Septic Question

[Bird]

My aerobic system was similar to jinman's; just a different company. Mine cost $5,000 in 1997; same price my brother had paid a year or so earlier. Then a year or so after I bought mine, a brother-in-law paid $5,100 for the same thing by a different installer. We had the Hydro-Action brand. Their new ones are designed quite differently, but do the same thing. If you click on the links on the left side of the page under Homeowner Information, you can learn more about the aerobic systems.

Unlike jinman, ours did water the grass well enough to make it grow fast. But also unlike him, we ran everything through ours, grey water, washing machine, even the condensation drain for the air-conditoning.

 

[kenmac]

Kenmac, I don't remember about the chlorine percentages, but yes, I used the 3" tablets in the septic system. But when I had a swimming pool, we didn't have an automatic dispenser, simply dropped the tablets in the skimmer basket and back then I used the 1" tablets for the pool

I don't know what the cost difference (if any) would be to just add a hawyard pool type auto chlorinator to the system. The tablets I use for the pool are slow dissolving type

 

[shaley]

I've read many articles that state not to use pool type tablets in aerobic systems with pump tanks. Seems they generate and explosive gas when they dissolve. http://lakegranbury.tamu.edu/docs/L-5344.pdf

 

[Mike120]

Well, since the hydraulic engineer that was out last fall said that to relocate my leach field would be around $15,000 this sounds like a bargain! The water table is too high and the ground doesn't perc well enough where the field is now. The house was built in 1999. Engineer said the septic wouldn't pass design standards today and the leach field would have to be about 600 feet away from the house (to get to some acceptable soil).

You may want to check the frost depth up there. I've been told that the reason aerobic systems are not popular farther north is because of freezing.

 

[jeffinsgf]

I'll check, but our frost depth is just 18 inches.

 

[Highbeam]

I am also very interested in irrigating with my septic effluent as a method of disposal. Burying the drainfield is such a waste of prime land.

 

[jinman]

I'll check, but our frost depth is just 18 inches.

The problem is that the system with spray heads comes on at least a couple of times per day (about every 250 gallons). If you are in the teens or sub-teens temperatures, you might need an alternative system like a sand pit. I'd look for installers in your area and see what the most common solution is.