A domestic sewage pumping station is a convenient and economical system for removing waste from facilities that cannot be connected to the municipal sewage system. Are you planning to install it? Check what you need to remember.
In this article you will learn:
- What is a domestic sewage pumping station and how does it work?
- What to remember before installing it.
- What regulations govern its construction and use.
How does a domestic sewage pumping station work?
A domestic sewage pumping station is a self-service system responsible for transporting sewage from a building to the collective sewage system. It consists of a cover, a hatch (selected depending on the terrain) and a casing. The basic elements of each pumping station are:
- Septic tank (retention chamber) – the largest element of a sewage pumping station, on which the pumping system is based. Tanks are made of plastic, resistant to chemical compounds (usually high-density polyethylene PEHD, polyester resins, reinforced concrete B45, polymer concrete).
- Submersible pump ( the heart of the device) or a system thereof.
- Gravity collector (feed),
- A pipeline pumping sewage into a septic tank.
The process of removing waste from a facility is very simple. It can be described in 4 three steps:
- Sewage from the facility flows by gravity to the pumping station tank located at the lowest point of the sanitary installation.
- A submersible pump placed in the tank raises the sewage to the appropriate height.
- When the tank is full, the float switch installed in it, responsible for measuring the sewage level, independently starts the pressure pump.
- The sewage flows through a pipeline directly into a septic tank, and the whole cycle can start all over again.
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Domestic sewage pumping stations are installed where the building cannot be connected to the municipal sewage system and where the tank cannot drain sewage from the building by gravity. Pumping stations do not require deep excavations, so they can be installed in areas with a high level of groundwater. The system is convenient and cheap to use. Modern pumps have grinding mechanisms that prevent clogging.
What should you remember before installing a domestic sewage treatment plant?
The construction of a domestic sewage treatment plant should be preceded by analyses related to the needs of users, including:
- pump installation location,
- pump power and capacity,
- type of housing (inside or outside the building; free-standing pump; for installation in a floor slab or ground).
In this article, however, we assume that you have already completed (at least most) similar stages. We will therefore focus on the formalities and regulations concerning the installation and use of the system.
Domestic sewage pumping stations – the most important regulations
The normative act regulating the provisions related to the construction and use of a domestic sewage treatment plant is the Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure of 12 April 2022 on the technical conditions that buildings and their location should meet. Some requirements are also specified in: the Act of 20 July 2017 - Water Law, as well as several industry regulations.
We will not quote the extensive content of these documents here. However, we will outline the most important issues related to:
- necessary activities to be carried out before the construction of the pumping station,
- minimum distances from its elements,
- releasing treated sewage into the environment.
According to art. 29, section 1, point 3 of the Construction Law, in order to install a domestic sewage pumping station with a capacity of 7.5 m3/d per day (or a non-draining tank for liquid waste with a capacity of up to 10 m3/d), it is enough to notify the district office. You must also provide:
- a document confirming ownership of the plot,
- design sketch,
- a map showing the location of the treatment plant.
If the office does not object within 21 days, the work can begin. The work can last up to 2 years and should end when the house is occupied.
Since June 28, 2015, sewage pumping stations with a capacity of up to 7.5 m3/d can service several single-family homes. However, if the treatment plant is to be more efficient, there will be more formalities, because the installation of such an installation requires a permit.
Before you start applying, check the Local Spatial Development Plan. If the plot can be connected to the sewage system, then you will not receive a building permit for a sewage treatment plant.
Also remember that once you receive it, your installation will have to meet a number of specific regulations related to its legal construction and use.
Installation of a domestic sewage pumping station - regulations and principles of operation
According to the law, the installation must be located away from the residential building and other households so that the minimum distance from its doors and windows is 5 m. If there is a drinking water well (water supply well) on the plot, the tank body must be at least 15 m away from it, while the place of sewage disposal and infiltration must be at least 30 m away. These distances apply to all wells for water intended for human consumption. This means both those on the plot where the treatment plant will be located and those on neighbouring plots.
Other minimum distances for placing installation elements include:
- trees and other plants with an extensive root system – minimum 3 meters,
- the boundary of the plot, road and pedestrian area – min. 2 meters,
- water supply – min. 1.5 m,
- gas connection – usually min 1.5, although the permissible range, depending on the date of construction of the connection, is 0.5–3.0 m,
- telephone cables – min. 1 m,
- electric cables – min. 0.8 m.
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In addition, the sewage pumping station tank should be located in such a way that a periodic access by a sewage truck is possible to empty the structure. If this is not possible, an alternative is to equip the tank with a suction nozzle with a fireman's type connector. Thanks to this, the vehicle will empty the container without having to travel there.
If there is a risk that the domestic sewage treatment plant will generate a number of unpleasant odors (this is the result of anaerobic sewage treatment processes), it is worth locating it away from places designated for recreation. If this is difficult, consider equipping the system with anti-odor filters or installing a hybrid biological treatment plant .
Another important issue is the discharge of purified sewage. This can be done into the land owned by the person introducing it (e.g. via a soakaway and drainage pipes ). The following conditions must be met:
- the amount of sewage cannot exceed 5 m³ per day,
- sewage treatment should result in a reduction of pollutants of at least 20% for the BOD5 parameter (five-day biochemical oxygen demand) and at least 50% for the content of total suspended solids,
- the sewage discharge site must be separated by a layer of soil at least 1.5 m thick from the highest usable groundwater level (this is an absolute condition).
The second method is to discharge sewage directly into watercourses. However, this requires a water permit. The document specifies the expected parameters of the treated sewage, its volume and the method of discharge over a 12-month period. It also specifies the frequency with which it should be tested. The permit is obtained for a maximum of 10 years.
Construction of a domestic sewage pumping station from Onninen
You now know what to look for before building a home pumping station. You can find a wide range of devices in the Onninen plumbing wholesaler . Popular solutions include:
- BIO–DUO biological treatment plant (1–6 PE) – a system worth considering especially due to its high treatment stability: it is resistant to temporary energy shortages.
- The ONE2CLEAN–5 biological treatment plant in SBR technology is characterized by high durability and capacity (750 l of sewage per day), and its design (composition of two halves) allows for reducing transport costs.
- Sewage treatment plant with seepage chambers EPURECO4 (RLM4) 2100L SET (extensions with threaded cover, ST130 chambers) – a high-quality set that includes a septic tank with a biological filter, an extension, a distribution chamber (SL-RR), a seepage chamber, a sewage pipe, a ventilator and a sewage elbow.
- Sewage treatment plant with seepage tunnels EPURBIO4 (RLM4) 2100L SET (extensions with telescopic cover, GRAF300 tunnels) – a comprehensive set which, in addition to the manhole, pipes, settling tank, seepage tunnel and ventilator, also includes seepage tunnels (GRAF300 300 L)
Check out our offer and choose a solution dedicated to your needs!
Check out the products for your home sewage treatment plant in the Onninen offer