Depending on the grade of the system, if your lot is flat most certainly, I have seen it many times. If the distribution box is downslope from the home, then the effluent would surge out of the top of the box if the field lines are clogged. I have also seen effluent leak out of the tops of septic tanks as well before backing up into the home if the components are at lower elevations.
You bet, small stone to let's say 2-3" should be fine, no heavy rock / boulders as it could start bowing the lateral lines. Spread drain rock evenly so the weight distribution is even throughout.
We just had our 34 year old system checked, and tanks (2) pumped. Original concrete d-box collapsed and previous owner had not searched and fixed it. But rather a second tank was installed and effluent pumped to a second field. We bought 9 years ago and 7 years ago I found the original d-box and installed a new one. Field pipes were perfectly clean. Current inspector was impressed at pipe elevations and also impressed at 20 minute dissipation test. Second pump-up system considered a backup. We are happy owners.
There are multiple locations used as cleanout ports every 50ft starting from the house. Inspections happens at entry into city sewer main. Inspections here don't even require that much.
Think you missed one of the biggest problems. With that much sludge in the D-box that tank obviously hasn't been pumped out in years. This whole situation could have been avoided with regular maintenance with the septic tank. Any health department will tell you to have your tank pumped at least once every five years.
That would defeat the purpose of a sand mound, we are trying to create vertical separation from the limiting condition or restrictive condition / layer. For example if high water table is 1ft below grade we are not going to excavate into the ground and place sand. Thus we have to elevate the system above grade to the vertical separation minimum distance as in our standard's book with spec sand. Meeting the vertical separation distance allows the removal of harmful pathogens from going into the aquifers, water tables, wells, waterways etc.
Regulations on certain system types is going to vary from state to state, and sometimes county to county. For soils with poor permeability we use a sand mound system. Normally I would say that yes, an above ground system is going to be one of the best methods to deal with very slow Perc rates, but you will have to discuss the system with your health department.
The sand mound itself will not emit smells, the effluent travels through the spec sand for the treatment, then goes to the native ground. If the sand mound is properly done, there will be no breakaway effluent at the toes of the sand mound thus no smells. The top of the sand is then protected with about 12" of topsoil cover allowing vegetation to grow, thus no smells emitted to the air.
In your opinion, what is the best way to determine where to put a test pit to hopefully not run into a fast percolation soil? Secondly, how does someone avoid the exact opposite where there is an abundance of clay and non-well drainage? What physical characteristics above ground should home owners look for identifying best locations for test pits and Septic Systems?
We normally conduct test pits in close proximity to the area we deem the septic field should be located in. Regardless of the soil types. We conduct 2 or more test pits to determine consistency in the soils for that location. We then design the septic system for the soil types that we encountered during testing. We look for drain field locations where it is out of the way of vehicle travel, we look for locations that are fairly accessible for maintenance providers, and we look for relatively flat zones without too much slope.
So confused. What is the distance from the ground surface to limiting layer in feet? 24” requirement? Or is it 24” from the bottom of the leach line to the limiting layer? Please help. I thought you need at least 4 total feet and 8” min to the limiting layer
It all depends where you are from, in BC, using a uniform distribution system we are allowed 24" to limiting layer from the point of the infiltrative surface. With gravity systems we are allowed 48" to limiting layer from the point of the infiltrative surface. The infiltrative surface is where the effluent will enter the soil that has been excavated. In a raised system the sand bed has to make up the vertical separation distance from the limiting layer/condition, and the infiltrative surface will be the sand.
Thanks so much for the Video, however in Australia (at least in NSW) we were not required to have a sand mound, the waste water is sprayed onto the paddock. There are 2 Tanks, 3/4 buried. We are on 5 Acres and a designated area is for this waste water (not supposed to use for edible plants). The tanks are checked and treated regularly by our plumber. The waste from the house goes into the first tank and is agitated (I think) on a set cycle and then pumped to the 2nd tank where it again is agitated on a set cycle before being pumped out through sprays onto the set area. An Electrician has in fact now looked at it and somehow fixed the problem, sorry but I don't know exactly what was done and in fact I have been told that of the 4 power points located on top of the 2nd tank, one seems to trip the circuit breaker and has been left unplugged. The system seems to be working though so I'm not going to worry about it just now. Im off for a few weeks then its Christmas, so a problem for another day or at least untill it plays up again. Thanks all.
It all depends on the size of your septic tank and how many occupants using the system. 2 people can fill up a 1000 g tank in about 2 weeks or less using toiletries, showers and laundry. Of course this depends on habits, the better the water conservation the more time it takes to fill the the tank. Typically a small family will fill a 1000 g tank in about 5 days.
Great video covering basics for all systems, professionally done, well rehearsed. I'm saying this as a state regulator. The code requirements stated are very close to my state. The presenter did an awesome job being down to earth and using plain language.
