Have you considered building your own septic system but don’t think it’s cost effective? Maybe these 5 reasons will change your mind. According to one source, the average American family spends over 9% of their income on their homes’ water supply, sewage systems, and related expenses. However, this percentage can be cut dramatically when you build your own single toilet septic tank system as opposed to paying a contractor to build it for you.
There are so many things to take into consideration when you’re designing a septic system that it makes your head spin. If you thought choosing a toilet can be challenging, just wait until you start trying to figure out which one of the thousand septic tank brands is best for you. Should you buy our product, or maybe go with a less expensive option? How about the toilet brand? Maybe it’s better to just DIY it and save money that way? Maybe I should ask my friends for some opinions on the matter instead.
⚠️ What the Community Experiences Say
- Some DIY success stories: “I built one out of 55 gal drums 25 years ago and it’s still functioning at my lake house.”
Many campers and RV owners have rigged multi-drum systems as basic septic units or dump stations, often using yeast or Rid-X to help break down solids. - Limitations and concerns:
- A single drum won’t separate solids and liquids effectively; it easily becomes clogged with solids.
- Without proper soil testing, piping, and location planning, it may leach contaminants into groundwater or nearby wells.
📚 Best Practices for Drum-Based Septic Systems
- Use multiple drums in stages:
- Common DIY setups use two or three barrels in series—first for settling solids and then for liquid discharge into a leach field.
- Add drainage piping:
- Outlet liquid should flow out near the top into gravel-filled trenches or leach pipes.
- Drill holes only in the upper half of the barrel—otherwise, it just becomes a cesspool.
- Prepare the site properly:
- Dig a hole, bed the drum on gravel, fill around it with gravel, and bury.
- Insert PVC inlet and outlet through secure bulkhead fittings.
- Maintain regularly:
- Even DIY systems demand periodic cleaning/pumping or else solids will overload the barrels and leach line.
- Bacterial additives help, but aren’t a cure-all:
- Yeast or enzyme treatments (Rid-X) can boost breakdown but don’t replace proper structural design.
❗ Code & Environmental Considerations
- Most local health departments don’t approve these systems and may require standard septic designs, especially near wells or water bodies.
- Cave-dwelling or backwoods systems may go uninspected, but using one near neighbors or public land risks heavy fines for contamination .
If you’re aiming for a legal, low-maintenance septic system, it’s better to invest in a regulation-approved septic tank and drain field, sized for your usage and soil type. A DIY drum-based system is better seen as a temporary workaround, not a long-term solution.
Septic tanks are usually made from concrete or plastic, but here are some instructions on how to make your own from a 55 gallon drum:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Clean Out Your Drum
|
| Step 2 | Cut a Hole in the Top of Your Drum
|
A septic tank, also known as a cesspool or soakaway, is a container buried below the ground into which sewage or wastewater flows. Septic tanks provide a relatively inexpensive means of disposing of waste on sites where the soil has been proven to be porous enough to filter wastewater through natural processes. In areas with sandy soils (which are less porous), an artificial leaching bed (activated sludge bed) may be used in place of a septic tank.
The primary purpose of a septic tank is to collect and break down solid waste. Solid waste consists of paper products, food wastes and other similar items that do not dissolve in water. Once solid waste has been separated from liquid effluent, it will settle at the bottom of the tank where it can be pumped out into an absorption area. The size of a septic tank should be based on the amount of wastewater produced daily by its household users. In general, one person generates about 25 gallons per day while a family of four produces about 50 gallons per day.[1]
A septic tank is a watertight chamber and one of the most important components of a typical septic system. It receives household sewage from the house and separates solids from liquids, which are then stored in individual drain fields.
In order to understand how it works, you need to know what goes into it:
The average household generates about 15-20 gallons of wastewater per person per day. This wastewater contains human waste, food particles, and other solid material.
The first step in treating this wastewater is to separate the solids from the liquids. This is done by pumping it through a grate in the top of the tank called an effluent weir. The solids (feces) settle out on the bottom of the tank while lighter materials float on top (urine).
The liquid portion of your septic system consists of a small amount of water and bacteria that break down the organic material in your waste so that it can be safely returned to your yard or used as fertilizer on crops or plants. The remaining solid material is separated from this liquid by gravity at an outlet pipe located at or near ground level called an effluent discharge pipe (or “effluent pipe”).
This is a single toilet septic system. It is designed for a home with one bathroom. The tank is 500 gallons and comes complete with all the accessories needed to install it. It has a 5 year warranty on the tank, 2 year warranty on all other parts. This system comes with a built in pump that, when working properly will pump the effluent from the tank into your drain field. The pump may need to be replaced after about 10 years or so of operation depending on how often it runs, and what kind of water quality you have in your area. You should also have your septic tank pumped every 3 years or so to prevent any clogging problems in the drain fields or filters.
System includes:
500 gallon septic tank with lid and discharge pipe (1)
Faucet assembly (1)
Discharge pipe and fittings (1)
Pump assembly (1)
A 500 gallon septic tank is typically used in a residential application. This is a single toilet septic system, which means that it has a single toilet and one bathroom. The tank is used to store wastewater while it is being treated by the septic system.
The tanks themselves are made out of concrete or fiberglass, depending on your preference. They come in many different colors as well, so you can get one that matches the décor of your home. The tanks can be installed at any time during construction. You just need to make sure that you have enough room for them before starting construction on the house itself.
The size of the tank will depend on how many people live in your house and how often they use their toilets. If there are only 2 people in your house, then you probably don’t need a very big tank at all. If there are more than 2 people living in your home, then you might want to consider getting a larger tank that can hold more wastewater before it needs to be emptied out again.
A 500-gallon septic tank is designed to handle a family of four and a single toilet. The single-toilet septic system has an effluent filter that can be used with a toilet or two.
The 500-gallon septic tank is a great choice for most homes smaller than 3,000 square feet. It can also be used in rural areas where water pressure is weak or where freezing weather is common. You can use this tank to process wastewater from sinks, showers and laundry machines in addition to the toilet waste.
The 500-gallon septic tank doesn’t require any special maintenance beyond regular cleaning, but keep in mind that there are specific requirements for removing solids from your system every three years. If you don’t meet these requirements, you could face fines and other legal problems from your local municipality.
Septic tank installation cost
The septic tank is a vital part of your home’s plumbing system. It’s designed to treat sewage, so it separates solid waste from liquid and then stores the wastewater until it can be pumped out of the tank and into the drain field.
Septic tanks are typically made from concrete or fiberglass. They can be installed under your house or in an outbuilding on your property. A typical septic system has two components: the tank itself and the drain field (or leach field). The drain field is where the wastewater exits the tank and flows into underground pipes that distribute it throughout the soil of your yard, where it acts as a fertilizer for plants (and doesn’t pollute groundwater). The whole system works by gravity alone — there is no pump involved — but many homeowners want to install one anyway for convenience purposes. If you have a mechanical pump installed on your home’s plumbing, then you may not need any additional equipment at all.
✅ Summary Table
| System Type | Pros | Cons/Risks |
|---|---|---|
| Single drum | Cheap and simple | Fills with solids quickly; no proper separation or drainage |
| Multi-drum staged | Better settling and drainage | Still informal, needs drilling, leach trenches, and upkeep |
| Standard septic system | Reliable, code-compliant | Higher cost and requires permits/professional installation |
👷 Who This Works For
- Occasional-use, private/camp/rural settings where no inspection is expected.
- Budget-constrained owners who understand frequent maintenance is required.
- DIYers ready to install leach field trenches, drainage fabric, and consider periodic pump-out.