Septic systems for new construction

Last activity 12 March 2023 by WillieWeb

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danimcdg34Active member20 July 2022 10:32:10

I am investigation building a small house ( 60 sq meters) on a large property ( 2 acres) close to the Rio Yasica ( north shore). Can anyone help me out with what options there are for a septic system in this area?

DominicanadaMikeViP20 July 2022 11:26:38

1049

Build your own.

LT AmericanActive member20 July 2022 12:05:04

@DominicanadaMike how do you do that?

WillieWebViP20 July 2022 12:39:33

1660

As for installing one..... there are all sorts of septic companies.... whether cleaning or installing.

Just ask around at a ferreteria

danimcdg34Active member20 July 2022 12:52:46

@DominicanadaMike do you have experience in doing this?

danimcdg34Active member20 July 2022 12:55:35

@WillieWeb it is sometimes difficult to talk engineering issues with guys at the ferreteria ( especially since my espanol is rudimentary at best!)...I am looking for a) what do locals do? B) what do foreigners do? C) what is available to mitigate damage to the nearby river....etc etc...

Guest2022Guest20 July 2022 13:17:04

214245

Masonry septic tanks with a soakway as example above (Google and you will find plenty of information and plans) is common throughout the tropics. In DR most construct a two chamber tank (sludge settlement chamber first with baffle wall to second chamber) and the waste eating bacteria are very lively in warm temperatures. You could have a grey water collection tank after the masonry septic tank and use that grey water for irrigation.

There is nothing complicated to this and a 'maestro' will readily construct if you discuss details.

There are plastic propriety tanks too and locally made as link:

http://superseptico.com/

danimcdg34Active member20 July 2022 15:10:41

@lennoxnev thank you so much for all this!!! Spoke to a contractor earlier today and he suggested a concrete tank as the best option. I'll go over this drawing with him and make some decisions!! Thank you for your help!!

alvareztravelingMember25 July 2022 17:34:51

@danimcdg34 Mind sharing what they quote you for the masonry septic tank so we could have an idea?

Guest2022Guest25 July 2022 18:00:07

#10

214245

Biggest size listed 10m2 @ 200usd /sm = estimated 2000USD would seem of the right order if you buy materials and use labour only.

A main contractor would probably charge double that.

Breakdown check:

Excavation: 2 men x 1 day = 2000pesos

Materials: 6 c yds concrete aggregate = 9000pesos

3 c yds sand = 6000pesos

30 bags cement = 9000 pesos

rebar = 5000 pesos?

Blocks 150 x c40 = 6000 pesos

Transport 1500 pesos

Materials 36,500 allow 40,000

Mano de obras 75000 includes his own formwork

Total estimated cost 115,000 = 2150usd

In the 'campo' the day rate for an unskilled labourer is 600 pesos a day, up to 1500 for skilled construction workers.

danimcdg34Active member25 July 2022 20:06:31

#11

@alvareztraveling sure!! Will post when I have a quote.

TippjSerial expat25 July 2022 20:59:09

#12

563

I’m looking for someone to redirect my pipes from the Septic system to the main waste pipe in the street, I’ve had 3 quotes , 3 price’s that weren’t even close to each other and A couple of the guys couldn’t even answer some basic questions like related to back flow and check valves , one starts thinking to one self is it me are we talking about the same job…. 🤞

danimcdg34Active member03 August 2022 10:58:38

#13

@alvareztraveling

Per your request, I found a maestro who will be building the shell of the house for me as well as the septic tank. I believe this might be a better than usual price since he is doing both jobs and is also a neighbour. The quote for a 2 meter by 1.70 by 2 meter deep septic tank "completo" for labour only is 25000 pesos. I am supplying materials and he has estimated 200 cement blocks to do it.

Hope this helps!

Guest2022Guest03 August 2022 11:17:31

#14

214245

Snap his hand off!

You are doing this the best and cheapest way imo.

Include all the other external masonry works such as septic tank, walls, entry gate posts, entry canopy in the base bid for the house shell and use a labour only maestro and buy materials direct. Late extras always come with big premiums.

That way he uses his labour efficiently, uses his formwork already on site and uses up all the surplus wagon load aggregates bought for the house shell.

Tap into his knowledge for recommendations for other trade maestros.

danimcdg34Active member03 August 2022 17:12:48

#15

Thanks for your encouragement and input...we start Monday. He is planning to build interior partition walls with the blocks as well...I see that a lot here so assume it is best for cost control. My understanding is that wood framing and drywall with all associated finish work is uncommon due to costs and experienced labour in those areas?

Guest2022Guest04 August 2022 13:38:51

#16

214245

The use of blockwork reinforced vertically and horizontally for the building shell with restraining ring beams at footing, ground level and bond beam levels and shear walls across the width and length of the building are best served by masonry and concrete. Such provisions satisfy the requirements of seismic codes here.

Cross wall constraints do stiffen the buildings to severe lateral jerks common in an earthquake. Wood or metal stud offer little resistance to lateral shear forces.

The additional restraining link reinforcement required to columns and beams by seismic code is rarely seen in small building construction but common in high rise city apartments. It is there for a reason to prevent catastrophic shearing/burst out failures when a major hits DR and that is overdue.

Is your maestro working to a CODIA structural engineers design? Or at a minimum seismic recommended detailing?

danimcdg34Active member04 August 2022 18:15:04

#17

@lennoxnev

I doubt very much he even knows that a code exists never mind knows what the code says and follows it.

When he was building the other house down the street I know there was a lot of rebar placed vertically and I also saw some laying horizontally.

danimcdg34Active member13 August 2022 13:40:50

#18

@lennoxnev

I'm so excited! All the re-bar is "installed" and the footing is being poured today. There are about 7 or 8 guys working, working the cement mixer, shuttling back and forth with wheelbarrows, an occasional shout that the wheelbarrow is full now....and of course the obligatory audience of local guys hoping to be able to get some work out of it at some point, or maybe just here to socialize? It is a beehive of activity!!

Taedyn FactsMember13 August 2022 14:21:19

#19

@lennoxvov these are the post that provide all of us with so much information. Very helpful to me and so many others who want to build in the DR.

michael7014Active member11 March 2023 19:55:08

#20

I was watching a video online of a home being built in Cabrera, anyone looking to see how its done should watch these 5 videos, you'll see the septic in the 4th video and the truck rilling the lines in the 5th I think. I would have never thought of drilling vertically for the field lines. Kinda smart when you are limited in lot sizes. You can see the videos here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHee6moMjSw

I'm not 1005 sure it was being drilled vertically but there looked to be a small drill truck and the narrator side the pile was being put in for black water. I think the grey was being used for watering! I'll ask the guy since we know him1

WillieWebViP12 March 2023 10:22:36

#21

1660

Barry Soloman..... real estate salesman in Cabrera does the video

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