Reading paths
Reading paths
A reading path arranges the pages of this guide into a short route for a particular situation. Instead of reading everything in turn, pick yours and follow the links in order: the basics first, then what will help when you talk to professionals.
A cottage used at weekends and a house lived in all year ask very different things of a sewage system. The same system can suit one owner perfectly and constantly frustrate another, so the place to start is an honest description of how you actually live there.
Reading paths include only published pages. The order is chosen so that each page builds on the one before, and the "Basics" and "In depth" labels show where the text covers core concepts and where it goes into detail.
Summer cottage
For those who come out of town in the warm season and leave the house empty for long periods.
- Holding tanksBasics
Why many people consider a holding tank for occasional use and what is important to remember when siting it.
- Getting ready for winterBasics
What to do before you leave so you do not start next season with repairs.
- Answers about winter and servicingIn depth
Pump-outs, shutting down and who to trust with maintenance when you are away for a long time.
Year-round home
For families who live out of town permanently and want the system to work without being noticed.
- Five checks before choosingBasics
Occupants, soil, access, electricity and servicing: where any conversation about a system begins.
- Sorption post-treatmentIn depth
When water is passed through a filter medium after the main treatment and what that requires.
- Pumping stationsIn depth
When wastewater cannot flow by gravity: how a station is built and the signs of a fault.
Buying a house with a system in place
For those choosing a house where a system is already installed who want to understand exactly what they are getting.
- Glossary of systems and documentsBasics
So you can understand the system's documentation and the design, if the seller has kept them.
- Answers about choice and smellsBasics
Which signs to look out for when viewing the property and what to ask the seller.
- Guide sectionsIn depth
A map of all topics, so you can quickly find the right page as the purchase goes ahead.
Read next
- Sections
Four groups of topics: systems, choice and design, day-to-day use, and safety on your property.
- Guides
How to get your home sewage system ready for winter, plus the catalogue of practical articles.
- Glossary
Glossary: septic tank, aerobic treatment, pump-outs, post-treatment, site surveys and design.
What this text is based on
- SP 32.13330 "Sewerage. External networks and facilities" (Russian code of practice)
- Equipment manufacturers' instructions (general provisions)
Rules, requirements for treatment facilities and equipment manuals are updated from time to time, so the final word belongs to the design, the regulations in force and the documentation of your particular system. The texts here cite Russian standards; other countries have their own building and sanitary rules, so check local regulations and permits. This guide explains how systems work and why decisions are made, but it does not replace a designer, an installer or a service company.