Finland, Nurmijärvi

The house is about 300 meters from the nearest houses and the houses do not have the possibility to make a joint wastewater treatment system.

The old treatment system, soil filtration with pump had been cloged and the intention was to make similar system next to the old one. 

The principle of the system is to lift the wastewater from the septic tanks through a pump to higher, so that after the filtering field waters can be discharged to the nearby ditch.

This pilot gives information how renewal of wastewater treatment system effect locally in the property. The new soil filtration system was set up in the summer 2017.

Inhabitants’ perspective

The owner of the house chose his wastewater system based on economic calculations. He highlighted that it is not only about the construction costs, but the costs of the sludge management during the years of use. Moreover, inhabitants were satisfied with the easiness of the previous soil filtration field. This was reason to build a similar one.

Building process was smooth, lasting only one weekend. Owner did the most of the building work with his own family, only electric and excavator services were bought.

When considering the environmental effects, according to owner it is important to renew the old wastewater systems but also take care of the new systems. For example, septic tanks need to be emptied often enough.

In Nurmijärvi, the filtration field is placed by the side of the garden and it doesn’t limit any other use of the property. Owner has recommended soil filtration system to his relatives and neighbors.