How to set hand pump on top of cement cistern?

[meanwhile]

We just put a cement septic tank in the ground to hold water. We want to place a hand pump on top of it (and it will also have a normal pump in it too). Any online type instructions?

And what is the best hand pump to buy and from where? Thank you.

[MELOC]

i wonder if you could pour a little concrete in a small form and set mounting studs in it?

[agmantoo]

A cement septic tank will have one or sometimes two doors in the top for clean out purposes. Remove the dirt from above the clean out door and lift the door off. Either make a form the size of the door and do as Meloc stated or get a hole saw and drill through the door for the down pipe and use anchor bolts to anchor the pump in place. Seal the door and caulk the plumbing on the pump when you replace the door to avoid ground water entering the tank.

[haypoint]

A number of years ago, I had some property that the previous owner had set a septic tank into the ground, with about 6 inches of it above ground. There was a 1 1/2 driven well thru a small opening in the tank's bottom. He had an electric pump set up down inside, so it wouldn't freeze. I made a plywood hatch cover, with 2x2 frame and ran the pump's pipe thru it. It was stable because the top was held in place by the plywood and the bottom secured to the well. In your situation, you need something to hold the bottom of the pipe off the tank's bottom and hold it in place. I'd add an elbow to the bottom of the pump pipe and then weld a length of rod (3/4" re bar) and drive the rod thru the bottom of the tank and into the earth below. I am assuming that you have holes to let water into this tank?
The hand pump would have to be primed each time you used it. If you put a one-way valve in the pipe, it will hold the water and you won't have to prime every time, however, it is spring operated and will make pumping harder. Another way to avoid the priming hassle, get a hand pump with a pump cylinder under the water's level.
If your hand pump is pulling up water from 6-8 feet below ground level, I doubt a little rain water from around the plywood hatch would make much difference.

[meanwhile]

Thank you - the cement tank is set in the ground but with about 14 inches showing above ground so we can lift the lids when needed. The dirt is around all four sides and the man who is helping told me it would not freeze.

I like the idea of the plywood trap door with pump since I would be able to get that off.

meloc's idea is good too. I will think on it and see. Yes we have the holes for the pipes but are laying them today and tomorrow. We are not finished yet.

Thank you.