StudyGuideforHowtoInspectSepticSystemsThisstudyguidecanhelpyou:

• takenotes;• readandstudyoffline;• organizeinformation;and• prepareforassignmentsandassessments.

AsamemberofInterNACHI,youmaycheckyoureducationfolder,transcript,andcoursecompletionsbyloggingintoyourMembers-OnlyAccountatwww.nachi.org/account.Topurchasetextbooks(printedandelectronic),visitInterNACHI’secommercepartnerInspectorOutletatwww.inspectoroutlet.com.Copyright©2007-2015InternationalAssociationofCertifiedHomeInspectors,Inc.

StudentVerification&InteractivityStudentVerification

Byenrollinginthiscourse,thestudentherebyatteststhattheyarethepersoncompletingallcoursework.Theyunderstandthathavinganotherpersoncompletethecourseworkforthemisfraudulentandwillresultinbeingdeniedcoursecompletionandcorrespondingcredithours.

Thecourseproviderreservestherighttomakecontactasnecessarytoverifytheintegrityofanyinformationsubmittedorcommunicatedbythestudent.Thestudentagreesnottoduplicateordistributeanypartofthiscopyrightedworkorprovideotherpartieswiththeanswersorcopiesoftheassessmentsthatarepartofthiscourse.Ifplagiarismorcopyrightinfringementisproven,thestudentwillbenotifiedofsuchandbarredfromthecourseand/orhavetheircredithoursand/orcertificationrevoked.

Communicationonthemessageboardorforumshallbeofthepersoncompletingallcoursework.

Introduction

"Septic"

Inthiscourse,theterm"septic"isusedtodescribealltypesofsystems(anaerobicandaerobic).Theterm"septic"isacommonlyusedtermtodescribealltypesofsepticsystemsandcomponents,eventhoughitshouldonlybeusedwhendescribinganaerobicsystems.Theterm"septic"actuallyreferstotheanaerobicbacterialenvironmentthatexistsinthetreatmenttank,whichdecomposesthewastedischargedintothetank.

SepticSystems

TheFrenchareconsideredthefirsttouseanundergroundseptictanksysteminthe1860s.By1880,two-chambersepticsystemswerebeingusedintheUnitedStates.Today,nearlyoneinfourhouseholdsintheUnitedStatesdependsonanindividualseptic(onsite)wastewatertreatmentsystemorsmallcommunityclustersystemtotreatwastewater.

In2007,20percent(26.1million)oftotalU.S.housingunitswereservedbysepticsystems.Thisisanincreaseof1.54millionsepticsystemssince1985.In2007,22percent(1.6million)ofallhousingunitslessthan4yearsoldusedsepticsystems.In2007,46percent(10.1million)ofoccupiedhousingunitswithsepticsystemswerelocatedinthesouthernregionoftheUnitedStates.

Infartoomanycases,thesepticsystemsintheU.S.areinstalledandlargelyforgotten—untilproblemsarise.EPAconcludedinits1997ReporttoCongressthat"adequatelymanageddecentralizedwastewatersystemsareacost-effectiveandlong-termoptionformeetingpublichealthandwaterqualitygoals,particularlyinlessdenselypopulatedareas."

Thedifferencebetweenafailedsystemandafunctionalsystemistheimplementationofaneffectivewastewatermaintenanceandinspectionprogram.Suchaprogram,ifproperlyexecuted,canprotectpublichealth,preservevaluablewaterresources,andmaintaineconomicvitalityinacommunity.

Whenusedproperly,anonsitesystemcanfunctionverywellformanyyears.Ifusedimproperly,thesystemwillfailandcauseconditionsthatthreathumanhealthandtheenvironment.Inspectionandmaintenanceiskeytoensuringthatsepticsystemsfunctionproperly.

OnsitewastewatertreatmentanddisposalsystemsareinspectedroutinelyacrosstheUnitedStatesduringarealestatetransaction.Thereareseveralnationalassociationsthathavedevelopedstandardsfortheinspectionandmaintenanceofsepticsystems.Everystateregulatestheinstallationofsepticsystemsandmostrequirestrictcertificationandtrainingofinstallersandinspectors.

Asepticinspectionleadstoaninspectionreportthatprovidestheclientwithinformationaboutthetypeandconditionoftheonsitewastewatertreatmentsystemasobservedatthetimeoftheinspection.Recommendationsforfurtherevaluationorcorrectiveactionsregardingthesystemsandcomponentsmightbeincludedinthereport.

Itshouldbetheintentionoftheinspectortoprovideasmuchaccurate,unbiasedinformationaboutthesepticsystem’sconditionsothattheclientcanmakesmart,informeddecisions.Inyourparticularstateorcounty,thesepticinspectormightnotberequiredtodeclareasystemtobemalfunctioning,failedornon-compliant.Thiswilllikelybetheresponsibilityofthelocaladministrativeauthoritysuchasthelocalorstatehealthdepartment.Theinspectorsimplyreportsanyobservedconditionthatmayrepresentanindicationofamalfunctioningsystemtotheirclientandthelocalhealthdepartmentsoonafter(typicallywithin24hours)thesepticinspection.

Atypicalsepticinspectionis:

• Anobjectiveevaluationoftheonsitewastewatertreatmentsystembasedupontheinspector’sexperienceandknowledge;

• Anevaluationofeachinspectedcomponentofthesystem;and• Aconclusionaboutthesystem’scondition.

AtypicalsepticinspectionisNOT:

• Awarrantyorguaranteethatthesystemwillproperlyfunctionforanyperiodoftimeinthefuture;and

• Acertificationofthesystem’sinstallationorperformance.

TwoTypesofInspectionsHowshouldsepticsystemsbemaintained?Howdoyouknowifasepticsystemisworkingproperly?Thistrainingcourseanswersthesequestionsbyprovidinginstructionforevaluatingandmaintainingonsite(septic)wastewatertreatmentsystems.Thistrainingcourseprovidesinstructionsforgatheringinformationaboutthesystem,locatingcomponentsofthesystem,checkingtheplumbingsysteminsidethehouse,evaluatingtheperformanceandconditionofthecomponentsofthesystem,applyinginspectiontechniques,andrecommendingroutinemaintenanceandinspections.

Thistrainingcourseforinspectingonsite(septic)wastewatertreatmentsystemsdescribestwotypesofinspections:

1. Amaintenanceinspectiontodeterminetheneedforpumpingandminorrepairs;and

2. Acompletefunctionalinspectiontypicallyusedduringarealestatetransfer.

InspectorLogo

TheSepticInspectorlogoisavailableforusebyallInterNACHIcertifiedmemberswhosuccessfullycompletethiscourse,includingitsfinalexam.Downloadthelogofromwww.nachi.org/logos.

ObjectiveAftersuccessfulcompletionofthetraining,thestudentwillbeabletoperformtwotypesofinspectionsofonsitewastewater(septic)treatmentsystems:

• maintenanceinspections;and• functionalinspections.

ForResidentialHomeInspectors

Theroutinemaintenanceinspectionisdesignedforresidentialhomeinspectorsto:

1. performaroutinemaintenanceinspectionusingvisual-only,non-invasiveinspectiontechniques;and

2. reporttotheirclient:o thelocationofthesystemcomponents;o howthesystemworks,ando maintenancerecommendations.

ForEveryone

Inspectionandmaintenanceiskeytoensuringthatsepticsystemsfunctionproperly.Thistrainingisforeveryonewithaninterestininspectingandmaintainingfunctionalonsitewastewater(septic)treatmentsystems.

• Homeinspectorscanusethistrainingtoprovidevaluableinformationtotheirclientswithrespecttoroutineinspectionsandmaintenanceoftheirsystem.

• Septiccontractorscanusethetrainingtolearnhowtoevaluatetheconditionofthesystemanddeterminetheneedforregularmaintenanceaswellasrepair.

• Thistrainingcanalsohelptoprepareforastatecertificationexamination.Itisintendedtoprovidereliableinformationtoinspectors,homebuyers,septiccontractors,homeowners,andinterestedparties.

Regularlyinspectedandproperlymaintainedsepticsystemshelptoprotectpublichealth,preservevaluablewaterresources,andmaintaineconomicvitalityinacommunity.Properlytrainedhomeinspectorsplayavitalroleinahomeowner’sregularhomemaintenanceplanbyperformingroutinemaintenanceinspections.

Acknowledgements

Thistrainingcourseisbaseduponseveraldocumentsthatareavailabletothepublicfromthefollowingsources:

• NewJerseyDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection• PennsylvaniaSeptageManagementAssociation• RutgersCooperativeExtension• UnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgency• RhodeIslandDepartmentofEnvironmentalManagement• GeorgiaDepartmentofCommunityHealth• ChesterCountyHealthDepartment,BureauofEnvironmentalHealthProtection

SpecialthankstoInterNACHIMemberMarkD.NahrgangofKingdomInspections.

Courseauthor:BenGromickoatben@internachi.org.Commentsandsuggestionsareappreciated.

InterNACHIcourses:www.nachi.org/education.

TwoTypesofInspections

Thistrainingcoursedescribestwotypesofinspectionthatcanbeperformedbyproperlytrainedinspectors:

1. maintenanceinspections;and2. functionalinspections.

Theroutinemaintenanceinspectioniswellsuitedforaresidentialhomeinspector.Amaintenanceinspectionisusedtolocatesystemcomponents,describehowthesystemfunctionsandhowitcanbemaintainedregularly.Thefunctionalinspectionisusedprimarilyduringpropertytransfers,includesamaintenanceinspection,anddesignedprimarilyforsepticcontractors.

MaintenanceInspectionsThemaintenanceinspectiondeterminestheneedforpumpingandtoidentifyminorproblemsbeforetheybecomemajordefectsthatthreatenhumanhealthandtheenvironment.

Therearetwomaintenanceinspectionsubtypes:

1. Afirstmaintenanceinspection;and2. Aroutinemaintenanceinspection.

FortheHomeInspector

Thefirstmaintenanceinspectionisdesignedforthehomeinspectortoreporttotheirclient(1)thelocationofthesystemcomponents,(2)howthesystemworks,and(3)maintenancerecommendationsusingvisual-only,non-invasiveinspectiontechniques.

FortheSepticContractor

Theroutinemaintenanceinspectionassumesthatthecomponentshavealreadybeenlocated.

FirstMaintenanceInspection

1.2FirstMaintenanceInspection(designedforahomeinspector)

1. GatherInformationBeforetheInspectiono Healthdepartmentsandlocalauthoritieso Askthehomeowner

2. EvaluatethePlumbingoftheHouseo Inspecttheplumbingsystemofthehouseo Leakingfixturesandequipment

3. LocatingtheComponentsoftheSystem

o Locateandaccessthetreatmenttank,cesspoolorseepagepito Effluentdeliveryanddistributiono Locatetheabsorptionareao Risers,filtersandbaffles

4. SchedulingMaintenanceInspections5. ReporttotheClient

RoutineMaintenanceInspection

1.EvaluatethePlumbingoftheHouse

• Inspecttheplumbingsystemofthehouse• Estimatewateruse• Changingfixtureswithwaterconservationdevices• Leakingfixturesandequipment

2.EvaluatetheSystemComponents

• Inspectthetreatmenttank• Inspectthecesspoolorseepagepit• Inspecttheholdingtank• Inspectthedosingandsiphontanksandpumps• Inspectionofmound,subsurfacebedandtrenchsystems• Hydraulicloadtest• Accessorycomponentsandalternatetechnologies

3.ReporttotheClient

FunctionalInspectionsFortheSepticContractor

Thefunctionalinspectionisusedprimarilyduringapropertytransfertoprotecttheconsumerandidentifysystemsinneedofcorrectionandfurtherevaluation.Afunctionalinspectiondetermineswhetherasystemservesthehouseadequately.

1.GatherInformationBeforetheInspection

• Healthdepartmentsandlocalauthorities• Askthehomeowner

2.EvaluatethePlumbingoftheHouse

• Inspecttheplumbingsystemofthehouse• Estimatewateruse

• Changingfixtureswithwaterconservationdevices• Leakingfixturesandequipment

3.LocatingtheComponentsoftheSystem

• Locateandaccessthetreatmenttank,cesspoolorseepagepit• Effluentdeliveryanddistribution• Locatetheabsorptionarea• Risers,filtersandbaffles

4.EvaluatetheSystemComponents

• Inspectthetreatmenttank• Inspectthecesspoolorseepagepit• Inspecttheholdingtank• Inspectthedosingandsiphontanksandpumps• Inspectionofmound,subsurfacebedandtrenchsystems• Hydraulicloadtest• Accessorycomponentsandalternatetechnologies

5.SchedulingMaintenanceInspections

6.ReporttotheClient

ToolsNeededToolsNeededToinspecttheplumbingsysteminthehouse:

• Flashlight• Calculator• Stopwatch• Waterpressureandflowmeter

Toaccessthecomponentsofthesystem:

• Shovel• Metalprod(steelrod)

Tocheckthetank:

• Sludgemeasuringdevice• Scummeasuringdevice

• Latexgloves• Pumpingservicewithpumptruck• Flashlight• Mirroronpole• Eyeprotection• Gardenhose• Dyetracing

QuizIn2009,nearlyonein____householdsintheUnitedStatesdependsonanindividualseptic(onsite)wastewatertreatmentsystemorsmallcommunityclustersystemtotreatwastewater.

• four• two• five• ten

T/F:Thedifferencebetweenafailedsystemandafunctionalsystemistheimplementationofaneffectivewastewatermaintenanceandinspectionprogram.

• True• False

T/F:Atypicalsepticinspectionisawarrantyorguaranteethatthesystemwillproperlyfunctionforanyperiodoftimeinthefuture.

• False• True

GeneralInformationMajorComponents

Generallyspeaking,therearethreecomponentsofatypicalsepticsystem.Theyinclude:

1. Thetreatmenttank;2. Thedistributionsystem;and3. Theabsorptionarea.

BuildingSewerPipe

Atypicalhousewillhaveallwastewaterdischargethroughasinglepipe,calledthebuildingsewerpipe,whichdeliversthewastewaterbygravitytothesewagedisposalsystem,typicallythetank.

Thesewerlinesthatcarrysolidsformthehousetothetankshouldhavesufficientslopetomaintainvelocitiesthatcarrysolids.Aslopeofbetween1percent(1/8inchperfoot)and2percent(1/4inchperfoot)isgenerallyrecommended.Thelast15feetofsewerlinebeforethetankshouldnotslopemorethan2percent(1/4inchperfoot).

Thesewerlinefromthehousetothetank,allfittingsandthepipeinthetank,allextensionstothesurfacefromthetopofthetankandthefirst10feetexitingthetankmustbeschedule40PVCpipeorheavier.

TreatmentTanks

Atreatmenttankisaburied,watertightreceptacledesignedandconstructedtoreceivewastewaterfromabuilding.Aseptictankisdesignedtodothefollowing:

• separatethesettleableandthefloatablesolids;• promotegrowthoftheanaerobicbacterianecessarytodecomposethesolids;and• providestorageforthescumandsludge.

Averticalcross-sectionofaproperlyoperatingtankwillshowitdividedintothreedistinctlayers:

• Alayeroffloatingscumatthetop;• Amiddlezoneofgenerallyclearwaterrelativelyfreeofsolids(the“clearzone”or

“clearspace”);and• Abottomlayerofsettledsludge.

Multipletanksortankswithtwocompartmentsaremoreeffectiveinseparatingsolidsthanasingletankwithonecompartment.Iftherearemultipletanksoratankwithmorethanonecompartment,thenalltanksandallcompartmentsshouldbeinspected.

Tanksareeitheranaerobic(septic)oraerobic.

Anaerobic(septic)

Thetankofananaerobic(septic)systemiswhere:

• thesolidsseparatefromliquids;• theorganicmatterisdigested;• thesolidsarestored;and• therelativelycleareffluentcomesfrom.

Theterm"septic"isacommonlyusedtermtodescribealltypesofsepticsystemsandcomponents,eventhoughitshouldonlybeusedwhendescribinganaerobicsystems.Theterm"septic"referstotheanaerobicbacterialenvironmentthatexistsinthetreatmenttank,whichdecomposesthewastedischargedintothetank.

"ANAEROBIC"="SEPTIC"

Aerobic

Thetankofanaerobictankisnotastranquilasaseptictank.Insideanaerobictank,airmaybeforcedintotheeffluent,ormechanicalagitationdevices,pumpsorimpellersconstantlyorattimedintervalsmixtheeffluent.Aproperlyworkingaerobictankdischargeseffluentthatismorethoroughlytreated,isclearer,andhasfewerodors.

Sludge,ScumandaClearZone

Atankisusedtoholdwastewaterwhilethewastewater’ssolidsandliquidsseparate.Theheaviersolidsinthewastewater,calledsludge,sinktothebottomofthetank.Thereitwillslowlydecompose.Aproperlyfunctioningseptictankwillremove75%ofthesuspendedsolids,oilandgreasefromtheeffluent.

Thelighter,floatablematerial,calledscum,risestothesurfaceandbecomestrappedbetweendevicesatthetank’sinletandoutlet,eitherbafflesorsanitarytees.Whenwastewaterentersthetank,itpushesrelativelycleaneffluent,called“theclearzone”thatlocatedinthesettlingareabetweenthescumandthesludgelayers,outofthetank.

Assolidsenterthetank,theclearzoneisreduced.Ifthere’snotenoughoftheclearzone,thenthewastewaterenteringthetankwillpushthestuffoutofthetankbeforeitgetsenoughtimetoseparate.Wastewaterwithunsettledsolidswillbepushedoutofthetankandcanclogasoilabsorptionsystem.

Topreventthisfromhappening,tanksneedtobepumpedtomaintainagood“clearzone.”Failuretopumpregularlywillcausetheabsorptionfieldtofail.Routinepumpingofthetreatmenttankisthebestwaytopreventsystemfailure.

Inmostareas,anewlyinstalledseptictankisrequiredtobeaminimumof1,000gallonsinsize.Theminimumseptictankcapacityisbaseduponthenumberofhouseholdbedrooms.For3bedrooms,theminimumsizeis1,000gallons.For5bedrooms,theminimumsizeis1,500gallons.

DistributionSystem

Thedistributionsystemiswhereeffluentistakenfromthetreatmenttankintotheabsorptionarea.Thedistributionmayconsistofagravitydeliverylinetoadistributionbox,ortoatankwithalifeordosingpump,ortoasiphonchamber.Wherethesystemisacesspool,theremaybenodistinctdistributionsystem.

AbsorptionArea

Wheneffluentleavesthetreatmenttank,itflowstothesoilabsorptionsystem.Theabsorptionareaisthemostimportantcomponentbecauseitisthemostexpensiveandmostdifficultcomponentofanonsitesystemtocorrect.Absorptionoftheeffluentintothesoilisachievedwiththeuseofanyofthefollowing:

• Cesspools• Seepagepits• Absorptionbeds• Absorptiontrenches• Abovegrademounds• Soilreplacementsystems

Exceptforcesspools,whicharebothtreatmenttanksandabsorptionareas,thesearegenerallyreferredtoasabsorptionareas.Aninspectionincludesthedeterminationofthelocation,type,size,and,ifpresent,theliquidlevelwithintheabsorptionarea.Theabsorptionareamustbelocatedaspartofasepticinspection.Acompletelysaturatedabsorptionareawillaccelerateorganiccloggingandcouldeventuallyresultinanabsorptionareamalfunction.Thiswouldbeamalfunctionofthesepticsystem.

PermissiontoInspect

PermissiontoInspect

Itisrecommendedtoattainwrittenpermissionfromthehomeownerorrepresentativepriortoperforminganytypeofinspectionoftheonsitetreatmentsystem.

CallBeforeDigging

Stateshavea“one-call”systemtorequestthatanyutilitylinesbelocatedpriortotheinspection.Thisserviceshouldbecalledatleast72hourspriortotheinspection.

GatherInformationGatherInformationBeforetheInspection

Determiningtheconditionofanonsitewastewatertreatmentsystemrequiresknowingasmuchasyoucanaboutitstype,itspastperformanceandhowwellithasbeenmaintained.Knowingallofthisrequiresgatheringinformationandcollectingdataaboutthesystem.

Gatherasmuchinformationaboutthepropertypriortoarrivingattheproperty.Anyinformationthatwasnotgatheredinadvanceoftheinspectioncanbeattainedafterarrivingatthesite.

HealthDepartments&LocalAuthorites

Healthdepartmentsmaybecontactedtoobtaininformationabouttheproperty.Ifavailable,theinspectorshouldreviewrecordsfromthelocalauthorityregardingthepropertyandthesystem.Ifrecordsarenotavailable,theinspectionreportshouldnotethatrecordswerenotavailableforthepropertyandsepticsystem.

Asiteplanofthepropertyandonsitesystemcanberetrievedfromthearchivedrecordsheldbythelocalbuildingofficial.Asiteplan(orsketchoftheproperty)shouldbedonebytheinspectorfortheinspectionreporttoshowthelocationoftheonsitesystem.

AsktheHomeowner

Itisbesttoaskthehomeownerabouttheonsitesysteminperson.Besuretoremaincourteousandprofessionalduringtheinterview.Makethehomeownercomfortable.Askqualityquestions.Theinterviewwiththehomeownermayalsoprovideagoodopportunitytoinformthemaboutsepticmaintenance.Youmaywishtoleavesomeeducationalmaterialswiththehomeowner.

Informationattainedfromthehomeownerpriortotheinspectionshouldbecomparedtotheinformationgatheredattheinspection,including,butnotlimitedto,thefollowing:

• Ageofthehouse• Numberofbedrooms• Typeofonsitesystem• Ageofonsitesystem• Ifoccupied,thenumberofoccupantscurrentlylivinginthehouse• Duringthelast12months,thenumberofyear-roundoccupants• Ifvacant,thelengthoftimethehousehasbeenvacant• Numberofoccupantsexpectedtoliveinthehouse• Existenceofagarbagedisposal• Permitsinrelationtothesystem• Siteplanorsketchofthepropertyandsystemwithmeasurements

• Evidenceofmalfunction• Evidenceofsewageback-upinthehouse• Separategraywatersystem• Washingmachinedrainlineconnectiontotheonsitesystem• Sumppumpdischarge• Dateofthetwomostrecentpumpingofthetank• Frequencyofthetankbeingpumped• Waterbillsforthelast12to24months• Anyinspectionofthesystemandinspectionresults• Anymaintenanceinspectionreports• Anyrepairstothesystem• Highwaterusageattheproperty

Localofficialsmaykeeppermitandmaintenancerecords.Trycontactingthelocalbuildingofficialsorwastewaterofficialstoprovideinformation.Buildingofficialskeeprecordsofallbuildingpermits,andtheylikelyrequireanup-to-datecertificateofconformanceforthesepticsystem.

QuizT/F:Generallyspeaking,therearethreecomponentsofatypicalsepticsystem.Theyincludethetreatmenttank,thedistributionsystem,andtheprivatewell.

• False• True

T/F:Aseptictankmustbewatertight.

• True• False

Aseptictankisdesignedtoseparatethefloatable_____fromtheonesthatsettle.

• solids• liquids• pipes• bacteria

Aseptictankisdesignedtostorethe_____andthesludge.

• scum• sand• aggregate• distributionbox

Insideaproperlyoperatingseptictank,the_____floatsatthetop.

• scum• solids• sludge• clearzone

Insideaproperlyoperatingseptictank,the_____hasthegenerallyclearwaterrelativelyfreeofsolids.

• clearzone• solidsspace• sludgelayer• floatingscumlayer

Multipletanksortankswithtwocompartmentsare_____effectiveinseparatingsolidsthanasingletankwithonecompartment.

• more• less• not

Tanksareeitheranaerobic(septic)or_____.

• aerobic• analytic• concrete• aesthetic

Inananaerobictank,solids_____liquids.

• separatefrom• combinewith

Insidean_____tank,airmaybeforcedintotheeffluent,ormechanicalagitationdevices,pumpsorimpellersconstantlyorattimedintervalsmixtheeffluent.

• aerobic• analytic• polyethylene• aesthetic

Wheneffluentleavesthetreatmenttank,itflowstothesoil_____system.

• absorption• composition• infusion• releasing

EvaluatethePlumbingoftheHouseEvaluatethePlumbingoftheHouse

• Inspecttheplumbingsystem• Estimatewateruse• Changingfixtureswithwaterconservationdevices• Leakingfixturesandequipment

Whenperforminganinspectionoftheonsitetreatmentsystem,aninspectorshouldchecktheinteriorplumbingsystemofthehousebecauseafaultyoroutdatedplumbingsystemmayaddsignificantlytothewastewaterloadonasystem.Overloadedsystemstendtofail.Faultyplumbingaddstooverallwateruse.Whenperforminganinspection,checkalltheplumbing,waterfixturesandwater-usingdevicesformalfunctions.

InspectingthePlumbingSystem

Byinspectingtheplumbingsystem,theinspectormaydeterminethelocationwherethesewerpipesexitthestructure,thegenerallocationofthetreatmenttankandabsorptionfield,andthepresenceofmultipleplumbingortreatmentsystems.Inspectingtheplumbingofthehousecanresultindeterminingwherethelaundryfacilitiesdischarge.Theclotheswasherorlaundrytubmaydischargeintotheonsitesystemormaydischargeelsewhere.Thispartoftheinspectionislimitedtowheretheplumbingisexposed.Ifthereisacrawlspace,theinspectorshouldchecktheplumbinginsidethatspace.Ifthereisanunfinishedbasement,theinspectionoftheplumbingmayberelativelyeasy.Ifthelowestlevelisfinished,asinthecaseofaslab-on-gradeconstruction,theinspectionmaybeverylimited.Ifforsomereason,partoftheinspectionoftheplumbingisrestricted,asinthecaseofalimitedaccesstothecrawlspace,thenthatrestrictiontotheinspectionshouldbenotedinthereport.

• Inspecttheinteriorplumbingsystemofthehouse.Confirmthenumber,sizeandgeneraldirectionoftheexitpoint(s)ofthesewerdrainline(s)ofthehouse.Determineiftheyareconsistentwiththeonsitesystem’slocation.

• Checkallthefixturesinthehouse.Followthedrainlinesfromeachfixturetothemaindrainpipethatexitsthehouseandtravelstothetreatmenttank.Makesureyouhavedeterminedthatalldrainandwastelinesappeartobeexitingtowardsthelocationoftheonsitesystem.Runningwateratparticularfixturescanhelpinidentifyingandconfirming.Followthelaundrydischargepipetoitsdestination.Lookfordrainagelinesthatexitthehouseinverydifferentdirections.

• Inspectthegeneralconditionofthedrainlinesinthehouse.Lookfordifferentmaterialsusedinthelines.APVCDWVpipethatisconnectedtoanoldcastirondrainpipemayindicatealterationstothedrainagesystem.Acappedlinethatpreviouslyacceptedthewashingmachinedischargesmayindicateaproblemexperiencedwiththeonsitesystem.Checkforanythinginthedrainagesystemthatmayindicatepastfailuresinthesepticsystem.

• Ifthereisafixturethatisapparentlynotenteringtheonsitetreatmentsystem,thendyecanbeusedtoconfirmthedischargepointforthatfixture.Insertthedyetabletsintothefixturesdrainandflushwithwater.Observationoftheeffluentwithinthefirstsepticsystemcomponentshouldoccurtoconfirmthatthedyefromthefixturehasenteredthetank.Ifthecoloreddischargeisnotobserved,furtherinvestigationofthefixtureandisdrainageisrequired,andthatconditionshouldbenotedintheinspectionreport.

• Determineifthereisasumppumpsysteminstalled.Ifoneexists,confirmthatthedischargeofthesumpisnotconnectedtothehousedrainlineandthatnodrainpipedischargesintothesumppump.

EstimateWaterUse

Aspartofafunctionalinspection,inspectorsshouldcheckthewateruse.Highwaterusecancausetwosepticsystemproblems:

1. Highwaterflowsputstressontheabsorptivecapacityofsoils;and2. Largewaterflowsmaypushsolidsoutofthetreatmenttankandclogtheabsorption

system.

Toestimatewateruse,youcouldusetwoofthemostrecentwaterbills.Andthewatermetercouldbeusedtohelpestimatethewaterusage.Thefollowingequationcouldbeusedtoapproximatewaterusepercapitaperday.

Waterusepercapitaperdayequation:W=(R2-R1)/DxO,where:

W=waterusepercapitaperday

R2=mostrecentwatermeterreading

R1=oldestwatermeterreading

D=numberofdayselapsedbetweenthewatermeterreadings

O=averageoccupancyoftheresidencebetweenreadings

Dailywaterusagecanbeestimatedfortypicalhouseholdsbasedonthenumberofoccupantsorbedrooms.Refertoyourlocalsewerauthorityorstateofficialsourcesabouttheaveragedailywaterusagedatainyourarea.Forexample,ahouseholdwithmoderatewaterusewilltypicallyneed110gallonsofwaterperdayperbedroom.Thisnumber,however,doesnottakeintoaccountextrawaterneededforhomeswithhighoccupancy,lawnirrigation,spatubs,andotheractivitiesandplumbingfixturesthathaveahighwaterdemand.High-water-useactivitiesandfixturesarenotrecommendedforhomeswithanonsitewastewatertreatmentsystem.

ChangingFixtureswithWaterConservation

Inmostcaseswherewateruseisabovetheacceptablerange,itisbecauseofaleakyorold,high-volumewaterfixture.Water-useproblemscanbefixedbyretrofittingfixtureswithnewwaterconservationdevicesorbyrepairingleaks.Installingwaterconservationdevicescanbequick,inexpensive,andcanreducethewaterloadonthesystem.

LeakingFixturesandEquipmentLeakingToilet

Aleakingtoiletcancontributeahundredgallonsofwaterperdaytothewastewatersystem.Leakytoiletscancausefailuresofsepticsystems.

Listenforleakingtoilets.Sometimestheycanbeheard.Ifitisnotmakingaleakynoise,thenuseanothertechniquetofindaleakingtoilet.Addasmallamountoffoodcoloringtothetoiletstoragetank.Wait10minutes.Ifthetoiletisleaking,dyewillappearinthetoiletbowl.

DrippingFaucet

Adrippingwaterfaucetwithjustacoupledropspersecondcanaddmanygallonstothedailywaterload.Sometimesit’sjustamatterofreplacingawasherinthefixture.Theuseofdrymeasuringcupslocatedunderasuspectfixturewillindicateadrippingfaucet.

LeakingWaterTreatmentEquipment

Watersoftenersandpurificationsystemsremovemineralsfromthedomesticwater.Somewatertreatmentsystemsareinstalledunderthekitchensink—looktherefirst.Watertreatmentsystemsuseback-flushingroutinely.Theback-flushleavesthesystemusingasmall-diameterplastichose.Thehoseisusuallyinstalledtodrainintooneofthefollowingoutlets:

• Thelaundrymachinedrainpipe;• Thekitchensinkdrainpipe;• Asumppump;and• Anauxiliarysoilabsorptionsystemthatisseparatefromthesepticsystem.

Iftheback-flushingmechanismisleaking,theonsitesystemcouldbecomeoverloadedandbackup.

QuizWhenperforminganinspectionoftheonsitetreatmentsystem,aninspectorshouldchecktheinterior_____systemofthehousebecauseafaultyoroutdatedplumbingsystemmayaddsignificantlytothewastewaterloadonasystem.

• plumbing• electrical• insulation• heating

T/F:APVCDWVpipethatisconnectedtoanoldcastirondrainpipemayindicatealterationstothedrainagesystem.

• True• False

Ifthereisafixturethatisapparentlynotenteringtheonsitetreatmentsystem,then_____canbeusedtoconfirmthedischargepointforthatfixture.

• dye• excavation• infrared• probing

_____waterusecanputstressontheabsorptivecapacityofsoils.

• High• Low• Hot

Inmostcaseswherewateruseisabovetheacceptablerange,itisbecauseofaleakyorold,high-volumewater_____.

• fixture• fountain• hose• tank

_____toiletscancausefailuresofsepticsystems.

• Leaky• Ceramic• Low-flow• Water-efficicent

A_____waterfaucetwithjustacoupledropspersecondcanaddmanygallonstothedailywaterload.

• dripping• plastic• brass

LocatingtheComponentsoftheSystemLocatingtheComponentsoftheSystem

• Locateandaccessthetreatmenttank,cesspoolorseepagepit(section7.1)• Effluentdeliveryanddistribution(section7.2)• Locatetheabsorptionarea(section7.3)• Risers,filtersandbaffles(section7.4)

Locatingthecomponentsofthesystemispartofbothmaintenanceinspectionsandfunctionalinspections.

PersonalSafety

Theinspector’spersonalsafety,aswellastheprotectionoftheenvironmentandtheclient,shallreceivethehighestpriorityatalltimes.Aninspectorisnotrequiredtodoanythingthat,intheopinionoftheinspector,isdangerous,hazardousormaycausedamagetothesystem,propertyortheenvironment.

RecentPrecipitation

Ifyouareinspectinganonsitetreatmentsystemandtherehasbeenrecentrainfallorotherprecipitationevent,includingbutnotlimitedtorain,drizzle,snow,snowmelting,orwhenthegroundissnowcovered,thentheinspectorshoulddiscusstherelationshipoftheprecipitationtotheresultsoftheinspectionwiththeclient.Presentweatherconditions,recentprecipitationevents,andtheirimpactontheonsitetreatmentsystemshouldberecordedandexplainedintheinspectionreport.

GeneralInspectionProceduralComments

Theportionoftheonsitesysteminspectionshouldbeconductedinthefollowinggeneralsequence:

• Recordalistofallofthepeoplepresentattheinspectionincludinganyprofessionalcontractorswhomaybeworkingonthesystem.

• Recordtheweatherconditionsatthetimeoftheinspection.• Makeobservationsofthesite’scondition.

• Drawasiteplanorsketchoftheproperty.Indicateonthesiteplandistancesofthetreatmenttanklidfromtwofixedpointsofthehousestructure.

• Indicateonthesiteplandistancesfromthehousetothedistributionbox,iflocatedandaccessed.

• Lookforaprivatewell.Indicatethewell’slocationinthefieldnotesandonthesiteplan.

• Lookatthelocationofdriveways,decks,patios,andwalksthatmighthaveaneffectonthesystem.

• Comparetheinformationthatisgatheredattheinspectiontotheinformationgatheredpreviouslyandnoteanydiscrepancies.

• Locateandaccessthetreatmenttank,cesspoolandseepagepit.• Checktheeffluentdeliveryanddistribution.• Locatetheabsorptionarea.• Checktherisers,filtersandbaffles.

ObservationofSite’sCondition

• Lookforandreportanytrees,largeshrubsorotherplantswithextensiverootsystemsgrowingoverorwithin10feetofanycomponentofthesystem.Youshouldinformyourclientthatlargerootsmightcrack,offsetorotherwiseintrudeanddamagecomponents.Vegetationcancreateanegativeimpactonthesystem.

• Lookforsignsofheavymachineryorheavyobjectsrunningoveranypartofthesystem.Heavyobjectsmaycrushoroffsetthecomponentsofthesystem.

• Checkhowstormwaterorsurfacerunoffwaterisbeingdirectedawayfromthecomponentsofthesystem.Ifwaterisflowingintoortowardsanycomponent,thewatershouldbere-directed.Runoffsurfacewaterdirectedtotheabsorptionareamayflooditandinterferewithproperwastewatertreatmentorcausebackup.

• Lookforsignsofsystemmalfunction,suchascave-inorexposedcomponents.• Lookforimpermeablesurfaces,suchasdrivewaysorpatios,within10feetof

componentsofthesystem.Impermeablesurfacesblockthenaturalmovementofairandmoistureinsoil,inhibitingbiologicalactivityandhinderingwastewatertreatment.

• Checkforsignsofmalfunctioning,suchassepticodors,ponding,orothersignsofwastewateroutbreak,patchesoflushgreengrass,burnt-outgrassorgroundstaining.Thesesignsindicatemajorfailureofthesystem.

• Walkaroundthehouse,thesite(property,yards,gardens,grounds)andlookforunexpectedfixtures,plumbingpipes,ordischargeoutlets.

• Lookfordischargesonorthroughanyofthefollowing:thesurfaceoftheground,streams,roads,stormdrains,andunexpectedpipes.

UsingDyetoIdentifyTreatmentBypasses

Bypassesareusedtore-directwastewaterawayfrombeingtreatedbythesystem.Bypassesarenotlegalandshouldbeeliminatedwhentheyareconfirmed.Treatmentmaybebypassedbyanoverflowpipethatrouteseffluentoutofacomponent,preventingitfromreachingtheabsorptionsystem.Bypassesareoftendifficulttotracevisually.Dyetracinghelpsinidentifyingandconfirmingbypasses.Thedyewillappearonthesurfaceandflowwhereverthewastewaterdoes.

LocatetheTreatmentTank

Horizontalandverticalseparationdistancesareimportantfortheprotectionofgroundwaterfromsepticsystemeffluent.Tanksshouldnotbecloserthan50feettoanysourceofwaterandgreaterdistancesmayberequiredbyyourlocalauthority/official.Tanksshouldnotbecloserthan10feetfromanybuildingorwithinthe100-yearfloodplain.Tanksshouldnotbeinareassubjecttoflooding.

Thereshouldnotbeanypermanentcoveringoverthetank,lateral,oranyotherpartofthesystem(patio,building,shed,deck,porch,driveway,walkway,etc.).

Accessportsmaybevisibleandexposedatgroundlevel.Theaccessportsshouldnotbemorethan12inchesbelowthegroundsurface.

Moderntanksareusuallyrectangularboxesmadefromconcreteorfiberglass.Oldertanksmayberound.Veryoldtanksmaybebuiltwithsteel,whichcorrodesovertime.Moderntanksarefrom1000to1500gallons,dependinguponthenumberofbedroomsinthehouse.Someoldertankscouldbeassmallas500gallonsinsize.

Treatmenttanksaremadefromthefollowingcommonmaterials:

• concrete,• metal,• polyethylene(plastic),and• fiberglass.

Thetypeofmaterialthatthetankismadeoutofshouldbedocumented.Concretetanksaregenerallysoundandreliableascomparedtotanksofothermaterials.Metaltankshaveanaveragelifeexpectancyofonly5to10years.Thecorrosiveatmosphereandcontentscauserapiddisintegrationofmetaltanks.Metaltanksshouldnotbeallowedinawastewatertreatmentsystem.Plasticorfiberglasstanksresistdeterioration;however,theyaresusceptibletopuncturebyaprobe.Beverycarefulifyouhavetoprobeforlocatingtheburiedpartsofthetank.

Access

Everytreatmenttankshouldhaveaccesstothetanklids/covers.Thetankrisersshouldbeaccessible.Someinspectorsrequestthatthetankbelocatedandthelidofthetankexposedpriortoarrivingattheproperty.Ifyouneedtoaccessthetanklidyourself,becarefultoavoiddamagingthetankwithyourshovelorirondiggingbar.Donotdamageanyelectricalwiresthatmaybepresent.

Onfailedsystems,youmayfindtheaccesstothetankrestrictedwithsomeunexpectedmaterials.Sometimesthetanklidwillbecoveredwithconstructionmaterialssuchas4x4beamsandplastic.Thereshouldnotbeanythingforeignoverthetanklidlocation.Ifthereisplasticwrappedoverthelidareaoranyothertypeofbuildingmaterials,thismayindicateamajorproblemwiththesystemorthestructuralintegrityofthetank.

Lidsfornon-trafficresidentialtanksshouldbeabletoholdadeadloadof12inchesofearthcoverwithadrysoildensityof100poundspercubicfoot.

TanksareHazardous

Treatmenttanksshouldnotbeenteredduringatypicalsepticinspection.Treatmenttanksarehazardousenvironments.Workcarefullyandsafely.Sewagecontainsgermsthatcancausediseases.Neverenteraseptictank.Toxicandexplosivegasesinthetankpresentahazard.Donotbendoverorstickyourheadtowardsanopentank.Thegasesthatcomeoutofthetankmaycauseyoutoloseconsciousness.Youmayloseyourbalanceandcouldendupfallingintothetank.Donotreachwithyourhandintothetank.Oldtanksmaycollapse.Securetheseptictanklidsothatchildrencannotopenit.Donotentercesspools.Donotworkalone.Donotbringsewage-contaminatedclothingintothehome.

Methaneandhydrogensulfidegasesareproducedinaseptictank.Theyarebothtoxicandexplosive.Hydrogensulfidegasisdeceptive.Itcanhaveaverystrongodoronemoment,butafterexposure,theodormaynotbenoticed.

SepticTankAbandonment

Whenatankisdisconnectedfromuse,thetankshouldberemovedorfilled.Thetankshouldbecompletelyremovedofallsolidsandliquid.Itcouldbecollapsedthenfilledorremoved.

TechniquestoLocateaTank

Tolocatedatreatmenttank,thefollowingtechniquescanbeused:

• Askthehomeownerforpastinspectionreports,andlookforthesketchesormeasurementsforthesystemcomponents.

• Checkforplans,permitsordocumentationwiththelocalauthorityorofficials.• Checkthedirectionofthemainsewerdrainagepipeinthehouse,wherethepipe

exitsthestructure.Thetankmaybelocatedinthatdirection.• Lookforaninspectionportforthedistributionboxatthegroundlevel.Theyare

sometimesinstalledtoprovideaccessandevidenceoflocation.

Ifthetankhasnorisersoverinspectionholesandnodiagramisavailableshowingthelocation,youwillhavetoprobeforthetank,asfollows:

• Youcanuseaprobingtooldesignedforprobingsepticsystems,orusealongmetalrod(1/2-inchrebar,bentover90°tomakeahandleatthetop);

• Beginprobingwherethemaindrainpipeleavesthehouse.• Pushtherodfirmlydownintothesoiluntilyou"feel"thedrainpipe.Useafirmand

steadypush.Don'tpunchorpoundtherodasyoucandamagethepipe,particularlythepipe/septictankconnection.

• Ifthesoilistoohardanddryforprobing,trysoakingtheareawithagardenhose.

OpeningComponents

Insomecases,acomponentwillbeaccessiblefromthegroundsurface.Inothers,theaccessisburied.Onceyoulocatedthecomponent,itshouldbeopened.Afteryouinspectit,closeitandcoveritwithminimaldisturbancetothegroundcoverorlandscaping.

AccessisatGradeLevel

Sometimesacomponentisaccessiblebecauseofariser.Ariserisaverticaltubewithatight-fittingfiberglassorconcretecoverat,slightlyabove,orjustbelowthegroundsurface.Ifthelidislocked,askthehomeownertoopenit.Concretecoversusuallydonothavelocks.

AccessisBuried

Oncethecomponentislocated,approximatethelocationoftheinspectionportsorcentralmanholeaccessbasedontheanticipatedsizeofthecomponent.Useashovelorspadetodigcarefully.Firstcutandremovethesod,thendigthedirttouncovertheinspectionports.Standardsdidnotalwaysrequireinspectionportstobeaccessibleatgradelevel.Mostcodesnowrequireaccessesatgrade.Sometankswillhaveonemanholeaccess.Mostmoderncompartmentedtankswillhavetwo.Onewillbelocatedattheinfluentend,andanotherattheeffluentend,andtherewillbenocentralmanhole.

Theaccessmanholeshouldbeaminimumof20inchesindiameterforeachcompartment.

CesspoolorSeepagePit

Thecesspoolissimplyaverticalpitdugintotheearth.Thepitislinedwithaporouscement,orblock,orstone.Theareaoutsidethelinerisusuallyfilledwithgravel.Allthefixturesofthehousedrainfromthehomedirectlytothecesspool.Therearenotanksinbetweenthecesspoolandthehouse.Atthecesspool,thesolidsfalltothebottomwheretheyarepartiallydigestedbybacteriaandmicroorganismsthatoccurtherenaturally.Theeffluentleachesoutintothegravelandsoilsurroundingthepit.

Theterm“cesspool”isaburiedchamber,tank,orperforatedconcretevaultorcoveredholloworexcavation,whichreceivesdischargesofsanitarysewagefromthebuildingsewerforthepurposeofcollectingsolidsanddischargingliquidstothesurroundingsoil.

Manypeopleconfusecesspoolswithseepagepits.Usuallyaseepagepitisconstructedsimilarlytoacesspoolinconstruction.Thereisalargepitwithacircularwallofcement,blockorstonethatisporous,andthere’sasurroundingbedofgravel.Sometimestheseepagepitcanbereferredtoasadiffuserorgalleywherethereisabottomlessconcretestructurewithgratedsides.

Themaindifferenceisthatonlyeffluentthathascomefromaseptictankenterstheseepagepit.Aseepagepitisalwaysdownstreamfromaseptictank.(Whenacesspoolhastwochambers,thesecondchamberisoftenconsideredtheseepagepit.)Theeffluententerstheseepagepitandistemporarilystoredthereuntilitgraduallyseepsthroughthewallsandintothesurroundingsoil.Abiomatformsinthebottomofthepitandasthepitagesthebiomatgrowsthickcloggingtheporesofthepitwalls.

Becauseoftheirconstructionseepagepitsarenotasefficientatprocessingeffluentasdrainfieldsorsoilabsorptionbeds.Cesspoolsarenotanapprovedmethodofsewagedisposalandallexistingcesspoolsareconsideredtobesubstandard.Cesspoolstendtohavesystemoverflowsandbackups.Cesspoolsallowwastewatertoflowtoground-andsurface-waterresourceswithoutprovidingadequatetreatment.

Ownersofcesspoolsshouldbeencouragedtoupgradetheirsystems.Evencesspoolsthataremaintainedprovide,atbest,marginaltreatmentandshouldbeconsideredforupgrade

orreplacementassoonaspractical.Ifacesspoolisfoundtobeunrepairable,thenitshouldbereplacedwithamodernonsitewastewatertreatmentsystembuiltinaccordingwithmodernstandards.

LocateEffluentDeliveryandDistribution

Effluentgoesfromthetanktotheabsorptionareathroughasolid,rigidpipe.Itenterstheabsorptionareainawaythatprovidesequaldistributionoftheeffluentthroughtheabsorptionarea.Effluentmaybebroughtfromthetanktotheabsorptionareabytheuseofapumporbygravity.

Systemsinstalledsincethe1970shavecommonlyusedplasticpipe,suchasaschedule20pipe.Whenthepiperunsunderanareasubjecttoheavyloads,suchasadriveway,itiscommonlyfoundthatthepipeiscrushedorisdamaged.Inthoseheavyloadareas,aheaviergradeofpipe(schedule40or80pipe)isinstalledorthepipeisencasedwithalargerdiameterheaviergradepipe.

Effluentdeliverysystemsmayincludealiftpump.Whenaliftpumpisused,theabsorptionareaisatahigherelevationthanthetreatmenttank.Liftpumpsaresizedappropriatelytoovercomethefrictionofthepipeandtheweightofgravity.Theseforcesarereferredtoasthe“head.”Unlikeadosingpump,thereisnorequiredminimumheadattheterminalend.

ByGravity

Inagravitysystem,theeffluentshouldbedistributedeithertoanumberoftrenchesorthroughseveralinterconnectedlinesinanabsorptionfield.

Adistributionbox(calledaD-box)isasmall,usuallyconcrete,containerthatmostoftenreceiveseffluentfromaconnectingpipe.LiftpumpscanalsodischargeintoaD-box.

TheD-boxwillhavealid.Openthelidandyou’llseeoneinletandafewoutletports.Theoutletsshouldbeatleastoneinchbelowtheinlet’selevation.TheD-boxshouldbelevelorsituatedastoprovideevenentryoftheliquidintoalloftheoutletportsatthesametime.OnolderD-boxes,youmayfindthattheboxhassettledorhasbeencrushed.Thiswillbeaproblemforthesystem(particularlyattheabsorptionarea)becausetheeffluenthasnotbeenenteringthelinesequally.Avarietyofdevicescanbeusedtoadjusttheoutletelevationssothatalllinesreceiveanequalamountofeffluentvolume.AD-boxmustbeusedtodividetheflowsinallgravitytrenchsystems.

AD-boxmaybeinstalledtodividetheeffluentflowstothelateralsinabedsystem.TheD-boxshouldnotbeinsideatrench.Itmaybeinstalledeitheroutsideorwithinthebedarea.WhenyoufindtheD-box,itslocationshouldbenotedinthereport.

ByPressure

Inapressuredistributionsystem,thereisapumpthatisusedtopumpanequalamountofeffluentacrossanentireabsorptionarea.Inapressurizeddistributionsystem,thepumpdeliverseffluenttoamanifoldcomponent.Themanifoldsuppliestheeffluenttoaseriesofsmallerlateralpipes.

Pressuredistributioncanbeusedinalltypesofsystems.

LocatetheAbsorptionArea

Theabsorptionareaisthemostcriticalcomponentoftheonsitetreatmentsystem.

Breakoutofsepticeffluenttothegroundsurfaceisasystemfailure.Thesysteminthisconditionhasfailedandisnotfunctional.Ifyouobserveorhavereasontobelievethatthesystemisdischargingdirectlytothesurfaceoftheground,ortothesurfaceorgroundwaters,suchconditionsshouldbenotedinyourreport.Theinspectordoesnothavetocontinuetheinspectionasthesystem’sconditioncanbedescribedas“failed”and“non-functional.”

SubsurfaceAbsorption(orDisposal)BedorTrenchSystemBeds

Subsurfaceabsorptionbedsareusuallyrectangularexcavationsthatarefilledwithaggregateinwhichabranchingnetworkofperforatedpipesdistributetheeffluentthroughthebedarea.Thebedisfilledfromtheaggregatetogroundsurfacewithearth.

Trenches

Trenchesarelong,narrowrectanglesfrom1-1/2to3feetwide.Trenchesareusuallyofequallength.Theyarepartiallyfilledwithaggregate.Perforatedpipesareinstalledinthetrenches,andtheydistributetheeffluentthroughthelengthofthetrench.Thetrenchisfilledfromtheaggregatetogradewithearth.Effluentisdistributedtothetrencheseitherunderpressure(pumporsiphondelivery)orbygravity.

D-boxes

Gravitysuppliedtrenchesandbedsbothreceiveeffluentfromthedistributionbox(D-box).TheybothtypicallywilluseaD-boxtosplittheflowintoapproximatelyequalamount.Alltrenchesshouldreceivethesameamountofeffluent.Aninspectorshouldfindtheconditionofeachtrenchsimilar.Ifonetrenchisfoundtobedifferentfromtherestduringaninspection,thereisaproblemandfurtherevaluationisneeded.

Above-GroundSystems:Mounds

Amoundedsystemoramoundedsoilreplacementsystemisabed-typedistributionsystembuiltontopofasuitablefillmaterial.Inbothsystems,thefillprovidesbothalevelsurfaceuponwhichtheaggregateisplacedandaporousfilteringmaterialforeffluentrenovation.Thefillandaggregatearecontainedwithinabermofsoil.Theaggregateisabovethesite’soriginalgroundsurface.Thecoverovertheaggregateisgradedandslopedtodirectsurfacewaterawayfromthemound.

Thebermofsoilsupportstheaggregateandsuitablefill.Thebermalsocontainstheeffluentanddirectsthedownwardmovementoftheeffluentwithintheberm’sfootprint.

Amoundedsystemhastheentiresystem,includingfill,aggregateandcover,installedoverthesite’soriginalsoil.Foramoundedsoilreplacementsystem,someofthesite’soriginalgroundisexcavatedandbackfilledwithsuitablesoilthatextendsabovetheoriginalgrade.Thisfillisleveledandthesystemisbuiltuponthatsuitablefillmaterial.

Inabove-groundsystems,thepipingdistributestheeffluentthroughtheaggregate.Theeffluentcomesfromapumpingchamber,whichpumpstheeffluentuptothetopoftheabsorptionarea.Theeffluentflowsintoanetworkofperforateddistributionpipes,locatedjustbeneaththemound’ssurface.

Aportionofthewastewaterreleasedfromthepipesevaporatesupthroughthesurfaceofthemoundoristakenupbythegrassorothervegetationgrowingonthemound.

Theremainingwastewatertricklesdownthroughgravel,sandandsoillayerswithintheraisedmound.Thesandservestoremovelargerparticlesanddispersethewastewaterevenlythroughtheabsorptionfield.Throughcomplexphysical,chemical,andbiologicalprocessesthesoilbeneaththemoundprovidestreatment,removingmuchoftheremainingdiseasecausingmicroorganismsandotherpollutants.

TheRisers,FiltersandBafflesRisers

Inspectorsshouldrecommendcertainretrofitstohomeownerstomakeinspectionseasierandtoimprovethelongevityofthesystem,includinginstallingriserstograde,effluentfiltersandgasbaffles.

Risersinstalledonatreatmenttankprovideseasyaccesstothetank,inspectionports,andmanholes.Withoutrisers,atankmustbedug-upforeveryinspectionandpumping.Withrisers,verylittle,ifany,diggingisneeded.RisersforD-boxesareagoodideatoo.D-boxrisersallowinspectorstoseeifanysolidsarebeingcarriedintotheD-boxfromthetank.SolidsintheD-boxindicateagreatpotentialforcloggingintheabsorptionarea.D-boxriserscanprovideaccesstothelateralsoftheabsorptionsystem,whichmayclogoccasionallyandrequirecleaning.

Commonrisersaremadeofconcrete,fiberglassorplastic.Theinteriordimensionoftherisershouldbelargerthanthatoftheaccesshole.Therisershouldhaveaproperlidorcoverthatisseatedandfittedproperlytopreventsurfacewaterfromenteringthetank.

EffluentFiltersandGasBaffles

Effluentfiltersandgasbafflesaresimpleandinexpensivewaystoprotectandextendtheservicelifeoftheabsorptionsystem.

Effluentfiltersareusuallyinstalledattheoutletofatreatmenttank.Filterscaptureparticulatesthatmaytraveltoandclogthesoilabsorptionsystem.Properlysizedfiltersonlyneedcleaningevery5yearsorso.Ifthefilterisnotcleaned,itwilleventuallyclog,causingtheeffluenttoback-upintothehouseoroverflowthetopofthetank.Iftheoccupantsnoticethewaterdrainingslowly,thefiltermightneedcleaning.

Cleaningafilterinvolvesremovingtheeffluentfilterfromthetankandsprayingthefiltercleanwithahose.Allthedebrisfromthefiltershouldbewashedbackintothetankforremovalwhenthetankispumped.

Gasbafflesareattachedtotheeffluentsanitaryteeofthetank.Theydeflectgasbubbles,whichmayotherwisecarrysolidsthroughtheeffluentoutlet.

QuizLookforandreportanytrees,largeshrubsorotherplantswithextensiverootsystemsgrowingoverorwithin_____feetofanycomponentofthesystem.

• 10• 50• 25• 100

T/F:Runoffsurfacewaterdirectedtotheabsorptionareamayflooditandinterferewithproperwastewatertreatmentorcausebackup.

• True• False

Apatchoflushgreen_____maybeasignofamalfunctioningsystem.

• grass• paint• trees• acres

Tanksshouldbeatleast_____feettoanysourceofwaterandgreaterdistancesmayberequiredbyyourlocalauthority/official.

• 50

• 3• 25• 200

T/F:Theaccessportsofseptictanksshouldnotbemorethan12inchesbelowthegroundsurface.

• True• False

Donotbendoverorstickyour______towardsanopentank.

• head• foot• arm• flashlight

T/F:Themaindifferencebetweenacesspoolandaseepagepitisthatonlyeffluentthathascomefromaseptictankenterstheseepagepit.Aseepagepitisalwaysdownstreamfromaseptictank.

• True• False

A_____maybeinstalledinthesystemtodividetheeffluentflowstothelateralsinabedsystem.

• D-box• A-box• C-box• P-box

T/F:Breakoutofsepticeffluenttothegroundsurfaceisasystemfailure.

• True• False

Amoundedsystemoramoundedsoilreplacementsystemisabed-typedistributionsystembuilt______asuitablefillmaterial.

• ontopof• below

T/F:Aportionofthewastewaterreleasedfromthepipesevaporatesupthroughthesurfaceofthemoundoristakenupbythegrassorothervegetationgrowingonthemound.

• True• False

______installedonatreatmenttankprovideseasyaccesstothetank,inspectionports,andmanholes.Withoutthem,atankmustbedug-upforeveryinspectionandpumping.

• Risers• Baffles• Filters• Shoots

EvaluatetheComponentsoftheSystemEvaluatetheSystemComponents

• Inspectthetreatmenttank• Inspectthecesspoolorseepagepit• Inspecttheholdingtank• Inspectthedosingandsiphontanksandpumps• Inspectionofmound,subsurfacebedandtrenchsystems• Hydraulicloadtest• Accessorycomponentsandalternatetechnologies

InspecttheTreatmentTank

Lookattheconditionofthetanks.Lookforcracksorothersignsofleakageontopofthetankandespeciallyaroundtheaccessholeorinspectionports.Leaksinthetankpreventpropertreatmentofthewastewater.Anydamagetotheaccessorportshouldberepairedandusuallythattypeofrepairdoesnotrequireapermit.

Inverts,InletandOutlet

Theinvertoftheinletpipeshouldbelocatedatleast3inchesabovetheinvertoftheoutletwhenthetankislevel.Thisspaceallowsforamomentaryriseintheliquidlevelduringdischargesintothetank.

Theseptictankinletshouldbeasanitarytee,elbow,orlongsweepelbowwithalowheadinletorbaffletodirectincomingsewagedownward.Thispreventsflowfromdisturbingthefloatingscumlayer.Theinletshouldextendatleast8inchesbelowtheliquidlevel,butshouldn’tbedeeperthan20%oftheliquiddepth.

Thelengthoftheoutletdeviceisimportantbecauseitmustallowonlycleareffluenttoleavethetank(nosolids).Itextendsbelowthefloatingscumlayerinthetank.Ifthelengthoftheoutletteeisnotsizedproperly,solidsmaybecarriedintotheabsorptionarea.The

outletdeviceshouldextendbelowtheliquidsurfacetoadistance30-35%oftheliquiddepth.

InspecttheBaffles

Theinletandoutletbafflesshouldbethoroughlyinspected.Theinletandoutletbafflesaresomewhatsusceptibletodamageandshouldbetreatedwithcaution.Theywillbreakiftheyarehitwithaninstrumentlikeashovel.Donottaporpickatthebaffles.Ifthebaffleappearstohavedamagesuchasacrackoramissingpiecethenreportthecondition.Thebafflesaredesignedtoprotecttheabsorptionareafromsolidsenteringit.Thebaffleholdsthesolidmaterialsinthetankandblocksthemfromenteringthepipethatrunstowardsthefield.Ifabaffleismissingordeteriorated,thebaffleshouldberepairedorreplacedbyaprofessionalcontractor.Theinspectorshouldthendiscusswiththeclientaboutthepotentialproblemsassociatedwithabrokenbaffleallowingsolidstoentertheabsorptionarea.

DoNotPumpFirst

Donotpumpanytreatmenttankbeforetheabsorptionfieldhasbeenevaluated.Oncetheinspectionofthefieldhasbeencompleted,ornearlycompleted,thenthepumpingofthetankcanbegin.Thedecisionaboutwhetherornot(orwhen)topumpatreatmenttankisbasedupontheconditionoftheabsorptionarea.

Iftheaggregateintheabsorptionareaisfullysaturated,donotpumpthetank.Itisimportanttoleavethesystemundisturbedsothatyourinspectionresultscanbeverifiedifdeemednecessary.Ifthetankispumpedafterfindingthefieldsaturated,thenthefieldmaydrainintotheemptytank.

Ifthewaterlevelinsidethetankisabovetheoutletinvertandtheliquidlevelislessthanthefulldepthofthefieldaggregate,thentheremaybeablockage.Pumpingthetankmaynotbenecessaryinitially.Thecauseoftheblockageneedstobedeterminedandcorrected.

Iftheoperatinglevelinthetankappearsnormalandtheaggregateisfreeofliquidortheliquidlevelislessthanthefulldepthoftheaggregate,thenpumpthetank(s).

MeasuringScumandSludgeDepths

Theprimarymaintenancepointinasepticsystemistheseptictank.Inspectionisaccomplishedinpartbymeasuringthescumandsludgedepthinthetankonceayear.Thetankshouldbepumpedif:

• thesludgelayerhasbuiltuptowithin18inchesofthetankoutlet;or• ifthescumlayerthickenstowithin3inchesofthebottomoftheoutletbaffleor

sanitarytee.

MeasuringtheScumDepth

1. Attacha6-inchsquareboardtothebottomofastickabout6feetlong.2. Attheoutletendofyourtank,extendthestickthroughthescumlayertofindthe

bottomofthebaffleoreffluentpipe.3. Markthesticktoindicatethatpoint.4. Raisethestickuntilyoufeelorseethebottomofthescumlayer.5. Markyourstickagaintoindicatethatpoint.6. Ifthetwomarksare3inchesapartorless,orifthescumsurfaceiswithinoneinch

ofthetopoftheoutletbaffle,thenthetankrequirespumping.

MeasuringtheSludgeDepth

1. Wrap3feetofwhiteragortowelingaroundalongstick.2. Placethestickintothesludge,behindtheoutletbaffleifpossible.3. Holdthestickthereforseveralminutes.4. Removethesticknotingthesludgeline.5. Ifthesludgelineiswithin12inchesoftheoutletbaffle,orwithin18inchesofthe

outletfitting,thetankrequirespumping.

Adeviceformeasuringboththescumandsludgelayerscanbeaclearplastictube(approximately8feetinlength)withaminimum1-inchdiameter.Theplastictubeisfirstwetted,thenloweredintothetank,throughthelayersofscum,liquidandintothesolidlayer.Asthetubeenters,itcollectsthelayersoftheseptictankwithinthetube.Thetubeismovedtothebottomofthetank.Thedeviceatthebottomofthetubeclosesandholdsthematerialandliquidthathascollectedinsidethetube.Thetubeisthengentlyliftedstraightoutofthetank.Theoutsideofthetubeisrinsed.Thenmeasuringthetwolayerscaughtwithinthetubecanbedonequiteeasily.

Thebest(andcleanest)recommendationtoyourclientwouldbetosimplypumpthetankonaroutinemaintenanceschedule.

InspectionCriteria

1. Checkthelevels.Asatisfactoryliquidleveloccurswhentheliquidlevelisbelowtheinletinvertandequaltotheheightoftheoutletinvert.Ifthetreatmenttankis

overfull,theremaybeaprobleminthedistributionsystemorintheabsorptionarea.

2. Checkthescumandsludge.ThescumthicknessandthesludgedepthshouldbeevaluatedthroughthemainaccessportbyusinganinstrumentlikeaSludgeJudgeorSludgeStick.

3. Confirmthatallofthefixturesinthehousedrainintothetreatmenttank.4. Flusheverytoiletatleastonce.Usetheobservationportovertheinletormain

accesstoseeanychangesinthetreatmenttank’sliquidlevel.Looktoseeifthereisclogorbackupcondition.

5. Checkforcontinuousflowthroughthebuildingsewerandintothetreatmenttank.6. Pumpeachtankonebyone.Pumpalltanksandcompartmentsusingthemain

accessorlargestopening.Inspectionportsshouldnotbeusedforpumpingtanks.Septageshouldberemovedtowithinatleasttwoinchesofthetankbottom.Lookforanysewageflowintothetankfromtheabsorptionfield(inflow)whileatankisbeingpumped.Listenfortricklingsoundsthatmayindicateeitherbackflowfromthesoilabsorptionsystemorgroundwaterseepagethroughacrackinthetank.

7. Theremaybeamid-seaminthetankthatmaybesusceptibletoleakage.Checkthatseamarea.Tankswithaconcretetopcanhaveleakageattheseamaroundthetop.

8. Checkforleakageattheinletsandoutlets.9. Lookfordamageordefectivesystemcomponentswhileatankisbeingpumped.10. Aseachtankispumped,lookforinflow,cracks,holes,deficienciesthatwere

previouslyhiddenbelowtheliquidsurface.Lookatthetankbottom.Makenotesinyourreportastotheconditionofthetankandyourobservationsofthetankinterior.

11. Checkthebafflesineverytankandcompartmentbylookingatthemthroughtheinspectionports,orbyusingamirrorandflashlightthroughthemainaccessofthetank.Ifthetankisaerobic,theelectricalandmechanicaloperationofthepumpsandcompressorsshouldbechecked.Observethemwhiletheyareoperating.

12. Usingamirrorona45-degreeangle,checktheunderneathsideofthetanktop.Insertthemirrorthroughthemainaccess.Shineaflashlightonthemirrorandhavethelightbounceoffthemirrorandilluminatethedarkpartsofthetank.Checkthetank’sstructuralintegrity.Confirmwhatmaterialthetankismadeof.Checktheconditionofthetank,thebaffles,thesides,andtheundersideofthetank’stop.

13. Measurethetank’sshapeanddimensionstodeterminethetank’scapacity.Dothiscalculationforeachtankinthesystem.

Afunctionalinspectionoftheonsitetreatmentsystemisnotcompleteuntileverytankispumpedanditsconditionevaluated,unlessthereisreasonnottopumpatank.

Thefollowingtablepresentssometroubleshootingforflowproblemsbasedupontheliquidlevelobservedintheseptictank.

Observation ConditionandCause

Liquidlevelisabout2inchesbelowtheinletandevenwiththeoutletbottom.Thereisnoapparentwastewaterflowinthetank.

Tankisinstalledproperlyandatrestwithnoindicationofbackupbasedonliquidlevel.

Liquidlevelisbelowtheinletandelevatedlessthan2inchesabovethebottomoftheoutlet.Freeflowofwastewaterfrominlettooutletisapparent.

Tankisinstalledproperlyandiscurrentlyinusewithnoindicationofbackupbasedonliquidlevel.

Regardlessofobservedwastewaterflowageinthetank,liquidlevelisatorabovetheinletbottomoritiselevatedby2inchesormoreabovetheoutletbottom.

Tankisprobablyinstalledproperly,butelevatedwastewaterlevelsindicateprobablebackupinthesystemdownstreamofthetank.Theinspectorshouldperformfurtherevaluationsortests.

Regardlessofobservedwastewaterflowageinthetank,theliquidlevelisatorbelowtheoutletandtheinletissubmerged.

Tankisinstalledup-gradientorinstalledbackwards.Up-gradienttanksmayappeartoslopeuptowardstheoutletend.Tanksinstalledbackwardsmayhaveteesandbafflesinreversepositions.Eitherconditionshouldbecorrected.

Regardlessofobservedflowageinthetank,liquidlevelismorethan2inchesbelowtheinletandtheliquidlevelappearsnomorethan2inchesabovetheoutletbottom.

Tankisslopeddowngradient.Dependingontheseverityoftheslope,thetankmayactuallyappeartoslopedownwardtowardtheoutlet.Iftheslopeisminimal,norepairisnecessary.Considerfurtherevaluation.

Regardlessofobservedflowageinthetank,liquidlevelisbelowtheinletandoutlet.

Tankmaybeleakingandmayhavestructuralproblems.Pumpthesystemandhaveaprofessionalfurtherevaluateandmakenecessarycorrections.

InspecttheCesspoolsandSeepagePits

1. Determinethecapacityofthecesspoolorseepagepit.2. Measurethedistancefromthewaterleveltothebottomoftheinletpipe.For

seepagepits:iftheliquidisatorabovetheinletinvert,highliquidlevelconditionsshouldbereported.Forcesspools:iftheliquidisatorabovetheinletinvert,thesystemhasafailed,non-functionalcondition.Itshouldbeupgradedtoastandardsystemassoonaspractical.

3. Determinethedailyflowusingthelocalstandards.4. Determinetheavailablestoragecapacityofthecesspoolorseepagepitbelowthe

bottomoftheinletpipe.5. Determineifthereiscapacityforoneday’sflow.Ifthereislessthanoneday’sflow

capacityavailable,thenahighliquidlevelconditionshouldbereported.6. Evaluatetheliquid,scumandsludgelevels,thenpumpthecesspoolorseepagepit.

Lookfordeficienciesorinflow.

Somecesspoolshaveoneormoreoverflowpipesorotheroutlets.Somemaydischargeintoanothersecondaryabsorptionarea.Overflowpipesoroutletsarenotlegalinstallationsandindicateaneedforcorrectionandfurtherevaluation.Ifyoufindanoutletpipedischargingwastewatertothegroundsurface,thatconditionshouldbereportedasunsatisfactory.

InspecttheHoldingTanks

Sometimeshomesarelocatedinremoteareas,orthehomeislocatedinanenvironmentallyprotectedplacesuchasamountain,abeach,orawetlandarea.Theseareascanbepoorlysuitedforasepticsystem.Shalloworthinsoilstolimitinglayers,rapidlypermeablesandandbedrock,orsteepslopescanalllimittheabilityofthenaturalsoiltorenovatewastewatertoprotectthepublichealthandtheenvironment.

Aholdingtankisawatertighttankbuilttomeetthesameconstructionstandardsasaseptictank.Allwastewatergeneratedbythehomemustbecontaineduntilitcanberemoved.Thepumpingoftheholdingtanksisscheduledonaregularbasis.Thesewageispumpedoutofthetankandtreatedsomewhereelse.

Typically,thetankwillbeatleast1500gallonsinsizetoaccommodate2to3people.Dependingupontheuse,a1,000-gallontankmayrequireweeklypumping.Topreventtankoverfloworbackup,thetankisusuallyequippedwithavisualandaudiblealarmthatactivateswhenitis75percentfull.Youmayfindholdingtankslocatednearthedrivewaysoitiseasyforthepumpertrucktoaccessthetank.Ifaholdingtankisusedinwetareaswithahighwatertable,theemptytankcouldfloatandliftoutofthegroundoratleastshift,breakingthesewerpipe.Stepsmustbetakentodrainthetankarea,anchorthetankorpumponlyaportionoftheliquidfromthetanktopreventflotation.

Holdingtankinstallationsarerestrictedorprohibitedinmanyareasofthecountry.Ifyoucomeacrossaholdingtank,itcanbeevaluatedusingthefollowingminimumsteps:

1. Checkfortheaudibleandvisualalarms.Holdingtanksshouldhavealarmsinstalled.

2. Determinethetank’scapacity.Thetypicalminimumforaholdingtank’scapacityisthreedaysofflow(asdeterminedbythelocalauthority)or1,000gallons,whicheverisgreater.

3. Measureandrecordtheliquidlevelintheholdingtank.4. Pumpalltheholdtanksandcompartments.Aseachtankispumped,lookforinflow,

cracks,holes,anddeficienciesthatwerepreviouslyhiddenundertheliquidsurface.5. Recordthatthetankappearstonotleakandisapparentlywatertight.6. Discusswiththeclienthowthistypeoftankrequiresfrequentpumpingandthe

relativelyhighcostinmaintainingthatservice.

InspecttheDosingPumpsandSiphonTanks

Dosingandliftpumpsandsiphontanksshouldbeinspectedjustastreatmenttanksareinspected.Dosingandlifttankscontainapumpthateitherliftstheeffluenttoanotherelevationordeliversaspecificvolumeofeffluenttoapressuredistributionsystemataspecificpressure.Siphontankscontainadevicethatoperatesonatmosphericpressure,andatafactory-set“triggerdepth,”theaccumulatedeffluentismoveddownhillunderpressure.

InspectionSteps

1. Alwayschecktheabsorptionareabeforeturningoneitheraliftoradosingpump.Ifthepumphasrecentlybeenpumping,finishtheinspectionbeforecheckingthewaterlevelintheabsorptionarea.

2. Checktheconditionofthepumpandsiphontanks.Usethesameinspectionprocedureusedforinspectingregulartreatmenttanks.

3. Checkthealarmsystem.4. Verifytheoperationofeachpumpanditscontrolsystem.Useatoolsuchasasimple

non-conductivepoleorPVCpipewithahookingdeviceontheendofit—tograbthefloatandelevateit.Elevatingthefloatofthepumpwillactivatethepumpandvariouscomponents.(Additionallyyoucouldmarkthepoleorpipeeveryfoottohelpwithmeasuringthetanklevels.)

5. Visuallyinspecttheelectricallines,cables,conduit,junctionboxes,receptacles,switches,etc.Donottouchanyelectricalwiresorcomponentsunlessyouhaveturnedoff(orde-energizedthecircuit).Thisisanextremelydangerousenvironment.Useallcautionarymeasurestoprotectyourself.Ifinanywayyouarenotcomfortablewiththesituationorfeelincapableofcontinuingthispartoftheinspection,removeyourselfandhiresomeonewhocancontinuethework.

6. Verifythatthepumpandthealarmareonseparateindividualelectricalcircuits.Thedisconnectsorbreakersattheelectricalpanelshouldbespecificallylabeledastoidentifywhichtwocircuitsareforthepumpandthealarm.

7. Thepumpsshouldbemountedonconcreteblocksandelevatedabovethebottomofthetank.Thepumpshouldnotberestingonthebottomofatank.Pumpsshouldnotbesuspended.

8. Forsiphonpressurizedsystems,opentheobservationportandcheckforcontinuoustrickling.Runenoughwaterintothesiphontanktocausethesiphontocycle.Watchforproperoperation.

9. Measureandrecordtheliquidlevel.Thenpumpallpumptanksusingthemainaccess(largestopening)forcleaning.Septageshouldbepumpedouttowithinatleasttwoinchesofthetankbottom.

10. Aseachtankispumped,lookforinflow,cracks,holesanddeficiencies,includingthetopandbottomofthetank.

InspectMound,Bed&TrenchSystems

1. Determinethetype,locationandapproximatesizeoftheabsorptionarea.2. Determineifthereisstandingliquidintheabsorptionareabyprobingorother

meansavailable.3. Ifthereisliquid,measurethedepthoftheeffluentthroughtheabsorptionarea.

Measurethedifferencebetweentheliquid’sdepthandtheinvertofthelateralsattheD-boxorthebaseofalateral.Thisdepthiscalledthedryaggregate.Donotusetheinspectionportsforthisevaluation.

4. Ifthereareinspectionportspresent,recordtheirlocationonthesiteplanorsketch.Measuretheliquidlevelsbelowthegroundsurfaceandrecordthemeasurementsinthereport.

5. Asufficientnumberofprobesshouldbemadeintheabsorptionareabytheinspector.

6. Ifthereare6ormoreinchesofdryaggregatebelowtheinvertofthelaterals,theabsorptionareaisconsideredsatisfactory.Iftherearelessthan6inchesofdryaggregate,thereisaproblemandahighliquidlevelshouldbereported.

7. Whenliquidispresentinanabsorptionarea,itshouldbeofanequaldepthandevenlydistributedthroughouttheentirebed.Ifitisnot,thereisaproblemandfurtherinvestigationisneeded.Theproblemmaybe:

• thebedwasnotexcavatedwithalevelbottom;• thereissomecloggingoftheaggregate;• apipemaybecrushed,cloggedorbroken;or• theD-boxhasaproblemsuchasbeingoutoflevel

Inagravitysuppliedtrenchsystem,thetrenchesshouldreceiveanequalamountofeffluentfromtheD-boxandthesubsurfaceconditionsobservedduringtheprobingoftheareashouldbesimilar.Ifnot,thereisaproblemandfurtherinvestigationisneeded.

Probing

OnetechniqueforinspectingasepticfieldandlocatingsepticsystemcomponentsisProbing.Alongmetalrodorprobeisusedinthedrainagefieldtopokeholesdowntothedepthoftheabsorptionbed.Iftheholequicklyfillswithwater,thenthereprobablyisaproblemwiththesystem.However,thisisonlyapresumptivetest.Onemaynotconcludethatiftheholedoesnotfillwithwater,thatthesystemisokay.Thesewageflowmaybeespeciallylowatthattime.Iftherealproblemisrain-relatedanditisdrywhentheprobingisdone,thentherealproblemwillnotbediscoveredduringthedry-probing.Probingshouldbedoneonlybyanexpert.Itmustbedonecarefullysoasnottodamagethelinesburiedunderground.Fiberglassseptictankscanbedamaged/puncturedbyindiscriminateprobingandunsecuredpipingcanbedislodgedorbroken.Afinalcaution:evenwithcareandexpertise,thereislittleassurancethattheprobinghasbeendonewheretheproblemispresent.

Foramoundsystem:

1. Probetheaggregateinthemannerdescribedpreviously.Checktoseeifthere’sstandingwater.Thedeterminationoftheconditionoftheabsorptionareaisthesameformoundsystemsasitisforsubsurfacesystems.Ifthefillissaturated,thesystemcouldbedescribedas“satisfactory.”Severalprobesinthemoundoftheabsorptionareashouldbedonetomakeanoverallevaluationofthemoundssystem.

2. Checkthemoundfor:

• leakageorbreakoutatthetop,sideslopes,andtoes;• sufficientdepthofsoilcoveratthetopedges;• animalburrows;• deeplyrootedvegetation;and• erosion.

Note:Iftheabsorptionareaiscompletelysaturated,donotpumpthetreatmenttank.Iftheaggregateissaturatedtoitsentiredepth,donotconductahydraulicloadtest.

PerformingaHydraulicLoadTest

Ahydraulicloadtestisawaytoevaluatetheabsorptionareabyintroducingaknownvolumeofcleanwater(clearliquid)totheabsorptionareaandobservingwhathappenstothewaterlevels.Itmimicsthenormaloperatingconditionsintheabsorptionarea.Thelevelofliquidintheabsorptionareaisrecordedbothbeforeandafterthewaterisintroduced.Theinspectorreturnsthefollowingdayandrepeatstheprocess.

Purpose

Thehydraulicloadtestdeterminesthevolumeofcleanwateranabsorptionareacanabsorbina24-hourperiod.Thetestverifiesthattheabsorptionareacanreceiveandtransmittothesoilenvironmentthevolumeofliquidthatthesystemisexpectedandintendedtobeabletohandleonapeak-flowday.

Theinspectormayrecommendahydraulicloadtestbeconductedtodetermineifthesystemisproperlyfunctioningwhenanyofthefollowingobservationsaremade:

• highwaterconditionintheabsorptionareas;• thehousehasbeenvacantformorethansevendays;• newfixturesweredirectedtothesystemrecently;• recentsoil-fracturingactivity;• Lessthana24-hourstoragecapacityinthecesspoolorseepagepit;• thetreatmenttankhasbeenrecentlypumped;and/or• there’sasignificantdifferenceinthecurrentwaterusagecomparedtotheexpected

futurewateruseinthehouse.

Whenahydraulicloadtestisrecommended,theclientshouldbeinformedaboutwhatthetestentails,whythetestisbeingrecommended,andthepossibleresultsofthetest.Iftheclientelectsnottogothroughwiththehydraulicloadtest,theinspectorshouldattainasigneddocumentandreleasefromtheclientacknowledgingthatthetestwasrecommended,buttheclientrefused.Ifthetestisrefused,theinspectorshouldincludeinthereportanyconcernstheinspectorshasaboutthesystem.

CommentsThatMightBeUsedintheReport

• Duringtheinspectionprocess,theliquidlevelinthetreatmenttankrosesignificantlyabovetheoutletpipeinvert.Thisindicatesapossibleblockageoftheoutletpipeorasaturateddrainagearea.

• Duringpartialhydraulicloading,theliquidlevelinthetankroseabovetheinletpipeinvertcausingaback-upofsewagetowardthehome,whichisnotcausedbyaphysicalblockageoftheinternalplumbing.Thisconditionisindicativethatthesystemmaybemalfunctioning.Thisconditionshouldbereportedtothehealthdepartment.

• Duetothelimitedlengthofvacancy,normalhydraulicloadingonthedrainageareacouldnotbeduplicated.

• Althoughpartialhydraulicloadingwasperformed,itcannotduplicatetheactualwateruseoffutureoccupants.Therefore,itisnotpossibletopredicthowthesystemwillperformgivenanincreaseinoccupants.

• Withinthehomethereisagrinder/ejectorpumppresent.Thisunitisapartoftheinteriorplumbingsystem,nottheexternalsepticsystem,andisnotsubjecttoinspectionaspartofasepticsysteminspection.However,theuseofgrinder/ejectorpumpsorgarbagegrinderswillincreasethesuspendedsolidsloadingtoasepticsystem.Increasedfrequencyofpumpingandmaintenanceofthesystemshouldbeconductedtoextenditsserviceablelife.

Preparation

Duringthetest,noeffluentfromthehousemayentertheabsorptionarea.Usethetreatmenttankasaninterimholdingtankbypumpingthetreatmenttankpriortothetest.Noeffluentmayenteracesspoolorseepagepit.Theclientandoccupantsshouldbecautionedinthisregard.

Ifrainisforecastforthe24-to-48-hourtestperiod,recommendthatthetestbepostponed.

Determinetheloadingrateofthesystem(numberofbedroomsinhouse,gallonsperday(gpd)fornonresidentialuses).Usethedailyflowstandardssetbytheregulatoryagencyfortheareawherethesystemislocated.

Forsingle-familyhomes,theminimumtestvolumeis350gallons(foronetotwobedrooms).Add150gallonsforthethirdandeachadditionalbedroom.Thisisthecalculatedvolume.

Iftheonsitewellistobethewatersourceforthetest,theownershouldauthorizeitsuse.

Selectalocationdownstreamfromthetreatmenttanktointroducecleanwater,ensuringthatnosolidsareflusheddownstreamofthetank.Makesurethatwhateverfixtureistobeusedtointroducethecleanwaterintothesystemiscleanedandclearofanysolidsorotherobstacles.

Procedure

• Forallabsorptionorseepagebeds,digoneobservationholetothesurfaceoftheaggregateatthecenterofthebed.Boreordigintotheaggregatetoadepthsufficienttomeasurealiquidleveloruntiltheunderlyingsoil/sandisreached.

• Foralltrenchtypesystems,digoneobservationholetothesurfaceoftheaggregateineachtrench.Boreordigintotheaggregatetoadepthsufficienttomeasurealiquidleveloruntiltheunderlyingsoil/sandisreached.

• Foreachhole,establishafixedandrecoverablereferencepointfromwhichtomeasure.

• Measurethedistancefromthereferencepointto:• thesurfaceoftheaggregate• thesurfaceofanyliquidintheaggregate• Iftheliquidlevelisatthetopoftheaggregate,donotaddwater.Iftheliquidlevelis

belowthetopoftheaggregate,introducecleanwaterintotheabsorptionareauntilthecalculatedvolumehasbeenadded,oruntiltheliquidlevelrisestothetopoftheaggregate.

• Afterthewaterhasbeenadded,waitthirtyminutesfortheliquidleveltostabilize;thenmeasurethedistancefromthereferencepointtothesurfaceofthewater,andrecordtheliquiddepthineachhole.

• Return24hourslaterandmeasureandrecordthedistancefromthesoilsurfacetothetopoftheliquid.

• Introduceadditionalcleanwatertobringtheliquidleveltothelevelachievedonthepriorday,orintroducethecalculatedvolume,whicheverisless.

• Recordthevolumeofwaterintroducedonthesecondday.

ProceduralDifferencesforCesspoolsandSeepagePits

Forcesspoolsandseepagepits,establishoneobservationholeandreferencepointatwhichtoconductobservationsandmeasurements.Theobservationholeshouldallowdirectviewingoftheliquidlevel.

Introduceeitherthecalculatedvolumeorsufficientcleanwatertobringtheliquidleveltotheleveloftheinletpipe.

TwoConclusions

Thehydraulicloadtestisintendedtoapproximateaone-dayloadonthesystem.Theabsorptivecapacitywillbedetermined.Theresultswillrevealiftheabsorptionareacansatisfactorilyreceiveandallowtopassintothesoilthevolumeofsewageeffluentthatcurrentregulationscurrentlyassigntoastructurewiththedailyflowindicated.

Twoconclusionsarepossiblefollowingahydraulicloadtest,theyare:

• Thesystemhasacceptedanddispersedavolumeofliquidequaltothecalculatedvolume(dailyflow)thatisexpectedfromthestructureserved,andis,therefore,“satisfactory.”

• Thesystemhasnotacceptedanddispersedavolumeofliquid(dailyflow)thatisexpectedfromthestructureserved,andis,therefore,“unsatisfactory.”

HydraulicLoadTestReport

Suggestedlanguagetoaddtotheinspectionreport:

• Overa24-hourperiod,theabsorptionareareceivedanddistributed____gallonsofcleanwaterintothesoil.Thisisindicativeofa(chooseone)satisfactoryORunsatisfactorysystem.

• Weprovidenowarranty,expressorimplied,includinganywarrantyofmerchantabilityorfitnessforpurpose,oranyotherwarrantywhatsoever,thatthesystemmeetsanycodeorspecifications,orwillfunctionproperlyforanyperiodoftimewhatsoever,orotherwisewillnotmalfunctionorcausecontaminationofthegroundorwaters.

HydraulicLoadTestReleaseForm(Sample)

YouareadvisedthataHydraulicLoadTestisrecommendedfortheonsitewastewatertreatmentsystemat:

LocationofSystem:_______________________________________________

Municipality:____________________________

TaxBlock/Lot:____________________________

DateofInspection:____________________________

Reasonfortest:

⟨ Structurevacantmorethansevendays

⟨ Newwatersourcesdirectedtothesystemwithinlast30days

⟨ Soilfracturingactivitywithinlast30days

⟨ Highwaterconditionsareobserved

⟨ Lessthan24hoursstoragecapacityinacesspoolorseepagepit

⟨ Evidencethatthetreatmenttankhasbeenrecentlypumped

⟨ Asignificantdifferenceinthecurrentwateruseinastructurecomparedtotheanticipateduseofthestructure

⟨ Other:_______________________________________________________

Acopyofthehydraulicloadtestisattachedforyourreviewandhasbeenofferedforacostof$___________.Refusalofthetestrequiresacknowledgementofthefollowingstatementpriortothereleaseofthefinalreport.

Ihavebeenadvisedoftheconditionssurroundingtheinspectionofsubjectonsitewastewatertreatmentsystemidentifiedabove.Althoughitisrecommendedtoconductahydraulicloadtesttofullydeterminetheextentoftheproblemsorconcernswiththeintendedfutureuseofthesystem,thistestisrefusedatthistime.Thisrefusalwillnotbeconstruedaspartof,orresultin,anincompleteinspection.

Signed:____________________________________Date:__________

(client)

InspecttheAccessoryComponents

Anyobservedaccessorycomponentshouldbenotedinthereport.Anaccessorycouldbeaneffluentfiltertoanalarmsystemaddedontoanotherwisefunctionalsystem.An

accessorycomponentissomethingaddedtoasystemthatdoesnotaffectthesystem’soperationasaconventionalsystem.Youshouldbefamiliarwiththeaccessorycomponentbeforeinspectingit.

AlternativeorInnovativeTechnologies

Anysystemusingalternativetechnologiesorinnovativetechnologiesaspartofthesystemshouldonlybeinspectedbythosetrainedorotherwisefamiliarwiththespecifictechnology.

DetermineWhentoPumpaTank

Treatmenttanksmustbepumpedonaregularbasistoensureproperfunctioning.Ifthetankisnotpumpedandmaintained,solidswillpassbytheeffluentteeorbaffleandclogtheabsorptionsystem.Thiswilleventuallyleadtothefailureofthesystem,includingbreakoutandbackupofeffluentandsewage.

Tanksareusuallysizedtoallowalittlemorethanhalfoftheirvolumeforthesolidstoaccumulate.Theremainingvolumeofthetank,calledthe“clearzone,”isforholdingwastewatersothatthesolidsandliquidsseparate,withthesolidsfallingtothebottomofthetank.Astandardtankwillhaveaflowdepthof48inches.Astandardtankcanstore16inchesofsolids(scumandsludgecombined)beforepumpingshouldbeconsidered.One-thirdofatankcanbefilledwithsolids,butthelevelofsolidsshouldnotbemorethanone-third.

Acommonrecommendationforpumpingthetankiswhen:

• thesludgedepthofthetankreaches13inches;or• thescumdepthreaches5inches.

Acombinedsolidsaccumulationof16to34inchesduringaroutinemaintenanceinspectionindicatesaneedtopumpthetank.Iftheaccumulationofsolidsisover2inches,theschedulingofthepumpingservicemayneedre-evaluation.Ifthesolidsaccumulationisgreaterthan34inches,thenthereisapotentialforproblemsintheabsorptionarea.

Ingeneral,sludgeaccumulatesthreetofourtimesfasterthanscum.

Thefollowingtableshowssomepumpingguidelinesforconventionalseptictanks.

Solidsata48-inchDepthTank

RecommendedActionDepthCriteria NonstandardDepthTank

Combinedsolids<16inches Combinedsolids<1/3flowdepth

Pumpatowner’sdiscretion

Combinedsolids=16to34inches

Combinedsolids=1/3to¾flowdepth

Pumpthetankandre-inspect

Combinedsolids>34inches,or

Sludge>26inches,or

Scum>11inches

Combinedsolids>¾flowdepth,or

Sludge>½flowdepth,or

Scum1/5flowdepth

Pumpthetank,furtherevaluationrecommended.Anewinspectionofsystem,tank,anduseisneeded.

Thefollowingtableshowsthecombinedsolidsdepthsandtherangeofsludgedepths.

CombinedSolids(inches)

AcceptableRangeofSludgeDepth(inches)

16 11-1317 11-1318 12-1419 13-1520 14-1621 14-1622 14-1723 16-1824 16-1925 16-2026 18-2027 18-2128 19-2229 20-2430 20-2431 21-2432 22-2533 22-2634 23-26

MeasuringSolidsDepths

Opentheinspectionport.Iftherearetwoports,opentheportontheeffluentside.Putlatexgloveson.Measurethedepthofthescumandsludgelayerswithmeasuringdevice.Recordthemeasurements.Usetheprevioustablestodeterminetheneedforpumpingorotherappropriateactions.

SchedulingMaintenanceInspections

Allonsitewastewatertreatmentsystemsrequireregularmaintenance,whichincludesmaintenanceinspectionsandpumpingifnecessary.Werecommendthathomeownerswithonsitewastewater(septic)treatmentsystemsshouldhireaninspectoreveryyeartoperformaroutinemaintenanceinspectionaspartoftheirregularhomemaintenanceplan.Schedulearoutinemaintenanceinspectionwithyourclientattheendofyouronsite,fieldinspectionofthesystem.Informyourclientoftheimportanceofhavingatrainedprofessionalperformroutinemaintenanceinspectionsinordertoensurethesystemisfunctioningproperly.Routinemaintenanceinspectionscanpointoutpotentialissuesthatcanbeattendedtobeforetheybecomemajorproblems.Performingroutinemaintenanceinspectionsisacost-effectivewayofmaintainingaveryimportantsystem.

Pump-outs

Becausepump-outsarethemostregularlyrequiredtypeofmaintenance,themaintenanceschedulesarecommonlybasedupontheanticipatedneedforpumping.Somesystemsmaygoforlongperiodsoftimewithoutneedingapump-out.Suchsystemsshouldstillbeinspectedatleastonceover5yearswithacompletefunctionalinspectiontoensurethatothertypesofmaintenanceandrepairarenotneeded.

Schedulingfunctionalinspectionsshouldbebaseduponthetankvolumeandthehouseholdoccupancy.Thefollowingtablecanbeusedtodeterminethemaximumintervaloftimebetweenfunctionalinspections.

Tanksize(gallons)

HouseholdOccupancy(numberofpeople)1-4 4-6 6-8 10ormore

1000 5years 3years Undersizedtanks1250 5years 4years 3years Undersizedtank1500 5years 5years 4years 3years

QuizAsatisfactoryliquidlevelinatreatmenttankoccurswhentheliquidlevelis_____theinletinvertandequaltotheheightoftheoutletinvert.

• below• above

T/F:Afunctionalinspectionoftheonsitetreatmentsystemisnotcompleteuntileverytankispumpedanditsconditionevaluated,unlessthereisreasonnottopumpatank.

• True• False

Ifyoufindanoutletpipefromacesspoolorseepagepitthatisintendedtodischargewastewatertothegroundsurface,thatconditionshouldbereportedas_______.

• unsatisfactory• satisfactory• functional

T/F:Dosingandlifttankscontainapumpthateitherliftstheeffluenttoanotherelevationordeliversaspecificvolumeofeffluenttoapressuredistributionsystemataspecificpressure.

• True• False

Atadosingpump,verifytheoperationofeachpumpanditscontrolsystembyusingatooltograbandelevatethe______andactivatethepump.

• float• electricalwires• sludge• checkvalve

T/F:Foradosingtank,verifythatthepumpandthealarmareonseparateindividualelectricalcircuits.Thedisconnectsattheelectricalpanelshouldbespecificallylabeledastoidentifywhichtwocircuitsareforthepumpandthealarm.

• True• False

Whenliquidispresentinanabsorptionarea,itshouldbeofanequaldepthand_____distributedthroughouttheentirebed.

• evenly• unevenly

T/F:Thehydraulicloadtestdeterminesthevolumeofcleanwateranabsorptionareacanabsorbinatwenty-fourhourperiod.

• True• False

ReporttotheClientPreparingtheInspectionFormandReport

Therearefourconclusionsthataninspectorwouldwriteinaninspectionreport:

• Satisfactory;• Furtherinvestigationisnecessarytoreachaconclusion;• Satisfactorywithconcerns;or• Unsatisfactory.

Inadditiontotheseconclusionsthatcouldapplytoallcomponentsofthesystem,oneconclusioncanbeappliedtotheabsorptionareaonly:

• Waterlevelislessthan6inchesbelowtheinvertofthelateralsorhighwatercondition.

Inadditiontotheconclusions,certainunsatisfactoryconditionsshouldbereportedtothelocalhealthdepartmentwithin24hoursoftheinspection.Theseconditionsinclude:

• breakoutorsewageoreffluenttothegroundsurface;• seepageofsewageoreffluentintothehousebelowground;• backupofsewageintothehousethatisnotcausedbyablockageofthedrainage

pipe;and• anymannerofleakageobservedfromorintoseptictanks,connectingpipes,

distributionboxesorothercomponentsthatarenotdesignedorintendedtoleaksewageoreffluent.

Everycomponentofthesystemthatisinspectedshouldhaveaconclusiondrawnastoitsapparentcondition.

Ifacomponentofthesystemisdeterminedtobeunsatisfactory,thesystemisunsatisfactoryuntilthecomponentisrepairedorreplaced.

ReasonsforFurtherInvestigation

Reasonsforrecommendingfurtherinvestigationandevaluationcaninclude,butarenotlimitedto,thefollowing:

• Theabsorptionareacannotbelocated.• TheD-boxcouldnotbelocated.• Pumpdischargeisnotadequate.• Thereislessthan24hoursofcapacityinthecesspoolorseepagepit.Thatisahigh

waterlevelcondition.• Thehousehasbeenvacantformorethansevendays.Ahydraulicloadtestshouldbe

conducted.• Thereisunequaldistributionwithintheabsorptionarea.• Thetreatmenttankisover-full,wheretheliquidlevelisabovetheinlet,andthe

absorptionareaissatisfactory.• Therearesignsofunsatisfactoryperformance,including:

o stainsinsoilsadjacenttothetreatmenttank,onthegroundsurface;o stainsorwaterlevelmarksonthetreatmenttankwalls;o debrisstucktothetankinterior-sideceiling;o stainsatthetopoftheaggregate;and/oro sludgeintheaggregate.

• Thereisdeteriorationofconcretecomponents.• Therearenewfixturesinthehousethataredirectedtotheexistingonsite

treatmentsystemwithinthelast30days.• Therehasbeenrecentsoilfracturingactivities.• Thereislushvegetationatorneartheabsorptionarea.• Adrainpipeterminationhasbeenfoundnearthestream,roadorstormsewer,etc.,

anditsfunctionhasnotbeendetermined.• Therearelessthan6inchesofdryaggregatebelowtheinvertofthelaterals.There

isahighwatercondition.• Thereisaseparategraywaterdisposalsystem.• Septageodorsarefoundtobecomingfromtheexteriorfoundationdrainagesystem

pipesorthesumppump.

ReasonsforHavingConcerns

Thefollowingconditionsareconcernsthatshouldbewrittenintheinspectionreportanddiscussedwiththeclient.

• AhighwaterconditionwasobservedinsidethetreatmenttankorD-box.Thisobservationofwaterwithin6inchesbelowtheinletelevationofthelateralsisanindicationofimpededdrainagewiththedisposalarea.Thecloserthewaterlevelsapproachthelaterals,orcoverthem,themoresubstantialtheconcern.Whilethis“highwaterlevel”conditionisnota“failure”ofthesystem,itindicatesthatthesystemmaybeatorapproachingtheendofitsservicelifeexpectancy.Ahighwaterlevelmayrequiremajorcorrectivemeasures.Thefutureownermayneedtomonitorwaterusage.

• Therearesolidsaboveone-thirdofthetank’sholdingcapacity.There’sbeendelayedpumpingofthetankandthetankisfillingupwithsolids.

• Therearenosolidsortherearelowlevelsofsolidsinthetankwithouttherecordofrecentpumping.

• Thesystem’sageisover25years.• Thereisalackofregularmaintenanceofthesystem.• Theaccessportsaremorethan12inchesbelowthegroundsurface.• Thesludgelevelinthepumptanksarewithin3inchesofthepumpinlet• Soilfracturinghasbeenusedtocorrectasystemproblem.Theseremediesare

temporaryinnatureandindicatepotentialproblemswiththecontinuedoperationofthesystem.

• Cesspoolsorseepagepitsystemshavelessthanoneday’sstoragecapacityavailable.• Thenumberofbedroomshasincreasedandthesystemmaybeoverburdened.• Thereaconstantflowofwaterfromthebuildingsewerpipeintothetreatmenttank

isobserved.• Thesumppump,foundationdrainagesystem,ordownspoutsaredischargingtothe

areasneartheabsorptionarea.

ReasonsforUnsatisfactoryCondition

Therearereasonsforreportingthatasystemis“unsatisfactory”thatinclude,butarenotlimitedto,thefollowing:

• Breakoutorpondingofsewageoreffluenttothegroundsurface• Seepageofsewageoreffluentintothehousefrombelowground• Directleakageordischargethroughpipesofanysewageoreffluentintothehouse• Backupofsewageintothehousethatisnotcausedbyablockageoftheinternal

plumbingsystem• Atankthatisleaking• Leakageintoatank,accesshole,orobservationport• Leakingcomponentthatisnotdesignedtoleak• Aleakingabsorptionarea• Damagedormissingbafflesinatreatmenttank

• Deterioratedcomponent(suchasarustedmetaltank)• Cloggedorbrokenpipethatcarryeffluentorsewage• Non-functionalelectricalcomponent(suchasanaerobicdevice,pump,control,

alarm,etc.)• Theultimatedisposalordischargelocationwasnotdeterminedbyadyetest• Thesumppump,foundationdrainagesystem,roofdrainagesystem,ordownspouts

aredischargingtowardstheonsitetreatmentsystem• Awellislocatedincloseproximitytotheabsorptionarea• Thereisadischargeofeffluentorsewagetoawell,boredholeintheground,

naturalorman-madecavernorcavity,sinkhole,streamornaturalwaterway

CorrectiveMeasuresthatMayBeRecommended

Therearecorrectivemeasuresthatmayberecommendedinaninspectionreport.Theclientshouldbeinformedaboutthepermitprocessandrequirementswhenperformingcorrectionstotheonsitesystem.Thecompletionofrepairsshouldbeinspected,andtheinspectorshouldverifythattheproblemswerecorrected.Thecorrectivemeasuresthatmayberecommendedincludebutarenotlimitedtothefollowing:

• Installanewabsorptionarea• Replaceorrepairtanks,baffles,pipes,etc.• Repairorreplaceelectricalcomponents• Repairorreplaceaerobictreatmentunits,filters,etc.• Correctalltheareaofinfiltration• Installwaterconservationdevices• Evaluateexistingwaterusedataandcomparetoexistingdesignflowandprojected

futureuse• Reducetheloadingtotheabsorptionareaby:

o Relocatingimproperlyinstalled,dischargingpipes(sumppump,downspouts,etc.)

o Redirectpipingtocreateseparategraywaterandsewagesystemso Installwatersavingdevices

QuizT/F:Ifthetreatmenttankisover-full,wheretheliquidlevelisabovetheinlet,andtheabsorptionareaissatisfactory,thenfurtherinvestigationisneeded.

• True• False

T/F:Iftherearerecentlyinstalledfixturesinthehousethataredirectedtotheexistingonsitetreatmentsystem,thenfurtherinvestigationisneeded.

• True• False

T/F:Iftherehasbeenrecentsoilfracturingactivitiesattheproperty,thenfurtherinvestigationisneeded.

• True• False

T/F:Iftherearesolidsabove1/3ofthetank'sholdingcapacity,thenthere'sbeendelayedpumpingofthetankandthetankisfillingupwithsolids.

• True• False

Damagedormissingbafflesinatreatmenttankisan_____condition.

• unsatisfactory• satisfactory• functional• good

Whentheultimatedisposalordischargelocationcannotbedeterminedbyadyetest,theconditionis______.

• unsatisfactory• satisfactory• functional• good

InspectionFormsandReport

Theinspectionformisusedbytheinspectorduringtheinspectionprocess.Theinspectionformmaybeusedaspartofthecompletedinspectionreport.Theformprovidesinformationregardingthetypeofsystem,overallcondition,recordofanyproblemsfoundatthesystem,andsuggestedcorrectivemeasures.Thereportmayincludeadditionalinformationforclarificationpurposes,butthisisnotrequired.

Allinspectionformsandinspectionreportsshouldbeprepared,signedanddatedbytheinspectorthatconductedtheonsitefieldinvestigation.

Drawasitesketchoftheproperty,includingthelocationofthesystemandotherrelevantitems,includingthehouse,vegetation,well,waterways,etc.

• MeasureandrecordonthesketchthedistancestothetreatmenttanklidandD-boxfromtwofixedandpermanentpointsofthehouse.Thismakesiteasyforthesystemandcomponentstobelocatedinthefuture.

• Thesketchshallnotserveasanengineeredorsurveyedplanasabasisforfutureworkonthesite.

Conductyourinspectionofthesystemandcomponents.

Baseduponyourinspectionofthetreatmenttank,distributionsystem,absorptionarea,pumpsandelectricalcomponents,determinetheconditionofeachcomponent.

Selectfromthefollowinglistoftermstodescribeeachinspectedcomponent:

• Satisfactory;• Furtherinvestigationisrecommended;• Satisfactorywithconcerns;• Unsatisfactory;• Conditioncannotbedetermined;or• NotApplicable(N/A)–Thecomponentdoesnotexistattheinspectedsystem.

Theinspectionreportshouldclearlyindicatetheconditionofeachinspectedcomponent.Ifmoreinvestigationisneeded,thereportshouldindicatethecomponent,theproblemassociatedwiththecomponent,andthetypeofinvestigationtobeperformed.Estimatedcostsmaybeincludedinthereport,butthatisnotrequired.

Within10daysoftheinspection,acopyoftheinspectionreportshouldbegiventothelocalauthorityhavingjurisdictionovertheonsitewastewaterdisposalsystem.Ifthereisafailedorunsatisfactoryconditionthatrequirestheattentionofthelocalauthority,thenthelocalauthorityshouldbenotifiedwithin24hoursoftheinspection.

SampleInspectionDocumentsFourSampleInspectionForms

InstructionsDocument:

InstructionstoCompletetheSepticInspectionDocuments

FORM#1:

FORM#1istheOrderingFormforanonsitewastewatersepticinspection.Thepersonorderingtheinspectionmustcompletethisform.Theformgivesusinformationthatwillbeusedbytheinspector.

FORM#2:

FORM#2istheSepticInspectionAgreementwiththeclient.Theclientshouldreadtheagreementcarefully.Theclientortheirrepresentativemustunderstandandsigntheagreement.

FORM#3:

FORM#3isthePropertyOwner’sAuthorizationForm.Thismustbesignedbytheowneroftheproperty/houseortheirrepresentativebeforetheinspectioncanbescheduled.Thisformisnecessarybecausetheinspectorwillbediggingandprobingtheground,andopeninglids/covers.

Yourinspectionwillnotbeconfirmeduntilallpaperworkrequiringasignatureisreturned.

WerecommendthatboththeBuyerandSeller(ortheirrepresentatives)bepresentduringthetimeofthesepticinspection.

Ifyouhaveanyquestionsorneedassistancetocompleteyourforms,pleasedonothesitatetocall:

You

YourCompany

(555)-555-5555

Thefollowing3formscanbefaxedto(555)-555-555orscannedandemailedto:you@yourcompany.com.

Form#1

FORM#1istheOrderingFormforanonsitewastewatersepticinspection.Thepersonorderingtheinspectionmustcompletethisform.Theformgivesusinformationthatwillbeusedbytheinspector.

SEPTICINSPECTIONORDERFORM

InspectionAddress:____________________________________________

OwnerName:__________________________________________________________

ClientName:___________________________________________________________

ClientAddress:_________________________________________________________

ClientPhoneNumberandEmail:__________________________________

Seller’sAgent:_______________Seller’sAgentPhone:______________

Buyer’sAgent:_________________Buyer’sAgentPhone:______________

County:___________________Township:__________________________

AdditionalInformation:_____________________________________________

MethodofPayment:_______________________

AgeofHouse:____________HouseOccupied?_______________

#ofBedrooms:___________IfVacant,ForHowLong?______________

Howmanypeoplemovingintothehouse?_______________________________

DateofLastPumpingofTanks:___________________________

HaveThereBeenAnyConcerns,ProblemsorCorrectionstotheSystem?________

__________________________________________________________________

HaveThereBeenFixturesAddedtothePlumbingSystemoftheHouseSincetheOriginalSepticSystemwasInstalled?__________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

AdditionalCommentsorInformation:__________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Form#2

FORM#2istheSepticInspectionAgreementwiththeclient.Theclientshouldreadtheagreementcarefully.Theclientortheirrepresentativemustunderstandandsigntheagreement.

OnsiteWastewaterTreatmentandDisposalSepticSystemInspectionAgreement

ThankyouforconsideringYourCompanyforyoursepticsysteminspection.Thisinspectionagreementisintendedtogiveyouanoverviewofthescopeoftheinspection,inspectioncostsandthelimitofliabilityforYourCompany.

Thesepticsysteminspectionincludes:

• Contactinglocalauthoritiestoreviewrecords,data,andpermits• Contactingpreviousowners• Contactingmaintenanceprovidersandcontractorswhohaveworkedonthe

property• Enteringtheproperty• Locationandopeningofthemainlid(s)oftheseptictank• Confirmationthatallfixturesflowfromthehousetothetreatmenttank• Measurementofthetank’sliquidlevel• Confirmationofwaterflowtothedrainageabsorptionarea• Pumpingofthetank(s)• Inspectionoftheinteriorwallsofseptictankandbaffles• Locationdrainagearea• Inspectionofdrainageabsorptionareaviaprobingand/orsoilboring• Identifyareasofsewagebreakout,lushvegetationandodors• Sketchingofthesite’ssystemandotheritemsandcomponentincludinglocation

measurements• Detailedinspectionreportdescribingtheconditionoftheonsitesepticsystem

Wecanhelpyouarrangeapumping-outoftheseptictank(s)foranadditionalforachargeof$______per1,000gallons.

Therearemanyfactorsthatmayaffecttheresultofasepticsysteminspection.Someimportantfactorsforyoutoconsiderinclude:

• Systemdesignandinstallation• Ageofthesystem• Numberofcurrentoccupantsincomparisontothenumberofoccupantsmovingin

Pleasereadthefollowingdisclaimercarefully.ItexplainsthetermsunderwhichYourCompanywillperformasepticinspection.

Disclaimer:

Thesepticinspectionisbasedontheconditionoftheonsitewastewatertreatmentsystemobservedatthetimeoftheinspection.Itdoesnotpredictfutureconditions.YourCompanymakesnorepresentationthatthesystemwasdesigned,installedormeetscurrentstandards.YourCompanydoesnotwarrant,guarantee,orcertifytheproperfunctioningofthesystemforanyperiodoftime.Becauseofnumerousfactors(usage,soiltype,installation,maintenance,etc.)whichaffecttheproperoperationofaonsitetreatmentsystem,aswellastheinabilityofYourCompanytosuperviseormonitortheuseandmaintenanceofthesystem,thisinspectionreportshallnotbeconstruedasawarrantybyYourCompanythatthesystemwillfunctionproperlyforthecurrentownerorforanyprospectivebuyer.YourCompanydisclaimsanywarranty,eitherexpressedorimplied,arisingfromtheinspectionofthesepticsystem.YourCompany’sliabilityisequalonlytothecostoftheinspection.

Ourservicecharges:

• Inspectionoftheonsitewastewatertreatmentsystem(nopumping,andincludesupto_____hoursofinspectionactivities):$____

• Inspectionofeachadditionalsystemorgraywatersystem:$______• Additionalhoursofinspectionactivitieson-site(overthe3includedhours):$_____

perhour• Hydraulicloadtest(2-dayinspection)$________includes3hoursfirstdayand3-

hours2ndday• Weekendinspection:$_____forSaturday• Septictankpumping:$______per1,000gallons

Ihavereadandunderstandtheagreementandthefees.Iunderstandthatduetounforeseencircumstances,additionalworkmayberequiredtocompletetheinspection.

Yoursignature:___________________________________________

Printedname:____________________________________________

Date:______________________

YourCompany

123AnywhereAvenue

Anywhere,StateZip

(555)-555-5555

you@yourcompany.com

Form#3

FORM#3isthePropertyOwner’sAuthorizationForm.Thismustbesignedbytheowneroftheproperty/houseortheirrepresentativebeforetheinspectioncanbescheduled.Thisformisnecessarybecausetheinspectorwillbediggingandprobingtheground,andopeninglids/covers.

PropertyOwner'sAuthorizationForm

Date:___________

Owner'sName:_________________________

Address:_________________________________________________

Phone:__________________

Orderedby:______________________

PropertyOwner'sAuthorization:

IauthorizeYourCompanytoenterourpropertyforthepurposeofperforminganinspectionoftheonsitewastewatertreatmentsystem,possiblyincludingahydraulicloadtestofthedrainagearea.Iunderstandtheinspectionwillinvolveprobingand/ordiggingandadisruptionofsod,grassorsoil.

Ifthereisanundergroundsprinklersystempleasecallyourinstallerto"markout"thelinestoavoidanybreakage.Ifthepropertyislandscaped,pleasecallyourlandscapertotemporarilyremoveanyplantsthatmaybeintheareaofthesepticsystemcomponents.YourCompanyisnotresponsibleforanyincidental,consequentialdamageincurredatthetimeofinspection.

Anyalterationstothisdocumentwillimmediatelymakeitnullandvoid.

Signatureofownerortheirrepresentative:______________________________

Printedname:_________________________________________

Iherebyauthorizethereleaseofinformationtoapotentialbuyerregardinganypreviousinspections,treatments,alterations,pumping,repairsetc.performedonortotheonsitewastewatertreatmentsystem(s)tobeinspected.

Propertyowner'sinitials:__________

AnydiggingthatmaytakeplacerequiresaUtility-Marking(CallBeforeYouDigService)bytheutilitycompany.Thistakesapproximatelythreefullbusinessdays.Inorderforustoperformyourinspectionsafelyandtoprotectyourundergroundutilities,aUtilityMarkingwillbeordered.Allundergroundutilitieswillbemarkedbythecompaniesthatserveyourarea.Thismarkingisusuallydonewithcoloredflagsorspraypaint.

SampleInspectionReport

YourCompany

AddressofYourCompany

YourCompanyPhone#,EmailandWebsite

Inspector’sName

Today’sDate

Re:OnsiteWastewaterTreatmentSystematInspectionPropertyAddress

DearClient:

Asrequested,YourCompanyinspecttheonsitewastewatertreatmentsystemattheaforementionedpropertyaddresson_________[dateoftheinspection].Thisletterprovidesyouwithareportoftheinspection.Basedonthepreliminaryinformationyouprovidedandthefieldinspection,

(Satisfactory)

wefoundtheonsitewastewatertreatmentsystemtobeinasatisfactoryconditiononthedateoftheinspection.

(SatisfactorywithConcerns)

wefoundtheonsitewastewatertreatmentsystemtobeinasatisfactoryconditiononthedateoftheinspection,buttherearesomeitemsaboutwhichwehaveconcerns.Thoseconcernsare:

[Listconcerns.]

(FurtherInvestigationRecommended)

weareunabletoverifythattheonsitewastewatertreatmentsystemispresentlyinsatisfactoryworkingconditionforthefollowingreasons:

[Listreasons.]

(HighWaterIndications)

Standingliquidintheabsorptionareawasobservedwithin6inchesbelowtheinletinvertofthelaterals.Theobservationdoesnotmeanthattheobservedwaterlevelsabovetheinvertelevationofthelateralsareamanifestationofafailure.Theobservationofwaterwithin6inchesbelowtheinletelevationofthelateralsisanindicationofimpededdrainage.Theclosethewaterlevelsapproachthelaterals,orencompassesthem,themoresubstantialtheconcern.Thecurrentorfuturehomeownermaywishtoconductwater-usemonitoringand/orconductreducedwateruse.Whilethisobservationisnotafailure,itisanindicationthatthesystemmaybenearingtheendofitsserviceablelifeandmayrequirecorrectivemeasuresinthenearfuture.

(Unsatisfactory)

Correctivemeasuresarerequiredtobringthesystemintosatisfactorycondition.Someorallofthesuggestedactivitiesmayrequireapermitfromthelocalauthorityhavingjurisdictionorthelocal/statehealthdepartment.Theappropriateauthoritymustbecontactedpriortoanycorrectiveactivitiescommencing.

(HydraulicLoadTest)

Aconditionresultingintherecommendationforconductingahydraulicloadtestwasobservedduringtheonsiteinspection.Thehydraulicloadtestisnotrequired,buthighlyrecommendedtodeterminetheextentoftheproblem(s)found.Ifthetestisnotconducted,asignedreleasestatementshouldbeprovidedbytheclientpriortothereleaseofthisinspectionoranyoftheinformationcontainedinit.

(Theconditionofthesystemrequiresinformingthelocalauthorityand/orhealthdepartment)

Conditionobservedatthesystematthetimeoftheinspectionrequiresinformingthelocalauthorityand/orhealthdepartmentwithin24hoursoftheinspection.

Atthecompletionofanyrepairsorcorrections,werecommendthatYourCompanybehiredagaintoinspectthesystemandverifythatthesystemhasbeenrestoredtoasatisfactorycondition.

Thisisaninspectionreportandnotawarranty.YourCompanydoesnotprovideanywarrantyorguarantee,expressorimplied,includinganywarrantyofmerchantabilityorfitnessforpurpose,ofanyotherwarrantywhatsoever,thatthesystemmeetsanycodeorspecifications,orwillfunctionproperlyforanyperiodoftimewhatsoever,orotherwisewillnotmalfunctionorcausecontaminationofthegroundorwatersoftheState.

Sincerely,

Inspector’sName:____________________________

Inspector’sSignature:___________________________

YourCompany

SuggestedCommentsforReportAdditionalSuggestedComments

Weather

• Itshouldbeunderstoodthatbecauseofthedryweather(drought),thesoilmoisturelevelsarelow,whichcancausethesystemtoappearmorefavorableascomparedwithotherweatherconditions.

• Excessiverainduringthelast72hoursmayaffectthewaterlevelintheabsorptionarea.

• Thesnowcoveringhaspreventedorinhibitedtheobservationofthegroundsurface.Thisisaninspectionrestriction.

• Certaincomponentscouldnotbelocatedandidentifiedbecauseofthecoldweatherandfrozengroundconditions.

• Alawnsprinkler/irrigationsystemwasfoundintheabsorptionareaandshouldberemoved.

AgeoftheSystem

• Thistypeofsystemmightbepermittedforanexistingproperty,butitdoesnotmeetcurrentstandards.Wecannotpredictthesystem’sremainingservicelife.

• Systemsolderthan20yearsarebeyondtheirservicelifeexpectancyandarelikelytorequirecorrection,majorrepairortotalreplacement.

• Anonsitetreatmentsystemhasalimitedservicelifeexpectancy.Systemsthatareatleast20yearsoldmaybeconsideredfunctionalbythehomeowner,butareactuallypasttheirservicelifeexpectancy.

• Thesystemisbeyonditsservicelifeexpectancyandislikelyinneedofcorrection,majorrepairortotalreplacement,evenifthesystemisfunctioningatthetimeoftheinspection.

NumberofBedrooms

• Thenumberofbedroomsatthehouseisgreaterthanthatidentifiedbytherecordsorpermitsavailable.Thesystemthatwasapprovedbackthenbythelocalbuildingauthoritymayhavebeenappropriatelysizedforthesystem,butnowtherearemorebedrooms,andthesystem’ssizehasnotbeenchanged.Itisnotpossibletopredicthowthesystemwillperformgiventhisincreaseinthenumberofbedrooms.

CommercialActivitiesand/orHighImpactHobbies

• Commercialactivitiesandcertainhobbiesmayplaceexcessivehydraulicloadingonthesystem,whichmayresultinthedischargeofundesirablesubstancesintothesepticsystem.

RepairHistory

• Thisisare-inspectionafteranoutletpipeblockagewascleared.Outletblockagesaretypicallycausedbysolidscarryoverfromthetreatmenttank.Waterisnowflowingfreelytothedrainagearea,howeverwecannotascertainhowmuch,ifany,sludgemadeitswayintothedrainagearea.

• Therehavebeensignificantalterationsmadetothesystem,whicharenotconsistentwithavailablerecords.Wecannotverifythatthesystemwasrepairedaccordingtohealthdepartmentstandardsorifthealterationshaveadequatelycorrectedanyproblems.

Occupants

• Allaspectsofthesepticsystemwereinsatisfactoryconditionatthetimeofinspection.Thewaterusebythecurrentnumberofoccupants,being____issubstantiallylowerthanthedesignrateforafivebedroomhome,andtheanticipatedwateruseofthenewoccupants,being_____,willbesignificantlyhigheranditisnotpossibletopredicthowthesystemwillperformgiventhisincrease.

• Thedrainageareaisnearitsmaximumcapacitywiththecurrentwateruse.Anyadditionaloccupantsorhigherwaterusagemaycauseasystemoverload.

• Thesystemwasfunctioningatthetimeofinspectionwiththevolumeofwaterusedbythecurrentnumberofoccupants,being_____.Thattypicalvolumeissubstantiallylowerthanthedesignrateforthehome(_____bedrooms)andnormalhydraulicloadingcannotbeduplicated.Wecannotpredicthowthesystemwilloperateifthenumberofoccupantsorwaterusageincreases.Ahydraulicloadingtestmaybeusedtofurtherevaluatethisdisparity.

• Duetothelengthofvacancy,normalhydraulicloadingonthedrainageareacouldnotbeduplicatedandwecannotpredicthowthesystemwillfunctionwhenthehomeisoccupied.Ahydraulicloadingtestmaybeusedtofurtherevaluatethisdisparity.

• Thepropertywasvacantatthetimeoftheinspection.Asexplainedduringtheinspection,normalhydraulicloadingonthedrainageareacouldnotbeduplicatedduringtheinspection.Wecannotpredicthowthesepticsystemwillfunctionwhenthepropertyisoccupied.

• Werecommendthatsystemsnotinuseforanextendedperiodorminimallyused,haveahydraulicloadtest,foramoreconclusiveexaminationofthedrainagearea.

WashingMachine

• Thewashingmachineisdischargingontothesurfaceoftheground,whichisprohibited.Thewashingmachinedischargeshouldbere-directedintothesepticsystemorintoaseparateseepagepitsystemtoreducethehydraulicloadtothesepticsystem,extendingitsserviceablelife.

GarbageDisposal

• Thekitchenisequippedwithagarbagedisposalunit,whichwillincreasethesolidscontentbeingloadedintotheseptictank.Theuseofgarbagegrindersisnotrecommendedforusewithsepticsystems,butifusedregularly,morefrequenttankpumpingisneeded.

• Garbagedisposalsplaceahigherlevelofsuspendedsolidsloadingonthesepticsystem.Theseptictankshouldbepumpedatagreaterfrequency/annually.

• Garbagedisposalgrindersareknowntoincreasethescumlayeraccumulationratesbyapproximately20percent.Eggshellsandcoffeegroundsbreakdownataveryslowrate.Disposalofsuchwastesintoasepticsystemwillnecessitatemorefrequentmaintenance.

MaintenanceHistory

• Thetreatmenttankhasnotbeenadequatelymaintained.Thereareexcessivesolidsinthetankandsolidscarryoverintothedrainageareaislikely.

DateofLastPumping

• Theseptictankwaspumpedoneweekpriortothisinspection.Theseptictankhadnotreachedoperatinglevelatthetimeofthisinspectionandnormalhydraulicloadingonthedrainageareacouldnotbeduplicated.Pleasereadthereportdisclaimercarefully.

• Theseptictankwaspumpedtwoweekspriortothisinspection.Thesystemhasnotreceivednormalhydraulicloading.Pleasereadthereportdisclaimercarefully.

WaterSoftener

• Thewatersoftenerbackwashcurrentlydischargesintothesepticsystem.Thisdischargemaydamagecertaintypesofsoils.Althoughcurrentconstructionstandardsdonotrequireaseparateseepagepitforthisdischarge,itmaybeprudenttoredirectthatdischargeintoaseparateareaotherthanthesepticsystem.Thiscanreducethehydraulicloadingtothesepticsystemandcanextendtheserviceablelifeofthesystem.

TreatmentTank

• Thetankiscompartmentedwithanaccesslidoneachend.• Thetankisinadequatelysizedforthehomeanddoesnotmeetcurrentconstruction

standards.• Thetreatmenttankdoesnotmeetcurrentconstructionstandardsforsizeor

constructionmaterial.• Thistypeofsystem,acesspool,ispermittedforanexistinguse,althoughitdoesnot

meetcurrentconstructionstandards.Anyfuturerepairtoacesspoolsystemmustincludeupgrades,ataminimum,toincludetheinstallationofanappropriatelysizedseptictankpriortothecesspool.

• Steelseptictankshaveausefullifeofapproximatelytwentyyearsandhavenotbeenapprovedfornewinstallationsforoverfifteenyears.Werecommendreplacingtheexistingseptictank.

ConditionofTank

• Theliquidlevelinthetankwaswellbelowtheoutletpipeduetoahole.Thetankisnolongerwatertightanddoesnotcomplywiththecurrentstandards.Insertingaholeisatechniqueusedbyinstallers,topreventtheseptictankfromfloatingpriortoitbeingfilledwithwater.Thisholeisnotpermittedundercodeandyoumayelecttohaveitrepairedorthetankreplaced.

• Minordeteriorationhasoccurredinthetreatmenttank.• Theinletand/oroutletbaffleisdamaged,brokenormissingandshouldbereplaced.

Solidscarryoverintotheabsorptionareaislikely.• Theseptictankwasnotpumpedduringthisinspection;sizeandconditionare

unknown.• Asmallholeinthebottomofthetreatmenttankwasobserved.Thisdoesnotmeet

currentconstructionstandardsandmayallowgroundwatertoinfiltrateintothesystemorallowinadequatelytreatedwastewatertonegativelyimpacttheenvironment.

• Thetreatmenttankhasnotbeenadequatelymaintained.Thereareexcessivesolidsinthetank;solidsdischargeintothedrainageareaislikely.

LiquidLevelAbovetheOutletInvert

• Duringtheinspectionprocess,theliquidlevelinthetreatmenttankrosesignificantlyabovetheoutletpipeinvert.Thisindicatesapossibleblockageoftheoutletpipeorasaturateddrainagearea.

• Theliquidlevelinthetreatmenttankisabovetheinletinvert.Thiscreatedaback-upofsewageintothebuildingserved,whichwasnotcausedbyaphysicalblockageoftheinternalplumbing.Thisalsoindicatesapossibleblockageoftheoutletpipeorasaturateddrainagearea.Thetreatmenttankwasnotpumpedanditsconditionisunknown.

• Theliquidlevelinthetreatmenttankisabovetheoutletinvert.Thisindicatesapossibleblockageoftheoutletpipeorasaturateddrainagearea.Thetreatmenttankwasnotpumpedanditsconditionisunknown.

• Thisisare-inspectionafteranoutletpipeblockagewascleared.Outletblockagesmaybecausedbysolidscarryoverfromthetreatmenttank.Waterisnowflowingfreelytothedrainagearea,howeverTheCompanycannotascertainhowmuchsludge,ifanymadeitswayintothedrainagearea.

• Theliquidlevelinthetreatmenttankisabovetheoutletinvert.Thedrainageareawasnotsaturatedindicatingablockedoutletpipe.Theoutletpipeshouldbeclearedandthesystemre-inspected.

TreatmentTankPumpedforthisInspection

• Duringpumping,effluentfromtheabsorptionareaflowedintothetreatmenttank,indicatingapossibleblockageorasaturatedabsorptionarea.

• Thetreatmenttankhasnotbeenadequatelymaintained.Thereareexcessivesolidsinthetank.Toremovethesolids,acombinationofhigh-pressurewaterandvacuumwillberequired.

• Thetreatmenttankwasnotpumpedatthecustomer’srequest.• Theliquidlevelinthetreatmenttankwasabovetheoutletinvertuponarrivalthe

tankwasnotpumpeditssizeandconditionwasnotdetermined.• Thetreatmenttankwasnotpumpedduringthisinspection,itssizeandcondition

wasnotdetermined.• Thetreatmenttankcouldnotbelocated.Additionalinvestigationisrequiredto

determinethelocationofthetank.• Theliquidlevelintheseptictankwasabovetheinletinvert.Thetankwasnot

pumpedanditsconditionisunknown.• Duetoahighwaterlevelintheabsorptionarea,thetreatmenttankwasnotpumped

duringthisinspection.Itssizeandconditionwerenotdetermined.

StructuresareNeartheSystem

• Systemcomponentsthatarenotreadilyaccessiblecanmakemaintenancedifficult.Excessiveweightfromvehiclesorothersourcesmaydamagethesystem.

EvidencethatSewageHasSurfacedAbovetheTopoftheTreatmentTank

• Thereisevidenceofsewageabovethetreatmenttankindicatingapreviouslysurchargedcondition;solidscarryovertothedrainageareaispossible.

DepthtoTopofTank

• Thetreatmenttankisinexcessoftwofeetbelowgrade.Aseptictank“riser”provideseasyaccesstothetankandshouldbeconsidered.

• Theseptictankisoverthreefeetbelowgrade.Ariserextendedtogradewouldimprovemaintenanceaccess.

DepthtoMainLid

• Themainlidwasnotaccessible.

AbsorptionArea

• Theabsorptionareacouldnotbepositivelyidentifiedduetoitsexcessivedepthbelowgradeortheduetotheamountofrockonthesite.Furtherinvestigationisnecessarytolocatetheabsorptionarea.

• Duetosoilconditionsand/ordepth,it’snotalwayspossibletolocateallcomponentsofthesystem.Whiletherewerenoblatantsignsofoverflowonthesurface,ordrainageproblemsevident,wecannotcompleteanevaluationofdrainagecomponentsunlesstheycanactuallybeinspected,thiswillrequireadditionalinvestigation.

• Accumulatedsnowpreventedlocationofthedrainagearea.Noevaluationispossibleonthiscomponentofthesystematthistime.

• Duetoextendedcoldweatherandfrozengroundconditions,notallsystemcomponentscouldbeidentified.

• Numerousobstructionspreventedidentificationofallsystemcomponents.Placingexcessiveweightoversystemcomponentscancausesignificantdamagetothesystem.Theseobstructionsshouldberemovedorrelocatedandfurtherinvestigationofthesystemisnecessarytoidentifyallsystemcomponents.

• Effluentmeasurementsvariedconsiderablybetweensidesofthesystem,possiblyindicatingunevendistribution.

• Thedrainageareaisatitsmaximumcapacityundercurrentwateruse.(Onlyoneoccupant),anyadditionaloccupantsorhigherwaterusagemaycauseasystemoverload.Ahydraulicloadtestisrecommendedtofurtherevaluatethesystem.

• Theabsorptionareaisnearitscapacityundercurrentwateruse.Asignificantincreaseinoccupantsorhigherwaterusagemaycauseasystemoverload.

• Theliquidlevelinthedrainageareaisabovethetopofthecrushedstone.Thedrainageareaisatitsmaximumcapacityunderthecurrentwateruseandanyadditionaloccupationorhigherwaterusecouldcauseasystemoverflow.

• Sewagevisibleaboveornearanysystemcomponentsindicatesasaturatedconditionthatshouldbeidentifiedtothelocalhealthdepartment.

• Thereislushvegetationabovethedrainagearea.Thisisanindicationofhighwaterlevels.

• Anybreakoutofwateratthegroundsurfacerequiresimmediatenotificationtothelocalhealthdepartment.

DistributionBox

• Sewageidentifiedabovethelateralinvertsinthedistributionboxindicatesasaturateddrainagearea.

• Thedistributionboxisshowingsignsofitsagewithslightdeteriorationand/orsmallcracks,butitisintactandholdingwaterasdesigned.

• Thedistributionboxissignificantlydeterioratedandisleakingwastewater,bypassingtheabsorptionarea.Thedistributionboxshouldbereplaced.

Summary

• Duringtheinspectionprocess,theliquidlevelinthetankroseabovetheinletpipeinvertcausingaback-upofsewagetowardthehome,whichisnotcausedbyaphysicalblockageoftheinternalplumbing.Thisobservedconditionshouldbereportedtothelocalhealthdepartmentimmediately.

• Waterlevelabovetheinvertelevationofthelateralsorhighwaterconditionwasobserved.Thisobservationofwaterwithinsix-inchesbelowtheinletelevationofthelateralsisanindicationofimpededdrainagewithinthedisposalarea.Thecloserthewaterlevelsapproachthelaterals,orencompassesthem,themoresubstantialtheconcern.Whilethisobservationisnotafailure,itisanindicationthatthesystemmaybenearingtheendofitsserviceablelifeandmayrequirecorrectivemeasuresinthenearfuture.Thecurrentorfuturehomeownermaywishtoconductwaterusemonitoring,reducewateruseand/orfindaphysicalremedytocorrectthecondition.

Terra-Lift

• Thedrainageareahasbeentreatedbythe"Terra-Lift"process.Thelong-termeffectivenessofthisremedialactioncannotbepredicted.Pleasereadthefollowingdisclaimercarefully.

CesspoolorSeepagePit

• Atthetimeofinspectionthewaterlevelinthecesspool/seepagepitwasatorabovetheinletpipeinvert.Thisindicatesasaturatedconditioninthezoneofdisposalarea.

• Theliquidlevelisnottouchingtheinletpipeinvert,howeverthereislessthan24hoursworthofstoragecapacityleftinthecesspool/seepagepit.

CalculatingTankVolume

Thereareseveralmethodstocalculatethevolumeofthesepticsystemtanksdependinguponwhethertheyarecylindrical,squareorrectangular.

CylindricalTanks

MethodA

3.14xradiussquared(feet)xdepth(feet)equalscubiccapacity.

7.5xcubiccapacityequalscapacityingallons.

Example:60"dia.tank,48"liquiddepth

3.14x(2.5x2.5)x4=78.5cu.capacity

78.5x7.5=588.75gal.

MethodB

Diametersquared(inches)dividedby292.5equalsgallonsperinchofliquiddepthintank.Depth(inches)xgallonsperinch.

Example:60"dia.tank,48"liquiddepth

60x60#292.5=12.31gal.perinch

12.31gal.perinchx48=590.88gal.

MethodC

Diametersquared(ininches)xdepth(ininches)times.0034equalstotalgallons.

Example:60"dia.tank,48"liquiddepth

(60"x60")x48"x.0034=587.52gal.

SquareorRectangularTanks

MethodA

Length(feet)xdepth(feet)xwidth(feet)equalscubicft.

Cubicft.x7.5equalsgallons.

Example:96"=length,48"=width,60"=depth

8x5x4=160cu.ft.

160x7.5=1200gal.

MethodB

Length(inches)xwidth(inches)dividedby231equalsgallonsineachinchofliquiddepth.Tankdepth(inches)xgallonsperinchequalstotalgallons.

Example:96"=length,48"=width,60"=depth

96"x48"=4608/231=19.95gal.perinch

19.95x60"=1,197gal.

Volumeingallons Style Dimensions

Outsidelengthxoutsidewidthxflowdepthininches

1,000 Singlecompartment 102x58x481,000 Lowboy 126x68x401,250 Singlecompartment 126x60x481,500 Singlecompartment 126x68x48

Diameter(inches) Volume(gallons)andFlowDepth(inches)500 600 750 900

60 41 49 61 7472 34 43 5184 31 38

SewageFlowsVolumeofsanitarysewage

Thecriteriaforestimatingthevolumeofsanitarysewagefromprivateresidentialsourcesshallbeasfollows:

Thedailyvolumeforeachbedroomordwellingunitshallbe:

• Firstbedroom200gallonsperday("gal/day")• Eachadditionalbedroom150gal/day• Minimumvolumeperdwellingunit350gal/day

SepticSystemAdditivesAnumberofcompaniessellproductsundertheclaimthatroutineadditiontothetoiletorseptictankwillimprovethesystem’sfunctionandwillrestoretheflowto“slowplumbing.”Mostexpertsconsidertheseclaimstobeunsubstantiated.Yourclientshouldknowthatwastewaterflowproblems,whichoriginateinasepticsystem,couldbesymptomaticofmajorsystemfailure.Withouttheproperattentionofawastewaterprofessional,suchproblemswillusuallygetworseandmoreexpensivetorepair.Relyingonadditivestofixsepticsystemproblemsisnotrecommended.

QuizWhensketchingthesite,youshouldmeasureandrecordonthesketchthedistancestothetreatmenttanklidandD-boxfrom______fixedandpermanentpointsofthehouse.

• two• one• four

Selectfromthefollowingfouroftermstodescribeeachinspectedcomponent:(1)Satisfactory,(2)Furtherinvestigationisrecommended,(3)Satisfactorywith_____;and(4)Unsatisfactory.

• concerns• worries• troubles• majordefects

Ifthereisafailedorunsatisfactoryconditionthatrequirestheattentionofthelocalauthority,thenthelocalauthorityshouldbenotifiedwithin_____hoursoftheinspection.

• 24• 2• 72

OnsiteSystemInspectionFormOnsiteWastewaterTreatmentSystem–InspectionForm

InspectionProcessOverview

PreliminarysysteminformationInspectionoftreatmenttanksInspectionofabsorptionarea

Notes

Inspectionofdisposal/conveyancesystem

Identificationofanyalternativetechnologyandapprovedcomponents

Requiresadditionalinspection

ClientInformation

Clientname:__________________________________Ownername:_________________________________Client’saddress:___________________________________________________________________________Phone:______________________________________Email:_______________________________________

OnsiteSystemInformation

Inspectorname:____________________________Date:__________________PropertyAddress:_____________________________________________________________________AdditionalInformation:_________________________________________________________________

PreliminaryInformation:Weather:___________________________________________Lastprecipitation:____________________________________Ageofsystem:_______________________Numberofbedrooms:___________________Numberofsystemsbeinginspected:___________________Commercialactivitiesorhighimpactactivities:_________________________________________________________________Priorproblemsand/orrepairhistoryincludingsoilfracturingoruseofchemicaladditives:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Isthereasiteplanorsepticmapavailable?Isthehouseoccupied?Ifyes,howmanyoccupants?________________Ifno,datelastoccupied?___________________Iswashingmachinedrainingtoaseparategraywatersystem?Arethereanyothergraywatersystems?Aretheresumppumpsdischargingtothesystem?Anyrecordofpastsewagebackupsintothehouse?Doallofthefixturesdrainintothetreatmenttank?Isthetankpumpedregularly?What’sthefrequencyofpumping?______________________________________________________Dateoflastpumping?_______________________

YesNoYesNoYesNoYesNoYesNoYesNoYesNo

Comments:

FormContinued

TreatmentTank:Typeoftankbeinginspected:

AnaerobicAerobicCesspoolSeepagepitOther:___________________________

Graywatertank:____________________________________Multi-compartment:__________________________________Materialoftank:ConcreteBlockSteelPlasticOther_______________________________________________ApproximateVolumeofTank:____________________________________________________________________________ConditionofTank:Topandlids/coversSatisfactoryUnsatisfactoryn/aInletbaffle____________

Maintanklid/coverwasopenedforinspection?

·Liquidlevelbelowthetank’sinletinvert?

·Liquidlevelbelowthetank’soutletinvert?

·Treatmenttankpumpedforthisinspection?

·Arealltankslocatedawayfromstructuresandhighimpactareas?

·Istheareaclearofevidenceofanybreakoutorseepagetothegroundsurfaceofeffluent?

·Doeswaterflowunimpededfromthetreatmenttank?

·Isthereaneffluentfilterinstalledaspartofthesystem?

·Arethereanytypesofaccessoryunitsinstalled?YesNo

·Depthtotopoftank:________________inches

YesNoYesNoYesNoYesNoYesNoYesNoYesNoYesNoYesNoYesNo

Outletbaffle____________Cracksorleakage____________SewageFlowfromhouse____________

·Depthtotopoftankaccess:___________inches

·Comments:

YesNo

AbsorptionArea:Typeofabsorptionarea:DisposalbedSeepagepitCesspoolDisposaltrenchMoundedOther:____________________________________________Wastheabsorptionarealocated?YesNoAreinspectionportsinstalled?YesNoIfyes,howmany?________________Wasaseparateprobedugintheabsorptionareatoconfirmtheobservationsintheinspectionports?YesNoIstheareaoftheabsorptionsystemfreeofsewageodors?YesNoDoesthesewageflowfromthetreatmenttanktotheabsorptionareawithoutflowingbackwards?YesNoArethereareaswithlushvegetation?YesNoIsthedistributionbox(D-box)insatisfactorycondition?YesNoComments:

FormContinued

Drawasketchofthesiteplan,withlocationofhouse,system,tank,andotherrelevantitems,includingdriveway,vegetation,well,etc.DosingorPumpTank:Doesthesystemcontainapumptank?Isthepumpoperating?Doesthealarmonthepumpwork?Isthepumpelevatedabovethetankfloor?Isthelidinsatisfactorycondition?Isthetankissatisfactorycondition?Isthetankfreeofaccumulatedsolids?

Yes

No n/a

Summary:Conditionofthetreatmenttank(s)?Conditionoftheconveyanceandpumpsystem?Conditionoftheabsorptionarea?Conditionofanyaccessorycomponents?

Satisfactory SatisfactorywithConcerns

Unsatisfactory Requiresfurtherevaluation

n/a

Comments:ReportingtoLocalAuthorityand/orHealthDepartment:Reportifanyofthefollowingconditionswereobservedduringtheinspection:PondingorbreakoutofsewageoreffluentontothegroundsurfaceSeepageofsewageoreffluentintopartofthehousebelowgroundBackupofsewageintothehousethatisnotcausedbyaphysicalblockageoftheinternaldrainageplumbingAnymannerofleakageobservedfromorintotheseptictanks,connectingpipes,distributionboxes,orothercomponentsthatarenotdesignedtoemitsewageoreffluent.

Notificationofanyobservationthatisconsistentwithaconditionnotedaboveshouldbereportedtothelocalauthorityhavingjurisdictionwithin24hoursoftheobservation.Regardlessoftheobservationsmade,acopyoftheinspectionreportshouldbeprovidedtothelocalauthorityhavingjurisdictionoveronsitewastewatertreatmentsystemswithin10daysoftheinspection.Describeanyandallobservedconditionsthatareofaconcerninrelationtothesystem:

TerminologyforOnsite(Septic)WastewaterTreatmentSystemsTerminology

A

Absorptionarea:anareatowhicheffluentemergingfromaseptictank,aerobicunit,orsandfilterisdistributedforinfiltrationintothesoil;onlycertainsoiltypesandgeologicconditionsareappropriateforabsorptionareas.Synonym:absorptionbed,absorptionfield,leachfield,drainfield,soilabsorptionarea.

Absorptionbed:seeabsorptionarea.

Accessport:seeinspectionport.

Aerate:tosupplywithair;insewagetreatment,tomixairwithsewagetopromotebiologicaldecompositionortreatmentofthesewage.

Aerobic:livinginthepresenceofoxygen;referstosewage-degradingbacteria(usuallyinthesoil)thatmusthaveoxygentosurvive.

Aggregate:washedgravelorstonewithadiameterofapproximately¾-inchto1½inchesusedasaneffluentstorageanddistributionmediumintheabsorptionarea.

Anaerobic:notrequiringoxygentolive;referstocertainspeciesofsewage-degradingmicroorganismsinaseptictank.Alsomeansanoxic.

Applicationrate:therateatwhichtheeffluentfromaseptictankoraerobicunitisappliedtotheabsorptionarea;usuallyexpressedingallons/day/squarefoot(gpd/sq.ft.).

B

Backflush:usuallyreferstoremovingcontaminantsfromawatersoftenerandsendingthebrinedischarge(containinghighconcentrationsofsodium,calcium,andmagnesium)tothesewagetreatmentunit;insomeareasthisisnotallowedifthesewagetreatmentunitisatraditionalsepticsystem.Alsocalledback-wash.

Baffle:adeviceinstalledinaseptictankordistributionboxtoslowthevelocityofliquidsandincreasesettlingofsolids;limitsmovementofsolidstotheabsorptionarea.Alsocalledadeflector.

Berm:araisedareaofsoilthatdivertsprecipitationorrunoffawayfromanabsorptionarea;also,anearthenstructuretosupportthesidesofasewagesystemthatisabovegradeoronaslope.

Biomat:seeorganicmat.

Blackwater:liquidwastefromtoilets(asopposedtograywater,theliquidwastefromsinks,washingmachine,watertreatmentdevices,showers,tubs,etc.).

C

Cesspool:perforatedconcretetankthatreceiveshouseholdsewagedirectlyanddoesnotfollowaseptictankoraerobicunit;notconsideredbymosthealthdepartmentstobeappropriateforsewagetreatment;oftenmistakenlyconfusedwithadrywellorseepagepit.

Cleanout:seeinspectionport.

Conservationdevice:anydevicethatlimitstheamountofwaterusedinagivenactivity,suchaslow-flowshowerheads,water-savingtoilets,water-savingfaucets,compostingtoilets,toiletdams.Alsocalledwater-conservationdeviceorflow-restrictor.

Curtaindrain:adraininstalledbelowthesoilsurfacetolimittheflowofgroundwaterintoasewagetreatmentsystem.Alsocalledverticaldrain,underdrain.

Cut-and-fillsystem:anabsorptiontrenchsysteminanareawhereimpermeablesoilisfoundabovepermeablesoil;impermeablelayerisreplacedwithpermeablesoil.Alsocalledasoil-replacementsystem.

D

Decay-resistant:seeinertsolids.

Decomposition:rotting;insewagetreatment,reductionofvolumeandtypeofwastesduetoactionofmicroorganisms.Digestion.

Digestion:seedecomposition.

Distributionbox:aconcrete,fiberglass,orplasticboxthatissituatedbetweentheseptictankandabsorptionareatoevenlydistributeeffluentbygravityflowfromtheseptictanktotheabsorptionarea.AlsocalleddistributiondeviceorD-box.

Dosing:usingapumporsiphontomoveeffluentfromtheseptictanktothepipenetworkofanabsorptionarea;movementthroughthepipenetworkisbygravity;dosingassistsinevendistributionofthewastewaterintotheabsorptionarea;notthesameaspressuredistribution,whichusesapumptomoveeffluentthroughthepipenetwork.

Dyetest:atesttodetermineleaks/failureintheon-sitesewagetreatmentsystem;afluorescentdyeisaddedtothetoilettank,andthesewagetreatmentsystemisexaminedforevidenceofdyeappearance.Fluorescentdyetest.Typicallynotusedforthispurposealone.Dyeisusedinconjunctionwithotherinvestigationmeans.Dyeisprimarilyusedforconfirmingthedischargelocationofaparticularfixtureorconfirmingaleakytoilet.

E

Effluent:theliquidthatisreleasedtoorfromaseptictankoraerobicunit;raweffluentisthatwhichhasnotbeentreatedinanyway;treatedeffluentisthatwhichhasgonethroughaseptictank,aerobicunit,orabsorptionarea.

Enzymes:insewagetreatment,asubstanceproducedbylivingcellsthatismarketedasanadditiveforseptictankstospeeddecompositionofsolids;enzymeadditionisusuallynotnecessaryinaseptictankduetothelargenumberofmicroorganismspresentinhumanwastethatareabletodecomposethesolidsinthetank.

Evaporation-transpiration(El)systems:movementofeffluentupwardthroughthesoilandoverlyingvegetationandintotheatmosphere,ratherthandownwardmovementintothesoil;usuallyusedwhenmoretraditionalsewagetreatmentsystemsarenotsuitable;veryspecificdesigncriteriamustbemetforsystemtobeapproved.

F

Failedsystem:asewagetreatmentsystemthatnolongereffectivelytreatshouseholdwaste;generallyhasavisiblesurfacedischarge,ormaybeindicatedbyplumbingsystembackups.

Flowrestrictor:seeconservationdevice.

G

Gasdeflector:ventingprovisionsinyourseptictankthatdirectgasessafelyaway.

Gasvent:ventfortheaccumulatedgasesthatformintheseptictankduringdecomposition,mostlylocatedontheroofofthehouse.

Geo-textile:permeablematerialusedtocoveraggregateintrenchestopreventsoilfrommixingwiththeaggregatefollowingback-fillingoperationsbutallowingairandmoisturetomovethroughthesoilandaggregate;aggregatemayalsobecoveredwithuntreatedbuildingpaperorcleanhay.

Gravel:fillingmaterialfortrenchesinwhichthedistributionlineslie.Itisusedforeaseddischargeofwastewatertothesoil.

Gravel-lessabsorptionsystem:seeabsorptionchamber.

Graywater:effluentfromhouseholdsinks,shower/bathtub,clotheswasher,watertreatmentunits,etc.,thatdoesnotcontaintoiletwaste.

Groundwater:subsurfacewaterthatoriginatesasrainorsnowmelt;groundwaterseepsthroughthesoilprofileuntilreachingadepthwhereallsoil/rockporesarefilled;thetopofthissaturatedzoneiscalledthewatertable.

H

Holdingtank:awatertighttank,similartoaseptictank,thatcollectswasteandholdsituntilitcanbepumpedandtransportedtoasewagetreatmentsystem;usedonsmalllotswithnosuitableabsorptionareaorinalocationtooisolatedforacommunitysystem;useisfrequentlyrestrictedbyhealthdepartmentregulations.

Householdhazardouswaste:anyofanumberofproductsfoundinthekitchen,bathroom,garage,orgardenshedthatbytheirchemicalnaturecanpoison,corrode,explode,orburstintoflamewhenhandledimproperly.

Hydraulicload:theamountofeffluentappliedtotheabsorptionarea;canbedecreasedbyusingwaterconservationdevices;hydraulicoverloadingoccurswhentheabsorptionareareceivesmoreeffluentthanitcaneffectivelytreat;thiscanresultinponding.

I

Inertsolids:thesolidportionofhouseholdwastethatcannotbedecomposedbymicroorganismssuchassanitarynapkins,greaseandothersolids.Grit,anddecayresistantmaterials.

Infiltrationrate:theamountoftimenecessaryforeffluenttoflowfromtheabsorptionareaintothesoil;varieswithsoiltypeandotherenvironmentalfactors,andisusuallyexpressedingallons/day/squarefoot(gpd/sq.ft.)measuredbyapercolationtest.

Inspectionport:anaccessholeintheseptictanktoallowinspectionofthetankoritscontents;tankshouldalwaysbepumpedthroughcentralaccessmanhole.Alsocalledmanhole,accessport,clean-out.

L

Leachfield:seeabsorptionarea.

Liquidlayer:wastewaterinaseptictankthatisbetweentheoverlyinglayer(scum)andtheunderlyinglayer(sludge);afterexitingtheseptictank,theliquidlayerbecomeseffluentthatflowstotheabsorptionarea.Theclearzoneorclearspace.

M

Manhole:seeinspectionport.

Mound:atypeofsoilabsorptionareathatisraisedabovethenaturalsoilsurfaceusinganappropriatefillmaterial;smallerthanaraisedbedsystem;usedwhenthedepthofpermeablesoilislessthantherequired4feetorinareasofhighwatertable.

Multi-compartment:aseptictankwithmorethanonechambertoincreaseremoval/separationofsolids(primarytreatment).Alsocalleddual-chambertank.

N

Nasty:termsometimesusedwhendescribingsomethingthatsmellsreallybad.

O

Onsitetreatmentsystem:ageneraltermreferringtoanyofthevarioussystemsfortreatingwasteemanatingfromahouseholdplumbingfixtureorwatertreatmentunit.

Organicmat:themicroorganismsandorganicmatterthatbuilduparoundasoilabsorptionareaatthemediasoilinterface;canbeespeciallyprevalentwithsandfilters.Alsobiomat.

Outletpipe:thepipeconveyingwastewateroutofavessel(septictank,distributionbox,etc.).

Overflowpipe:aflow-reliefpipetoconveyexcesswastewaterfromavessel(dropmanhole,dosingsiphon,tank,cesspool,seepagepit,etc.).

P

Percolationorperctest:amethodofdeterminingthesuitabilityofthesoilforanabsorptionarea;atestholeisdug,wateraddedtothehole,andtherateofinfiltrationofwaterintothesoilisdetermined.

Perforatedpipe/tile:thepipeinanabsorptionareathatcontainsregularlyspacedholestoreleaseeffluentintothemedia,suchassandoraggregateandthenintothesoil.

Permeable:allowingliquidtopassthrough;usedwhendescribingsoilabsorptionsystemsandtheirsuitabilityforsewagetreatment.

Ponding:ifthehydraulicloadistoohighforthedrainfield,thewatercancomeuptothesurfaceandformsmallpondsofuntreatedwastewater.

Pressuredistribution:usingapumptodistributeseptictankoraerobicuniteffluentthroughthepipenetworkofasoilabsorptionarearesultinginamoreevendistributionofeffluentoverthesoilthandoesgravitydistribution.

Primarytreatment:thetreatmentofhouseholdsewagethattakesplaceinaseptictank;separatesfloatingandsettleablesolidsfromrawwastewater.

R

Raisedsystem:anabsorptiontrenchsystemconstructedinappropriatefillmaterialplacedabovethenaturalsoilsurface;largerthanamoundsystem.Alsocalledmoundorraised-moundsystem.

S

Sanitarytee:seebaffle.

Saturatedsoil:soilthathasallspacesbetweensoilparticlesfilledwithliquid.

Scum:thewastewaterinaseptictankthatislessdensethantheliquidlayerandfloatsontopoftheliquidlayer.Alsoscumcake.

Seasonalhighwatertable:thetopofthesaturatedsoillayeratcriticaltimesoftheyear;groundwaterthatoccasionallyrisesaboveitsnormallevelinthesoilandcaninterferewiththeonsitesewagetreatmentsystem.

Secondarytreatment:soilprocessesthattreateffluentfromaseptictank;primarytreatmentoccursintheseptictank.

Seepagepit:acoveredpitwithaperforatedliningthatacceptseffluentfromaseptictankandallowsittoinfiltratethesurroundingsoil;mayreplacethesoilabsorptionareaandoftenincorrectlycalledacesspool.Alsoleachingpit.

Septage:thecontents(sludge,liquidlayer,andscum)extractedfromaseptictank.

Septictank:awatertightconcrete,fiberglass,polyethylene,orsteeltankthatisburiedinthegroundandacceptssewagefromahousehold.

Septictankadditives:anyofanumberofproductsthataremarketedtodecomposewasteinaseptictank;mostarenotnecessaryandsomeareactuallyharmfultothemicroorganismpopulationinthetank.

Septictankpumping:theprocessbywhichthecontentsoftheseptictank(septage)areremovedandhauledtoasewagetreatmentplantforfurthertreatmentortoaland-spreadingoperation.

Sewage:thehumanandhouseholdwastedischargedthroughthehomeplumbingsystem.Alsowastewater.

Sludge:theaccumulatedsolidsthatsettletothebottomofaseptictank.Alsosolidslayer.

Subsurfacedisposalsystem:anysewagetreatmentsystemthatisburiedbeneaththesoilsurface.

Suspendedsolids:solidmaterialthatissuspendedintheliquidlayer.

T

Trench:anexcavatedareaofsoilintheabsorptionareaintowhichaggregateandperforatedpipearelaidforthepurposeofdistributingseptictankoraerobicuniteffluent.Alsoabsorptiontrench.

U

Untreatedbuildingpaper:apermeablematerialoftenusedtocoveraggregateintrenchestopreventsoilmixingwithaggregatefollowingback-fillingoperationswhileallowingairandmoisturetomovethroughsoilandaggregate;aggregatemayalsobecoveredwithgeo-textileorcleanhay.

Usablesoil:thedepthofsoilavailableinanabsorptionareathatissuitableforsecondarytreatment.Alsoavailablesoil.

V

Vent:anoutletforgasesfromthesewagetreatmentsystem.

W

Wastewater:thehumanandhouseholdwastedischargedthroughthehomeplumbingsystem.Seesewage.

Watertable:thetopoftheareainsoilwhereallsoil/rockporesarefilledwithliquid.

QuizT/F:Inthiscoursewelearnedthatrelyingonadditivestofixsepticsystemproblemsisnotrecommended.

• True• False

_______isdefinedaslivinginthepresenceofoxygen;referstosewage-degradingbacteria(usuallyinthesoil)thatmusthaveoxygentosurvive.

• Aerobic• Anaerobic

_____adeviceinstalledinaseptictankordistributionboxtoslowthevelocityofliquidsandincreasesettlingofsolids;limitsmovementofsolidstotheabsorptionarea.

• Baffle• Berm• Aerator• Stopper

_____boxisdefinedasaconcrete,fiberglass,orplasticboxthatissituatedbetweentheseptictankandabsorptionareatoevenlydistributeeffluentbygravityflowfromtheseptictanktotheabsorptionarea.

• Distribution• Sewage• Scum• Solids

_____istheliquidthatisreleasedtoorfromaseptictankoraerobicunit;raweffluentisthatwhichhasnotbeentreatedinanyway;treatedeffluentisthatwhichhasgonethroughaseptictank,aerobicunit,orabsorptionarea.

• Effluent• Sewage• Clearwater• Septic

T/F:Asanitaryteeisabaffle.

• True• False

_____referstotheaccumulatedsolidsthatsettletothebottomofaseptictank.

• Sludge• Scum

_____referstothehumanandhouseholdwastedischargedthroughthehomeplumbingsystem,orsewage.

• Wastewater• Effluent• Liquidflow• Solids

Homeowner'sGuidetoSepticSystemsAHomeowner’sGuidetoSepticSystemsYOURSEPTICSYSTEMISYOURRESPONSIBILITY

Didyouknowthatasahomeowneryou’reresponsibleformaintainingyoursepticsystem?Didyouknowthatmaintainingyoursepticsystemprotectsyourinvestmentinyourhome?Didyouknowthatyoushouldperiodicallyinspectyoursystemandpumpoutyourseptictank?

Ifproperlydesigned,constructedandmaintained,yoursepticsystemcanprovidelong-term,effectivetreatmentofhouseholdwastewater.Ifyoursepticsystemisn’tmaintained,youmightneedtoreplaceit,costingyouthousandsofdollars.Amalfunctioningsystemcancontaminategroundwaterthatmightbeasourceofdrinkingwater.Andifyousellyourhome,yoursepticsystemmustbeingoodworkingorder.

Thisguidewillhelpyoucareforyoursepticsystem.Itwillhelpyouunderstandhowyoursystemworksandwhatstepsyoucantakeasahomeownertoensureyoursystemwillworkproperly.Tohelpyoulearnmore,consulttheresourceslistedatthebackofthisbooklet.

TopFourThingsYouCanDotoProtectYourSepticSystem

1. Regularlyinspectyoursystemandpumpyourtankasnecessary.2. Usewaterefficiently.3. Don’tdisposeofhouseholdhazardouswastesinsinksortoilets.4. Careforyourdrainfield.

Howdoesasepticsystemwork?

Components

Atypicalsepticsystemhasfourmaincomponents:apipefromthehome,aseptictank,adrainfieldandthesoil.Microbesinthesoildigestorremovemostcontaminantsfromwastewaterbeforeiteventuallyreachesgroundwater.

Pipefromthehome

Allofyourhouseholdwastewaterexitsyourhomethroughapipetotheseptictank.

Septictank

Theseptictankisaburied,watertightcontainertypicallymadeofconcrete,fiberglass,orpolyethylene.Itholdsthewastewaterlongenoughtoallowsolidstosettleout(formingsludge)andoilandgreasetofloattothesurface(asscum).Italsoallowspartialdecompositionofthesolidmaterials.CompartmentsandaT-shapedoutletintheseptictankpreventthesludgeandscumfromleavingthetankandtravelingintothedrainfieldarea.Screensarealsorecommendedtokeepsolidsfromenteringthedrainfield.

Newertanksgenerallyhaveriserswithlidsatthegroundsurfacetoalloweasylocation,inspection,andpumpingofthetank.

Septicsystemaliases:

• On-lotsystem• Onsitesystem• Individualsewagedisposalsystem• Onsitesewagedisposalsystem• Onsitewastewatertreatmentsystem

Tip

Topreventbuildup,sludgeandfloatingscumneedtoberemovedthroughperiodicpumpingoftheseptictank.Regularinspectionsandpumpingarethebestandcheapestwaytokeepyoursepticsystemingoodworkingorder.

FindingYourSystem

Yourseptictank,drainfield,andreservedrainfieldshouldbeclearlydesignatedonthe“as-built”drawingforyourhome.(An“as-built”drawingisalinedrawingthataccuratelyportraysthebuildingsonyourpropertyandisusuallyfiledinyourlocallandrecords.)Youmightalsoseelidsormanholecoversforyourseptictank.Oldertanksareoftenhardtofindbecausetherearenovisibleparts.Aninspector/pumpercanhelpyoulocateyoursepticsystemifyourseptictankhasnorisers.

Drainfield

Thewastewaterexitstheseptictankandisdischargedintothedrainfieldforfurthertreatmentbythesoil.Thepartiallytreatedwastewaterispushedalongintothedrainfieldforfurthertreatmenteverytimenewwastewaterentersthetank.

Ifthedrainfieldisoverloadedwithtoomuchliquid,itwillflood,causingsewagetoflowtothegroundsurfaceorcreatebackupsinplumbingfixturesandpreventtreatmentofallwastewater.

Areservedrainfield,requiredbymanystates,isanareaonyourpropertysuitableforanewdrainfieldsystemifyourcurrentdrainfieldfails.Treatthisareawiththesamecareasyoursepticsystem.

Soil

Septictankwastewaterflowstothedrainfield,whereitpercolatesintothesoil,whichprovidesfinaltreatmentbyremovingharmfulbacteria,viruses,andnutrients.Suitablesoilisnecessaryforsuccessfulwastewatertreatment.

Alternativesystems

Becausemanyareasdon’thavesoilssuitablefortypicalsepticsystems,youmighthaveorneedanalternativesystem.Youmightalsohaveorneedanalternativesystemiftherearetoomanytypicalsepticsystemsinoneareaorthesystemsaretooclosetogroundwaterorsurfacewaters.Alternativesepticsystemsusenewtechnologytoimprovetreatmentprocessesandmightneedspecialcareandmaintenance.Somealternativesystemsusesand,peat,orplasticmediainsteadofsoiltopromotewastewatertreatment.Othersystemsmightusewetlands,lagoons,aerators,ordisinfectiondevices.Floatswitches,pumps,andotherelectricalormechanicalcomponentsareoftenusedinalternativesystems.Alternativesystemsshouldbeinspectedannually.Checkwithyourlocalhealthdepartmentorinstallerformoreinformationonoperationandmaintenanceneedsifyouhaveorneedanalternativesystem.

WhyshouldImaintainmysepticsystem?

Whensepticsystemsareproperlydesigned,constructed,andmaintained,theyeffectivelyreduceoreliminatemosthumanhealthorenvironmentalthreatsposedbypollutantsinhouseholdwastewater.However,theyrequireregularmaintenanceortheycanfail.Septicsystemsneedtobemonitoredtoensurethattheyworkproperlythroughouttheirservicelives.

Savingmoney

Akeyreasontomaintainyoursepticsystemistosavemoney!Failingsepticsystemsareexpensivetorepairorreplace,andpoormaintenanceisoftentheculprit.Havingyoursepticsysteminspectedregularlyisabargainwhenyouconsiderthecostofreplacingtheentiresystem.Yoursystemwillneedpumpingdependingonhowmanypeopleliveinthehouseandthesizeofthesystem.Anunusablesepticsystemoroneindisrepairwillloweryourpropertyvalueandcouldposealegalliability.

Protectinghealthandtheenvironment

Othergoodreasonsforsafetreatmentofsewageincludepreventingthespreadofinfectionanddiseaseandprotectingwaterresources.Typicalpollutantsinhouseholdwastewaterarenitrogen,phosphorus,anddisease-causingbacteriaandviruses.Ifasepticsystemisworkingproperly,itwilleffectivelyremovemostofthesepollutants.

Withone-fourthofU.S.homesusingsepticsystems,morethan4billiongallonsofwastewaterperdayisdispersedbelowtheground’ssurface.Inadequatelytreatedsewagefromsepticsystemscanbeacauseofgroundwatercontamination.Itposesasignificantthreattodrinkingwaterandhumanhealthbecauseitcancontaminatedrinkingwaterwellsandcausediseasesandinfectionsinpeopleandanimals.Improperlytreatedsewagethatcontaminatesnearbysurfacewatersalsoincreasesthechanceofswimmerscontractingavarietyofinfectiousdiseases.Theserangefromeyeandearinfectionstoacutegastrointestinalillnessanddiseaseslikehepatitis.

HowdoImaintainmysepticsystem?Inspectandpumpfrequently

Youshouldhaveatypicalsepticsysteminspectedatleastevery3yearsbyaprofessionalandyourtankpumpedasrecommendedbytheinspector(generallyevery3to5years).Alternativesystemswithelectricalfloatswitches,pumps,ormechanicalcomponentsneedtobeinspectedmoreoften,generallyonceayear.Yourserviceprovidershouldinspectforleaksandlookatthescumandsludgelayersinyourseptictank.Ifthebottomofthescumlayeriswithin6inchesofthebottomoftheoutletteeorthetopofthesludgelayeriswithin12inchesoftheoutlettee,yourtankneedstobepumped.Remembertonotethesludgeandscumlevelsdeterminedbyyourserviceproviderinyouroperationandmaintenancerecords.Thisinformationwillhelpyoudecidehowoftenpumpingisnecessary.

Fourmajorfactorsinfluencethefrequencyofpumping:thenumberofpeopleinyourhousehold,theamountofwastewatergenerated(basedonthenumberofpeopleinthehouseholdandtheamountofwaterused),thevolumeofsolidsinthewastewater(forexample,usingagarbagedisposalincreasestheamountofsolids),andseptictanksize.

Somemakersofseptictankadditivesclaimthattheirproductsbreakdownthesludgeinseptictankssothetanksneverneedtobepumped.Noteveryoneagreesontheeffectivenessofadditives.Infact,septictanksalreadycontainthemicrobestheyneedforeffectivetreatment.Periodicpumpingisamuchbetterwaytoensurethatsepticsystemsworkproperlyandprovidemanyyearsofservice.Regardless,everyseptictankrequiresperiodicpumping.

Intheservicereport,thepumpershouldnoteanyrepairscompletedandwhetherthetankisingoodcondition.Ifthepumperrecommendsadditionalrepairsheorshecan’tperform,hiresomeonetomaketherepairsassoonaspossible.

Usewaterefficiently

Averageindoorwateruseinthetypicalsingle-familyhomeisalmost70gallonsperpersonperday.Leakytoiletscanwasteasmuchas200gallonseachday.Themorewaterahouseholdconserves,thelesswaterentersthesepticsystem.Efficientwaterusecanimprovetheoperationofthesepticsystemandreducetheriskoffailure.

• Installhigh-efficiencyshowerheads• Fillthebathtubwithonlyasmuchwaterasyouneed• Turnofffaucetswhileshavingorbrushingyourteeth• Runthedishwasherandwashingmachineonlywhenthey’refull• Usetoiletstoflushsanitarywasteonly(notkittylitter,diapers,orothertrash)• Makesureallfaucetsarecompletelyturnedoffwhennotinuse• Maintainyourplumbingtoeliminateleaks• Installaeratorsinthefaucetsinyourkitchenandbathroom• Replaceolddishwashers,toilets,andclotheswasherswithnew,high-efficiency

models

Formoreinformationonwaterconservation,visithttp://www.epa.gov/watersense/index.html.

High-efficiencytoilets

Toiletuseaccountsfor25to30percentofhouseholdwateruse.Doyouknowhowmanygallonsofwateryourtoiletusestoemptythebowl?Mostolderhomeshavetoiletswith3.5-to5-gallonreservoirs,whilenewerhigh-efficiencytoiletsuse1.6gallonsofwaterorlessperflush.Ifyouhaveproblemswithyoursepticsystembeingfloodedwithhouseholdwater,considerreducingthevolumeofwaterinthetoilettankifyoudon’thaveahigh-efficiencymodelorreplacingyourexistingtoiletswithhigh-efficiencymodels.

Faucetaeratorsandhigh-efficiencyshowerheads

Faucetaeratorshelpreducewateruseandthevolumeofwaterenteringyoursepticsystem.High-efficiencyshowerheadsorshowerflowrestrictorsalsoreducewateruse.

Waterfixtures

Checktomakesureyourtoilet’sreservoirisn’tleakingintothebowl.Addfivedropsofliquidfoodcoloringtothereservoirbeforebed.Ifthedyeisinthebowlthenextmorning,thereservoirisleakingandrepairsareneeded.

Asmalldripfromafaucetaddsmanygallonsofunnecessarywatertoyoursystemeveryday.Toseehowmuchaleakaddstoyourwaterusage,placeacupunderthedripfor10minutes.Multiplytheamountofwaterinthecupby144(thenumberofminutesin24hours,dividedby10).Thisisthetotalamountofcleanwatertravelingtoyoursepticsystemeachdayfromthatlittleleak.

Watchyourdrains

Whatgoesdownthedraincanhaveamajorimpactonhowwellyoursepticsystemworks.

Wastedisposal

Whatshouldn’tyouflushdownyourtoilet?Dentalfloss,femininehygieneproducts,condoms,diapers,cottonswabs,cigarettebutts,coffeegrounds,catlitter,papertowels,andotherkitchenandbathroomitemsthatcanclogandpotentiallydamagesepticsystemcomponentsiftheybecometrapped.Flushinghouseholdchemicals,gasoline,oil,pesticides,antifreeze,andpaintcanstressordestroythebiologicaltreatmenttakingplaceinthesystemormightcontaminatesurfacewatersandgroundwater.Ifyourseptictankpumperisconcernedaboutquicklyaccumulatingscumlayers,reducetheflowoffloatablematerialslikefats,oils,andgreaseintoyourtankorbepreparedtopayformorefrequentinspectionsandpumping.

Washingmachines

Byselectingtheproperloadsize,you’llreducewaterwaste.Washingsmallloadsoflaundryonthelarge-loadcyclewastespreciouswaterandenergy.Ifyoucan’tselectloadsize,runonlyfullloadsoflaundry.

Doingallthehouseholdlaundryinonedaymightseemlikeatime-saver,butitcouldbeharmfultoyoursepticsystem.Doingloadafterloaddoesnotallowyourseptictanktimetoadequatelytreatwastes.Youcouldbefloodingyourdrainfieldwithoutallowingsufficientrecoverytime.Trytospreadwaterusagethroughouttheweek.AnewEnergyStarclotheswasheruses35percentlessenergyand50percentlesswaterthanastandardmodel.

Careforyourdrainfield

Yourdrainfieldisanimportantpartofyoursepticsystem.Hereareafewthingsyoushoulddotomaintainit:

• Plantonlygrassoverandnearyoursepticsystem.Rootsfromnearbytreesorshrubsmightcloganddamagethedrainfield.

• Don’tdriveorparkvehiclesonanypartofyoursepticsystem.Doingsocancompactthesoilinyourdrainfieldordamagethepipes,tank,orothersepticsystemcomponents.

• Keeproofdrains,basementsumppumpdrains,andotherrainwaterorsurfacewaterdrainagesystemsawayfromthedrainfield.Floodingthedrainfieldwithexcessivewaterslowsdownorstopstreatmentprocessesandcancauseplumbingfixturestobackup.

Whatcanmakemysystemfail?

Iftheamountofwastewaterenteringthesystemismorethanthesystemcanhandle,thewastewaterbacksupintothehouseoryardandcreatesahealthhazard.

Youcansuspectasystemfailurenotonlywhenafoulodorisemittedbutalsowhenpartiallytreatedwastewaterflowsuptothegroundsurface.Bythetimeyoucansmellorseeaproblem,however,thedamagemightalreadybedone.

Bylimitingyourwateruse,youcanreducetheamountofwastewateryoursystemmusttreat.Whenyouhaveyoursysteminspectedandpumpedasneeded,youreducethechanceofsystemfailure.

Asysteminstalledinunsuitablesoilscanalsofail.Otherfailurerisksincludetanksthatareinaccessibleformaintenance,drainfieldsthatarepavedorparkedon,andtreerootsordefectivecomponentsthatinterferewiththetreatmentprocess.

Failuresymptoms

Themostobvioussepticsystemfailuresareeasytospot.Checkforpoolingwaterormuddysoilaroundyoursepticsystemorinyourbasement.Noticewhetheryourtoiletorsink

backsupwhenyouflushordolaundry.Youmightalsonoticestripsofbrightgreengrassoverthedrainfield.Septicsystemsalsofailwhenpartiallytreatedwastewatercomesintocontactwithgroundwater.Thistypeoffailureisnoteasytodetect,butitcanresultinthepollutionofwells,nearbystreams,orotherbodiesofwater.Checkwithasepticsystemprofessionalandthelocalhealthdepartmentifyoususpectsuchafailure.

FailurecausesHouseholdtoxics

Doessomeoneinyourhouseusetheutilitysinktocleanoutpaintrollersorflushtoxiccleaners?Oil-basedpaints,solvents,andlargevolumesoftoxiccleanersshouldnotenteryoursepticsystem.Evenlatexpaintcleanupwasteshouldbeminimized.Squeezeallexcesspaintandstainfrombrushesandrollersonseverallayersofnewspaperbeforerinsing.Leftoverpaintsandwoodstainsshouldbetakentoyourlocalhouseholdhazardouswastecollectioncenter.Rememberthatyoursepticsystemcontainsalivingcollectionoforganismsthatdigestandtreatwaste.

Householdcleaners

Forthemostpart,yoursepticsystem’sbacteriashouldrecoverquicklyaftersmallamountsofhouseholdcleaningproductshaveenteredthesystem.Ofcourse,somecleaningproductsarelesstoxictoyoursystemthanothers.Labelscanhelpkeyyouintothepotentialtoxicityofvariousproducts.Theword“Danger”or“Poison”onalabelindicatesthattheproductishighlyhazardous.“Warning”tellsyoutheproductismoderatelyhazardous.“Caution”meanstheproductisslightlyhazardous.(“Nontoxic”and“SepticSafe”aretermscreatedbyadvertiserstosellproducts.)Regardlessofthetypeofproduct,useitonlyintheamountsshownonthelabelinstructionsandminimizetheamountdischargedintoyoursepticsystem.

Hottubs

Hottubsareagreatwaytorelax.Unfortunately,yoursepticsystemwasnotdesignedtohandlelargequantitiesofwaterfromyourhottub.Emptyinghottubwaterintoyoursepticsystemstirsthesolidsinthetankandpushesthemoutintothedrainfield,causingittoclogandfail.Drainingyourhottubintoasepticsystemoroverthedrainfieldcanoverloadthesystem.Instead,draincooledhottubwaterontoturforlandscapedareaswellawayfromtheseptictankanddrainfield,andinaccordancewithlocalregulations.Usethesamecautionwhendrainingyourswimmingpool.

Waterpurificationsystems

Somefreshwaterpurificationsystems,includingwatersofteners,unnecessarilypumpwaterintothesepticsystem.Thiscancontributehundredsofgallonsofwatertotheseptictank,causingagitationofsolidsandexcessflowtothedrainfield.Checkwithyourlicensedplumbingprofessionalaboutalternativeroutingforsuchfreshwatertreatmentsystems.

Garbagedisposals

Eliminatingtheuseofagarbagedisposalcanreducetheamountofgreaseandsolidsenteringtheseptictankandpossiblycloggingthedrainfield.Agarbagedisposalgrindsup

kitchenscraps,suspendstheminwater,andsendsthemixturetotheseptictank.Onceintheseptictank,someofthematerialsarebrokendownbybacterialaction,butmostofthegrindingshavetobepumpedoutofthetank.Usingagarbagedisposalfrequentlycansignificantlyincreasetheaccumulationofsludgeandscuminyourseptictank,resultingintheneedformorefrequentpumping.

Improperdesignorinstallation

Somesoilsprovideexcellentwastewatertreatment;othersdon’t.Forthisreason,thedesignofthedrainfieldofasepticsystemisbasedontheresultsofsoilanalysis.Homeownersandsystemdesignerssometimesunderestimatethesignificanceofgoodsoilsorbelievesoilscanhandleanyvolumeofwastewaterappliedtothem.Manyfailurescanbeattributedtohavinganundersizeddrainfieldorhighseasonalgroundwatertable.Undersizedseptictanks—anotherdesignfailure—allowsolidstoclogthedrainfieldandresultinsystemfailure.

Ifaseptictankisn’twatertight,watercanleakintoandoutofthesystem.Usually,waterfromtheenvironmentleakingintothesystemcauseshydraulicoverloading,taxingthesystembeyonditscapabilitiesandcausinginadequatetreatmentandsometimessewagetoflowuptothegroundsurface.Waterleakingoutoftheseptictankisasignificanthealthhazardbecausetheleakingwastewaterhasnotyetbeentreated.

Evenwhensystemsareproperlydesigned,failuresduetopoorinstallationpracticescanoccur.Ifthedrainfieldisnotproperlyleveled,wastewatercanoverloadthesystem.Heavyequipmentcandamagethedrainfieldduringinstallation,whichcanleadtosoilcompactionandreducethewastewaterinfiltrationrate.Andifsurfacedrainageisn’tdivertedawayfromthefield,itcanflowintoandsaturatethedrainfield.

SepticSystemDosandDon’ts

(adaptedfromNationalSmallFlowsClearinghouse)

Dos

• Doaskyourinspectorifyoursystemcanhandleyourgarbagedisposalgrinder.• Doconservewater.Puttingtoomuchwaterintothesystemcaneventuallyleakto

systemfailure.• Dorepairleakyfaucetsortoilets,andinstallhigh-efficiencyfixtures.• Doavoidlongshowers.• Docleanthetoilets,sinks,showers,andtubswithamilddetergentorbakingsoda

insteadofcommercial-gradecleanersandlaundrydetergents.• Doaskyourinspectoraboutallowingthewatersoftenertobackflushintotheseptic

system.• Dokeeprecordsofrepairs,pumpings,inspections,permitsissued,andothersystem

maintenanceactivities.

• Dokeepasketchofyoursystemincludingmeasurementsfromtwopointsonthehouse.

• Dohaveyoursepticsysteminspectedandpumpedaspartofaregularhomemaintenanceplan.

• Dohaveonlygrassoveryoursepticsystem.Rootsfromnearbytreesorshrubscouldcauseproblemsfortheabsorptionarea.

• Domakesurethataconcreteriserisinstalledoverthetankiftheopeningisnotwithin12inchesofthesurface,providingeasyaccessformeasuringandpumpingthetank.

Don’ts

• Don’tuseyoursepticsystemlikeatrashcan.Don’tputdentalfloss,femininehygieneproducts,condoms,diapers,cottonswabs,cigarettebutts,coffeegrounds,catlitter,papertowels,latexpaint,pesticides,orotherhazardouschemicalsintoyoursystem.

• Don’tusecommercial-gradedraincleanerstoclearacloggeddrain.Instead,useboilingwateroradrainsnaketoopenclogs.

• Don’tallowsurfacewatertoflowoverthetankorabsorptionarea.• Don’tdriveheavyequipment,trucksorvehiclesoveranypartofyoursepticsystem.

Doingsocancompactthesoilinyourdrainfieldordamagethepipes,tank,orothersepticsystemcomponents.

• Don’tdigintheabsorptionarea.

Adaptedfromthepublicdocumentslocatedatwww.epa.gov/owm/septic/pubs.

QuizT/F:Whensepticsystemsareproperlydesigned,constructed,andmaintained,theyeffectivelyreduceoreliminatemosthumanhealthorenvironmentalthreatsposedbypollutantsinhouseholdwastewater.

• True• False

Emptyingthe_____tubwaterintothesepticsystemstirsthesolidsinthetankandpushesthemoutintothedrainfield,causingittoclogandfail.

• hot• laundry• bath• shower

T/F:Eliminatingtheuseofagarbagedisposalcanreducetheamountofgreaseandsolidsenteringtheseptictankandpossiblycloggingthedrainfield.

• True• False