2 pp., 2 figuresLeaching chambers distribute treated wastewater into the soil. This publication lists the advantages and disadvantages of leaching chamber systems, explains how to maintain them and gives estimates of costs

Lesikar, Bruce J.

Texas A&amp;M Repository

Two-compartment septic tankLeaching chamberSoil absorption fieldOn-site wastewater treatment systemsLeaching chambersBruce Lesikar and Russell PersynExtension Agricultural Engineering Specialist, Extension Assistant-Water ConservationThe Texas A&M University SystemL-53421-00Figure 1:  Leaching chamber systems can have smaller drain fields than those for conventional systems.Leaching chamber systems handle wastewater in a similar manneras conventional gravel-filled trench systems. The main differenceis in how the trench is constructed.A leaching chamber systemincludes:3 A treatment device, generally aseptic tank, but it can be anadvanced treatment system.3 A leaching chamber, which is acommercially available plasticchamber molded into a domeshape. The chamber top is solid sothat it can support the soil aboveit; the sides are louvered; and thebottom is open to allow the waterto exit. Chamber widths vary from15 to 36 inches.3 Leaching chamber trenches, whichcan be no longer than 150 feet.In a leaching chamber system, asolid 4-inch-diameter pipe carrieswastewater from the septic tank to theleaching chamber trenches. The leach-ing chambers store the wastewateruntil it enters the soil. Each leachingchamber system should have at leastone observation port to allow waterlevels in the trench to be inspected.AdvantagesA leaching chamber is made oflightweight material that can easily becarried to the excavated trench. Thereis no need for additional perforatedpipe or geotextile fabric as used inconventional trench systems.The drain fields for chambersystems are permitted to be smallerthan those for conventional systems.For a house without water-savingFigure 2: Leaching chamber trenches can be no longer than 150 feet.Splash plateLeaching chamberInspection port3 Maintain a grass cover over thetrenches to help remove waterfrom the soil.3 Do not place any solid materialsover the ground surface thatcould prevent air from movinginto the soil in the drain field.3 Conserve water to prevent thedrain field from flooding.3 Do not drive heavy equipmentacross the drain field. Thedevices, the drain field absorptivearea can be 40 percent smaller than inconventional systems; for houses withwater-saving devices, it can be 20percent smaller. (The reason thathouses with water-saving devices canhave only a 20-percent smaller drainfield is that such systems are alreadydesigned to be 20 percent smaller thanhouses without water-saving devices.The reduction in drain field sizecannot be compounded.)DisadvantagesThe drain field size can bereduced only in class Ib, II and IIIsoils. The drain field size may not bereduced for low-pressure dosingsystems using leaching chambers inclass IV soils.The bottom of the chamber mustbe separated from a restrictive horizonor groundwater by at least 2 feet.How to keep it workingLeaching chambers are a propri-etary product, so please follow themanufacturer’s recommendations formaintaining the system. Otherguidelines include:3 Pump out the treatment tanksevery 2 to 3 years to keep solidsout of the drain field.equipment can damage the drainfield.Estimated costsThe installation cost ranges from$3,000 to $6,000 depending on thesoil type, house size and other factors.Septic tank maintenance costs areabout $75 per year, if you have itpumped out every 3 years.  Morefrequent maintenance increases cost.Produced by Agricultural Communications, The Texas A&M University SystemAll publications in the On-site Wastewater Treatment Systems series can be downloaded free from the World Wide Web at:http://agpublications.tamu.edu/pubs/ewasteEducational programs of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disabilit y, religion, age or national origin.Issued in fur therance of Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, Acts of Congress of May 8, 1914, as amended, and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United StatesDepar tment of Agriculture. Chester P. Fehlis, Deputy Director, The Texas Agricultural Exension Service, The Texas A&M Universit y System.30,000 copies, New ENGFor Sale Only $1The On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems series of publications is a result of collaborative efforts of various agencies,organizations and funding sources. We would like to acknowledge the following collaborators:Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board USEPA 319(h) ProgramTexas On-Site Wastewater Treatment Research Council Texas Agricultural Extension ServiceTexas Natural Resource Conservation Commission Texas Agricultural Experiment StationUSDA Water Quality Demonstration Projects Texas On-Site Wastewater AssociationConsortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems: Leaching Chambers

Texas A&M University

Two-compartment 
septic tank
Leaching chamber
Soil absorption field
On-site wastewater treatment systems
Leaching chambers
Bruce Lesikar and Russell Persyn
Extension Agricultural Engineering Specialist, Extension Assistant-Water Conservation
The Texas A&M University System
L-5342
1-00
Figure 1:  Leaching chamber systems can have smaller drain fields than those for conventional systems.
Leaching chamber systems handle wastewater in a similar manneras conventional gravel-filled trench systems. The main differenceis in how the trench is constructed.
A leaching chamber system
includes:
3 A treatment device, generally a
septic tank, but it can be an
advanced treatment system.
3 A leaching chamber, which is a
commercially available plastic
chamber molded into a dome
shape. The chamber top is solid so
that it can support the soil above
it; the sides are louvered; and the
bottom is open to allow the water
to exit. Chamber widths vary from
15 to 36 inches.
3 Leaching chamber trenches, which
can be no longer than 150 feet.
In a leaching chamber system, a
solid 4-inch-diameter pipe carries
wastewater from the septic tank to the
leaching chamber trenches. The leach-
ing chambers store the wastewater
until it enters the soil. Each leaching
chamber system should have at least
one observation port to allow water
levels in the trench to be inspected.
Advantages
A leaching chamber is made of
lightweight material that can easily be
carried to the excavated trench. There
is no need for additional perforated
pipe or geotextile fabric as used in
conventional trench systems.
The drain fields for chamber
systems are permitted to be smaller
than those for conventional systems.
For a house without water-saving
Figure 2: Leaching chamber trenches can be no longer than 150 feet.
Splash plate
Leaching chamber
Inspection port
3 Maintain a grass cover over the
trenches to help remove water
from the soil.
3 Do not place any solid materials
over the ground surface that
could prevent air from moving
into the soil in the drain field.
3 Conserve water to prevent the
drain field from flooding.
3 Do not drive heavy equipment
across the drain field. The
devices, the drain field absorptive
area can be 40 percent smaller than in
conventional systems; for houses with
water-saving devices, it can be 20
percent smaller. (The reason that
houses with water-saving devices can
have only a 20-percent smaller drain
field is that such systems are already
designed to be 20 percent smaller than
houses without water-saving devices.
The reduction in drain field size
cannot be compounded.)
Disadvantages
The drain field size can be
reduced only in class Ib, II and III
soils. The drain field size may not be
reduced for low-pressure dosing
systems using leaching chambers in
class IV soils.
The bottom of the chamber must
be separated from a restrictive horizon
or groundwater by at least 2 feet.
How to keep it working
Leaching chambers are a propri-
etary product, so please follow the
manufacturer’s recommendations for
maintaining the system. Other
guidelines include:
3 Pump out the treatment tanks
every 2 to 3 years to keep solids
out of the drain field.
equipment can damage the drain
field.
Estimated costs
The installation cost ranges from
$3,000 to $6,000 depending on the
soil type, house size and other factors.
Septic tank maintenance costs are
about $75 per year, if you have it
pumped out every 3 years.  More
frequent maintenance increases cost.
Produced by Agricultural Communications, The Texas A&M University System
All publications in the On-site Wastewater Treatment Systems series can be downloaded free from the World Wide Web at:
http://agpublications.tamu.edu/pubs/ewaste
Educational programs of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disabilit y, religion, age or national origin.
Issued in fur therance of Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, Acts of Congress of May 8, 1914, as amended, and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States
Depar tment of Agriculture. Chester P. Fehlis, Deputy Director, The Texas Agricultural Exension Service, The Texas A&M Universit y System.
30,000 copies, New ENG
For Sale Only $1
The On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems series of publications is a result of collaborative efforts of various agencies,
organizations and funding sources. We would like to acknowledge the following collaborators:
Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board USEPA 319(h) Program
Texas On-Site Wastewater Treatment Research Council Texas Agricultural Extension Service
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission Texas Agricultural Experiment Station
USDA Water Quality Demonstration Projects Texas On-Site Wastewater Association
Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service


English

https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/bitstream/1969.1/86862/1/pdf_1138.pdf

On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems: Leaching Chambers

Abstract

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Texas A&M Repository

Texas A&M University

On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems: Leaching Chambers

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Texas A&amp;M Repository

Texas A&M University

Texas A&M Repository