Feedback from the Inspector

[littledenny]

I know it's only Thursday, But I'm taking Friday off!! I earned it.

My "boss" and I finished installing our first septic system this year, and got an "A+" from the inspector.

The short story - Narrow, sloped lot, had to clear a bunch of trees, only way to put this system in without multiple steps (and a distribution box) was to bench it around the contours of the sloped backyard. We had to ponder this one a bit, to find the path of least resistance. Yup, it's still raining and snowing here, so we had to catch the windows of opportunity.

Anyway, the inspector rejected a system at 0900 this morn, and passed us with flying colors at 1130.

Lessons learned: 1) Sometimes a bit of study is the best option. 2) It pays to do things right the first time. (I cannot imagine the hassles of tearing out a system and then having to redo it :eek2 ) 3) Though both of us are pretty good about "sensing level" across slopes, use the transit.

Hope all your projects go as well.

[digger242j]

I've never had to do too much with septic systems, but about 15 or 20 years ago we put one in. We did it just the way the builder instucted us to. He'd had to put a few in, and assured us he knew how things needed to be. I guess he was a pretty good teacher. The inspector passed it with no problem. Except....

The last question the inspector asked was "Where's the well?" The septic field was in the backyard, and the well was in the front. We actually had to measure through the house to get the distance. Needed 100 feet, (if memory serves). Had 85. There was no room to move the field because of the slope in the back yard, so he made us seal that well (fill it with gravel up to 3' below grade, and cap that with concrete), before he'd pass the septic system. There was already a well on site that was far enough away, but it didn't make much water. The builder told the inspector he'd use that one, and later had the driller come back and drill a third one, that was every bit as close as the one we'd had to seal.

[RonG]

We need to be 75' between the well and the closest part of the septic system here in Connecticut and it is not uncommon for the inspectors around here to check your grades with an instrument so eyeballing your elevations is not really an option.You are also allowed a certain % of pitch from the house to the tank and they enforce that too. Ron

[Steve Frazier]

Here the wells have to be 100' from the septic if they are upgrade from the septic, 200' if they are downgrade.

Good job littledenny!!:thumbsup

If you pay close attention to the plans and check yourself along the way, you don't have problems. I installed my own system here at home and had no problems. I spent a lot of time getting the tank hole just right and the crane operator remarked he had never had one set level on the first drop before!

[littledenny]

I spent a lot of time getting the tank hole just right and the crane operator remarked he had never had one set level on the first drop before!

You're right, it all in the details. Maybe I'm a stickler for that kind of thing, but I'm always disappointed if the tank doesn't sit level on the first drop. I actually grade and level the hole on hands and knees, and am rarely off.
Only variable I don't control is the quality of the finish on the top of the tank, which accounts for a whisker's difference on the bubble.

We don't do septic systems unless they're part of a total site prep, but we still end up doing 6 to 8 a year. I'd really hate to do septic systems exclusively.

We actually shoot the bench, before digging, then shoot in each piece of infiltrator. Sure, it takes an extra minute or two, but we're right on with it, and word gets around that we know what we're doing --and reputations bring in referrals.

Dad taught me to take the time to do things right the first time, and I've had a few teachers over the years, reinforce the lesson. Guess I paid attention.

I'm not trying to blow my own horn here, but I'm happy we finished ahead of schedule, dispite the weather, and paid ourselves a few extra bucks in the process. Happy digging, you guys.

[CT18fireman]

In this part of CT we need 100'. Recently was working on a job where we had to measure from the well on site and two from adjoining properties. It was that tight.

[littledenny]

In this part of CT we need 100'. Recently was working on a job where we had to measure from the well on site and two from adjoining properties. It was that tight.

We had problems like that, too. Standards here are also 100 feet from the well. Ended up with 108 feet from the well for the tank, field's closest was 110 feet, and 10 and 15 feet from the property lines. Standards are normally 25 from the property lines on developed properties, but the loophole here was that the adjoining sites were undeveloped, so we were still legal. Could go to 5 feet from the lines in this case. Still, was a tight site, and the system we put in would not have been legal had there been houses on either side. We would have had to run stepped lines, and a distribution box, which would have added greatly to the cost and hassle. Good thing is that there's nice places for systems on the adjoining sites, so we didn't do them any damage by running where we did.

[triaxle]

First let me compilment you for having the patience to do septics, given the money hungry Georgia state health department. The current regulations are more protective of inspectors and quicker to focus blame on installers.

We decided not to pursue septic installation when after almost 350 passed installations the state decided that more education, more bonding, and more organic fertilizer were the main points of their septic program.

On numerous opccasions, in developments, we could do two systems a day.
This was our most productive and profitable septic scenario.

Digging a near level tank hole ( + or- 2") and a near level drain field (+ or_ 2") for infiltrator or Houck systems happens much quicker and profitably with a transit and stick man throughout the dig and you are unlikely to ever do two passable systems in a day without the transit.

I personally endorse the catapult system.
Pour a 12' foot circular 4" thick circle of concrete. Install an 2" eyebolt in the center.
Get an old cannon wheel used to rotate and aim cannons during the civil war period.
Attach a 16 foot long, 16" wide green hickory plank with a toilet seat and
stainless steel basin to one end of the cannon wheel. Secure the other end of the plank to the eye bolt.
Use the toilet seat as you would any indoor plumbing appliance and at the end of your contribution, cut the rope holding the plank and launch your dietary indiscretions into the stratosphere. ( If you rotate the apparatus 1 degree each day, it will be at least 5 years before you are discovered and have to move.)

Good luck, and happy septic :naughty

[littledenny]

Triaxle:

I like the basic logic of your proposed solution to the poop shooter, but I'm a bit fuzzy on the math.

With one degree offset, you'll end up with a near full rotation in one year. And you would leave a pretty clear trail to follow, as anyone smart enough to recognize a catapult would understand the science of cratering and know how to reverse figure the trajectory.

Maybe a different number of degrees in the daily rotation would lead to a more random distribution. I don't have the time at the moment to explore that, but was wondering how long it would take to return to the same spot if you used a daily rotation based on a prime number, something like 17 or 23? Any math wizards out there?

[Super Duty John]

He said it would be about 5 years till you were discovered. I'm guessing he meant the neighbors complaining ;)

[littledenny]

Heck, I was just trying to carry on the joke, not get complicated. Still, I don't see the cause and effect of degrees of rotation leading to the time until discovery.

In this area, someone with an acreage would never be discovered, while someone in one of our "exclusive" gated communitities would be reported before they got the concrete pad finished.

And we didn't factor in # of contibutors, their frequency of visiting the apparatus, windage, EPA/OSHA requirements for the back blast area, ...................

Maybe this has gone far enough already.

Triaxle, no offense was implied, nor taken.

[tylermckee]

Inspector forgot his pen in his car the other day and when he we were walking to his van to get it he said he should no better than to not bring his pen when he's inspecting my work. :drinkup