running power cost for septic bank

Hello everybody, we moved to our first lifestyle block a few months ago but still new to many things.

Want to ask a question about the power usage for the septic tank.....we have a main power switch to control power for our water tank and septic tank together... and we just noticed we seem to need 20kw/24 hours for this only, is it normal? I guess the water tank pump only works when we turn on the water tap, and the waster water pump only works when the waste is up to a certain level, so the only 24/7 working pump is the air compressor pump for the septic tank, but does it need to use 20kw/24 hours power as it really brings us a big bill just on that, that is about 600kw/month just for this.

Can anybody give me some clue on this? Am a bit concerned as it feels like it is burning money all the time.

Thanks.:confused:

20kWh per day is certainly very high, definitely doesn't sound right to me. That is more power than our entire house with water pump and septic uses in a day.

Do you have a electric hot water cylinder? How sure are you that it is the septic / water system that is drawing the power ?

A conventional septic tank and dispersal field works by gravity alone and has no moving parts and therefore no need for mechanical assistance. Do you know what sort of system you have?

The one at our last house required power to pump the waste water into the irrigation field.

We have the Lifestyle system. I wondered how much power it used, so Icheked the meter with it on and off (we have a smartmeter), and without the pump running it was very low. As the system only pumps for a few minutes a few times a day, the pump can't use much either.
We use 15-20 kW per day total, so 20 for septic system and water pump is definitely too high.

Cigar;490823 wrote: We have the Lifestyle system. I wondered how much power it used, so Icheked the meter with it on and off (we have a smartmeter), and without the pump running it was very low. As the system only pumps for a few minutes a few times a day, the pump can't use much either.
We use 15-20 kW per day total, so 20 for septic system and water pump is definitely too high.

Just been out in the dark for a play - the septic system uses 0.06 to 0.07 kW when the waste pump isn't running. The waste pump is smaller than the 750 watt submersible I have, so should use bugger all for a few minutes a day, or even an hour a day.

Maybe one of your pumps (water or waste) is running 24/7? Which neither should be.

power? septic tank.. new one on me..

stephclark;490867 wrote: power? septic tank.. new one on me..

Same!

I really hope 'Op' can sort this out!

Can you hear the water pump switching on and off, a centrifugal pump that can't get up to pressure or the pressure switch set to high would cause it to run all the time.

stephclark;490867 wrote: power? septic tank.. new one on me..

It's not the traditional septic system, but a different system that is now a requirement in some areas/on some soils etc.

www.hyndsenv.co.nz/Video+Library/Hynds+L...stewater+System.html

Hi,

I am not familiar with your particular septic system.
A 750W load running for 24 hours a day will use 18 kWh a day ~ about the same as you 20 kWh.

I suspect that either the float switch (or other control) for the pump is broken (stuck on) or that there is a plumbing problem like a blockage in the impeller housing or the pipe downstream from the pump (pump runs but does not stop because the waste water level never drops low enough to switch off the float switch).

DO NOT ENTER your septic tank - there is likely to be gas in there instead of air, and IT CAN KILL! [xx(]

Usually the pumps in septic tanks are submersible ones that can be safely lifted out of the tank on the length of chain or pipe that is attached to them, however, if you are not familiar with how to do this, it is probably a very good idea to get a competent plumber to have a look for you. Do not be surprised if the plumber needs to call a sparky to help too.

Generally speaking, submersible pumps must not be allowed to run dry because they rely on the pumped liquid for cooling (if the pump controls are broken in the ON position, the pump may pump the tank dry, and then proceed to over heat and burn out).

Good luck