When it comes to waste disposal in Nigerian homes and neighbourhoods, there is no city wide central sewage system as you would find in some developed countries, but is Nigeria even developed?
Each unit of home in this country tries to create their own sewage system, and a tank built into the compound where waste and other effluent are stored.

Such waste storage units are most times below the ground. The common practice in Nigeria is to dig a big hole, which should be planned to be commensurate to the number of persons that will live in the housing units.
For smaller homes, a smaller tank will be planned, and for bigger housing units like blocks of flats and other multiple dwelling units, then a concrete work which will seal the waste into the ground will do.

Digging for the storage tank to be underground is ideal because you would not want waste to flow out or mix with other items in the compound like water sources or farms and vegetations because this could contaminate the water sources or vegetables, leading to disease outbreaks.

The Nigerian building code recommends that sewage tanks and their attached soak away systems should be underground. These soak away pits are then lined with block work to form the side walls of the tank.
Looking at it from the top, you will think its a small room being built underground, of course its a room, just not rooms for human habitation! Reinforced concrete columns to make the corners are also used.
The importance of these columns are for the structural integrity, and also for the prevention of lateral pressure which might bear down on the tank from the top. Making a middle concrete beam to round the soak away and septic tanks is also necessary.

These reinforced beams are needed because of stability. The next step in the construction of soak aways are the plastering, the plaster work is for the septic tank side, where the effluent is stored, it is important that the effluent will not seep through the tank walls and mix with the ground water in the surrounding areas.

The section of the soak away where waste water is meant to seep away is at one side, usually left open in between blocks to slowly let off excess water into the surrounding ground, as opposed to the soak away where the effluent is supposed to be stored till they degrade.

The decking work on septic tanks are meant to form a rigid cover for the soak away, this will prevent the risk of people or other domestic animals from falling into the pit. The decking is also reinforced as other decking slab done in home construction. An opening is then left for the evacuation of waste when it gets filled.

It is recommended that septic tanks/soak away systems be constructed to last for a long time before evacuation, so that home owners/dwellers should not be going through the inconvenience of evacuating waste regularly".

After going through all these processes plus financial burden to build a regular traditional septic soakaway tank, let's also consider another type of septic tank called the biodigester, but this time, smaller in size and space needed.

Let's get to know a little more about the biodigester.

The biodigester is a small enclosed chamber that replaces the septic tank or soak-away pit.

How does a biodigester work?

The biodigester is an aerobic decomposition system that treats toilet waste and flush water in the chamber as it breaks down human waste completely with oxygen in a way that odour is not generated.

The chamber itself is a filter, that is, when you flush your water closet (wc), the digester filters the toilet waste water through grades of sand, fibre net and porous concrete, allowing non-toxic clean and odorless water to drain out to your garden, soak-away or gutter as the case may be.

To help contribute our small quota, we provide expert solution in toilet waste management through the installation of bio-digesters.

More post coming shortly..

With a bio-digester, you do not need to spend a fortune on building a septic tank or soak-away.
This system occupies minimal space and does not emit stench like the ordinary septic tanks or soak-away.

Besides, the bio-digester appear small, but hardly fill up and can be installed in any corner of the home.
Through a process of controlled anaerobic digestion of human waste, the bio-digester produces usable sub-products, such as bio-gas, organic compost and water for domestic use.

It is built in rectangular shape with a thick and strong body of concrete on all sides A bio-digester is an on-site system, which consumes a small space of 6feet by 2feet with a depth of 3feet depending on the water level of the area of installation. This system works for residential homes, commercial apartments, schools, shopping malls, estates, among others.

Bio-digesters are sustainable because they are easy to maintain and must not be blocked using sanitary pads, baby diapers and nylon bags.

Some questions people ask immediately they get on the phone;
How much does it cost to set it up in my house?

My answer is always a question.
1. What's the type of house you want it for?
2. How many toilets do you have there?
3. Is it dry land or swampy/waterlogged?

Apart from these questions I ask, there are different sizes of biodigesters we provide depending on the number of toilets in the building.

Our aim in all of these arrangements is to get everyone satisfied with our services.

Dont forget to like and share our post if this information makes sense to you, thanks.

The septic tank will always have issues in the long run and that's why we advice people to install a biodigester instead because it'll never get full neither will it contaminate ground water.

The biodigester is very efficient and works wonders.

So let me tell you more about the biodigester.

*Someone asked if it digests 'shit'* and the answer is, Yes it does digest and converts it to water and that's why its called a biodigester.

*Can it get filled-up?* No it can never and will never get full.
Except our ladies and mums decide to flush sanitary pads, baby diapers or nylon bags, then that's where the wahala sets in because it will definitely get blocked along the line.

*Where does the flush water go to?*
The biodigester is constructed such that there's an exit pipe attached to it that allows the waste water to go into the ground or if there's a public drainage, it can be channelled to it. Note that, the digester processes the waste and as such, the waste water is cleared of any odour.

*Does the biodigester handle kitchen and bathroom water?*
No, it doesn't handle kitchen and bathroom waste water. A soakhole must be provided for this because the biodigester is not a soakaway that stores water. It only processes the 'shit'.

*How long can it last?*
It lasts as long as the house stands.

*Can it be installed in an existing house?*
Yes, pipe connections to the septic tank will have to be disconnected and new pipes fixed to the digesters.

*What about new houses?*
It's easier and straightforward to install. We check the number of toilets/users, and the appropriate size that can handle daily usage. There are several sizes to choose from which determine the cost of setup.

*I'm interested, how much does it cost?*
Rates vary depending on individual type of project, site's location and terrain.
We'll always come to a reasonable conclusion.

*What does the cost cover?*
It covers all materials and installations. For projects outside of Lagos, logistics to move materials and team will be addressed separately.

See images of our project site before and after installation of biodigesters

....

Nice concept.

..

Nice innovation

Pls does it mean that I have to hire another person to do a normal septic tank for bathroom and kitchen waste water while you handle only the toilet waste?

ultimate2010:
Pls does it mean that I have to hire another person to do a normal septic tank for bathroom and kitchen waste water while you handle only the toilet waste?

No, kitchen and bathroom water goes straight into the soak hole that is connected to the digester..

Pls any biodigester builder in PH should contact me. Drop ur number here.

07088430250.....we give you 5yrs guarantee on all our Biodigester installations and one-Year free inspection...we are the best bet in the business...call or WhatsApp us now.