Septic Pet Peeve

[Pettrix]

In a perfect world...

excerpt taken from one of the links posted above.

properly maintained on-site treatment system is more sustainable than the centralized treatment systems, said Stephens, whose consulting firm oversees construction of on-site systems.

He said municipal sewer systems dump more untreated sewage into lakes and rivers than all the septic systems in Michigan combined. State data support his claim."

Yes, the key being "properly maintained" private septic systems. Many go unchecked for years before the failed system appears. When someone installs the absolute smallest system allowed by law to save a few hundred dollars. Then they sell the home and instead of 2 people living there, now a family of 4 or maybe 5 live there. Which happens with a husband and wife with 2-3 kids. Now that 300GPD system is being inundated with 750 GPD. On a 1,000 GAL single chamber tank on just 80' of line, that system will fail within the first week of use. No way can it handle 750GPD but a family of 5 will easily produce that.

I've seen this happen and the only solution is to remove and replace the system with a large septic tank and field. Unfortunately the costs now are not just a few hundred dollars but thousands of dollars. So the system will remain and get overtaxed and fail.

Upsizing a concrete tank by 500 gallons is usually only a few hundred dollars during the initial purchase.
Upsizing the leach field line by more feet is again a few hundred dollars during the initial purchase.

Most builders will cut on the septic and upgrade to granite counter tops.

Out of sight, out of mind. Only when the smell and sewage backing into the home will the septic system come to light.

 

[Pettrix]

they keep a used toilet paper waste paper basket and nightly it is burned... never any paper or chemicals go into the system.

Wow, that has to be stinky and gross to keep used toilet paper in a basket instead of flushing it. :ill:

In a properly designed system, toilet paper would not be a problem. If they are worried about it, they can go with a SludgeHammer system which will break up the solids in the tank.

 

[roadhunter]

I saw a show a while back about a family that used washcloths for toilet paper and washed them all so they could be reused instead of buying toilet paper. look up "family cloths" for more info.

 

[ultrarunner]

Wow, that has to be stinky and gross to keep used toilet paper in a basket instead of flushing it. :ill:

In a properly designed system, toilet paper would not be a problem. If they are worried about it, they can go with a SludgeHammer system which will break up the solids in the tank.

Yep... that is what they did... she was a retired nurse and he a retired engineer...

Never noticed it being stinky... but they were super protective of their septic and neighbors that had problems had to go to monitored Mound Systems with dosing pumps, alarms and pay for the electricity and required service contract... expensive.

I've dealt with a lot of sewage over the years... all manor of things get flushed and I get the job of using my Spartan Cable machine to clear the line... some over 150'

Feminine products and Baby Wipes tops my list

 

[TomSeller]

Wow, that has to be stinky and gross to keep used toilet paper in a basket instead of flushing it. :ill:
.

Haven't they heard of using leaves?

Growing up my dad always had two outhouses for us to use in a pinch. One was there from a pioneer family and was built on a hill. I guess to give it good drainage? I have one on one of my remote properties, it's a deluxe 2 barrel deep model. Fully equipped with a coffee can with lid to keep the toilet paper dry and bug free.

 

[CalG]

Yes, the key being "properly maintained" private septic systems. Many go unchecked for years before the failed system appears. When someone installs the absolute smallest system allowed by law to save a few hundred dollars. Then they sell the home and instead of 2 people living there, now a family of 4 or maybe 5 live there. Which happens with a husband and wife with 2-3 kids. Now that 300GPD system is being inundated with 750 GPD. On a 1,000 GAL single chamber tank on just 80' of line, that system will fail within the first week of use. No way can it handle 750GPD but a family of 5 will easily produce that.

I'm not sure where you are getting those domestic water use numbers.
This reference suggests about 75 gal per person. I know our family never got to even that number per day for domestic needs.
TN Fact sheet: Offstream

Perhaps the true need is responsibility with water use. It's not an infinite commodity you know.

 

[ultrarunner]

Family's 2400 square foot 2.5 bath 4 bedroom home with fruit trees in California has been averaging 85 gpd all summer with drought restrictions.

Previously it was 400 gpd with irrigated lawn which is now bare dirt after 47 years.

 

[CalG]

Family's 2400 square foot 2.5 bath 4 bedroom home with fruit trees in California has been averaging 85 gpd all summer with drought restrictions.

Previously it was 400 gpd with irrigated lawn which is now bare dirt after 47 years.

Of course bedrooms use no water, It's the people that wake up in them ;-)

Irrigation shouldn't be considered in a septic system load calculation.
There is a problem when the total water volume drops due to "conservation", i.e. the "concentration" goes up, and that can damage the flora in the tank and system.

Waste is a tuff one.....

 

[ultrarunner]

Just saying that a typical comfortable size home with several people and a yard are very use to using a 100 gpd in drought stricken California.

In Washington, my Septic was "Sized" by the county based on the number of bedrooms.

 

[brokenknee]

Just had a septic put in last week. 1,500 gallon concrete tank, mound sized for a 2 bedroom home. The county really is not to concerned about septic's; it was the bank that required it for buyer to to get a loan. Total cost $9,002.00.