Changes

<!{|style="float: left;"|{{Language-- table at top of page with logo, picture, Application level, Management level, and input-output tables -->box|english_link=Soak_Pit|french_link=Puisard|spanish_link=Pozo_de_Absorción|hindi_link=coming soon|malayalam_link=coming soon|tamil_link=coming soon | korean_link=coming soon | chinese_link=Coming soon | indonesian_link=Coming soon | japanese_link=Coming soon}}|}{|width="100%"|style="width:50%;"|{{santablesantable_new|

sys3=[[Pour Flush Pit System with Twin Pitswithout Sludge Production|3]]|

sys5=[[Blackwater Treatment Biogas System with Infiltration|5]]|

Input1=Effluent |Input2=Greywater |Input3=Urine | Input4= Anal Cleansing Water|Input5=Stored Urine|Output1=- Stored Urine |Output2= Anal Cleansing Water | Output3= | Output4= | Output5=

[[Image:Icon_soak_pit.png |right|95px80px]]'''A Soak Pit, also known as a soakaway or leach pit, is a covered, porous-walled chamber that allows water to slowly soak into the ground. Pre-settled effluent from a Collection and Storage/Treatment or (Semi-) Centralized Treatment technology is discharged to the underground chamber from where it infiltrates into the surrounding soil.'''

The Soak Pit can be left empty and lined with '''A soak pit, also known as a soakaway or leach pit, is a covered, porous material (-walled chamber that allows water to provide support and prevent collapse), or left unlined and filled with coarse rocks and gravelslowly soak into the ground. The rocks and gravel will prevent the walls Pre-settled effluent from collapsing, but will still provide adequate space for the wastewater. In both cases, a layer of sand Collection and fine gravel should be spread across the bottom Storage/Treatment or (Semi-) Centralized Treatment technology is discharged to help disperse the flow. The soak pit should be between 1.5 and 4m deep, but never less than 1.5m above underground chamber from which it infiltrates into the ground water tablesurrounding soil.'''

<br>As wastewater (pre-treated greywater or blackwaterafter primary treatment) percolates through the soil from the Soak Pitsoak pit, small particles are filtered out by the soil matrix and organics are digested by micro-organismsmicroorganisms. Thus, Soak Pits soak pits are best suited to soils for soil with good absorptive properties; clay, hard packed or rocky soils are soil is not appropriate.

- Can be built and repaired with locally available materials. <br> - Technique simple to apply for all users <br>- Small land area required. <br> - Low capital cost; low and operating cost. <br> - Can be built and maintained with locally available materials. <br> - Simple technique for all users. costs | con=- Pretreatment Primary treatment is required to prevent clogging, although eventual clogging is inevitable. <br> - May negatively affect soil and groundwater properties.

==Adequacy=Health Aspects/Acceptance=== As long as the soak pit is not used for raw sewage, and as long as the previous Collection and Storage/Treatment technology is functioning well, health concerns are minimal. The technology is located underground and, thus, humans andanimals should have no contact with the effluent.Since the soak pit is odourless and not visible, it should be accepted by even the most sensitive communities.

===Operation & Maintenance=== A Soak Pit does not provide adequate treatment for raw wastewater well-sized soak pit should last between 3 and 5 years without maintenance. To extend the life of a soak pit will clog quickly. A Soak Pit , care should be used for discharging presettled blackwater taken to ensure that the effluent has been clarified and/ or greywaterfiltered to prevent the excessive build-up of solids. Soak pits are appropriate for rural Particles and peri-urban settlements. They depend on soil with a sufficient absorptive capacity. They are not appropriate for areas that are prone biomass will eventually clog the pit and it will need to flooding be cleaned or have high groundwater tablesmoved. When the performance of the soak pit deteriorates, the material inside the soak pit can be excavated and refilled.

==Health Aspects=Field experiences===The following project(s) utilize soak pits.<br>{|style="border: 2px solid #e0e0e0; width: 20%; text-align: justify; background-color: #e9f5fd;" cellpadding="2"<!--rsr logo here-->|- style="vertical-align: top"|[[Image:akvorsr logo_lite.png|center|60px|link=http://akvo.org/products/Acceptancersr/]]<!--project blocks here-->|- style="vertical-align: bottom"|[[Image:project 644.jpg |thumb|center|140px|<font size="2"><center>[http://rsr.akvo.org/project/644/ RSR Project 644]<br>Rwenzori Integrated School WASH Project</center></font>|link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/644/ ]] |}

==Maintenance=References===* Ahrens, B. (2005). [https://www.mtu.edu/peacecorps/programs/civil/pdfs/brooke-ahrens-thesis-final.pdf A Comparison of Wash Area and Soak Pit Construction: The Changing Nature of Urban, Rural, and Peri-Urban Linkages in Sikasso, Mali]. Peace Corps, US. (Detailed construction instructions)

A well* Mara, D. D. (1996). Low-sized Soak Pit should last between 3 and 5 years without maintenanceCost Urban Sanitation. To extend the life of a Soak PitWiley, Chichester, care should be taken to ensure that the effluent has been clarified and/or filtered well to prevent excessive build up of solidsUK. The Soak Pit should be kept away from highpp. 63-traffic areas so that the soil above and around it is not compacted. When the performance of the Soak Pit deteriorates, the material inside the soak pit can be excavated and refilled65. To allow for future access, a removable (preferably concreteBook; Dimensioning calculations) lid should be used to seal the pit until it needs to be maintained.

Particles and biomass will eventually clog the pit and it will need to be cleaned or moved* Oxfam (2008). [https://policy-practice.oxfam.org/resources/septic-tank-guidelines-126711/ Septic Tank Guidelines]. Technical Brief. Oxfam GB, Oxford, UK. p. 4.

==References=Acknowledgements=== * Elizabeth Tilley et.al (2008). [http://www.eawag.ch/organisation/abteilungen/sandec/publikationen/publications_sesp/downloads_sesp/compendium_high.pdf Compendium of Sanitation Systems and Technologies] ([http://www.eawag.ch/organisation/abteilungen/sandec/publikationen/publications_sesp/downloads_sesp/compendium_low.pdf low res version]). Department of Water and Sanitation in Development Countries ([http://www.sandec.ch/ Sandec]) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag). (Provides a full overview of sanitation systems.) * Ahrens, B. (2005). A Comparison of Wash Area and Soak Pit Construction: The Changing Nature of Urban, Rural, and Peri-Urban Linkages in Sikasso, Mali. Peace Corp, USA. Available: http://www.cee.mtu.edu/peacecorps/reports/Brooke *Ahrens_Final_Report.pdf (Detailed construction instructions) * Mara, DD. (1996). Low-Cost Urban Sanitation. Wiley, Chichester, UK. pp 63–65. (Dimensioning calculations) * Polprasert, C. and Rajput, VS. (1982). Environmental Sanitation Reviews{{: Septic Tank and Septic Systems. Environmental Acknowledgements Sanitation Information Center, AIT, Bangkok, Thailand. pp 31–58.}}