RonL
Banned
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2001
- Messages
- 432
- Location
- Worcester, Massachusetts
- Tractor
- Caterpillar 416C IT, Caterpillar D3G, previously owned a Ford 1910
Buckeye
There are as many different methods and standards of treating sewerage as there are jurisdictions that oversee and license septic systems. Side by side jurisdictions with similar soil conditions may have dramatically different standards. As others have said, consult the local licensing authority.
Some people take a cavalier attitude toward septic systems but you should remember that whatever water you pour into the ground is eventually going to come up your well line. The earth is , by and large, a closed system as far as water is concerned
On leach bed systems its becoming standard that the liquid effluent from your septic tank needs to filter through four feet of proper filter earth to be treated. If the highest level that surface water has reached is less than four feet from the bottom of the leach pipes a raised bed of proper filter material needs to be built up.
My personal feeling are that I would prefer to build a raised bed system that functions by gravity. These are, if properly built, relatively maintenance free. Holding tanks and pumps require alarms and failsafe systems, and many jurisdictions require maintenance contracts and regular inspections.
My property in New Hampshire is on the ridge of a mountain. The property slopes gradually for the first several hundred feet and then drops sharply. Across the road the land continues a gradual uphill slope for a couple hundred yards. When the test pits were dug for the perc test it showed at least eight feet of gravel. It also showed that the ground water level had come within 39 inches of the surface. For this reason a raised bed was required. I suspect that the only time that the water table is this high is after a severe winter followed by a very wet spring. For this reason I intend to put a perimeter drain around the high side of the property. This perimeter drain will terminate in a cistern that will be used for fire suppression purposes. If there is enough overflow from this cistern I might build a pond. I will also , of course, put a perimeter drain around the foundation of the house. This will be on the uphill side from the septic system. Hopefully , I will never have problems with the septic system. A little extra work and planning now will save me grief in the future. Once I retire I don't ever want to redo anything I've already done.
Coincedently my sewer and water bill for my house in the City just arrived: $305. for the quarter.
Good Luck
RonL
.
There are as many different methods and standards of treating sewerage as there are jurisdictions that oversee and license septic systems. Side by side jurisdictions with similar soil conditions may have dramatically different standards. As others have said, consult the local licensing authority.
Some people take a cavalier attitude toward septic systems but you should remember that whatever water you pour into the ground is eventually going to come up your well line. The earth is , by and large, a closed system as far as water is concerned
On leach bed systems its becoming standard that the liquid effluent from your septic tank needs to filter through four feet of proper filter earth to be treated. If the highest level that surface water has reached is less than four feet from the bottom of the leach pipes a raised bed of proper filter material needs to be built up.
My personal feeling are that I would prefer to build a raised bed system that functions by gravity. These are, if properly built, relatively maintenance free. Holding tanks and pumps require alarms and failsafe systems, and many jurisdictions require maintenance contracts and regular inspections.
My property in New Hampshire is on the ridge of a mountain. The property slopes gradually for the first several hundred feet and then drops sharply. Across the road the land continues a gradual uphill slope for a couple hundred yards. When the test pits were dug for the perc test it showed at least eight feet of gravel. It also showed that the ground water level had come within 39 inches of the surface. For this reason a raised bed was required. I suspect that the only time that the water table is this high is after a severe winter followed by a very wet spring. For this reason I intend to put a perimeter drain around the high side of the property. This perimeter drain will terminate in a cistern that will be used for fire suppression purposes. If there is enough overflow from this cistern I might build a pond. I will also , of course, put a perimeter drain around the foundation of the house. This will be on the uphill side from the septic system. Hopefully , I will never have problems with the septic system. A little extra work and planning now will save me grief in the future. Once I retire I don't ever want to redo anything I've already done.
Coincedently my sewer and water bill for my house in the City just arrived: $305. for the quarter.
Good Luck
RonL
.
