52 
House & Garden 
THE SEPTIC TANK SYSTEM FOR SEWAGE 
Solves the Problem of Waste Disposal for Those Homes Which Have 
No Connection with Municipal Plants 
B. FRANCIS DASHIELL 
W HEN the question of building or re¬ 
modeling the suburban or rural home 
is considered, it is imperative that par¬ 
ticular attention be given to the proper dis¬ 
posal of waste waters and sewage matters that 
are constantly arising in connection with the 
use of the home. It is a common and deplored 
fact that many rural citizens do not have the 
conveniences of modern plumbing equipment in 
their homes because the simple methods of 
disposal are not taken advantage of. 
A simple system to take care of all the house¬ 
hold wastes can be easily installed in connec¬ 
tion with new or old homes at small cost and 
very little operating attention. By following 
the general plans for the average home, as 
shown in this article, a sewage disposal plant 
can be had that will be sanitary, effective and 
automatic in its operation. In general, this 
system is known to engineers and builders as 
the septic tank system for the disposal of 
waste sewage matters. 
The home may be fitted out with the most 
complete modern method of plumbing without 
the slightest fear that the waste can not be 
taken care of, as there is no limit to the kind 
and quantity of waste sewage that this system 
will handle. Large plants are often installed 
to take care of whole sections as a single unit. 
This plant can be built by any mechanic in 
a short time, no other mate¬ 
rials being required than 
sand, stone, cement and terra 
cotta drain tile and fittings. 
It will require little or no 
operating attention other than 
a cleaning about once a year. 
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Catch Basin 
The catch basin is designed to prevent all 
soapy and greasy matter entering the tank 
Tank Operation 
The septic tank is a con¬ 
tainer for the reception, puri¬ 
fication, and disposal of all 
kinds of sewage matters. 
This matter becomes lique¬ 
fied and is rendered harm¬ 
less and odorless through the 
work of a very minute or¬ 
ganism or bacteria known as 
the Anaerobiosis which will 
develop only in an airtight 
and dark chamber filled with 
sewage matter. 
The drawings show all of 
the complete plans and de¬ 
tails that are necessary for 
the construction, which is en¬ 
tirely of concrete and vitri¬ 
fied tile drain pipe. First 
there must be constructed the 
receiving chamber or catch 
basin through which the 
waste water from the sinks 
and tubs passes, to catch the 
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soaps and greases which come in such water, 
and must be prevented from passing into the 
septic tank. Wastes from the toilet soil pipe 
line do not pass into this basin but directly 
into the septic tank. A slight fall in the drain 
pipes from the house is required so that the 
sewage will flow freely. Any distance from 
the house will be satisfactory for placing the 
tanks as there are no odors or unsightly vis¬ 
ible portions. In fact,, the entire system may 
be built right under the lawn beside the house 
without any knowledge of its being there, but 
of course it is advisable to keep it well away 
from the source of water supply. The plans 
call for the bottom of both the catch basin and 
septic tank to be on the same level and they 
need be separated only a few feet or built to¬ 
gether with a common wall as desired. 
Holes of suitable size should be excavated 
where desired and at the proper levels, al¬ 
lowing for drainage, fall, etc. Forms for the 
sides are set up after the floor or bottoms have 
been laid and hardened so as to hold light 
weight without making indentations. The 
top slabs are put on last after the walls are 
sufficiently firm to hold the weight. The top 
form lumber can be removed through the man¬ 
hole after the top has set and hardened several 
weeks. A preferable concrete mixture is one 
of the proportions 1:2:4, and mixed to a thin 
consistency so it will settle 
easily, thus preventing voids 
next to the forms and also 
making a denser surface. 
Two tile pipes, an inlet and 
an outlet, are fitted in the 
catch basin and have tees ce¬ 
mented as shown in the draw¬ 
ing, so as to allow the water 
to enter and leave without 
disturbing the top scum of 
grease that floats on the sur¬ 
face. A length of tile pipe 
is cemented to the bottom of 
the outlet tee to remove the 
liquid from the bottom which 
is cleaner and clearer. The 
top of the basin is fitted with 
a manhole cover so that a 
bucket may be let down at 
intervals to remove the grease 
and sediment that collect 
about once a year or less. 
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Septic Tank. 
The septic tank is dark and airtight, providing conditions essential to the action of 
the bacteria which effect the disposal of all harmful matter in the sewage 
The septic tank consists of 
one large chamber with the 
inlet pipes from the catch 
basin and toilet at one end 
entering side by side. Par¬ 
titions or baffles are provided 
so that a crust or scum wall 
(Continued on page 66) 
