Reusing old septic tanks as storage

[duddley75]

So as the title suggests I have an old concrete septic tank that is no longer used.

It was decommissioned many years back. At a rough guess it is about 2 to 2.5 metres deep, and about 3 x 2.5 metres in size.

About 12 months ago I opened up the concrete hatch (had to cut some concrete out around the hatch) and found a snake alive in it. I put the hatch back and concreted it back up. No smell etc as it was cleaned up properly.

Given storage is a bit tight in my house and the current world crazyiness, I thought maybe I can put it to good use.

Obviously i would need to seal the room better and remove any inhabitants. I am guessing that one or more pipes might still be open to somewhere.

So what do people think of it? I would use plastic containers to then store things inside etc etc.

[Oldbloke]

Bomb shelter. Lol i assume it i s underground?
I think it would for firearms storage. But each state varies.

Just be aware you will need to ensure there is some ventiation provided. That means 2 vents to work well.

[Blr243]

Unlikely that you choose to but , If at any stage you are worried about moisture soaking thru and you decide to paint some sort of waterproofing on the inside...... remember that a stack of people have died from fumes doing that , And the people who tried to rescue them died too. And if this keeps on happening pretty soon u will have a whole heap of dead friends in your septic tank and then there will be no room available for storage .......be carefull what u choose to store in there because one way or another I can see it filling up in a decent storm

[Sergeant Hartman]

Atleast bring a septic tank they people will eventually decompose.... lol

The fact it's an ex septic tank probably put me off... let alone having a snake or ten to keep you company

[TassieTiger]

Unlikely that you choose to but , If at any stage you are worried about moisture soaking thru and you decide to paint some sort of waterproofing on the inside...... remember that a stack of people have died from fumes doing that , And the people who tried to rescue them died too. And if this keeps on happening pretty soon u will have a whole heap of dead friends in your septic tank and then there will be no room available for storage .......be carefull what u choose to store in there because one way or another I can see it filling up in a decent storm

Literally burst out laughing lol.
In another life I used to work in and out of man holes - the amount of times out gas detectors went off before jumping into them was...quite fascinating. Co2 is heavier than air and can “pool” - as per others, ventilation is utterly important. Jumping down one day to grab a box, you can’t get your breath, start going light headed, realise what’s happening and try and get out but your strength has gone from no o2 - or trip over a dead friend...
be careful.

[Stix]

A good bleeching then scrubbing with acid if worried should sort all the nasties if not already done...& some efficient cross ventillation that stirrs all areas & sounds like a good idea.

If its a concrete tank i wouldnt be putting any waterproofing in there--not because of fumes, but because of moisture--coating would probably fail &/or kill the concrete ...

A ready made underground concrete bunker--thats the biggest expense for becoming a full prepper...just add couple Ak's, a grenade launcher, pallet of rice & bottle of tomato sauce & your're a God...!!

[duddley75]

Thanks all for responses.

Re the CO2, had not thought of that, excellent (life saving) tip re ventilation
It is built into the side of the ground. North face wall is exposed, the recent is pretty much in dirt. I will post some photos tomorrow.

My intention of it was to store excess products including food items (although would be in packets/tins and then stored in plastic type containers, just in case of another worldwide drama..i guess you just never know and who knows the next one maybe alot worse. I may end up revising that to non food items if need be.

Won't be used for firearms, already have the safe in the house ready for that.

[Oldbloke]

You say its been cleaned so thats a good start. As i hinted at and others if you introduce a hazardous gas/vapour it will be a "confined space".

Plenty of ventilation (but tjis does not simply mean leaving the entry hatch open, there is more to it) is the key to entering these types of "spaces". And yes plenty of people die in them every year.

So paint, or cleaning (example, oil paint, ammonia, petrol) compounds are times dangerous in them. There are many ways to control the risks. But if you just want to use it as storage, probably ok in most situations.

If you want some help/advice please feel free PM me.

[Wombat]

It is important to note that you do not have to introduce anything for a confined space to become dangerous, petrol or lpg fumes etc will pool at the lowest level they can find. That may well be your tank. So a leak at a BBQ 50 or more meters away may fill it with gas for example............

[sungazer]

So what are all the Americans doing that have their underground bunkers re air supply and ventilation. I could see that being one big weakness in an underground bunker if you could just drop a tear gas grenade down the vent hole?

[Oldbloke]

It is important to note that you do not have to introduce anything for a confined space to become dangerous, petrol or lpg fumes etc will pool at the lowest level they can find. That may well be your tank. So a leak at a BBQ 50 or more meters away may fill it with gas for example............

Yep, can happen. The worst offenders are petrol engines. Eg, pumps, generators , carbon monoxide.

[perentie]

Thanks all for responses.

Re the CO2, had not thought of that, excellent (life saving) tip re ventilation
It is built into the side of the ground. North face wall is exposed, the recent is pretty much in dirt. I will post some photos tomorrow.

My intention of it was to store excess products including food items (although would be in packets/tins and then stored in plastic type containers, just in case of another worldwide drama..i guess you just never know and who knows the next one maybe alot worse. I may end up revising that to non food items if need be.

Won't be used for firearms, already have the safe in the house ready for that.

Dig down to the bottom of the tank on the north face wall and cut a drain/vent hole. If its still underground dig a ditch and put in PVC with a slight fall untill it comes above ground on the slope. Put a grid over it to keep vermin out. I have done something similar for storing extra ammo and powder and other stuff

[trekin]

Thanks all for responses.

Re the CO2, had not thought of that, excellent (life saving) tip re ventilation
It is built into the side of the ground. North face wall is exposed, the recent is pretty much in dirt. I will post some photos tomorrow.

My intention of it was to store excess products including food items (although would be in packets/tins and then stored in plastic type containers, just in case of another worldwide drama..i guess you just never know and who knows the next one maybe alot worse. I may end up revising that to non food items if need be.

Won't be used for firearms, already have the safe in the house ready for that.

If using it for long term storage of supplies you think you may need for the next time, after placing all the supplies you want in it, I'd seal it and fill with CO2, this will ensure protection of your supplies from everything, microbial size up.

[Oldbloke]

Thanks all for responses.

Re the CO2, had not thought of that, excellent (life saving) tip re ventilation
It is built into the side of the ground. North face wall is exposed, the recent is pretty much in dirt. I will post some photos tomorrow.

My intention of it was to store excess products including food items (although would be in packets/tins and then stored in plastic type containers, just in case of another worldwide drama..i guess you just never know and who knows the next one maybe alot worse. I may end up revising that to non food items if need be.

Won't be used for firearms, already have the safe in the house ready for that.

Its CO ( carbon monoxide.) That you really need to worry about. Not co2.

Vent near bottom Nth side and another up high on opposite Sth side is the trick. Then thermals/temperature changes force continuing air exchange.

[Oldbloke]

So what are all the Americans doing that have their underground bunkers re air supply and ventilation. I could see that being one big weakness in an underground bunker if you could just drop a tear gas grenade down the vent hole?

They die. Just like if you transpprt people in shipping containers. In that case oxygen depletion and too much Co2.

[bigrich]

I did a confined space coarse years ago and the case that caught my attention was a steel pontoon in North Queensland. Three guys one after another died, the last two going to help their mates . The pontoon had been sealed, and it was rust and corrosion that used up all the oxygen inside the pontoon.... I’m not a big fan of confined spaces, it’s the silly things ya don’t think of that will get ya

[duddley75]

Access hole

IMG_20200422_102522[1].jpg (909.1 KiB) Viewed 5853 times

North wall

IMG_20200422_102545[1].jpg (1.24 MiB) Viewed 5853 times

[Blr243]

Never had a problem with claustrophobia when younger but it’s kicking in now as my fear of heights is also getting worse so maybe a good thing might keep me alive for longer

[Die Judicii]

Hey BLR,,,,,, why not just keep it as is.
A good place to get rid of Thermal ID mistakes.

ie,,,,,,,, a couple of farmers,, a few sheep,, uninvited spot lighters,,,,,,,,,,

[Oldbloke]

Never had a problem with claustrophobia when younger but it’s kicking in now as my fear of heights is also getting worse so maybe a good thing might keep me alive for longer

This is very common. Much the same here. When we are young, men are risk takers. As we age we subconsciously become risk averse. Perhaps a part of some survival instinct.

[Blr243]

DJ , putting things inside Conc tanks underground reminds me of the mystery of Andrew komarnicki at st george... 40 years ago now. Not sure anyone will solve that crime

[Blr243]

DJ , putting things inside Conc tanks underground reminds me of the mystery of Andrew komaniki at st george

[Stix]

Arrggh...you guys are novices...

Underground tanks are ancient technology...weve been using modern technology of plastic drums stored in old bank vaults for decades now...

Takes ages before they get discovered...lol

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowtown_murders

[Blr243]

I had to do some maintenance in an old unused army barracks in Brisbane years ago ... because there were so many buildings there were dozens of keys and one day I was working next to what looked like the Armory vault where weapons were once stored.. I was working solo with no one around so I had a quick look thru my keys and I found one that looked quite unique , so with a wild imagination and hopes that I might be able to enter the vault and find a trap door at the bottom giving me access to an m60 , some grenades ,rpgs and a couple of slrs , I slid the key into the slot and hey presto I was in......but the contents were not as I had hoped for and I had to carry on with the super exciting job of just fixing the windows for the rest of the day