LPD Septic System

[crown]

Does anyone have any experience with this type of system, LPD is short for Low Pressure Distribution it is an engineered system. Also does anyone have any ideas of cost to install, I have already had it engineered was not cheap /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. Seems these days around here conventional septic systems are becoming a think of the past. Any comments and info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[slowrev]

I am not really up on the systems, but there is a place up the road that makes the parts for the system. I understand that they are very picky on how they are installed. It seems that one of those systems are more sensitive to improper installation issues than the old type of septic systems.
Ben

 

[Highbeam]

Pressure distribution systems in general are superior to gravity systems. Our local approval authority allows a reduced drainfield area for PD systems. The PD system is generally less sensitive to crumby installation since the out-of-level perf pipe on a gravity system will overload the low point but not on a PD system.

Then there is the cool benefit of dosing. A gravity system allows effluent to head to the drainfield as fast as it comes in to the septic tank so you get a constantly wet drainfield where a PD system lets the effluent accumulate in a second pump tank($) and then shoots a load out into the drainfield all at once. This aids the decomposition process by allowing oxygen into the drainfield between doses.

The additional cost is in the pump, pump tank, and engineering. The drainfield should be smaller and easier to build. I would recommend a PD system even if a gravity system will work.

 

[Jagmandave]

Here in Johnson County, they've pretty much gone to mound systems, which I think are pressure distribution systems, with an aeration pump as well - expensive too. My initial estimate was over $20k for a 3 bedroom 2 bath home for just me and the bride............I understand that a big chunk of that (1/2?) is for the sand used in the mound.........

 

[Highbeam]

We use mound systems here in the NW for sites with high ground water. The goal is to get the primary treatment in the septic tank and the secondary treatment, normally done in a dry drainfield, gets accomplished as the effluent falls through the sand filter. Once the effluent is at the bottom of the SF it is as ready as it will ever be to enter the ground water. 15-20k$ is about right for a mound system here. Pumps, floats, engineering, piping, etc are all much more complicated and additional to a standard system. The good thing is that sites that were previously unusable are now possible with a mound. The bad thing is that you have to look at them and dang near need a license to operate one.

 

[dmccarty]

crown,

I'm guessing that your LPD is our LPP, low pressure pipe. Five years aog I was hearing 12,000 to 18,000 dollars to install. I never could figure out WHY they cost that much. The engineer fee as under $1,000. You needed extra pipe, a little labor, two tanks, and a pump. But I could not see how the price got to the price points I was hearing other than its what the market would bear.

There are also spray systems where the liquid is sprayed over media in the second tank. At the time I was looking into all of this in 2000 the media could be special sand or peat moss. These systems where $20,000 to $30,000. They also required something like 1/4-1/2 acre of land that had to be fenced off from human/lifestock/pets so that the effluent could be sprayed in the area.

Both systems had to be inspected twice a year. You could take a class and be certified to do your owne inspections here in NC.

I think the second system had to be permitted both by the county and the state which drove up the cost a bit. The peat moss and sand added to the cost. Though I can' see how it drove the cost over 20,000 dollars.....

The NC Environmental health department has/had a good website that explained the different systems as well has had the rules and regulations. I would think your state would have something similar. If they don't have it online they should have info at the office they can mail you.

Later,
Dan

 

[Donman]

Here in Michigan the rule of thumb is that you need a minimum of two feet above a ground water table for the leach bed in order to use the old type standard septic system. ( they call it a progressive failure system ) Anything less than that gets the raised bed LPD system - only they require two 1000 gal settling tanks plus a third dose tank with the pump in it. These systems have a very long trouble free life as long as the pump doesn't puke out. A second float switch above the pump float switch turns on an alarm light if the pump fails.