A proper designing must be done; otherwise backflow of waste water might
occur. Overall capacity of tank, dimensions and allowance for future
consideration and emergency situations must be inculcated.IS specifications for
designing the Septic Tank.
• The IS code caps a limit on domestic water consumption between 135 to 225 lpcd (litres
per capita per day). Around 80% of total water is assumed to be converted into sewage
water.
• Flow of sewage is taken as 40 to 70 lpcd. When sludge is also discharged into septic
tank, flow is taken as 90 to 150 lpcd.
• Rate of sludge accumulation is taken as 30 litres/person/year.
• A free board of about 300mm (metres) may be provided above the top sewage line in
the tank. This will help to accommodate scum in the tank.
• Detention period for septic tank generally varies between 12 to 36 hours, commonly
adopted as 24 hours. Cleaning period generally varies from 6 to 12 months.
• Septic tank must have minimum width of 750mm, minimum liquid capacity of 1000 litres
and minimum operating depth of 1 metre.
• For rectangular septic tanks, length is kept around 2 to 4 times the width. For circular
tanks, diameter shall not be less than 1.35 metrer
Sizing Calculations of a Septic Tank
Q.1 Design the dimension of a septic tank for a colony of 200 persons provided
with an assured water supply from municipal head works at a rate of 100 litres per
person per day. Assume any data if require
Sewage/capita/day = 100 litres
Quantity of sewage produced= population X per capita
= 200 X 100
= 20000 lit/day
Assuming 80% of water becomes sewage.
Therefore, Quantity of sewage= 20000 X 80/100
= 16000 lit/day
• Assuming detention period = 24 hours.
Therefore, quantity of sewage = 16000 X 24/24
During detention period
= 16000 litres
• Assuming rate of sludge deposited = 30lit/capita/day & sludge periods =1year.
Therefore, volume of sludge
= rate of sludge deposited X Population X sludge period
= 30 X 200 X 1
= 6000 litres.
Therefore, required capacity of tank = 16000 + 6000 = 22000 litres.
Or = 22m^3
Assuming depth of tank = 1.5m (Range= 1.5 to 2.5m)
Therefore, surface area available = 22/1.5
= 14.667 m^2
Assuming length & width ratio i.e. (L: B = 4:1)
Therefore, surface area of tank = L X B
14.667 = 4B X B
B = 1.917m
Therefore, L = 4B
L = 4X1.914
L = 7.65m
Area of cross-section = L X B
= 7.65X1.914
= 14.66 m^2 ok
• Therefore, surface area of tank calculated above or equal to the 14.667 m^2
which is satisfy by length width ratio.
• Assuming free board surface 0.3m.
Therefore, depth (d) = 1.8m
Q.2 Calculate the dimension of the septic tank for the water demand of 475
liters/day approximately for 5 persons
We take detention period as 3 days. So the septic tank should have the capacity to
retain the household wastewater at least 3 days.
Total wastewater in 3 days – 475×3 = 1425 Liters
Let us take 2000 Liters capacity minimum for a home. Minimum depth of Septic
tank should not be less than 1.8m.
Sludge settled down per person – 30 liters/year. So here we take sludge removal 2
years once.
So total sludge = 30 litres x 5 persons x 2 years = 300 Litres
Total tank capacity = 2000+300 = 2300 Liters
We knew that 1 Cum = 1000 Liters = 2300/1000 = 2.3 Cum
Area required @ 1.8m depth = 2.3/1.8 = 1.2 Sqm
Length & breadth ratio of Septic Tank is 4:1 or 2:1
L:B ratio taken as 4:1
So 4BxB = 1.2 Sqm where B=0.54m
Note – Breadth of the tank should minimum 750mm, So that L = 4×0.75 = 3m
L – 3m; B – 0.75m; Depth = 1.8+0.3 = 2.1m (free board should be provided at
least 300mm)
Tank capacity = 3 x 2.1 x 0.75 = 4.725 Cum = 4.725x 1000 = 4725 Liters
m.
Q.3 Considering detention time as 24 hours. This means that tank should have
capacity to retain the wastewater for at least 24 hours. Cleaning period of 1 year.
• Total wastewater per capita = 150 x 1 = 150 lpcd.
• Number of persons = 5.
• Total wastewater = 150 x 5 = 750 litres. ( This amount is on daily basis consideration.)
For being on safer side, calculating for 1000 litres.
• Rate of sludge accumulation = 30 x 5 = 150 litres per year. ( This amount will get
accumulated in whole year.)
• Total capacity required for detention and accumulation = 1000 + 150 = 1150 litres.
Standard 1 m3 = 1000 litres. So, 1150 litres = 1.15 m3.
• Considering depth to be 1.8 metres. (Fulfilling codal provisions and accounting for future
conditions.)
• Plan area required = 1.15 / 1.8 = 0.64 m2.
Assuming Length (L) is twice of Breadth (B)
• Since, Plan area = L x B = 2B x B = 0.64
Therefore, Breadth (B) = 0.565 metre. But as per code IS 2470 , Minimum breadth must
be 750 mm.
So, taking Breadth(B) = 750 mm.
And Length (L) = 1.5 metre.
• Further, adding 300mm to depth as free board.
• Hence, Length = 1.5 metres, Width = 0.75 metre, Depth = (1.8 + 0.3) = 2.1 metres.
• Total capacity of designed septic tank = Length x Width x Depth.
= 1.5 x 0.75 x 2.1
= 2.3625 m3.
= 2362.5 litres.
So, You can build a Septic tank of 2,500 litres for your House.
