Cyprus-Forum.com

[devil]

No point in making a provision for sewage connection if you are in a village of <2000 inhabitants. It won't happen in your lifetime.

[clive of payia]

One way I was told when we first came to Cyprus to keep your tank clear was to put goats yoghurt down each toilet pan and flush it. We have two toilets and I put half a large carton down each. The yoghurt's culture breaks down the solids quicker. We have been here five years and put paper down the toilet and have had no problems.

I did have the man in to empty it three years ago but he said after he had finished that it wasn't really necessary as the tank was OK. It gave me piece of mind though.

Cive of Payia

[Get Real!]

No point in making a provision for sewage connection if you are in a village of <2000 inhabitants. It won't happen in your lifetime.

Still, it's required by law for houses built after a certain date (can't remember which) because after you're gone someone else will most likely be living there...

[Cyprus4MeSoon]

Hi Get Real,

Thank you very much for the information, that helps a great deal. I am going to first look at our plans (though I dont remember any sizing given on them for the sewage pipes) and then contact our developer to ensure that we get 4" pipes used throughout. The developers seem very good, and having contacted them this morning, said that we would have no problem, but all these questions have come about, because my sister has just moved into her villa in Giolou, and even though she asked to be able to flush toilet paper, she cannot!!! It flushes from toilet, but then gets stuck midway before it gets to Septic Tank. She at the moment is then having to either clear from a manhole or hose to ensure it goes all the way. Hope you understand that

She has been told it is because she has got Greek pipes (this was from someone in her village) and needs to have them changed to UK pipes, at a cost of approx CYP1000.00!

This started me worrying about our pipework!

Many thanks again

Sorry, in my first sketch I omitted the septic tank! (which has three compartments for breaking down waste) Use this sketch instead...

Btw, pipes are all about diameter not country of origin so your sister either has smaller diameter pipes or some obstruction jamming traffic!
Obstruction can be caused by grass roots, tree roots, or bad workmanship.

Hi Get Real.
Thank you for the drawing, very much appreciated.
I think in my sisters case, taking into consideration all the other things that are not right, that it is probably bad workmanship!

[Cyprus4MeSoon]

No point in making a provision for sewage connection if you are in a village of <2000 inhabitants. It won't happen in your lifetime.

Still, it's required by law for houses built after a certain date (can't remember which) because after you're gone someone else will most likely be living there...

I have been told by the developer that mains stewage will be in Parekklishia in 2010! Hopefully they are right

[Cyprus4MeSoon]

One way I was told when we first came to Cyprus to keep your tank clear was to put goats yoghurt down each toilet pan and flush it. We have two toilets and I put half a large carton down each. The yoghurt's culture breaks down the solids quicker. We have been here five years and put paper down the toilet and have had no problems.

I did have the man in to empty it three years ago but he said after he had finished that it wasn't really necessary as the tank was OK. It gave me piece of mind though.

Cive of Payia

Hi Clive,
Never heard of that one, but worth a try I suppose!! How often do you put the yoghurt down the toilet pan?

[devil]

No point in making a provision for sewage connection if you are in a village of <2000 inhabitants. It won't happen in your lifetime.

Still, it's required by law for houses built after a certain date (can't remember which) because after you're gone someone else will most likely be living there...

Not quite true...

There is an EU Directive that says, in effect, that it is mandatory for all houses to be connected to a used water treatment plant by (I think) 2010 but there is an exception for villages with <2000 inhabitants.

[mountainman]

As has already been said, the drainage pipes are generally the same product as used in the UK.

In my experience of drainage in Cyprus it is a combination of poorly designed and constructed junctions and lack of proper 'fall' in the drain run that cause the problems.

To be self cleaning a drain pipe needs a slope of between 1:40 and 1:70; 1:40 being the preferred.

Brick/Cement manholes are still very common in the UK and if correctly build will give many years of faultless service.

As long as the toilet paper reaches the septic tank you should have no problems.

[Cyprus4MeSoon]

As has already been said, the drainage pipes are generally the same product as used in the UK.

In my experience of drainage in Cyprus it is a combination of poorly designed and constructed junctions and lack of proper 'fall' in the drain run that cause the problems.

To be self cleaning a drain pipe needs a slope of between 1:40 and 1:70; 1:40 being the preferred.

Brick/Cement manholes are still very common in the UK and if correctly build will give many years of faultless service.

As long as the toilet paper reaches the septic tank you should have no problems.

Hi Mountainman,

Thank you for the information, we will be checking the slope of the pipes to ensure that we do not have a problem.
The developers seem to be very good and their drawing of the sewage system is the same as the one Get Real sent me, so hopefully all will be OK
Thanks again to everyone for all the information given, it has helped a great deal