How to Design a Septic System for a Dog Kennel

Designing and incorporating a septic system into your dog kennel is a fairly challenging project idea. Before even considering a septic system, though, you need to assess the soil in the kennel area where you are planning to put your septic system. If the soil is heavy clay, you will not want to put in a septic system. Clay can't absorb water. The best soil for a septic system is sandy or loamy. Follow the steps below for installation instructions, and you'll be on your way to an easy-cleaning kennel solution.

Things You'll Need

  • Galvanized perferated garbage can with bottom removed
  • 4-inch perferated sewer pipe
  • Drill with 1/2-inch drill bit
  • Metal shears
  • Clean rock
  • Shovel
  • Hay
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Instructions

  1. How to Design a Septic System for a Dog Kennel

    • 1

      Prepare your garbage can and 4-inch sewer pipe by perferating the pipe and garbage can with 1/2-inch holes all around. Cut off the bottom of garbage can. (Use metal shears, but much easier to have hardware store cut for you.) Cut a 4-inch hole for attaching sewer pipe, 1 foot 2 inches from top of can.

    • 2

      On side of can that will be facing kennel, cut a 6x4-inch opening into the top side of the garbage can as an inlet hole for kennel waste. Leave the bottom edge of the opening uncut and folded out to reach the kennel floor and receive waste from the kennel floor.

    • 3

      Dig hole for garbage can leaving extra inch of room for rocks around sides and underneath. Place clean rock at bottom of hole. Place can in hole. Can should sit inside the hole, with the top 2 inches out of the ground. Position inlet hole with folded out metal flap reaching the kennel floor. Place clean rock around can.

    • 4

      Dig a trench out from hole in garbage can for your pipe measuring 6 feet wide, 10 feet long and 2 feet deep. Place clean rock in the bottom 12 inches of the trench beneath the pipe.

      Place pipe in trench. It should attach into garbage can hole. Add 6 inches of rock on top of pipe, and cover rock with hay or soil to ground level.

    • 5

      Solid material will settle in the tank, water will flow through the tank and pipe holes. Tank will need to be cleaned out once a year, and should last 10 years.