 2015

If you intend to stay there for a long time (or even if you didn't )go for the main sewer connection, no brainer... It would help to sell the property at a later date aswell..

Hugh Jaleak · 2 Sep 2015

Sewer it. Unless you're miles from a sewer, there really is no contest! Water Companies are investing millions to provide first time sewerage services to areas that are currently not on mains drainage now for environmental reasons. I suspect you wont be permitted to install a septic tank anyway, you'll probably need to look at a mini packaged treatment plant. These are not cheap and also require a mains power supply, by the time all this is taken into consideration I doubt you'll be far off, (if not even over!), the cost of a sewer connection.

Secondly, septic tanks/treatment plants wont cope with a lot of the stuff folks insist on flushing away, nor do they like cleaning chemicals. Require desludging at regular intervals, and if the soakaway gums up/becomes waterlogged, then you're in big trouble.....

bernardgreen · 3 Sep 2015

Main sewer is the best option by far.

Burnerman · 3 Sep 2015

If only I had that choice!

John

bernardgreen · 3 Sep 2015

Is there enough difference in height between the top of the main sewer and bottom of the drainage pipe from the house to get an acceptable fall along the pipe to the sewer ?

What are the water company suggesting as the connection method ? Is it a saddle connection on top of the existing main sewer pipe ( lowest connection cost ) or via an existing or new inspection chamber.

If there is not enough height different to allow a saddle connection and thus a new inspection chamber is needed then compare cost s of the new inspection chamber and gravity fall from the house to the costs of a pumped system via small bore pipe to a saddle connection if the water company will accept that.

http://www.mono-pumps.com/en-uk/grifter_pump_system?productid=11

Our pumped system was small bore into an existing inspection chamber and was over all the cheapest method in 1980. It still could be the lowest cost and/or least work solution as it avoids the need for a controlled fall along the pipe.

Diyisfun · 3 Sep 2015

Burnerman said:
If only I had that choice!
John

I thought that especially when the drain field failed & had it emptied 3 times in 1 year. Had new drain field laid (30mtrs), now 2 years not had it emptied, no problems & savings on water rates will soon pay for itself.

Burnerman · 3 Sep 2015

I had new outfalls laid in 1990 I think it was.....happily the farmer was most obliging! No problems since, the tank needs emptying every 4 years (two of us).
A 4WD tractor is needed for the pump out though.
All's great - until the owner whose land the outfalls are on plays nasty.....legal rights or no, they can sure make life difficult.
The bonus is, there are 4 outfalls onto the same area of fell.....I lift their tank lids, organise the pump out tractor and get mine done for nowt!
John

Nige F · 3 Sep 2015

Burnerman said:
The bonus is, there are 4 outfalls onto the same area of fell.....I lift their tank lids, organise the pump out tractor and get mine done for nowt!
John

Give us a map reference in case I decide to do a Fell Walking holiday -yuk

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Mains sewer or septic tank?

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