Looking at building a 40x62 shed with a small bathroom in it with sink toilet and shower. I'm out in the country in central Minnesota. I want to get a single compartment holding tank from menards. A 1500 gallon is what I'm thinking. I'm going to have a high level float in it. I plan to pump it every 2 years on the same rotation as my house septic. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Septic holding tank
- Thread starter Jeremyvk6
- Start date
Firebrick43
Well-known member
You mean just as a holding tank, and no septic system hooked up to it?
Plastic tanks are not meant to be left empty. After you pump them the should immediately be filled back up with water or they are in danger of collapse or in wetter periods floating out of the ground. Concrete tanks can be pumped and left empty but should be sited in a place with good drainage below the bottom of the tank(tile to daylight) as even they could float out of the ground. And I would leave them filled with water for a few months so the soil can settle around them to help hold the tank in place.
Plastic tanks are not meant to be left empty. After you pump them the should immediately be filled back up with water or they are in danger of collapse or in wetter periods floating out of the ground. Concrete tanks can be pumped and left empty but should be sited in a place with good drainage below the bottom of the tank(tile to daylight) as even they could float out of the ground. And I would leave them filled with water for a few months so the soil can settle around them to help hold the tank in place.
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Walkers
Well-known member
Why not put a small leach field and pipe on it and never have to worry about it?
speed bump
Well-known member
It's not my favorite way to do it but if your willing to pump periodically and you can permit it I don't see the problem.
Also what are you doing that you need to pump your septic tank every two years?
Also what are you doing that you need to pump your septic tank every two years?
larry4406
Well-known member
I would think if you were to call your health department they would likely not approve of your "pump and haul" approach.
The sink and shower water is "grey water" so you might be able to dispose of that separately from the toilet waste. This would reduce the tank size needed.
The sink and shower water is "grey water" so you might be able to dispose of that separately from the toilet waste. This would reduce the tank size needed.
I have a 1000 gal holding tank installed for my shop. 3" line water saver toilet with a small shower is all that is plumbed in with a tank alarm required for the permit for a non occupied property . The alarm had to be audible in the home 300 feet away and are available from Septic solutions . Had the tank pumped after 10 years with the house the dipper guy said the solid level was not even 8 inches .
The permit fee is like $75.00 per year
The permit fee is like $75.00 per year
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
If his property doesn't have the necessary drainage for a septic system (for instance if his building is surrounded by wetlands), he may be required to use a holding tank. That's something that needs to be determined by the local authorities, in Minnesota it's the Department of Natural Resources.
cherokee
Well-known member
What I thought, we have pumped ours once in the 24 years I have lived where I live.
What is he doing that he needs to pump every two years......I freely admit my first thought was.....perhaps he is full of s___?
dcg9381
Well-known member
Around here these are often made from concrete as they tend to "float" when ground gets saturated.
Some states allow you to discharge (or reuse) gray water which might really reduce the tank size... A quick look indicates that MN is still figuring this out (article from 2018 though):
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
My county requires pumping every 5 or 6 years, plus I have to do an annual inspection at $525 for the privilege of having an alternative system.
To the OP, I would talk to your county health department to see what is allowable then go from there. No sense in researching a system that you can't use anyway
To the OP, I would talk to your county health department to see what is allowable then go from there. No sense in researching a system that you can't use anyway
CraigStu
Well-known member
Realizing the use here would be way less, my SIL said his Dad had done the separate grey water out into the woods thing when he was growing up. He said after 10 yrs or so it turned the area where it came out into an ugly smelly mess.
Rusted Nut
Well-known member
A holding tank would need a vent, to let air out when effluent goes in. It would probably start to smell pretty rank after a month or so.
Firebrick43
Well-known member
Um, have you lifted the lid on a septic tank? Its pretty rare to smell them unless there is problems even with a vent.
dfiler2
Well-known member
I have a couple of septic tanks and neither one has any kind of vent. I have installed a couple also and I believe you may need to fill the tank with water before you backfill to keep from collapsing the tank. Maybe they are made differently now days.
Blue
Well-known member
Big difference between the "holding tank" the OP is suggesting, and a "septic tank" thank many people seem to be commenting on.....
Firebrick43
Well-known member
I went and looked at the menards tanks, made by ak industries. The 1500 gallon tanks specifically say not to be used as a holding tank.
There are some 750 and 1000 "holding tanks" but they recommend at least 20 percent water be added in when pumped, so they don't float.
reader2580
Well-known member
In Minnesota holding tanks often have special rules about how often they need to be pumped. My aunt owned a lake home where the septic system failed. New rules about septic systems meant a new system could not be installed. I believe she installed 3,500 gallons of holding tanks, but the DNR required they get pumped pretty often. She decided to move and kept the lake home as a rental. She required the renters to have the tanks pumped, but it was a constant battle to get the renters to do it as they didn't like paying $300 or more every few months.
bluedog225
Well-known member
I understand septic.
But I don’t understand where all the liquids are going on the holding tanks that are 22 years old.
How does that work?
Thanks
But I don’t understand where all the liquids are going on the holding tanks that are 22 years old.
How does that work?
Thanks
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Septics have drain fields. The liquids are pulled out of the tank via a pipe that sits in the middle of the tank so that the sludge can settle to the bottom and scum can float to the top. The liquids are dispersed into an area of your yard, the size of that area depends on the type of system you have and the soil conditions
The only thing they are holding are solids and the volume of liquid needed to keep them full. If too much solids builds up, they'll flow into the drain field and clog it.
Not pumping a septic for 20 years isn't something to be proud of. It's poor maintenance and negligence
bluedog225
Well-known member
Yes. And?
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
And what? I'm not sure what the question is
bluedog225
Well-known member
Sorry. I understand how a septic system works.
I don’t understand how a simple tank that holds waste and has to be pumped can last as long as some people are saying it lasts without being pumped.
Unless it’s cracked and has gone septic.
edit-that is, a holding tank that simply holds waste. No field. No system.
I don’t understand how a simple tank that holds waste and has to be pumped can last as long as some people are saying it lasts without being pumped.
Unless it’s cracked and has gone septic.
edit-that is, a holding tank that simply holds waste. No field. No system.
Rusted Nut
Well-known member
A septic tank more or less continuously empties itself into the drain field; a holding tank does not.
Firebrick43
Well-known member
A septic tank is continuously full, it does not empty. The out let is only and inch or to lower than the inlet. A partition keeps solids from leaving only water leaves. If you lift the lid it stinks, just as a holding tank does. Some times you will get a whiff from a septic vent or lid but it’s typically not continuous
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Sure, for a septic system, but not in a holding tank though.
Firebrick43
Well-known member
I don't know why they are stuck and tripping all over on this septic part ?
jblnut
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I purchased a tank from Tank Depot and it was a very positive experience. I picked it up from wherever it was in MN and it was really easy to do all of it from ordering to pickup.
They have lots of different tanks but a holding tank should be a cistern style so it can withstand being empty and underground. I learned that after my single compartment septic style tank was installed but it's been three years and no issues yet. I went with a 750 tank and it's one of the green plastic ones. It's 2' underground.
I don't know what county you're in but if it's Stearns you can have a holding tank for your non-residence building but they want to know about it and I think they want it pumped every so often. PM me for how the process went for us if you'd like. I'd be happy to share details.
They have lots of different tanks but a holding tank should be a cistern style so it can withstand being empty and underground. I learned that after my single compartment septic style tank was installed but it's been three years and no issues yet. I went with a 750 tank and it's one of the green plastic ones. It's 2' underground.
I don't know what county you're in but if it's Stearns you can have a holding tank for your non-residence building but they want to know about it and I think they want it pumped every so often. PM me for how the process went for us if you'd like. I'd be happy to share details.
racecougar
Well-known member
What are you charged to pump it out over there? $525 is about 1.5x the cost of pumping out AND inspecting a typical septic over here.
racecougar
Well-known member
You're talking about a septic system, not a holding tank.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
That 525 doesn't even include pumping. Its just the cost of the "service contract" that we are legally required to have by the state. Pumping is another 250-300
My "service" is being done today. It consists of filling out paperwork, standing over the filter and nodding a couple times, then telling me to get the lube ready because the filter media will need to be changed soon. Doesn't even include the cost of said lube
Firebrick43
Well-known member
You can buy your own lube in 55 gallon drums.
racecougar
Well-known member
Wow.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Oh yeah. Love it.
It's a peat moss filter. Couple grand for swapping that out ever 7-8 years. The gift that keeps on giving.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Check with local building codes. It might not be allowed.
BIL did this for a "temporary" building. (Built on skids.). Inspector thought his 55 gallon tank was small even for a weekend cabin, but passed it anyway. Some how it got holes in it after the inspector left !
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
That is why you have a stack in the building !