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Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 10:05 pm
by pyrogaz
I'm self building in the north Highlands and I've been advised that for sewage I'll have to install a CAP tank and a "rumbling drain". Does anyone know what a rumbling drain is? I've been given conflicting descriptions of both the layout and the purpose.
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 10:56 am
by islander
pyrogaz wrote:I'm self building in the north Highlands and I've been advised that for sewage I'll have to install a CAP tank and a "rumbling drain". Does anyone know what a rumbling drain is? I've been given conflicting descriptions of both the layout and the purpose.
A rumbling drain is a type of drainage discharge from a septic tank and treatment bed that acts as a partial soakaway before finally discharging into a watercourse, land drain or similar, or similar.
Typically the flow would go septic tank -> reed bed -> rumbling drain -> discharge
Ask SEPA or your local planners for full clarification and specification.
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:34 pm
by pyrogaz
Thanks Islander (as a matter of interest, which island are you on?)
Unfortunately SEPA and the planners are also saying different things.
The planners (including building regs) say the rumbling drain is the same layout as a soakaway. SEPA, on the otherhand, say it is a herringbone land drain with the effluent flowing down the main artery, i.e. water is drained from the site to dilute the effluent.
Could it be that during the winter the rumbling drain is supposed to take advantage of the high water table and dilute the effluent prior to discharge to a ditch, and during summer the effluent soaks back along the herringbone into the surrounding soil?
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 10:30 pm
by Dave_L
"Rumbling drain"????
Sounds like the i/c I unblocked today as it cleared!!!!!!!
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:01 pm
by islander
I'm on Orkney 
I've heard rumbling drains described as partial soakaways - if you Google the term you'll find links to SEPA, Borders Council, Highland Council, and Caithness. It's probably best to listen to the Planners. Another idea would be to have a chat with your local friendly building control officer - they'll be signing off the various stages of the build after all.
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 5:58 am
by lutonlagerlout
the building inspector or BCO as they are now called are the ones to listen to,i never really thought about island sewage before i expect it has to go someplace
LLL