PREAMBLE(NOTPARTOFTHESTANDARD)

Inordertopromotepubliceducationandpublicsafety,equaljusticeforall,abetterinformedcitizenry,theruleoflaw,worldtradeandworld
peace,thislegaldocumentisherebymadeavailableonanoncommercialbasis,asitistherightofallhumanstoknowandspeakthelawsthatgovern
them.
ENDOFPREAMBLE(NOTPARTOFTHESTANDARD)
IS:2470(Part1)1985

IndianStandard
CODEOFPRACTICEFORINSTALLATIONOFSEPTICTANKS
PART1DESIGNCRITERIAANDCONSTRUCTION
(SecondRevision)
ThirdReprintOCTOBER1993
UDC628352:690013
Copyright1986
BUREAUOFINDIANSTANDARDS
MANAKBHAVAN,9BAHADURSHAHZAFARMARO
NEWDELHI110002
Gr6
January1986
IndianStandard
CODEOFPRACTICEFORINSTALLATIONOFSEPTICTANKS
PARTIDESIGNCRITERIAANDCONSTRUCTION

(SecondRevision)
WaterSupplyandSanitationSectionalCommittee,BDC24
Chairman
ShriJ.DCruz

Representing
WaterSupply andSewageDisposalUndertaking,NewDelhi

Members

ChiefEngineer(Civ ilI)(AlternatetoShriJ.DCruz)
Adv iser(PHE)

Ministry ofWorksandHousing

Deputy Adv iser(PHE)(Alternate)

ShriN.S.Bhairav an

PublicHealthEngineeringDepartmentGov ernmentofKerala,Triv andrum

SuperintendingEngineer(Alternate)
ShriI.Chandra

PublicWorksDepartment(PublicHealthBranch),Gov ernmentofHary ana,Chandigarh

ShriK.K.Gandhi(Alternate)
ChiefEngineer(Construction)

UttarPradeshJalNigam,Lucknow

SuperintendingEngineer(Alternate)
ShriR.C.P.Chaudhary

EngineersIndiaLtd,NewDelhi

ShriH.V.Rao(Alternate)
ShriS.K.Dasgupta

CalcuttaMetropolitanDev elopmentAuthority ,Calcutta

ShriS.R.Mukherjee(Alternate)
ProfJ.M.Dav e

InstitutionofEngineers(India),Calcutta

ShriS.G.Deolal$$$ar

Inpersonalcapacity (FlatNo.403,SavitriCinemaCommericalComplex,GreaterKailashII,NewDelhi)

ShriB.R.N.Gupta

Ministry ofDefence,EngineerinChiefsBranch,NewDelhi

ShriK.V.Krishanamurthy (Alternate)

Copyright1986
BUREAUOFINDIANSTANDARDS
ThispublicationisprotectedundertheIndianCopyrightAct(XIVof1957 )andreproductioninwholeorinpartby any meansexceptwithwritten
permissionofthepublishershallbedeemedtobeaninfringementofcopy rightunderthesaidAct.
Members

Hy draulicEngineer

Representing
MunicipalCorporationofGreaterBombay ,Bombay

ChiefEngineer(SewerageProjects)(Alternate)
ShriR.A.Khanna
ShriD.K.Mitra(AlternateI)
ShriI.S.Baweja(AlternateII)

PublicHealthEngineeringDepartment,Gov ernmentofMadhy aPradesh,Bhopal

ShriP.Krishanan

CentralPublicWorksDepartment,NewDelhi

Surv ey orofWorks1(NDZ)(Alternate)
ShriM.Y .Madan

TheHindustanConstructionCompany Ltd,Bombay

ShriC.E.S.Rao(Alternate)
ShriS.L.Maini

PublicWorksDepartment(PublicHealthBranch),Gov ernmentofPunjab,Patiala

ShriR.Natarajan

HindustanDorrOliv erLtd,Bombay

ShriB.M.Rahul(Alternate)
ShriK.J.Nath

AllIndiaInstituteofHy gieneandPublicHealth,Calcutta

ShriD.Guin(Alternate)
ShriA.Ponnabalam

TamilNaduWaterSupply &DrainageBoard,Madras

ProfV.Raman

NationalEnv ironmentalEngineeringResearchInstitute(CSIR),Nagpur

ShriS.R.Kshirsagar(Alternate)
ShriRanjitSihgh

Ministry ofRailway s

DrA.V.R.Rao

NationalBuildingsOrganization,NewDelhi

ShriO.P.Ratra(Alternate)
Secretary

IndianWaterWorksAssociation.Bombay

Secretary General

InstitutionofPublicHealthEngineers,India,Calcutta

ShriR.N.Banerjee(Alternate)
ShriL.R.Sehgal

L.R.Sehgal&Co,NewDelhi

ShriS.K.Sharma

CentralBuildingResearchInstitute(CSIR),Roorkee

ShriB.N.Thy agaraja

BangaloreWaterSupply andSewerageBoard,Bangalore

ShriH.S.Puttakempanna(Alternate)
ShriV.Varadarajan

MadrasMetropolitanWaterSupply andSewerageBoard,Madras

ShriS.Daiv amani(Alternate)
ShriG.Raman,Director(Civ Engg)

DirectorGeneral,ISI(ExofficioMember)

Secretary
ShriA.K.Avasthy
AssistantDirector(CivEngg),ISI
(Continuedonpage19)
IndianStandard
CODEOFPRACTICEFORINSTALLATIONOFSEPTICTANKS
PARTIDESIGNCRITERIAANDCONSTRUCTION

(SecondRevision)

0.FOREWORD
0.1
ThisIndianStandard(Part1)(SecondRevision)wasadoptedbytheIndianStandardsInstitutionon28February1985,afterthedraftfinalized
bytheWaterSupplyandSanitationSectionalCommitteehadbeenapprovedbytheCivilEngineeringDivisionCouncil.

0.2
Thisstandardwasfirstprintedin1963andsubsequentlyrevisedin1968whichcoveredsmallinstallation.Largeinstallationseptictankswere
giveninIS:2470(Part2)whichwasfirstprintedin1964andsubsequentlyrevisedin1971.Thisrevisionincorporatesthefollowingmajorchanges.
0.2.1
Designcriteriaofseptictank,basedoncertainassumptions,hasbeengivenindetail.
0.2.2
Designofinletsandoutletshavebeenmodifiedforthesmoothworkingofthetanks.
0.2.3
Arrangementsforinstallingtanksinparallelforthetreatmentofsewageforpopulationofmorethan300personshavebeenincluded.
0.2.4
Theprocedurefortheremovalofthesludgehasbeenelaborated.
0.2.5
Thisstandardcoversthedesignandconstructionofseptictankforsmallinstallations(upto20persons)aswellaslargeinstallations.
0.2.6

TherequirementsforsecondarytreatmentanddisposalofseptictankeffluenthavebeencoveredinPart2ofthisCode.
0.2.7
ThetitleofthecodewhichwasoriginallyCodeofpracticefordesignandconstructionofseptictank:PartISmallinstallationsandPartII
Largeinstallations,hasalsobeenamendedtoreadCodeofpracticeforinstallationofseptictanks:PartIDesigncriteriaandconstruction.

0.3
Inunseweredareas,ifadequatewatersupplyisavailableforflushing,treatmentoftheliquidwasteinseptictanksisrecommended.
3

0.4
Thiscodeofpracticerepresentsastandardofgoodpracticeandthereforetakestheformofrecommendation.

0.5
Septictankoffersapreliminarytreatmentofsewagepriortofinaldisposal.Sewageisheldinthesetanksforsomeprescribedperiodduring
whichtimethesuspendedsolidspresentinthestoragesettledown.Thesettledsludgeandthesupernatantliquorundergoesanaerobicdigestion.The
digestionresultsinappreciablereductioninthevolumeofsludgeandreductioninorganicmatterintheliquid.

0.6
Unsatisfactorydesign,constructionandmaintenanceofseptictanksconstituteahealthhazard.Itis,therefore,consideredessentialtolaydown
minimumstandardsforguidanceofconcernedauthorities.Itishopedthatthiscodewhichhasbeenpreparedwithaviewtogivingguidanceon
properdesign,constructionandmaintenanceofseptictanks,willbefoundusefulbylocalbodies,publicworksdepartmentsandothersengagedinthis
field.

0.7
Forthepurposeofdecidingwhetheraparticularrequirementofthisstandardiscompliedwith,thefinalvalueobservedorcalculated,
expressingtheresultofatestoranalysis,shallberoundedoffinaccordancewithIS:21960*.Thenumberofsignificantplacesretainedintheround
offvalueshouldbethesameasthatofthespecifiedvalueinthisstandard.

1.SCOPE
1.1
Thiscode(Part1)laysdownrecommendationsforthedesign,layout,constructionandmaintenanceofseptictanks.Itisapplicabletohouses,
flats,residentialhousingcolonies,hostelsandboardingschoolswherethenumberofusersdoesnotexceed300persons.

2.TERMINOLOGY
2.0
Forthepurposeofthisstandard,thefollowingdefinitionsshallapply.

2.1
EffluentThesupernatantliquiddischargefromaseptictank.

2.2
InvertThelowestpointoftheinteriorofasewerordrainatanycrosssection.

2.3
ScumThegreasyandothersubstancesfloatingonthesurfaceofsewage.

2.4
SepticTankAwatertightsinglestoreyedtankinwhichsewageisretainedsufficientlylongtopermitsedimentation.
*Rulesforroundingoffnumericalvalues(revised).
4

2.5
SewageTheliquidwasteofahouseholdorcommunityincludinghumanexcreta.

2.6
SludgeSludgeisthesettledsolidmatterinsemisolidcondition.

2.7
SurfaceWaterTherunofffromprecipitationandotherwaterthatflowsoversurfaceoftheground.

2.8
SupernatantLiquorThelayerofliquidoverlyingthesettledsolidswhichhaveseparatedfromit.

2.9
SuspendedSolidsThesolidswhicharesuspendedinasewageoreffluent.

2.10
T.W.L.Thetopwaterlevelinatank.

2.11
WasteWater(Sullage)Thedischargefromwashbasins,sinksandsimilarappliances,whichdoesnotcontainhumanexcreta.

3.DESIGNCONSIDERATIONS
3.1
GeneralInunseweredareas,everyhouseshouldhavearrangementsforitssewagebeingtreatedinaseptictank,effluentfromwhichshould
begivensecondarytreatmenteitherinabiologicalfilter,upflowanaerobicfilter,onthelandorinasubsurfacedisposalsystem.
3.1.1
Surfaceandsubsoilwatershouldnotfindwayintotheseptictank.
3.1.2
Normally,theseptictanksaredesignedforfoulsewage(faecalmatterandurine).Sullagewastesmaybedistributedcrudelybythrowingonthe
gardensorgrassedareasandsodispersedandabsorbed,ormaybedrainedtoaseepagepitordispersiontrenchfromwhichitoverflowsintooris
absorbedbythesurroundingsoil.
NotePitsandtrenchesforthedisposalofsullageshallbesolocatedastoavoidcontaminationofwatercoursesorunderground
watersupplies.
3.1.3
Undernocircumstancesshouldeffluentfromaseptictankbeallowedintoanopenchanneldrain,orbodyofwaterwithoutadequate
treatment.
3.1.4
Wastescontainingexcessivedetergents,greaseanddisinfectantsshouldnotbetreatedinseptictankastheyadverselyaffecttheanaerobic
decomposition.
3.1.5
Wheretheincomingdrainissteepduetositeconditions,thelastsectionofthedrain,atleast12minlengthshouldnotbelaidatagradientnot
steeperthan1:50inordertominimizeturbulenceinthetank.
3.1.6
Whenthepumpingarrangementisprovidedbeforetheseptictanksthesewagefromthepumpshouldnotbedischargeddirectlyintothe
5

septictank.Normally,thedischargefromthepumpisfirstleadintoatankandthenthesewageisallowedtoflowintotheseptictank
gravitationallyandtheprovisionsof3.1.5shallalsobeobserved.
3.1.6.1

ThefateofpumpingofsewageshallnotexceedthreetimesD.W.F.
3.1.7
PipeDiameterForpracticalconsiderations,aminimumnominaldiameterof100mmisrecommended.

3.2Layout
3.2.1
Thelayoutshouldbeassimpleanddirectaspracticable.
3.2.2

Thepipesshouldbelaid,asfaraspossible,instraightlinesinbothverticalandhorizontalplaneshowever,wherebendsareunavoidable,they
shouldbelongradiusbendwithcleaningeyes.Anythingthatislikelytocauseirregularityofflowshouldbeavoided.
3.2.3
Atjunctionsofpipesinmanholes,directionofflowfromabranchconnectionshouldnotmakeanangleexceeding45withthedirectionof
flowinthemainpipe.
3.2.4
AtypicalarrangementofthelayoutofseptictankseweragesystemisillustratedinFig.1.

3.3LocationofSepticTank
3.3.1
Septictankshouldbelocatedataplaceopentosky,asfarawayaspossiblefromtheexteriorofthewallofbuildingandshouldnotbelocatedin
swampyareasorareaspronetoflooding.Itshouldalsobeaccessibleforcleaning.

3.4SepticTankDesign
3.4.1Sewageflow
3.4.1.1

Themaximumflowtothetankisbasedonthenumberofplumbingfixturesdischargingsimultaneously.Forthispurposevarioussanitation
facilitiesareequatedintermsoffixturesunits.FixtureequivalentsaregiveninTable1.
NoteFixtureunitisaquantityintermsofwhichtheloadproducingeffectofdifferentplumbingfixturesontheplumbingsystem
areexpressedonsomearbitrarilychosenscale.Inthedesignofseptictank,itistakenas9litresperminute.
6

NumbersofUsers

NumbersofFixtureUnits

(1)

(2)

ProbableNumberofFixtureUnitsDischargingSimultaneously

Facility

(3)

ProbablePeakDischargelpm

EquivalentFixtureUnit

(4)

Fig.1TypicalLayoutofaSepticTankSewerageSystem
7

TABLE1FIXTUREEQUIVALENT
(Clause3.4.1.1)
Facility

EquivalentFixtureUnit

Watercloset

Bath

1/2

Washbasin/kitchensink

1/2

Urinal(withautoflush)

Urinal(withoutautoflush)

1/2

Slopsink

Laboratory sink

Combinationfixture

Showerbath

Bathtub

Drinkingfountain

1/2

Ablutiontap

1/2

Dishwater

1/2

3.4.1.2

Theestimatednumberoffixtureunitsandthenumberoffixtureunitsthatcontributetothepeakdischargeinsmallinstallationsservingupto
20persons,forresidentialhousingcoloniesupto300personsandforhostelsandboardingschoolsaregiveninTables2to4.
TABLE2ESTIMATEDPEAKDISCHARGEFORSMALLTANKSUPTO20USERS
NumbersofUsers

NumbersofFixtureUnits

ProbableNumberofFixtureUnitsDischargingSimultaneously

ProbablePeakDischargelpm

(1)

NumbersofUsers

(2)

NumbersofFixtureUnits

10 No.ofUsers
No.ofUsers
(1)

2W.C.

15

3(2)

(1) (1)

20

(3)

ProbableNumberofFixtureUnitsDischargingSimultaneously

2
BathNo.ofHouseholds
WashBasin/KitchenSink
(2)

(3)

(2)

(4)

(4)

ProbablePeakDischargelpm

18
ProbablePeakDischargelpm
ProdablePeakDischargelpm

No.ofFixtubeUnits
No.ofFixtureUnits
(3)
(5)
(3)

(4)

18

(4)

(6)

27

Note1Numberoffixtureunitsisbasedontheassumptionthateachhouseconsistingof5personsmay hav eoneWCwhichwilldischargeintoseptictank.

Note2Probablenumberoffixtureunitsarebasedon7 0percentfixtureunitsdischargingsimultaneously .
8

TABLE3ESTIMATEDPEAKDISCHARGEFORRESIDENTIALCOLONIES
(Clause3.4.1.2)
No.ofUsers

No.ofHouseholds

No.ofFixtureUnits

ProdablePeakDischargelpm

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

50

10

20

108

100

20

40

216

150

30

60

324

200

40

80

432

300

60

120

648

Note1Probablepeakdischargeisbasedon60percentfixturesunitsdiachargingsimutaneously
Note2Eachhouseholdconsistingof5personsmay hav e1WC,1bathand1washbasin/kitchensink.

TABLE4ESTIMATEDPEAKDISCHARGEFORHOSTELSANDBOARDINGSCHOOL
(Clause3.4.1.2)
No.ofUsers

W.C.

Bath

WashBasin/KitchenSink

No.ofFixtubeUnits

ProbablePeakDischargelpm

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

50

12

7 6

100

12

12

12

24

130

150

19

19

19

38

205

200

25

25

25

50

27 0

300

37

37

37

74

400

NoteProbablepeakdischargeisbasedon7 0percentoffixtureunitsdischargingsimultaneously .

3.4.2Sedimentation
3.4.2.1

Thesurfaceareaofthetankrequiredwillbe092m2forevery10litresperminuteofpeakflowrateatatemperatureof25C.
3.4.2.2

Aminimumdepthofsedimentationshallbe250to300mm.
3.4.3SludgeDigestion
3.4.3.1

Percapitasuspendedsolidsenteringthetankmaybetakenas70g/day.
3.4.3.2

Thecapacityrequiredforsludgedigestionis033m3percapitaat25C.
3.4.3.3

Volumeofdigestedsludgeisnormally0.00021m 3 percapitaperday.
9

3.4.4DetentionTime
3.4.4.1

Aseptictankdesignedonthebasisof3.4.1,3.4.2and3.4.3providesadetentionperiodof24to48hoursbasedonanaveragedailyflowof
sewage.
3.4.5DimensionsofSepticTank
3.4.5.1

Septictankshallhaveminimumwidthof750mm,minimumdepthofonemetrebelowwaterlevelandaminimumliquidcapacityof1000
litres.

3.4.5.2

Forrectangularseptictanks,thelengthofthetankshallbe2to4timesthewidth.SuitablesizesofseptictanksaregiveninAppendixA.
3.4.5.3

Forcirculartankstheminimumdiametershallnotbelessthan1.35mandoperatingdepthshallnotbelessthan10m.
3.4.5.4

InletThedesignofseptictankinletsshallbesuchastointroducethecrudesewagewiththeleastpossibledistrurbanceofthesettledsludgeor
thesurfacescum.Fortanksnotmorethan1200mmwide,Tshapeddippipenotlessthanthenominalboreofincomingdrainmaybeprovided.The
pipeshallbefixedinsidethetank,withtoplimbrisingabovescumlevelandthebottomlimbextendingabout300mmbelowthetopwaterlevel.
TypicalsketchoftheseptictankisgiveninFig.2and3.
Fortanksinexcessof1200mminwidth,twoormoresubmergedinletsarepreferable.TypicalsketchoftheseptictankisshowninFig.4.One
methodofprovidingsuchinletsisbytheuseofsubmergedbendsofthesamenominalbore(notlessthan100mm)setascloselytogetheraspractical
inashallowsumpformedwithinasmallbenchedchamber(seeFig.5).Itisimportantthattheinvertofthebenchedchannelbe58mmabovethetop
waterlevelandtheinletendsofthesubmergedbendsshouldbesetflushwiththefloorofthesumpwhichshouldbenotlessthan75mmbelowtop
waterlevel.Thesumpmaybethefullwidthofthechamber,butshouldnotexceedl.5timesthenominalboreoftheinletbendsinotherdirection.The
invertsoftheoutletendsofthesebendsshouldbebetween300and525mmbelowtopwaterlevelinthetank.Abaffleshouldbeprovided150mm
fromtheinletendofthetank,extending150mmbelowtheinvertoftheinletpipesand150mmabovethetopwaterlevel.
3.4.5.5

OutletThefinaloutletfortankswhicharelessthan1200mmwideshouldbeby100mmnominalboredippipefixedinsidethetankwitha
toplimbrisingabovescumlevelandthebottomlimbextendingtoabout1/3oftheliquiddepthbelowtopwaterlevel.Theinvertoftheoutletpipe
shallbe50mmbelowtheinvertoftheinletpipe.
10

Forwidertanks,itisnecessarytouseaweiroutletextendingthefullwidthofthetankandprotectedbyascumboardfixed150mmfromthe
weirandextending150mmaboveand1/3ofliquiddepthbelowthetopwaterlevel.Adeflectorshouldbeformedeitherinthestructureoftheend
(outlet)wallorbyapurposemadedeflectortopreventrisingparticlesfromreachingtheoutletweir.Thisdeflectorshouldbelocated150mmbelow
thebaseofthescumboardandprotrude150mmintothetank(seeFig.4).

Fig.2TypicalSketchofSingleCompartmentSepticTankupto20Users
11

3.4.6
PartitionsWherethecapacityofaseptictankexceeds2000litres,thetankmaybedividedintotwochambersbymeansofafixeddurable
partition.Thepartitionshallbelocatedsothatthecapacityofthefirstchamberistwicethatofthesecondchamber.Suitableopeningsrectangularor
circularwithminimumdia100mmandmaximum150mmshallbeprovidedinthepartitionatapproximately300mmbelowTWL.
3.4.7
Forpopulationofover100,duplicatingtanks,eachprovidinghalfthetotalcalculatedcapacityrequired,shouldbeinstalledandoperatedin
parallel.Thisarrangementpermitstheflowtobepassedthroughoneunitwhiletheotherisbeingdesludged.Toenablethetopwatertobedecanted
whendesludging,adecantingvalveshouldbeprovidedinthewalldividingthetwotankstheinvertofthisvalveshouldbe625mmbelowTWL.

3.4.8
FreeBoardAminimumfreeboardof300mmshouldbeprovided.
3.4.9
AccessOpeningsandCoverEachcompartmentofaseptictankshallbeprovidedwitharectangularaccessopeningmeasuringnotless455
610mmoracircularopening500mmdiameter.Thecovertoaccessopeningsshallbeofreinforcedconcreteorofcastiron.Acovershallincorporate
asuitableliftingdeviceandwheninplaceafterinstallationoftheseptictankshallfitneatlyandbesealedtopreventtheingressofwater.
3.4.10
VentilatingPipeEveryseptictankshallbeprovidedwithventilatingpipeofatleast50mmdiameter.Thetopofthepipeshallbeprovidedwith
asuitablecageofmosquitoproofmesh.
Theventilatingpipeshallextendtoaheightwhichwouldcausenosmellnuisancetoanybuildinginthearea.Generallytheventilatingpipe
mayextendtoaheightofabout2mwhentheseptictankisatleast20mawayfromthenearestbuildingandtoaheightof2mabovethetopofthe
buildingwhenitislocatedcloserthan20metres.Theventilatingpipemayalsobeconnectedtothenormalsoilventilatingsystemofthebuilding,
wheresodesired.

4.SEPTICTANKCONSTRUCTION
4.1
FloorItisessentialthatthefloorofthetankbewatertightandofadequatestrengthtoresistearthmovementandtosupporttheweightof
thetankwallsandcontents.
4.1.1
ThefloormaybeofcementconcreteofminimumM15grade(seeIS:4561978*)andaminimumslopeof1:10maybeprovidedtowardsthe
sludgeoutlettofacilitatedesludging.
*Codeofpracticeforplainandreinforcedconcrete(thirdrevision).
12

Fig.3TypicalSketchofTwoCompartmentSepticTankforPopulationUpto50
13

Fig.4TypicalSketchofTwoCompartmentSepticTankforPopulationsOver50
14

Fig.5TwinInletforTanksinExcessof1200mmWide
15

4.2
WallsThewallsshouldbeofsuchthicknessastoprovideadequatestrengthandwatertightness.
4.2.2
Wallsbuiltoutofbrickshouldnotbelessthan200mmthickandshouldbeplasteredtoaminimumthicknessof12mminsideandoutsidewith
cementmortarnotweakerthan1:3wheretheyarebuiltoutofthestonemasonary.Theyshouldhaveaminimumthicknessof370mm.

5.SLUDGEWITHDRAWAL
5.1

Halfyearlyoryearlydesludgingofseptictankislesirable.Smalldomestictanks,foreconomicreasons,maybecleanedatleastoncein2years
providedthetankisnotoverloadedduetousebymorethanthenumberforwhichitisdesigned.
No.ofUsers
Length
Breadth
LiquidDepth(CleaningIntervalof)

1Year

2Year

NoteFrequentdesludginginhibitstheanaerobicactioninthetank.Normally,thetanksarecleanedwhenthasumofthedepthof
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
thescumandthesludgeisobservedtoexceedhalfthedepthofthetank.

5.2
Aportionofsludgenotlessthan25mmindepthshouldbeleftbehindinthetankbottomwhichactsastheseedingmaterialforthefresh
deposits.

5.3
Thedigestedsludgeshouldbewithdrawnthroughadippipeofnotlessthan150mmdiaunderahydrostaticpressureofatleast450mm.The
sludgepipeshalldeliverthesludgetothesumpandbeprovidedwithadeliveryvalvetodrawthesludgeasrequired.Portablepumpsmayalsobeused
fordesludginginwhichcasetherewillbenoneedforsludgepipeorsludgepump.Manualhandlingofsludgeshouldbeavoided.
5.3.1
Whenremovalofthesludgeiscarriedoutthescuminthefirsttankshouldnotbedisturbedmorethannecessary,thisscumisneededtoensure
efficientoperation.

5.4
Sludgefromseptictanksmaybedeliveredintocoveredpitsorintoasuitablevehicleforremovalfromthesite.Spreadingofsludgeonthe
groundinthevicinityshouldnotbeallowed.

6.COMMISSIONINGOFSEPTICTANK
6.1
Theseweragesystemshouldbecompleteandreadyforoperationbeforeconnectionismadetothebuilding.

6.2
Thetankshouldbefilledwithwatertoitsoutletlevelbeforethesewerageisletintothetank.Itshould,preferably,beseededwithsmall
quantitiesofwelldigestedsludgeobtainedfromseptictanksorsludge
digestiontanks.Inabsenceofdigestedsludgeasmallquantityofdecayingorganicmatter,suchasdigestedcowdungmaybeintroduced.

16

7.DISPOSALOFSEPTICTANKEFFLUENT
7.1
EffluentfromtheseptictankshallbedisposedofbyoneofthemethodsgiveninIS:2470(Part2)1985*.

APPENDIXA
SIZESOFSEPTICTANK
(Clause3.4.5.2)

A1
Recommendedsizesofseptictanksfor20usersaregiveninTable5.
TABLE5RECOMMENDEDSIZESOFSEPTICTANKFOR20USERS
No.ofUsers

Length

Breadth

LiquidDepth(CleaningIntervalof)

1Year

2Year

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

15

07 5

10

105

10

20

090

10

140

15

20

090

13

200

20

23

110

13

180

Note1Thecapacitiesarerecommendedontheassumptionthatdischargefromonly WCwillbetreatedintheseptictank.
Note2Aprov isionof300mmshouldbemadeforfreeboard.
Note3Thesizesofseptictankarebasedoncertainassumptions(see3.4),whilechoosingthesizeofseptictankexactcalculationsshallbemade.

*Codeofpracticeforinstallationofseptictank:Part2Secondarytreatmentanddisposalofseptictankeffluent(secondrevision).
17

A2

Recommendedsizesofseptictankforhousingcolonies(upto300persons)andforhostelsandboardingschoolsaregiveninTable6and7
respectively.
No.ofUsers
Length
Width
LiquidDepth(D)forStatedIntervalsofSludgeWithdrawal
No.ofUsers
Length
Breadth
LiquidDepth(CleaningIntervalof)
L

OnceinaYear

1Year

2Year
Oncein2Years

TABLE6RECOMMENDEDSIZESOFSEPTICTANKSFORRESIDENTIALCOLONIES

(1)
No.ofUsers

(2)

(3)
Length

(4)

Breadth

(5)
LiquidDepth(CleaningIntervalof)

1Year

2Year

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

50

50

20

10

124

100

7 5

265

10

124

150

100

30

10

124

200

120

33

10

124

300

150

40

10

124

Note1Aprov isionof300mmshouldbemadeforfreeboard.
Note2Thesizesoftheseptictankarebasedoncertainassumptions(see3.4)whilechoosingthesizeofseptictank,exactcalculationshallbemade.
Note3Forpopulationov er100,thetankmay bediv idedintoindependentparallelchambersforeaseofmaintenanceandcleaning.

TABLE7RECOMMENDEDSIZESOFSEPTICTANKSFORHOSTELSANDBOARDINGSCHOOLS
No.ofUsers

Length
L

Width
B

LiquidDepth(D)forStatedIntervalsofSludgeWithdrawal

OnceinaYear

Oncein2Years

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

50

50

16

13

14

100

57

21

14

17

150

7 7

24

14

17

200

89

27

14

17

300

107

33

14

17

Note1Aprov isionof300mmshouldbemadeforfreeboard.
Note2Thesizesoftheseptictankarebasedoncertainassumptions(see3.4)whilechoosingthesizeofseptictank,exactcalculationshallbemade.
Note3Forpopulationov er100,thetankmay bediv idedintoindependentparallelchambersforeaseofmaintenanceandcleaning.
18

(Continuedfrompage2)
WaterSupplyandPlumbingSubcommittee,BDC24:1
Members
ShriJ.DCruz

Representing
MunicipalCorporationofDelhi,Delhi

ShriS.A.Swamy (Alternate)
ShriS.G.Deolalikar

Inpersonalcapacity (403,SavitriCinemaCommercialComplex,GreaterKailashII,NewDelhi)

ShriS.K.Dhori

DelhiFireServ ice,NewDelhi

ShriR.K.Bhardwaj(Alternate)
ShriDev endraSingh

Inpersonalcapacity (16AMayaMahal,17 thRoad,Khar,Bombay)

Hy draulicEngineer

MunicipalCorporationofGreaterBombay ,Bombay

ChiefEngineer(Sewerage)(Alternate)
ShriR.A.Khanna

PublicHealthEngineeringDepartment,Gov ernmentofMadhy aPradesh,Bhopal

ShriD.K.Mitra(AlternateI)
ShriI.S.Baweja(AlternateII)
ShriS.T.Khare

PublicHealthEngineeringDepartment,Gov ernmentofMaharashtra,Bombay

ShriA.S.Kulkarni

MunicipalCorporationofGreaterBombay (Bombay FireBrigade),Bombay

ShriV.B.Nikam(Alternate)
DrR.P.Mathur

Univ ersity ofRoorkee,Roorkee

ShriC.L.Toshniwal(Alternate)
ShriK.Gov indaMenon

TamilNaduWaterSupply andDrainageBoard,Madras

ShriT.G.Sriniv asan(Alternate)
ShriV.A.Mhaisalkar

NationalEnv ironmentalEngineeringResearchInstitute(CSIR),Nagpur

ShriC.V.Chalpatirao(Alternate)
ShriK.Gov indanNair

PublicHealthEngineeringDepartment,Gov ernmentofKerala,Triv andrum

ShriN.S.Bhairav an(Alternate)
ShriP.K.Nagarkar

MaharashtraEngineeringResearchInstitute,Nasik

ShriJ.N.Kardile(Alternate)
ProfY .N.RamachandraRao

EngineerinChiefsBranch(Ministry ofDefence)NewDelhi

MajB.S.Parmar(Alternate)
ShriO.P.Ratra

NationalBuildingsOrganisation,NewDelhi

ShriS.K.Sharma
20
19

CentralBuildingsResearchInstitute(CSIR),Roorkee