Is this true

[zoomzx11]

My expert on all things Dominican (wife) explained to me today how most Dominican "septic" tanks work. According to her they have no bottom. Just a circular wall. If this is true then there is no bacterial breakdown. Sewage just drains into the soil which ends up in the ocean. So there are no drain fields here? In the real world if you were to poke a hole in the bottom of your septic tank you could find yourself in serious trouble with the environmental police. I always wondered why there is not better visibility in our ocean. Being out here in the middle of nowhere there should be super visibility for diving. I always blamed it on the rivers outflowing. If the septic circumstance is true then our ocean also has to deal with a large amount of nitrogen, the resultant algae and its detrimental effect on coral. Anyone know if my expert is right (again)?

[GringoCArlos]

Sorry, but your "know-it-all dominican wife" is correct on this.

Drain fields??? hahahahahahahah So, you want them to first do a soil study, and then calculate the proper amount of pipe to spread out for proper distribution before building their septic tanks?

Most houses are built on small lots (too small for a drainage field here) , most areas built on run into serious areas of rock, and they aren't going to dig through it to do things correctly. On the other end of the spectrum are sands underlying the construction site. And they aren't going to bring in a well truck to sink a drain pipe downwards below the water layer they draw from wells - too expensive for most..

On the other hand, most coastal areas have salt water underlying the soil/rock which extends quite a ways inland, which does a job on escaping bacteria and carries it away without problems. That situation isn't encountered in places like Ontario, or Kansas, or in most civil engineering texts, but is common in the Caribbean.

Most bacteria/septic residue that hits the ocean is a result of runoff rather than septic tanks, unless the septic tanks are next to the river, such as in the barrios below the Puente Sanchez in Santo Domingo. Many of the sewer lines in Santo Domingo simply go out a ways into the ocean and then spew their loads. (my favorite news story was about a "diver" who daily goes out there to recover jewelery that somehow gets flushed away )hahaha+

In most rural areas of the country, most folks put nothing into the toilet other than nature's byproducts - no toilet paper, etc - that goes into a waste basket next to the toilet to avoid clogging up either the toilet or the typically small septic system. They keep the decomposing bacteria active in the septic tank by adding the leftovers from butchering a chicken now and then..

[Vacara]

Originally Posted by zoomzx11

My expert on all things Dominican (wife) explained to me today how most Dominican "septic" tanks work. According to her they have no bottom. Just a circular wall. If this is true then there is no bacterial breakdown. Sewage just drains into the soil which ends up in the ocean. So there are no drain fields here? In the real world if you were to poke a hole in the bottom of your septic tank you could find yourself in serious trouble with the environmental police. I always wondered why there is not better visibility in our ocean. Being out here in the middle of nowhere there should be super visibility for diving. I always blamed it on the rivers outflowing. If the septic circumstance is true then our ocean also has to deal with a large amount of nitrogen, the resultant algae and its detrimental effect on coral. Anyone know if my expert is right (again)?

Your friend is pretty much right except for one thing, instead of going directly to the sea the sewage water first goes to the "capa freatica" (translation help?), which is worse, because it contaminates the water that feeds the rivers and lakes. Maybe that would explains why we Dominicans speak the way we do.

A little graphic here will show the exact path the black water follow.

[Vacara]

Originally Posted by Pig

I think I'm getting the wrong end of the stick here. I'm used to small maybe 400gallon septic tanks, personal housing ones not big communal things. If these smaller ones are what you are talking about then a little education would go a long way. If they understood how to use a compost toilet rather than run a none functional septic tank, and not to mix wee and poo and use paper then there wouldn't be a problem.
Why do I feel silly mentioning educating when it comes to DR, the race that knows everything.

If it was a real issue then a little interest at school could easily change the way they are thinking. You can't blame anyone for ignorance.

Indeed Dominicans know everything, for instance we know how to play golf in 2 hours, 1 hour for the 18 holes and 1 hour to do the lawn. We also know Dominican is not a race!!!.

Now do you know.............. PIG........... that if you sunbath without sunscreen you'll become bacon?.

[bob saunders]

Bacon was actually invented in the Dominican Republic by French Bucaneers, so Dominicans know their pigs. On the subject of septic tanks, eventually they fill up, and have to be emptied. At my wifes school in Jarabacoa there is a cap(cement) that can be open to suck out the septic. I don't know if most privates houses have these?

[ElvisNYC]

Originally Posted by Pig

What is your point Vacara, apart from being slightly anal about the race comment, I'm sure you have my understanding and many others on this?

You seem offended over this, or drunk, or maybe just close to your heart, who knows.

BTW. I am not a real PIG, pigs can't write or type and I'd be shocked if one understood the concept of sarcasm also . Just let you in on that buddy!!

Not to defend Vacara, but your comment Why do I feel silly mentioning educating when it comes to DR, the race that knows everything. and if I were Dominican, I would feel insulted and tell you __________________

[ElvisNYC]

Originally Posted by Pig

Oh, I wish you had taken this as it was meant, sort of in gest. You will know that if you ever ask a Domincan a question or about anything, you will get an answer. Directions are the worst, even if they have no clue where to send you.

It is a funny trait and not something I look down on at all, it was supposed to be in slight humour and with a little acceptance. I am sorry if offended but hey, we all know it is true. And funny.

Please don't get so defensive, it makes you look guilty, lol!!

C'mon I live in NY, we love saying stupid remarks about different nationalities, so I know what you are talking about. But that's why I rarely say those remarks of what I don't like about dominicans, ecuadoreans to them in their country ( you see, I'm Ecuadorean).

I don't say stuff about Ecuadoreans and the stupid stuff they do, to my friends because they get offended.

Imagine a Dominican !! The other day I had an opinion about Presidente beers tasting the same in DR and USA and the guy went on a rant about how I'm not Dominican, so my opinion doesn't count.

So I'm guilty !

[Chip]

Originally Posted by zoomzx11

My expert on all things Dominican (wife) explained to me today how most Dominican "septic" tanks work. According to her they have no bottom. Just a circular wall. If this is true then there is no bacterial breakdown. Sewage just drains into the soil which ends up in the ocean. So there are no drain fields here? In the real world if you were to poke a hole in the bottom of your septic tank you could find yourself in serious trouble with the environmental police. I always wondered why there is not better visibility in our ocean. Being out here in the middle of nowhere there should be super visibility for diving. I always blamed it on the rivers outflowing. If the septic circumstance is true then our ocean also has to deal with a large amount of nitrogen, the resultant algae and its detrimental effect on coral. Anyone know if my expert is right (again)?

First, if you think there has been and still isn't widespread contamination in the States you are being misled. Ask any environmental engineer or research "superfund" on the internet.

As far as the septic system goes that is in use in the DR, it is an old design but as long as it is sealed properly the normal anaerobic process will occur and the liquid will inflitrate in to the soil, JUST like septic tank systems in the US. Fortunatley for you and me, this systems works quite well thank you and in most cases the water is filtered to probable drinkable standards by the time it takes to get to potable well supllies. As long as there isn't too much of a concentration in a certain area, the soil and bacteria won't be overloaded and there will be no environmental contamination to speak of.

[Chip]

[QUOTE=Pig;789947]

Originally Posted by Chip;789945

As far as the septic system goes that is in use in the DR, it is an old design but as long as it is sealed properly the normal anaerobic process will occur and the liquid will inflitrate in to the soil, JUST like septic tank systems in the US. QUOTE

Thats not the way a septic tank works. This must be a very very old system. Septic tanks are flushed and drained, seepage is very rarely a factor. I lived with these for 20 years and I know we all have an idea of how much damage can be done but a tank that seeps is not a septic tank, it is an overflowing mass of sh1t in a plastic bucket!.

We have areas that take the drainage of septic tanks, otherwise it would be pointless!

I am not talking abou the Dominican way, I am talking abou the literal meaning of the septic tank!

Might I ask what your experience in this area is? I'm a civil engineer and you would be surprised to know of different types of sewage disposal system still legally used in the US.

[Chip]

Originally Posted by Pig

My experience is within Spain, not the US. I have installed and have had them installed in my own property. Septic tanks are supposed to be just that. A tank to hold waste until time of flushing.
I have no doubt we have a different understanding but the tank is to hold the waste rather than polute the earth.

Septic tanks sytems fail quite routinely, and who knows yours could next. If you really want to know, pay someone to do a lab report on the groundwater quality at your house. Otherwise, you shouldn't assume that the systems here in the DR are ALL failing and contaminating the soil. Also, don't assume that the septic tank waste isn't being disposed of in an unlined landfill or otherwise, as this practice was common for many years and no doubt still in use.