{"id":39604,"date":"2026-09-17T20:16:36","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T17:16:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reoveemahutid.ee\/?p=39604"},"modified":"2026-09-17T20:19:58","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T17:19:58","slug":"small-holding-tank-2-3m3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reoveemahutid.ee\/en\/small-holding-tank-2-3m3\/","title":{"rendered":"2\u20133 m\u00b3 sewage holding tanks: when is a small tank enough?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A small sewage holding tank (reoveemahuti<\/em>; UK readers may know a sealed tank as a cesspool or cesspit) is tempting: a shorter pit, a lighter tank. But a holding tank treats nothing and has no outlet. Every litre that goes in has to be pumped out and taken away by tanker (purgimine<\/em>), so volume decides how often you pay for a visit. The short answer: 2\u20133 m\u00b3 suits low-flow, occasional use, and seldom even two people living in the house all year. Below: the two smallest Vesmaco models, the fill-time arithmetic, and where a small tank works or falls short.<\/p>\n

The two smallest models in the range<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Model<\/th>\nVolume<\/th>\nDiameter<\/th>\nLength<\/th>\nWeight<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
MK-2 D1100<\/td>\n2 000 L<\/td>\n1100 mm<\/td>\nabout 2400 mm<\/td>\n150 kg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MK-3 D1100<\/td>\n3 000 L<\/td>\n1100 mm<\/td>\nabout 3500 mm<\/td>\n200 kg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

Figures as shown in the model table on reoveemahutid.ee<\/a>; lengths are approximate, so check the drawing for your model when the pit size matters.<\/p>\n

Both are horizontal reinforced-fibreglass (GRP) cylinders in the D1100 family \u2014 the narrowest diameter, so the shallowest excavation in the range. The base kit matches the larger models: tank, emptying pipe, plastic cover, documents. Options (inlet, riser, hatch class, ventilation, alarm, anchoring straps) are marked on the order drawing \u2014 check the drawing for your model; reading it is covered in holding tank dimensions and drawings<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How fast 2\u20133 m\u00b3 fills for two people<\/h2>\n

days between emptyings = usable volume (L) \u00f7 (persons \u00d7 litres per person per day)<\/code><\/p>\n

Assumptions: the best input is your own water-meter data (monthly m\u00b3 \u00f7 days). Without it, use the planning range of the Estonian ministry guide (2015), 100\u2013150 L of wastewater per resident per day: 200\u2013300 L a day for two. Usable volume is taken as nominal volume for simplicity. In practice it is somewhat below the nominal volume because the alarm level leaves a reserve, so real intervals are shorter \u2014 check the drawing and the alarm height for your model.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Tank<\/th>\nDays to fill at 200 L\/day<\/th>\nDays to fill at 300 L\/day<\/th>\nVisits per year, two permanent residents<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
2 m\u00b3<\/td>\n10<\/td>\nabout 6.7<\/td>\nabout 37\u201355<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3 m\u00b3<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n10<\/td>\nabout 24\u201337<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4 m\u00b3<\/td>\n20<\/td>\nabout 13<\/td>\nabout 18\u201327<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5 m\u00b3<\/td>\n25<\/td>\nabout 17<\/td>\nabout 15\u201322<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

Visits per year = 365 \u00d7 occupancy share \u00f7 days. A cabin used by two people two days a week for 26 weeks (52 days, occupancy share about 0.14) needs about 5\u20138 visits a year with 2 m\u00b3 and about 3.5\u20135 with 3 m\u00b3.<\/p>\n

Yearly cost = emptyings per year \u00d7 your local price per visit<\/code>. Ask local emptying companies how they charge: if it is per visit rather than per cubic metre, emptying 2 m\u00b3 may cost as much as emptying a larger tank. The full method is in what size sewage holding tank do you need<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A small tank also leaves little warning. The ministry guide advises ordering the tanker when the level passes about half the diameter \u2014 in a horizontal cylinder, half the volume. Two people then have 1 m\u00b3 left in a 2 m\u00b3 tank (about 3.3\u20135 days) or 1.5 m\u00b3 in a 3 m\u00b3 tank (5\u20137.5 days). If the tanker cannot come within that window, the tank is too small. The guide calls a level sensor advisable; Vesmaco offers an alarm as an option.<\/p>\n

Where a small tank is enough<\/h2>\n

The ministry guide names small or periodic water use as a case for a holding tank. At 2\u20133 m\u00b3 that means:<\/p>\n