Decommission septic tank

[flanagaj]

There's an old 1000 gallon septic on site that at some point I need to decommission.  It looks like an onion shaped fibreglass tank, but I'll need to get it emptied first to be certain.   I've got a huge pile of rubble that I was contemplating using to fill it in and then was going finish the top off with concrete.  I suppose that I need to also smash a hole in the bottom to ensure any water ingress drains.  Does that work?

 

I am contemplating using the tank for a knock up make shift outdoor toilet and sink.  Will save on portaloo hire.

[Russell griffiths]

Another job for that digger you need to buy, I had mine emptied then dug around the top down about a metre, then rip the fibreglass top off, smash the digger into the central bit and a big plastic ball will come out, dig down inside the tank as far as you can reach and use the teeth of the bucket to punch holes in the sides and bottom, you might not be able to reach the bottom, fill with type one, big rubble will leave voids. 

[Mr Punter]

If it is outside the footprint of the building you may want to keep it to use it for rainwater harvesting or stormwater attenuation.  I  used an old well for rainwater and pumped it up to a drainage ditch.  The new owner added a facility to use it for his garden.

[flanagaj]

59 minutes ago, Russell griffiths said:

Another job for that digger you need to buy, I had mine emptied then dug around the top down about a metre, then rip the fibreglass top off, smash the digger into the central bit and a big plastic ball will come out, dig down inside the tank as far as you can reach and use the teeth of the bucket to punch holes in the sides and bottom, you might not be able to reach the bottom, fill with type one, big rubble will leave voids. 

The digger fetish has got bad!  I keep spotting them on my travels and boring the wife with how I'd love that one.

 

Thanks re the type 1 tip and punching holes into it with the digger bucket.

[Roger440]

52 minutes ago, flanagaj said:

The digger fetish has got bad!  I keep spotting them on my travels and boring the wife with how I'd love that one.

 

Thanks re the type 1 tip and punching holes into it with the digger bucket.

 

Buy one. One things for sure, you wont regret it. Prices are lower than they have been for some time too.

 

[flanagaj]

20 hours ago, Roger440 said:

 

Buy one. One things for sure, you wont regret it. Prices are lower than they have been for some time too.

 

A 1.7 tonne machine is still going to cost ~ 10k

[Roger440]

18 minutes ago, flanagaj said:

A 1.7 tonne machine is still going to cost ~ 10k

 

I got mine for £5k last year. Older stuff doesnt come up often, but it is out there.

 

 

[Russell griffiths]

My 1.5 tonne all singing all dancing kubota was £7000 plus vat. 

[Thorfun]

8 hours ago, Russell griffiths said:

My 1.5 tonne all singing all dancing kubota was £7000 plus vat. 

What model and with how many hours on the clock?

 

and I’d 1.5T enough? I had a 2.7T Kubota but had to sell it to help finance the build but am now looking for something to help with landscaping and other things. Just wondering if 1.5T would be enough 

[Russell griffiths]

6 minutes ago, Thorfun said:

What model and with how many hours on the clock?

 

and I’d 1.5T enough? I had a 2.7T Kubota but had to sell it to help finance the build but am now looking for something to help with landscaping and other things. Just wondering if 1.5T would be enough 

u15-3                  2500 hours

the only thing I haven’t done with it is the bulk digging of the house footprint, as I had to go down 750mm over 260square metres. 
and installing our new treatment plant as that was over 2.4 below ground level. 
 

I might have been lucky but it’s the best thing I’ve bought in a long time., had it 6-7 years now. 

[crispy_wafer]

I've driven a range of machines while having a go at this build, dinky sub 1 ton micro up to a 3t Takeuchi  Personally the sweet spot for me is around 2.5 range.  It can be trailered, and is strong enough and has long enough reach to do meaningful jobs, and will tick over without needing full revs to do the job.  Wouldn't say no to a clean sub 2 ton machine though.  Still do a lovely job for ground work, levelling out, grading, ditching, lifting and carrying from a flatbed...

 

Used takeuchi, volvo, and kubota.  didnt like the volvo, the door latch was at knee height when getting in an out, got bruises to prove it.  Got an old beat up kubota compact tractor so love the brand, but the takeuchi wins for me as it had a radio 🤣...

[ToughButterCup]

On 25/03/2025 at 20:54, flanagaj said:

The digger fetish has got bad!  I keep spotting them on my travels and boring the wife with how I'd love that one....

 

After 8 years I've just about stopped doing that. Much to SWMBO's relief.

My 'line' was to say that it should be a criminal offence to leave a digger unused in a field where passers-by can see them. Diggers should either be hidden or in use,  and NOT left out in the open to cause distress to needy non-digger owners. 

 

Mind you, my mate has a 60 tonner out in a field within sight of the motorway: every time we drive past, Debbie dares me not to look. Fail every time.

He won't let me play on it. Wonder why.

[flanagaj]

On 25/03/2025 at 20:30, Mr Punter said:

If it is outside the footprint of the building you may want to keep it to use it for rainwater harvesting or stormwater attenuation.  I  used an old well for rainwater and pumped it up to a drainage ditch.  The new owner added a facility to use it for his garden.

How would you go about sanitising it though, before storing rainwater in it?

[Mr Punter]

15 hours ago, flanagaj said:

How would you go about sanitising it though, before storing rainwater in it?

 

Get it emptied and give it a jetwash.

[Russell griffiths]

5 hours ago, Mr Punter said:

 

Get it emptied and give it a jetwash.

Only for watering the garden though, not connected back into the house. 

[saveasteading]

6 hours ago, Mr Punter said:

emptied and give it a jetwash.

Emptied yes. And ask them to hose it down. But I'd stop there because jet washing will be messy but incomplete. It's never going to be clean, and bacteria along with new rainwater will sort it enough for garden watering.