My community is considering building a clubhouse; a place to meet and have parties. No one would actually live there. Thing is, we know there’s no way the land will perc. Some have discussed using a holding tank in place of a septic system. Has anybody ever done this? How big would the tank need to be?
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Learn how to plan, fabricate, and install a chute to conveniently send your dirty clothes from an upstairs bathroom or hallway to your laundry room below.
Featured Video
SawStop's Portable Tablesaw is Bigger and Better Than BeforeHighlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
Check your local plumbing codes. They should give you some guidance. Holding tanks are sized based on the type of occupancy, the number of persons expected to be using they system and a minimum expected pumping interval. In Wisconsin, for example, the requirement for public buildings is a minimum 5 day holding capacity or, in any case, not less than 2000 gallons.
Holding tanks in most areas are not sized by occupancy.
A septic system tank ( c/w a leaching field bed) will be sized by the number of bedrooms in the dwelling and/or the total number of occupants.
2000 gallon and larger HOLDING tanks are not uncommon.
Technically, that's correct. Again, I can only speak for the Wisconsin code. With one and two-family residences, the size of the holding tank OR septic tank is based on the number of bedrooms. However, there is a tacit assumption about how many people will be sleeping in those bedrooms. We all know there are situations with a large extended family that the number assumed to be habitating the bedrooms is greatly exceeded. Quickstep asked specifically for information about a public building and I answered that based on the Wisconsin code. I understand that the code in his locale may differ, thus, it's always best to contact the local authorities to verify the code requirements.