Septic questions

[socapots]

On the septic system talk.
Just had one done. 26 grand and change. And i still have to landscape it next season.
That was just a tank, field, and install.

 

[Jack90210]

Pumping the tanks often is very important -- the "biomass" is not removed. When you don't pump - fats and other non liquids flow into the leach field where they don't belong.

Agreed. As the biomass builds up at the bottom of the tank, the effective volume of liquid that the tank can hold decreases. Over time, particulates and solids are flushed through the tank and into the drainfield, effectively clogging the drainfield soil -- because the reduced liquid-holding volume means that wastewater doesn't have a chance to stratify/settle the way they normally would in a regularly pumped tank. A knowledgeable pump truck operator will backflow some liquids into the tank after he's pumped the solids out so as to reintroduce active bacteria.

In my (admittedly limited -- I'm not a pro) experience, switching to a front-loader washing machine and being careful with what goes down the kitchen sink are the two biggest daily-use factors in helping to maximize drainfield longevity.

 

[ishiboo]

So lets say my septic fails like say I flush 5,000$ worth of tampons down the toilet. Or fill it with gasoline drain-o and other "greywater?" bull sh*t and light it up.


So... now my house in the city limits has no working sewage deposal...

Does that not turn into a public health problem like they have to connect me.

See where I'm going with that...... I just don't get it. What Im I gonna do when this thing does fail. OK if it ever does fail maybe it will last forever........

No, there are alternatives.

Around here, a drain field-based system is the #1 choice... what you have is conventional. Our soil is mostly clay, so even though I have conventional now... I could never install one again. It would have to be a mound. A mound system due to trucking costs for all the mound sand/etc. was quoted to me at $16,000-$18,000.

So, to the alternatives in the scenario you discussed. Around here, a holding tank is the "system of last resort". You cannot install one by choice. If you don't have the room for a mound/can't do conventional/etc. you will be allowed a holding tank or tanks. They are quite cheap to install compared to a real system, but you'll be paying $150-200 to pump them out. Frequently.

A city connection is by far the best option. Get an exact cost. See who else would be interested.

 

[smokem2020]

When I built my garage the powers to be said stay 10 ft from the finger system. When I drilled for my poles I was watching for septic rock as I knew I wasn't 10 ft away. That was 10 years ago. Who's to say where your fingers are exactly?

 

[TheEquineFencer]

John: i have to disagree with the pumping of a septic tank every 3-4 years because if nothing is put down the drains that won't decompose you are taking away all the critters that eat the ****. Maybe a skimming or inspection every few years to see that the kids or guests didn't flush something into the tank like a toy or plastic/rubber product is a good idea and skim it off.

I'd have the septic tank pumped every 3-4 years. I live with the former State of NC Deputy Director of the State Health Dept. It's good practice to clean out the tank. They do not clean out all the "critters" they get the sludge that builds at the bottom of the tank out. It keeps it so there's more room for liquid storage, this promotes better "critter feeding." I've learned a LOT about public health from her. I used to just cook chicken, turkeys and pigs until they "looked right" and then met her and was introduced to cooking with a thermometer. I found out I was cooking things too long. As with septic systems and other related issues, I've learned most things are in the publics best interest. You need a reserve area in the event a present system fails, it's for your protection as well as the publics. If it does fail, you are the one with the problem, if raw sewage becomes present, yes they can condemn the property and cut all services to it. Connecting to a public system is the best option, but it might not be the cheapest. I'd do a little more research into getting a connection, that does sound awful high for a sewer line connection. Another option you have, go to the next level above local, go to the State level for the health department there for opinions and options. When we built the shop I'm in now, we wanted to do a small tank with grinder pump and pump to the house septic system and were told we could not. At that time she was retired from the state. She then asked for a state review of the local assessment and for options. The option was to install a 1200 gallon two stage tank, with a grinder pump and pump to the house system so i could have a bathroom in the shop. Reason for a 1200 gallon tank was in the event of a long term power outage, it would have the reserve capacity to hold affluent until power was restored. with the small tank it would overflow in a day or two. I'm glad we went that route. A tornado hit and took part of the shop down and i didn't get power back until it was rebuilt... six months later. Once a week I'd pump the system down with a generator. I joke about the $9000 bathroom...

 

[Tronyadorable]

My dad put his in in 1968. Never been pumped. 4D x 6W x 8L w/ about 50 feet of drain field.

 

[volleyball]

A septic system will critter up real quick if you aren't constantly bombarding it with things they don't like. Some people actually pump theirs annually. It needs to be done. A modern system with low demand such as two people who don't use a lot of caustic cleaners, trash instead of sending all the food down the drain, don't drain huge amounts of water daily and such may easily get 20 years between pumping. I wouldn't recommend that time frame. The little it cost to have pumped means it is cheap insurance. People who don't pump are only looking for expensive problems. If you have no place to drain, you cannot live there.

 

[earthworks]

Some peoples systems have seemed to operate properly for decades. They haven't been backing up into the house or producing funny smells. But they could have been contaminating the local soils and possibly contaminating the watertable. Getting your tank pumped regularly is an ethical responsibility, you may be polluting without even knowing it. A couple hundred dollars every couple years is cheap assurance. It will not kill the flora in the tank.
With proper use a septic system can operate properly for 30 years. The initial installation matters, but proper use and maintenance matters more. If your wife if washing with bleach or dumping grease down the drains, these things kill the flora in the tank and create sludge build up which is an impermeable membrane in the field that dis-allows the percolation of the effluent into your drain field.

As to not having enough room for a new septic field on your property, BS. Please read my prior post which refers to Eco-Flow systems. After some research your find that they can be configured to work in extremely restrictive areas which may make them suitable for your application. Hopefully there is a registered installer in your area and you can give them a call.

 

[PeterT]

This is my third rural home with septic and well and I wouldn't have it any other way. Septic is pumped maybe every 5 years, other than that no issues. Water when I need it and septic always works with no monthly bills.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Pumping the tanks often is very important -- the "biomass" is not removed. When you don't pump - fats and other non liquids flow into the leach field where they don't belong.

"Aerobic" digester systems will do a much better job of handling the biomass.

Still, you need to stay away chemicals that will kill the bacteria (solvents, excessive amounts of chlorine, etc. ). Too much "solids" (TP, baby wipes, etc) is bad. Large quantities of water is also bad (lots of showers, dish washing and clothes washing).

All systems are sized by the number of bathrooms and people living in the home. If you have added on 2 bedrooms because you have a mini-Dugger family and now have 2.5 bathrooms instead of the original 1, you septic is not going to live long without frequent visits from the "honey sucker".