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Klargester Sceptic Tanks
I am looking at a rural plot for a self build and putting a cost plan together for the finance company, as far as I am aware the re is no mains drainage to the site could any one give me an idea of the cost of the supply and installation of a sceptic tank with associated building costs ??
Thanks
Jeremy
10 answers
Hi Jeremy,
I have literally just done this so can give you the best idea you will get!
I have no mains so opted for the Klargester (now owned by Kingspan I think) Entec SuperSeptic tank. It is what used to be called the Sigma tank and to be honest I'm not sure the council would be too happy about you putting in the basic ones anymore. This cost me £2175.17 (inc VAT) and to be honest should be well worth the improvement from the very basic alpha model. It has a separate blower system (which requires an electric feed - hence arctic SWA cable). On top of this the following costs will be needed; 1) a 5/8T 360 track machine for digging a 3m+ deep hole for 1 day minimum (all depends on what you are digging in to)@£225/week hire 2) 3m3 Lean Mix concrete (@£60-90/m3 depending on where you live) 3) Pea Gravel to backfill over the top after filling most of it with concrete. @£400/20T 4) Pipework 5) Pressure Failure Detection System (@£340) to tell you if there is issues with the blower etc. 6) Labour for two people for one day minimum (£100-150pp/day+VAT).
It can be easy or hard depending on ground conditions. The hole can be dug in an hour, concrete poured for base, put it in, fill with water, backfill with concrete, let set for the day, then backfill the next with pea gravel and put in pipework.
HTH
Dave:)
Hi Dave
Thanks for your comprehensive response to Jeremy's initial predicament, your itemised costings have come in very handy!
I just wondered if you could let me know where you purchased your Septic Tank from at that price?
Many Thanks in advance
Leigh.
And don't forget that any VAT is refunded on a self build project and you shouldn't pay it on any labour.
Non-Electric Sewage Treatment
I installed a Biorock non-electric sewage system which doesn't need the expensive soakaway. I just run it straight to the ditch. I got it bought and fitted for £4500
Hello,
I actually got the SuperSeptic through Jewsons. I got to know the guys at my local branch, opened an account and have had great prices and help from them.
All the best
Dave
The Superseptic is not a full sewage treatment plant and has to have a soakaway which costs more than the tank!
You can buy a full sewage treatment plant for less than a Superseptic and discharge direct to a ditch - it's a no-brainer!!!
Take a look at Condor Clearflo. They have all the certificates and are cheap to buy and install as they use very little concrete.
What happens if you don't have a ditch to discharge to? I want to install a sewage treatment plant and don't have any nearby ditches. Can I just dig one or will I still need a soakaway?
You will need a discharge consent from the EA whatever you do. If you are discharging to a watercourse it has to be checked by the EA and a ditch that dries out in summer will not do as you need dilution. You need to do a porosity test for a soakaway for building regs and for the EA discharge consent. See your building regs dept. for details. You will need one or the other, the outflow has to go somewhere.
I bought a super septic tank from WTE Ltd. for £783.
It has a filter on the outlet to stop any solids going down the soakaway and blocking it. Apparently, they use them as standard in the USA, but we just put up with soakaway failures and having to replace them. We seem so far behind in the UK.
Do your percolation tests first on the piece of land that you intend installing the drainfield, see www.wte-ltd.co.uk/percolation_test.html for details of how to do them.
You should be prepared for around 100 metres of pipework.