Concern over neighbours new septic system, grading

[racin72charger]

My neighbours are having their septic system replaced and it appears the installer has the leeching bed installed too high. We live in the down slope of a swale and the water flows down to this neighbours property and into a ditch on the far side. I am unfamiliar with modern septic systems,but I know traditional systems need around 12” of soil above the leeching bed in order to work correctly. At that grading the water is going to be channeled into the new low spot between his property and my shop. When I built my shop part of the planning requirements was to satisfy the governing body about not altering the grading and drainage of the area, I can’t see how the neighbour is satisfying the same requirement. This leads me to believe this is an un-permitted project.

The new septic system looks to use a pump to force the liquid into the leeching bed and has a tank with three access covers. Do these systems still need 12” of soil on top of them? I know I’m going to have to call the city on Monday, I have to protect my property from damage. Drainage has been an issue in this area according to my opposite neighbour that has lived here for about 25 years. I do not want to have a flooding problem.

 

[Notgrownup]

Call the planning board or simply walk over there and voice your concerns.. I guess it depends what kind of neighbor he is...

 

[Richard Cranium]

if he has a discharge pump on his septic, he will have a permit, that type of system is very expensive. If he didn't have a pump, he would not of gone to that expense. Is my thoughts.

 

[CKS1955]

When we built our home 15 years ago our septic field was installed with a final height of about 4’ above the original ground level.

Jay

 

[Bretny]

The water the leach field is getting rid of should be absorbed by the ground and not come to the surface. If it does its not working properly and needs to be fixed by him, not you.

 

[yeldogt]

Sounds like a mound system -- they don't flow on the surface. I would be shocked that you could do any of this w/o permits. They are normally oversized as well ..

 

[cvairwerks]

Sounds like an aerobic system. They don’t require the normal leeching beds. They use sprinkler systems instead.

 

[finn]

Sounds like the concern is the change to the topography that may impact existing storm water runoff paths into his yard.

The health department permits should consider that possibility and should require the addition of swales to keep the runoff water from negativity impacting his property

 

[racin72charger]

Sounds like an aerobic system. They don’t require the normal leeching beds. They use sprinkler systems instead.

It may be this type, like I said I’m not fermiliar with this type of system and I’ve only felt with traditional systems like the one on my property. Here is a google image of what the tank and bed look like. How much earth coverage do these systems need?

 

[racin72charger]

Sounds like the concern is the change to the topography that may impact existing storm water runoff paths into his yard.

The health department permits should consider that possibility and should require the addition of swales to keep the runoff water from negativity impacting his property

Yes this is my concern.

 

[NUTTSGT]

One call or a visit to the Health Dept should answer most of your questions. If they can't, they should be able to refer you to the AHJ over this issue.

 

[yeldogt]

It may be this type, like I said I’m not fermiliar with this type of system and I’ve only felt with traditional systems like the one on my property. Here is a google image of what the tank and bed look like. How much earth coverage do these systems need?

Thats does not look all that unusual -- it's a tank and field.


The design is predicated on soil type and water table --- I own a house in PA ...seems all the new systems are mound. Where they at one time dug deeper and layered it's now more common for the same base to be installed but the systems are higher and now require dirt above. They look silly ? We have clay in many areas .. and high water tables.

The pumping of the effluent does not change the final field.

When you don't have enough space -- there are other approved ways using air injection.

 

[6768rogues]

We cannot do anything that affects the drainage of water on neighboring properties. If you are on good terms with them, talk to them. I would discuss my concerns and take pictures, so later you can prove whatever you assert.

 

[racin72charger]

We are on decent terms I’d say, there is a language barrier though.

 

[ford33]

Go to the village hall and ask to see the permit.

 

[Pluribus]

It may be this type, like I said I’m not fermiliar with this type of system and I’ve only felt with traditional systems like the one on my property. Here is a google image of what the tank and bed look like. How much earth coverage do these systems need?

Image looks like it's showing a septic tank (can't tell type/configuration) and an infiltrator/chamber style drainfield. https://www.thenaturalhome.com/infiltrator/
Around here, I don't think they allow that type on fill; I think it requires native soil. My place has a conventional tank and gravity feeds to an infiltrator drainfield like that one. If your soils allow it, it's a great system. They're cheap and require virtually no maintenance.

Not sure how things are done in your province, but here in my county, permits/as builts are available online, so you could look up what's going on at your neighbor's place.

In most cases, I feel that people should be able to do what they want with their property, but if you suspect they're doing something unpermitted that could affect your property, I think you're certainly within reason to put a stop to it.

 

[Scottrx7tt]

Looks like an LPP system to me

 

[HoosierMark]

Think positive. If then neighbor is getting the system replaced, that is a positive sign. At least he is spending money on something that many people ignore. Secondly, as stated a simple stop to the authorities will answer your questions. I would ask if his installation will cause your property any issues such as replacing your septic in the future if it ever fails and drainage issues. This sounds like you are a caring neighbor. Around here, they would have had a site visit, field layout and approved installer named before they would have been given a permit. It may look odd but I would bet that it meets the codes. Could he be limited on how the system is installed due to size of the lot and this is a compromise of the rules. I had a septic on a half acre lot that failed. The county worked with me to install a fix so the house could still be occupied. Not pretty but an abandoned house is not pretty nor cheap either.

 

[yeldogt]

My new project is old on a small lot -- septic and well. Replacing the septic is a wish .. but the lot is challenged. Have looked into every system imaginable -- there are many types of fields and regional players. Some manufactures fields can be approved in one location and not in another ... around me -- no one builds the old common PVC systems because there are better systems available for marginally more $$ that work longer w/o problems. The developers still use the simple PVC because they do the minimum possible to get approval.

My point: Just because the field looks different does not indicate that it's anything all that unusual.

 

[Hubmonkey]

My understanding of our Aerobic system is that it is nothing more than a 3 compartment tank which has a water pump, an Air pump and 2 sprinkler heads. The raw sewage comes into compartment one where it settles. The water flows into compartment three via a tube and is agitated with the air pump it then flows into compartment two where it is treated with chlorine bleach. Once the water level is at a certain level it will throw the treated water out the sprinkler heads at a define time window. Mine has a timer that is set to throw the water between 1:30 am and 5:00 am.

Hub

 

[Notgrownup]

We are on decent terms I’d say, there is a language barrier though.

Canadien Francais? Lol....Tabarnak