Solid Waste Separator
The purpose of a solid waste separator is to protect the septic tank. Unlike household septic tanks that are pumped periodically to prevent overloading, piggery septic tanks have no available service for pumping and disposal. Additionally, piggeries generate a higher volume of solids than households, so piggery septic tanks fill much faster than residential septic tanks. Incorporate a solid waste separator where the effluent from the piggery (i.e., the manure and wash-water) needs to be separated into solid and liquid portions so that each can be managed effectively.
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How it works
There are various options for solid waste separators, from a screened scoop that is emptied after each washing, to filter bags that allow solids to compost in place before removal. The important thing is to keep solid waste (manure and pig hair) out of the septic tank. The septic system washdown piggery design utilizes water to clean the pens. On a daily basis the pens are washed down with water. To minimize the amount of water necessary, it is recommend that the solids be scraped into the waste canal before cleaning the pens. Using a pressure washer will also help reduce the amount of water necessary. The waste water from the pens flows into a solid separator tray where the solids are retained while the liquids are allowed to pass. The solid nutrients in the separator tray must be emptied into the compost bins and mixed with a carbon source (i.e. wood chips) to start the composting process. After passing through the solid separator the liquid waste flows into the septic tank for primary treatment and then into the drainfield for final treatment and disposal.
How to build it
There are many types of solids separation techniques. Like so many other situations, solids separators have trade-offs between cost and effectiveness. In other words, a low-cost system will likely have low-level performance (i.e., much of the solids will not be removed from the effluent), whereas achieving high levels of separation may require more expensive options. Solids separators are always coupled with other components of a manure management system.
Solids separators will not work if the solids are not removed from the unit in accordance with the unit's design. For example:
Solids separators will not work if the solids are not removed from the unit in accordance with the unit's design. For example:
- A small, low-cost solids separator may require the solids to be removed on a daily basis (usually by shovel). If the solids from such a system are not removed, then the entire manure management system will not work properly, probably resulting in a big mess.
- A large, high-cost solids separator may require the solids to be removed only once a month (or even once per year for really big systems). An owner of such a system can contract with a clean-out service to pump out the solids separator, thereby avoiding any effort by the owner regarding management or handling of the solid material. This savings in effort is off-set by the cost of the clean-out service.