Septic Pet Peeve

[downsizingnow48]

When we lived on the Chesapeake coast in Virginia the county passed a requirement for inspection and pumping every 5 years if you were right on the water. I thought that was ok but two years does seem excessive.

 

[dmccarty]

NC does not require a pump out but they do require inspections for non conventional systems. The home owner can go to a class and become certified to perform the inspection or at least they could the last time I read the regulations. The NC Extension Office has documents about taking care of sepic systems and they had a recommended pump out schedule. Based on reading the regulations and the Extension Office documents, I figured pumping every four years was something we should do. Having said, that each pump out they guy asks why we are pumping out since everything looks good. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Our soil just barely supported a conventional septic system so I figure paying less than $100 per year to pump out is cheap insurance to make sure we don't mess up the septic field. I think the last pump out was $300 or so. Our water and sewer bill in the city was often over $100 per month but that was over a decade ago and the bill would much higher now.

Later,
Dan

 

[roadhunter]

If I ever build a house I am going to put in a grey water system for the showers and sinks so I can reuse the water and just put the toilets on the septic. Without all the bath/shower/dishwasher/washing machine/etc that should take all the strain off the system.

 

[dmccarty]

If I ever build a house I am going to put in a grey water system for the showers and sinks so I can reuse the water and just put the toilets on the septic. Without all the bath/shower/dishwasher/washing machine/etc that should take all the strain off the system.

One of the questions/concerns I have is are we USING enough water to put into the septic system. Our clothes and dishwasher use about 10 gallons a load, the toilets are the new low gallon per flush, and our shower heads use less than one GPM. With the exception of someone taking a occasional bath, we just don't use that much water. Even the bath is really not that much water but it still bothers me that they take a bath and not a shower! Everything seems to eventually flush into the septic tank, at least I thinks so, since we have not had any backups. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Even with the occasional bath, I do not think we use more the 200 GPD for the four of us. I suspect most of that usage is from the clothes washer since that seems to run all danged long. :shocked::laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[roadhunter]

I do not think there is an issue with not putting enough water for a system to work. You leach field would dry out but that is a good thing.

I agree on the clothes washer but that soap, detergent, bleach, is bad for the system as well.

 

[Pettrix]

That's all fine except here , by municipal law we MUST pump every 2 years.
The municipality has an environment dept, staff is now up to 3 and growing. They keep records and you get nasty reminders plus the fines are heavy. It is all about preserving the environment.

Yeah, I heard and read that Canada is pretty strict with tree cutting and environmental laws.

Out here NO pumping is mandated. It's up to the homeowner when and if they should pump their septic. The ONLY time they mandate it is when you sell the home to a new buyer. You have to show a receipt/proof that it was pumped out.

Some people on this forum claimed they have gone decades without pumping. That is hard to fathom but maybe it's true. Unless they have aerobic setups, going over 5+ years without pumping does not seem wise, as they can create a ton of problems with a backed-up system.

 

[teejk]

Yeah, I heard and read that Canada is pretty strict with tree cutting and environmental laws.

Out here NO pumping is mandated. It's up to the homeowner when and if they should pump their septic. The ONLY time they mandate it is when you sell the home to a new buyer. You have to show a receipt/proof that it was pumped out.

Some people on this forum claimed they have gone decades without pumping. That is hard to fathom but maybe it's true. Unless they have aerobic setups, going over 5+ years without pumping does not seem wise, as they can create a ton of problems with a backed-up system.

When it comes to septic tanks, "deferred maintenance" rarely comes out well. Perhaps our overly strict regulation here has had the benefit of creating a larger field of septic professionals that in addition to pumping can also assess the condition of the systems...if there is a problem anywhere I rather know about it before it shows itself on the basement floor. I think we pay $150 every 3 years...I pay $100 for a steak dinner for two (tip and cocktails included).

 

[Wagtail]

... Some people on this forum claimed they have gone decades without pumping. That is hard to fathom but maybe it's true. Unless they have aerobic setups, going over 5+ years without pumping does not seem wise, as they can create a ton of problems with a backed-up system.

Mate, I haven't claimed anything; I stated a personal fact. No maybe about it.

I did state that I have a separate grey-water field, so the only thing that goes into my septic tank is human waste and bumwad.

 

[PILOON]

Yeah, I heard and read that Canada is pretty strict with tree cutting and environmental laws.

Out here NO pumping is mandated. It's up to the homeowner when and if they should pump their septic. The ONLY time they mandate it is when you sell the home to a new buyer. You have to show a receipt/proof that it was pumped out.

Some people on this forum claimed they have gone decades without pumping. That is hard to fathom but maybe it's true. Unless they have aerobic setups, going over 5+ years without pumping does not seem wise, as they can create a ton of problems with a backed-up system.

Heck (I'm Canadian) and B4 the 2/4 year mandatory bylaw my self dug/poured concrete septic system went 22 years B4 the 1st pumping.
The pumper operator stated that it had performed equivalent to about a normal 3/4 year system.
That was based on the sludge and or solids that he evacuated.
OK, we only had 1 shower and used a RV toilet as low flush units did not exist when we installed the system. I must say that we had very active environmental group that did a great job of informing us on the subject.
In fact the provincial gov't even provided a set of plans as to how to build your system with all sorts of options depending on the terrain.
I recall that there were some 6-7 options that were in conformity. (still have those plans).

I did advise one home owner that he should get a notarized affidavit to certify that the septic had not been used in the mandatory period.
Never heard back. (Should have worked IMHO)

 

[Wagtail]

Just had a thought regarding the longevity of my septic system... the quality of the water.

I'm not on 'town water' or a well/bore. My house is plumbed to a 24,000 litre poly rainwater tank. Lord knows what 'treated', softened or mineral ground water does when it interacts with the microbes diligently working away in a septic tank.