Septic Tank Size Calculations, Tables, Codes

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Septic Tank Size Requirements

Septic tank size calculations, tables, codes


Tables, Codes, Calculations of Required Septic Tank Size

How big does our septic tank need to be?


Typically the septic tank volume for a conventional tank and onsite effluent disposal
system (such as a drain field) is estimated at a minimum of 1000 gallons or 1.5 x
average total daily wastewater flow.

Here we also discuss the smallest recommended septic tank sizes based on building
occupancy or wastewater volume. One should also ask, how does weather affect the
necessary septic tank size?

 SEPTIC TANK SIZE


 SEPTIC TANK SIZE TABLES - standard septic tank size based on wastewater flow
gallons per day or on number of bedrooms

 TWO COMPARTMENT SEPTIC TANK CODES


 COMPUTE SEPTIC TANK CAPACITY - How to calculate required septic tank
capacity
 COMPUTING EXAMPLE - for septic tank capacity requirements
 SEPTIC TANK DIMENSIONS - typical length, width, height, or depth of septic
tanks for concrete septic tanks, fiberglass septic tanks, plastic septic tanks, &
steel septic tanks.
 LARGE CAPACITY SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGNS - onsite wastewater treatment
plants, private or local municipal.

Table of Required Septic Tank Size Based on Daily Waste-Water Volume in Gallons

Average Sewage Wastewater Minimum Septic Tank Size in Gallons


Flow - Gallons Per Day of Effective Capacity Needed (1)

0-500 900

601-700 1200

801-900 1500

1001-1240 1900

2001-2500 3200

4501-5000 5800

 WATER USAGE TABLE provides companion data if you don't already know your
daily wastewater volume
 This table is for sizing residential septic tanks.

Separately, COMMERCIAL SEPTIC DESIGN discusses commercial septic tank


and drain field sizing based on wastewater flow estimates. There we also
include excerpts from the EPA Design Manual's discussion of how a septic tank
size should be determined, including safety factors but balancing design
capacity safety with avoiding unnecessarily high costs.
Table of Required Septic Tank Size Based on Number of Bedrooms in a Home

How big does our septic tank need to be based on the number of bedrooms in the
home? Some jurisdictions use the number of bedrooms rather than number of
occupants or estimated daily wastewater flow to guide homeowners and septic
installers in choosing a septic tank size.

Septic Tank in Gallons Size Based on Number of Bedrooms

Minimum Septic Tank Capacity Minimum Septic Tank Liquid


Number of bedrooms
(Gallons) Surface Area (sq.ft.)

0 bedrooms 750 gal. (2) - obsolete in NYS

1, 2, or 3 bedrooms 1,000 gallons 27 sq.ft.

4 bedrooms 1,200 gallons 34 sq.ft.

5 bedrooms 1,500 gallons 40 sq.ft.

6 bedrooms 1,750 gallons 47 sq.ft.

Design, Code Requirements & Maintenance for Two-Compartment Septic Tanks

Two compartment septic tanks do a


somewhat better job of removing suspended solids from wastewater than single
compartment septic tanks, and some jurisdictions, including Alaska (18 AAC 72),
require that two compartment septic tanks be used.
But we have not found regulations that translate that design difference into different
septic tank size requirements.

In some states (Connecticut since January 1991) septic tanks now consist of two
compartments in order to do a more effective job, and increasingly other
jurisdictions (Alaska, Pennsylvania) require that new and up-graded onsite
wastewater disposal systems use two-compartment septic tanks.

Image adapted from Alaska DEC [3] The dashed lines illustrate the liquid level (red)
and the difference in elevation (green) between the inlet and outlet septic tank pipe
connections.

More about these measurements is at SEPTIC TANK TEES where we discuss repair
procedures and backwards septic tanks.

In a two compartment septic tank the wall separating the two compartments will
have an opening that allows liquid effluent to flow into the second compartment,
keeping floating scum and settled sludge in the first compartment (mostly).

The septic entire tank, both compartments, will need to become filled with
wastewater before any effluent will begin to flow out of the septic tank and into the
drain field or soak away bed. That happens naturally during normal building
plumbing system usage over the course of several days for typical septic tank sizes.

So when you observed about two feet of waste in the septic tank, then left the
system unused, you'd expect to find exactly the same amount in the tank weeks
later. Only a very slight drop in level might occur, less than an inch - caused by
evaporation - because you left the tank open (and dangerous).

How to Compute Septic Tank Size and Capacity in Gallons

How do we compute the volume in gallons that a septic tank provides based on
simple measurements we can make?

Septic Tanks are usually about 4.5 feet wide x 8.0 feet long x 6 feet tall. Tanks are
typically buried 4 inches to 4 feet deep depending on local site conditions, shape,
slope, and other factors.

Here is the basic math for computing septic tank capacity (volume) in gallons.
Measurements are in feet, taken of inside dimensions of the septic tank.
How to Calculate the Septic Tank Capacity in Gallons

3.14 x radius squared x depth (all in feet) = cubic capacity. Cubic


Round Septic Tanks
capacity x 7.5 = gallons capacity.

Rectangular Septic Tanks Length x Width x Depth in feet x 7.5 = gallons

Length x width in inches / 231 = gallons per inch of septic tank


Rectangular Septic Tanks
depth. Multiply this number by septic tank depth in inches to get
(alternative method 1)
gallons

Rectangular Septic Tanks


Length x Width x Depth in feet / .1337 = gallons
(alternative method 2)

COMPUTING EXAMPLE - An Example of Computing Septic Tank Size, Capacity or Volume in


Gallons

One gallon of water has a volume of .1337 cubic feet. For a rectangular septic tank,
multiply depth (or inside "height") in feet times width times length. Divide this figure
by .1337 to establish the number of gallons in the septic tank.

Example 1: how many gallons is held in a a 4ft. deep x 5ft. wide x 8 ft. long septic
tank? If the tank dimensions were 4ft. x 5ft. x 8ft. = 160 cubic feet. Using the
conversion factor to convert cubic feet to gallons, 160 / .1337 = 1196 - or about a
1200-gallon tank.

One cubic foot of volume can contain 7.481 gallons of liquid. So a second approach
to calculating septic tank actual size or capacity in gallons is to multiply the septic
tank volume in cubic feet by this constant, which we round up to 7.5 gallons/cubic
foot.

Example 2: how many cubic feet and how many gallons are held in a septic tank of
typical dimensions of 4.5 ft. wide x 8.0 ft. long x 6 ft. high. (4.5 x 8 x 6) = 216 cubic
feet. Since one cubic foot can contain 7.481 gallons, which we round up to 7.5
gallons per cubic foot: 216 x 7.5 = 1620 gallons of septic tank capacity - this is
probably nominally a "1500-gallon septic tank".

Note that if the dimensions given by your septic contractor are the external
dimensions of the tank rather than the internal dimensions then the volume given by
this calculation will come up with a septic tank size estimate that is higher than the
actual tank capacity - the error is due to failure to allow for the thickness of the
septic tank walls.

So for fitting a septic tank into a tight spot, the outer dimensions of the septic tank
are important. But for accurate calculation of the capacity of a septic tank you need
to use the septic tank internal dimensions.

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