Revised October 2012

Water AuthorityCayman
Suppliers of the Worlds Most Popular Drink Website: www.waterauthority.ky

Onsite Wastewater Management Programme Page 1 of 3

Septic Tank Systems

WHATISASEPTICTANKSYSTEM?

A septic tank system serves as an on

site system to treat and dispose of
domestic wastewater. In the Cayman
Islands,asepticsystemismadeupofa
structurally sound, two compartment
watertight tank discharging to a dis
posal well (a drilled borehole with a
grouted casing below which the liquid
wastedrains).

HOWDOESITWORK?

Sewageentersthetankthroughapipe the bottom, forming a sludge layer;

from the building. The tank is sized to
hold the wastewater for 36 to 48
hours.Thistimeallowsthewastewater
toseparate:mostofthesolidssettleto
Best Management Practices
DO
Practicewaterconservation
Limittheuseofagarbagegrinder
ordisposal
Checkhouseholdproductsfor
suitabilityforusewithaseptic
tank
Knowthelocationofyourseptic
systemandkeepallcoversacces
sibleforinspectionandmainte
nance
Havethesludgeandscum
pumpedoutbyapermittedsep
tagehaulerasneeded
Keeparecordofallinspections,
pumping,andrepairs
grease, fats and hair float to the top,
forming a scum layer; between these
two layers is the liquid effluent which
flowstothedisposalwell.
DONT
Putfatsandoilsdownthedrain
Flushindigestiblematerialssuch
asdiapers,dentalfloss,cigarette
filters,femininenapkins,plasticor
rubber
Useexcessiveamountsof
bleaches,disinfectants,orother
harshchemicals
Putsolvents,paints,thinner,pesti
cides,etc.downthedrain
Overloadthesystembyscheduling
severalshowersorloadsofwash
overashortperiodoftime
Allowrainfalltoflowintothesys
tem
INSPECTION&MAINTENANCE
Routine inspection and maintenance
are essential to the proper operation
of a septic tank system. Inspections
detect signs of failure, leaks, broken
pipes or baffles and determine the
extentofsolidsbuildupinthetank.As
sludge collects on the bottom and
scumaccumulatesonthetop,theeffi
ciencyofthesystemdecreases.
Frequency of pumpout depends on
tank size, occupancy, water conserva
tion,anduseofgarbagegrinder.Solids
levels should be measured to deter
minetherequiredfrequencyofpump
out.Refertoprocedureonnextpage.
PermittedSeptageWasteHaulers:
EntechLtd.:9479253
IndustrialServices:9497245
ProfessionalWasteManagement:
9450535
Watler&Hislop:9494880

PO Box 1104 Phone: 345-949-2837 (94-WATER) The Water Authority was established in 1983 as a statutory body responsible for supply-
Grand Cayman Fax: 345-949-0094 ing wholesome and affordable drinking water to the people of the Cayman Islands. The
KY1-1102 E-mail: Water Authority is also responsible for the proper treatment of wastewater and for the
Cayman Islands developmentcontrol@waterauthority.ky protection of the fresh groundwater lenses that exist throughout our islands.
Best Management Practices
solids management - how to measure; when to pump out Page 2 of 3

solids management:
Measuring howTreatment
Solids in Primary to measure; when to pump out:
Tank/Section
Aprimarytreatmenttank/compartmentisonethatreliesongravityalonetoseparatesolidfromliquidmatter.Inanonsitetreatment
systemthiscanbeagreaseinterceptor,aseptictank,oranATUpretank.
Toestablishapredictablepumpingschedule,solidslevelsshouldbecheckedeverythreemonths.
Itisgoodpracticefortheserviceprovidertoobserve/supervisethepumpoutservicetoensurethat:
thecorrecttanks/compartmentsarepumpedatthecorrectfrequencyandtotheproperlevel,
theinletandoutletstructuresarenotdamagedduringtheservice,and
beforeandafterlevelscanbemeasuredtoverifyestablishedfrequencyandadequacyofpumpoutservice.
Asolidsstickisaneffectivetoolformeasuringscumandsludgelevelsinaprimarytank.It
caneasilybemadefroma10footlengthof1/2inchPVCpipe,twoendcapsandone90
elbow:Cuta6inchsectionforthebottomoftheL;joinittoalengthof6ormorefeetusing
a90elbow,placeendcapsonopenends;usePVCcementtoglueelbowandendcaps.Usea
waterproofmarkertomark1footincrementsfrombottomtotopofstick.
Tousethesolidsstick:
Openaccesscoveroverinletendofpretank.
RefertoDiagrambelowandrecordreadingatlevelofdottedlinefor:
D1: Lowersolidsstick,leadingwithelbowend,untilitrestsontopofthescum.
D2: Gentlypushthesolidsstickthroughthescumlayer,turnit1/2aturnand
gentlypullthestickupuntilyoufeelthebottomofthescumlayer.
D3: Continueloweringthestickuntilyoufeelthetopofthesludgelayer.
D4: Gentlypushdown,throughthesludge,untilyoufeelthebottomofthetank.
Extract the stick using a disposable rag to wipe the stick as you withdraw it. Sanitary
wipes or another rag with bleach can be used to disinfect the stick for storage. Place
usedrags/wipesinaplasticbagfordisposalinawastebin.
Calculate Depth of Scum (SC), Depth of Sludge (SL) and Wet Depth (WD) of tank as
showninthetextboxtotherightoftheDiagrambelow.
Document results on Standard Service Report and indicate whether solids removal is
required.

DepthofScum(SC) =D2D1=___inches
DepthofSludge(SL) =D4D3=___inches
WetDepthofTank(WD)=D4D2=___inches

WHENTOPUMP
Pumpthetankwhen(SC+SL)isgreaterthan(WD/3)

Forexample,if:
depthofscum(SC)=8inchesand
depthofsludge(SL)=10inchesand
wetdepthoftank(WD)=48inches,then
(SC+SL)=8+10=18&(WD/3)=48/3=16
Since 18 is greater than 16, it is time to have accumulated solids
pumpedfrombothcompartments.

Additional references and resources can be found on Water Authoritys OWMP web site: ce.carmodyuk.com.
Best Management Practices
Septic Tank and Grease Trap Pump-out
PRECAUTIONS
Septage pumping can be dangerous;
operators are responsible for their
personalsafety.
Septictankscontaintoxicgasand/or
oxygen deficient air. Never enter a
septictank.
Septage is infectious material. Wash
hands frequently, and especially be
foreeating,drinking,orsmoking.
In areas of high groundwater levels,
enoughliquidmustbeleftinthetank
to serve as ballast and prevent float
ing. It is not necessary to empty the
tank; the objective is to remove as
muchoftheaccumulatedsolids(scum
andsludge)aspossible.
Intheeventofaspill,useasqueegee
or a muck rake and suction hose for
clean up. Apply lime to areas that
havebeencleanedup.NotifytheWa
ter Authority and/or the Department
ofEnvironmentalHealth.
Septictankadditivesofferlittleorno
benefitandcanbedetrimentaltothe
operation of the system and/or
groundwater. The use of additives is
discouraged.
Additional references and resources can be found on Water Authoritys OWMP web site: ce.carmodyuk.com
Page 3 of 3
PROCEDURE
Don personal protective equipment;
e.g.,safetyglassesandgloves.
Locateandopenbothaccesshatches.
Examineinletandoutletbafflesortees,
notingdamage,looseconnectionsand/
orplugging.Adviseownerofnecessary
replacement/repairs.
Take care, throughout the pumping
procedure, not to damage internal
structuresandpartswithinthetank.
Lower liquid level below the invert
(bottomoftheinsideoftheoutletpipe)
of the outlet to prevent grease and
scumfrombeingwashedintothewell.
Breakupthescumlayer(floatinglayer)
with a muck rake, then vacuum the
scum layer out, continuously moving
both the vacuum line and the muck
rake during the pumping operation, to
break up and guide solids to the vac
uumnozzle.
Loosen the sludge layer (settled layer)
with the muck rake and remove as
much of solids as possible, starting at
the inlet side of each compartment
whereaccumulationisthegreatest.
Secure all access hatches and clean up
anydrips/spills.
PermittedSeptageWasteHaulers:
EntechLtd.:9479253
IndustrialServices:9497245
ProfessionalWasteManagement:
9450535
Watler&Hislop:9494880