Greywater Storage Tank Idea - Will it work?

[jclaudii]

So as things go, families grow and soon your budget septic tank is undersized for the the task. So I got to thinking, what if I just divert the greywater to another tank to let the septic tank do it's job better/longer. I already diverted the washing machine to keep the chemicals from going into the septic system, but it is just ran out to a growed up wooded area. As far as spring projects go, it would not be too hard to crawl under the house and run new pipes for just the bath and showers and tie the washing machine in as well. But what do I use as a underground tank? I could buy Poly or preformed concrete for $$$ or could I simply buy 2 to 4 IBC Tote/Tanks. These tank would also be interconnected to act like one large tank with baffles. And they have a fairly large twist on lid for looking and maintenance if ever needed.

These tanks come with a bit of a metal cage around the tank part and come on a pretty sturdy pallet. Even though they would be filled up prior to backfilling, I still don't 100% trust them to never cave in or break.
So this leads me to my next idea...I'll cover it in welded wire or even chicken wire and put concrete on the sides and top and even the bottom. This should help keep the metal cage from rusting quite as fast in the earth and if it does rust out, it would have some structure to fall back onto. It would also help spread the load of the earth equally on the sides and top and the li quid inside pushing on the earth.


This guy did something similar DIY Cheap and Basic septic system concept: OFF GRID - YouTube

Heck, if I had to redoo my septic system, I would strongly consider doing something made out of IBC totes or other recycled containers. Thanks for looking and setting me straight!

 

[4570Man]

I plan on doing a similar project and using IBC totes. I don’t plan on driving anything except a lawnmower over them so I don’t think they’ll collapse. I have a plastic 55 gallon barrel buried in my front yard for a gutter drain and it occasionally sees vehicle traffic and it hasn’t collapsed.

 

[RNeumann]

I’ve only seen this done with the plastic 55 gallon drums. Seems like you guys are going an awful lot of unneeded work. Especially when they make products that can support themselves in the ground.

Make sure you are still sending enough gray water to your septic. As San Francisco learned the hard way- sewers and septic wasn’t designed for turds alone!

 

[wagne223]

Just my opinion........

If you are going to do all that work for the graywater, why not just put in a proper drain field so all your waste water can go through the existing tank?

As mentioned, a septic system is not designed just for solids. It needs water to move through it to work properly.

 

[Hunter29]

I already diverted the washing machine to keep the chemicals from going into the septic system, but it is just ran out to a growed up wooded area

Thats going to get you in one big boat of trouble when the wrong person finds out about it, put it back in the septic where it belongs..

If the system is to small replace it or pump it out more often.

Septic systems are not do it your self, they are very serious business, in fact you have no say in the matter by law. Your plan is a bad idea, what your doing is illegal and if you have neighbors within 25 miles you may find yourself in court when they sue you for destroying their water supply..as well as your own.

 

[4570Man]

I’ve only seen this done with the plastic 55 gallon drums. Seems like you guys are going an awful lot of unneeded work. Especially when they make products that can support themselves in the ground.

Make sure you are still sending enough gray water to your septic. As San Francisco learned the hard way- sewers and septic wasn’t designed for turds alone!

IBC totes are free if you’re lucky and easy to get for $50 or less. Plastic 55 gallon barrels are between free and $20. The tanks made to go below ground are way more expensive. Even if you have to cast the barrels or IBC totes in concrete to ensure they don’t collapse that would be cheaper than some other options.

 

[RNeumann]

IBC totes are free if you’re lucky and easy to get for $50 or less. Plastic 55 gallon barrels are between free and $20. The tanks made to go below ground are way more expensive. Even if you have to cast the barrels or IBC totes in concrete to ensure they don’t collapse that would be cheaper than some other options.

Maybe I wasn’t clear- I seen several 55 gallon drums that were placed upright but underground. They did/do just fine without any overcasting.

 

[RoyKing]

They will rust out hopefully with out something falling in. what would seem easier is just another shallow drain field no tank.

 

[4570Man]

They will rust out hopefully with out something falling in. what would seem easier is just another shallow drain field no tank.

Plastics tanks rusting out?

 

[RoyKing]

probably not, but for Grey water what good is the tank unless you've got it for grease trap, output pipe near bottom in put at the top and a removal lid. I had old house with grey water work for 55 years. Clean grease every 8 to 10 years. it was built with cinder block two chamber with 36 x2 concrete lid.