Septic Question

[gearhead1]

In short, can sink drain water be put in the effluent line going to the drain field with a one way valve?

So, looking at putting up a shop about 400' or so from the house. The soil does not percolate, so we will have a septic tank, then an effluent tank with a pump to pump the effluent 800' away on soil that percolates. The line running from the effluent tank going to the drain field will go right by the shop. Can I put a sink in the shop and tie into that line with a one way valve? I assume a one way valve would be required so the effluent pump does pump effluent back up the drain going to the shop sink.

A toilet is out of the question as I'd have to pump the solids slightly uphill about 400', but a sink in the shop sure would be nice!

 

[Fallon]

My sink drains through the wall & onto the ground. Perfectly fine for hand washing type stuff. Just cant pour anything nasty down the drain.

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[larry4406]

The pressure pipe from the tank to the field is referred to as the force main. This is probably high pressure 2". At some point, this 2"will enlarge to 4" before going to the distribution box and the field.

When it converts to 4", the 4" will then be set on 1/4-inch per fall and become a gravity line. This slows down the effluent so that there is no splashing at the distribution box which can then function normally.

If this 2 to 4" transition is near your shop, then you can wye into the 4" and have normal gravity sewer for your shop without need of a check valve. If you have a sink only, then you could connect like this. If you are going to have a full bath with toilet, then you would want to have a local solids tank as well.

I have built communities on force mains where each house has a swing check valve on the discharge of their sewer lateral prior to connection to the main high pressure sewer. By taping into the force main portion, you would need a pump at your shop.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Check with your local permit/enforcement office. They MAY let you install a 500 gallon holding tank with NO outlet. Most counties will not allow an outhouse, but they will allow a "pit" toilet, which is exactly what you would be building. If you are only using it for hand washing and toilet, and NOT daily, you might only need to get it pumped 2 or 3 times a year. Hell, with a 1000 gallon tank, you could probably install a shower !

 

[theoldwizard1]

Some macerator grinder/pumps spec a 25' head. You need at least 1/4" pitch per foot. That means you would need 8-10' of drop to get into your septic tank.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The pressure pipe from the tank to the field is referred to as the force main. This is probably high pressure 2". At some point, this 2"will enlarge to 4" before going to the distribution box and the field.

Is a macerator grinder/pump required on "force main" ?

 

[buddyboy]

if it's just a sink I'd tie the drain into your downspout/foundation drains, if you don't have downspout drains this would be a reason to put them in.

if you didn't have a sink you'd just use the hose spigot and a 5 gallon bucket, that you would dump in the yard anyway

check this out:

http://www.ikeadecora.com/interior-...hands-outside-connects-to-any-outside-spigot/

 

[G McKay]

If you are talking about clothes washer water, I wouldn't have that going out into the yard. You don't want soap suds coming up out of the ground. Just run all your water into the septic system and what that heck?

 

[Falcon67]

If you are talking about clothes washer water, I wouldn't have that going out into the yard. You don't want soap suds coming up out of the ground. Just run all your water into the septic system and what that heck?

When we lived in the sticks on septic, we did just that - ran the wash water into the woods. No harm, all the washing soap now is phosphate free. Keeps some of the load off the tank. Works pretty good for gardens too.

 

[rustyjames]

No problems running washer water out in the yard, in fact it's encouraged by the Greenies.

 

[gearhead1]

Thanks everyone. Larry that's exactly what I needed to know! The 2" to 4" transition wouldn't be anywhere near the shop, unfortunately.

If it wasn't much hassle, it's be great to have a shower and toilet down in the shop. For the cost of the extra tank, pump, and labor, I'll just walk to the house. We've designed the house to have a shower in the mud room off of the garage, so no need to tramp all through the house when I come in muddy and greasy. (If I'm outside there is no chance of me staying clean, it simply doesn't happen.)

I assume most county inspectors are ok with having water going to an outside faucet near a building? I've seen farms where there is a galvanized pipe coming out of the ground and a lever on top. I could say it's for washing cars (which is true), then run it inside later and put in a small instant hot water heater below the sink.

 

[Lippyp]

You can always pee in the sink, just don't try to get anything more substantial down the plughole!

 

[ishiboo]

When we lived in the sticks on septic, we did just that - ran the wash water into the woods. No harm, all the washing soap now is phosphate free. Keeps some of the load off the tank. Works pretty good for gardens too.

Mine all goes into a grey water system. Showers, bathroom sinks, and washer.

Separate sump pump in the basement in a 55 gallon drum. Both the sump pump and (sump pump for) grey water pump empty into a 4" drain tile outside, which goes downhill about 20' from my house and then switches to a perforated tile. That runs about 200' underground until it comes out into a trench which goes another 350' or so, eventually to the ditch.

A shop sink brings up a bunch of issues with what you pour down it. Many chemicals/etc. should not be added to a drain field setup as if it kills the bacteria, it can ruin the field. You also just can't tee into a pressure line with a one-way valve and hope gravity takes over, IMO... it will be very slow to drain if you have the gravity to do it.

If you do a greywater system, it will be trivial to add a urinal to it... though that's not legal, it's not much different than you and the dogs peeing in the yard.

 

[gearhead1]

Yes, exactly, how's it that much different from peeing behind the shop.... I wouldn't put chemicals down the drain, just soap and hand cleaner. I can make that work. I also thought about burying a big 300 gallon tank and collecting rainwater and using that for hand washing instead of running a water line all the way to the shop.

 

[ishiboo]

Yes, exactly, how's it that much different from peeing behind the shop.... I wouldn't put chemicals down the drain, just soap and hand cleaner. I can make that work. I also thought about burying a big 300 gallon tank and collecting rainwater and using that for hand washing instead of running a water line all the way to the shop.

I would install your own greywater system then, and have at least the urinal there since it's a freebie. A stand-up shower is no issue either.

 

[chris142]

Everything in my house goes into the septic tank. First one was installed in 1958. Around 1985 we had to have it patched as the metal tank was rusting. They told us we were on borrowed time with it.

Finally had it replaced with a new Plastic tank in 2013.

 

[kbs2244]

Collect the rain water for sink use and connect the sink drain to the downspout.
All you are doing is delaying the dispersion on the rain.

 

[brownbagg]

you can have grey water bypass the tank, that would be washing machine, dishwasher, sink and shower. Now that is in my area so other ares could be different.