Septic system question

Wis Bang 2 · #21 03/17/15, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cygnet

Code now requires an engineered system, to the tune of $30,000 to $40,000, so replacing the leach field "legally" is cost prohibitive. (Property that used to perc no longer does, because all the folks licensed by the county to do perc tests are the same folks who own the companies that install the engineered systems. See: Conflict of interest, see also: Good Ol' Boy network.)

Went through this when Mom sold. What was legal in 1960 was vastly different than the replacement. We were advised to hire an engineer who was formerly the county sewer engineer.

He did get a modern perc past the county avoiding the costly dreaded sand mound. Since the [home built] tank was in bad shape and the field plugged and too deep for new standards they turned 90 degrees and installed a new double tank.

The new field by digging a bed 3' deep and 30' long and about 8' wide and filled it w/ stone. They pumped the old tank over and knocked it in and backfiled w/ the dirt left over from the new stuff. the old field was 6 feet deep and 4 runs the new one only has two lines but the huge rock bed...

Either way it is the new owner's now.

Cygnet · #22 03/17/15, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muleman

You all might find the issue happening by us now interesting. The next town over is about 45 miles away. Was fairly rural for the most part around the main town. Houses have been going in and now they are all pretty much side by side, as the land has slowly gotten more and more broken up over the last 15 years or so. Everyone is on septic, and now there are problems, too many and they are saturating the area to the point it is causing major issues. No one wants to be out the money for a new city sewer system. The city did not want to do it for free and of course the homeowners are all saying they have already spent money on a septic tank, why should they have to turn around and pay to put in a sewer system?

The city finally put in the system, but, if your septic is working you can keep it. If your septic ever needs repair you can not repair it, you must hook to city sewer and start paying city sewer fees.

The city close to me did the same thing many years ago. None of the people wanted to hook to the city sewer/water system. They all had septic tanks and they all had wells. Why did they want to hook to city systems. Most of the wells were old shallow hand dug wells from way back. When the city finally started hooking most of the people to city sewer, there wells in that area started going dry. Talk about raising a fuss. All the people blamed the city for ruining their wells?? They just could not understand why when they started piping the sewer away, their wells started going dry?? Hmmm I wonder why?

To be fair, by the time the water percolates through several tens of feet of dirt, the bacteria should be fairly well filtered out. I'd be more worried about chemicals from the septic systems (I'm sure everyone knows someone who dumps nasty stuff down their toilet without a thought) than I would be any remaining bacteria.

On the other hand ... if I had a very shallow well anywhere, I'd be tempted to install a UV filter just on general principles and/or drink bottled. Groundwater can do some pretty unpredictable things.

(At my last home, the water table was 650 feet down, but it was pure sand all the way down to the aquifer. I wasn't worried about bacterial contamination, but I know one neighbor was disposing of used motor oil and paint by dumping it down the drain in her shop. This wasn't small quantities, either; she raced dune buggies and other vehicles. Yum, yum, yum.)

Muleman · #23 03/20/15, 09:49 AM

Cygnet,
You are absolutely right, many different forms of contamination. I personally do not feel the need to have an inspection. I have the equipment and know how to build a pretty good septic system. Honestly, better than required. But! I will say I do know people who if given a choice will run a pipe out the back yard and into the woods. Just what it is, not everyone will be responsible, but at the same time I am not sure I want to start policing my neighbors.

I know a man who lived with his wife in an old 24' camper trailer for years with no sewer. The sewage went into the holding tank and once a week he would take a 5 gallon bucket and haul it out into the woods behind him and just dump it. Not something I would choose to do it, but just admitting there are those who's idea of waste disposal is probably not the best?

Alaska · #24 03/20/15, 05:55 PM

around these parts take a dump on the ground and it is gone lickety split. Bugs big and small take it away if the sun does not bake it to nothing first.
Grandpa always used to say if you find a dead bird flush it to keep the system working. Now we pay to much money for an off the shelf product.
mainly watch what you flush. Most chemicals /cleaners are not good for a septic system. You need to keep that system alive.

Rustaholic · #25 03/20/15, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alaska

around these parts take a dump on the ground and it is gone lickety split. Bugs big and small take it away if the sun does not bake it to nothing first.
Grandpa always used to say if you find a dead bird flush it to keep the system working. Now we pay to much money for an off the shelf product.
mainly watch what you flush. Most chemicals /cleaners are not good for a septic system. You need to keep that system alive.

That reminds me what they were saying around here in the 70s.
When you set up a new septic system you were supposed to throw a dead cat in the tank to get it started.