Moving a septic tank

cozzie55

Hi guys
just wondering how big a job is it to move a septic tank. Planning an sun room extension and the tank will be very close to the room plus the room is up on a height so we will be looking into the tank when sitting in the room.
I'd prefer to move the tank but it really depends on the size of the job as the budget is tight. I could go for planting something around it to disguise it if it comes to it.

audi a4 2008

should be a straight foward job.digger and good driver would get it done in one day.if useing the same tank u might have a issue as some tanks seem to break once u start excavating and then lifting tank out.what type of system have u?.

cozzie55

audi a4 2008 wrote: »

should be a straight foward job.digger and good driver would get it done in one day.if useing the same tank u might have a issue as some tanks seem to break once u start excavating and then lifting tank out.what type of system have u?.

That could be an issue i would have assumed it would be a new tank i would be using. I have a concrete tank with a percolation area.
I'm not too sure how old the tank is think it is as old as the original house which would make it about late 1960's. Most places i have looked say that tanks should last about 50 years so i would say if i'm goin at the job it'll be a new tank so that it won't have to be done again anytime soon.
Biggest problem at the moment is trying to find a new location for it where it won't be in the way again in the future

audi a4 2008

ok then it would be best to get new tank so,and youre right u need to find a new spot also keep in mind is the flow from the tank into field/lawn the excess im on about the reason it must be a level ground or a fall in field.

so what u need .new tank. 2 ajs manhole/inspection pods.4inch wavin pipe 1/2 lenghths.perforated pipe i would say around 4/5 lenghts.plastic/teram/geotextile materail to cover pipes.also 2 lorry loads of small stone.

cozzie55

audi a4 2008 wrote: »

ok then it would be best to get new tank so,and youre right u need to find a new spot also keep in mind is the flow from the tank into field/lawn the excess im on about the reason it must be a level ground or a fall in field.

so what u need .new tank. 2 ajs manhole/inspection pods.4inch wavin pipe 1/2 lenghths.perforated pipe i would say around 4/5 lenghts.plastic/teram/geotextile materail to cover pipes.also 2 lorry loads of small stone.

Not as big a job as i thought then.
I want to put the tank in a location below the level of the house to get a good flow but of course the only suitable location on my site is where the tank is at the moment, unless i put it at the other side of the wall in the neighbouring field. Is there a practical distance from the house to the tank. Not too worried about the percolation area as at the minute that is about 40 metres from the tank so I will leave that as it is.

audi a4 2008

it all depends,lets say if u have a well then it needs to be 30/40 feet away from it.the tank must b around 7/10 meters from the house.also u say you are leaveing percolation alone so new tank and pipes connecting into old percolation must b bang on.if you are going to do this job ureself and want a hand pm me as i doing nothing but have the experince and all tickets to drive machine ill galdley help u out.

cozzie55

audi a4 2008 wrote: »

it all depends,lets say if u have a well then it needs to be 30/40 feet away from it.the tank must b around 7/10 meters from the house.also u say you are leaveing percolation alone so new tank and pipes connecting into old percolation must b bang on.if you are going to do this job ureself and want a hand pm me as i doing nothing but have the experince and all tickets to drive machine ill galdley help u out.

Well this is more in the planning stage at the moment. I was trying to decide weather is was easier to move the tank or the extension. Cheers for the offer of help being farmers and me being an engineer we plan on doing the whole project ourselves good experience for me seen as i can't work anywhere else and all that since leaving college.

As for pipes being bang on as far as i'm aware what is existing at the moment is fairly antiquated but does the job. It would surprise me if anything was bang on if I went at this job. It is only one open ended 2" pipe which serves as percolation but this end is an area with a large fall in it. I would have assumed extending the pipes for the percolation by say 5 metres in line with original pipe work would do the job. Provided there is fall from the tank to the existing pipework.

Poor Uncle Tom

To be clear, to move your septic tank and percolation area you will need:

1. A site characterisation test report carried out in line with the EPA's Code of Practice for the area you intend the new tank to go to, costing about €500 to €800.

2. Planning permission for moving the septic tank/treatment system and percolation area into the new position, costing about €400 - €750.

/and that's out side the actual cost of the system itself.

It might be cheaper to plant a hydrangia and nightshade....:)

muffler

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

It might be cheaper to plant a hydrangia and nightshade....:)

Spot on

There are various ways of camouflaging the tank while still leaving it accessible.

If it ain't broke and all that jazz...

cozzie55

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

To be clear, to move your septic tank and percolation area you will need:

1. A site characterisation test report carried out in line with the EPA's Code of Practice for the area you intend the new tank to go to, costing about €500 to €800.

2. Planning permission for moving the septic tank/treatment system and percolation area into the new position, costing about €400 - €750.

/and that's out side the actual cost of the system itself.

It might be cheaper to plant a hydrangia and nightshade....:)

I have to apply for planning permission anyway for the new extension so the tank would be included with that. And as for the report I can get a friend who's an environmental engineer to do that for me. So the cost wouldn't be too great.
I wish i could just plant a hydrangia but no matter what i plant we will be look down at the top of the tank from the new room due to the difference in levels, plus the top of the tank sits about a foot above ground level making it even harder to disguise

Poor Uncle Tom

spot the tank....:)

cozzie55

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

[IMG][/IMG]6/8/5/3/6853324/5589889.jpg



spot the tank....:)

You can hardly make out a tank in them, especially in the second picture
Although i don't know if you could hide this monstrosity that easily

muffler

cozzie55 wrote: »

I have to apply for planning permission anyway for the new extension so the tank would be included with that. And as for the report I can get a friend who's an environmental engineer to do that for me. So the cost wouldn't be too great.

This is where it may get you into more problems. There's a bigger chance that you will need a package plant than a replacement septic tank. If so you are looking at €3k +

cozzie55 wrote: »

I wish i could just plant a hydrangia but no matter what i plant we will be look down at the top of the tank from the new room due to the difference in levels, plus the top of the tank sits about a foot above ground level making it even harder to disguise

Well as you seen from the pics posted by PUT there are various ways that you can camouflage the tank. Have a look at here for some tips.

cozzie55

muffler wrote: »

This is where it may get you into more problems. There's a bigger chance that you will need a package plant than a replacement septic tank. If so you are looking at €3k +


Well as you seen from the pics posted by PUT there are various ways that you can camouflage the tank. Have a look at here for some tips.

thanks for that. I wanted to keep the cost down on the tank hopefully under 2k, planning on spending 60k on the extension and other works within the house and the budget is tight enough as it is, and if my mothers plan for a new kitchen gets approval there definitelly won't be anything left in the bank to spend on a tank, at least not straight away.
I am worried that i have read that tanks only last around 50 years and seen as mine is coming up on that, I think it would be a good idea to get it done now while we are doing the other works
I think i should get on to a few people i know in the council and see what I would be required to do under planning if I went at the tank. Other than that it may end up building the extension and leaving the tank for a few years before moving it.

BryanF

cozzie55 wrote: »

thanks for that. I wanted to keep the cost down on the tank hopefully under 2k, planning on spending 60k on the extension and other works within the house and the budget is tight enough as it is, and if my mothers plan for a new kitchen gets approval there definitelly won't be anything left in the bank to spend on a tank, at least not straight away.
I am worried that i have read that tanks only last around 50 years and seen as mine is coming up on that, I think it would be a good idea to get it done now while we are doing the other works
I think i should get on to a few people i know in the council and see what I would be required to do under planning if I went at the tank. Other than that it may end up building the extension and leaving the tank for a few years before moving it.

you may not have a choice in this matter if your applying for planning, the local engineers will pick up any issues with ex tank and distances from proposed extension.

cozzie55

BryanF wrote: »

you may not have a choice in this matter if your applying for planning, the local engineers will pick up any issues with ex tank and distances from proposed extension.

There isn't any current issues with the tank though and it will be about 6/7 metres from the house. I doubt they would pick up on it unless i mention it.

We already have planning for an extension from 4 years ago but never built it, we have now decided to change the design and have to re-apply for planning as a result. They didn't pick up on the tank the last time so I don't see why they would this time.

BryanF

cozzie55 wrote: »

There isn't any current issues with the tank though and it will be about 6/7 metres from the house. I doubt they would pick up on it unless i mention it.

We already have planning for an extension from 4 years ago but never built it, we have now decided to change the design and have to re-apply for planning as a result. They didn't pick up on the tank the last time so I don't see why they would this time.

http://www.corkman.ie/news/new-septic-tank-regulations-another-tax-on-rural-ireland-2851277.html

Cozzie it amazing the important info thats often left out of posts:), it just shows you that none of us should comment until we see the site and all known specific's:) I don't know which LA your detailing with but You may find that 6/7 meters may not be acceptable when you resubmit.
good luck and pleas come back and tell us either way..