Anyone here install their own septic

[Jstpssng]

Around here that home would have to have a holding tank type septic and have it pumped every few months.

I don't believe that we are allowed to have holding tanks... probably with good reason. I looked at a place on a salmon stream which had one, and the realtor suggested that all I had to do was punch a hole in the side. No thanks, I prefer not to swim in my own s###... nor do I care to dine on fish which have been eating the same.

My grandfather built his house in 1927... things were different then. Until he passed away in 1979 and my parents moved there, the effluence went right into a small stream. 1/2 mile downstream we caught trout. Supposedly there was a settling tank to catch solids, but I remember seeing toilet paper hanging off the end of the drain pipe.

The hemlock tank I mentioned previously was at the other house on the property, which I spent my first 4 years in and has since been torn down. Surprisingly enough, that one worked.

 

[ruffdog]

No, a holding tank is a septic tank with no outlet and no field. When it gets full, pop the cover suck the stuff out. They demand them near many waterways.

Holding Tanks for Non-Domestic Wastewater | Wisconsin DNR

 

[Jstpssng]

No, a holding tank is a septic tank with no outlet and no field. When it gets full, pop the cover suck the stuff out. They demand them near many waterways.

Holding Tanks for Non-Domestic Wastewater | Wisconsin DNR

I understand that, but don't believe they are allowed in this state; most likely for the reasons previously given. Another one I've seen... a brand new outhouse built over a stream which feeds into a popular Boundary Waters salmon lake. They'll never have to shovel it out but...

 

[ruffdog]

I understand that, but don't believe they are allowed in this state; most likely for the reasons previously given. Another one I've seen... a brand new outhouse built over a stream which feeds into a popular Boundary Waters salmon lake. They'll never have to shovel it out but...

For Maine:

Generally speaking, holding tanks are an option of last resort, because they do not solve the problem of
wastewater treatment, they just relocate the problem. If a bona-fide system can be installed on a property,
holding tanks are not allowed. Further, while the initial installation costs may be lower, pumping costs over the
long term can be prohibitive (especially for year round use). In fact, a holding tank can not be used for any first
time residential development unless the Municipality has adopted a Model Holding Tank Ordinance from the
Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules, which makes the Municipality responsible for maintaining the holding
tank.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^^
I knew there was something like that. It seems like they'd be a PITA. For some reason there are several septic threads running now, mostly down Rural Living. One member tells of putting an air pump in and creating an aerobic system. He's had it running for several years now and feels it works better than a standard system.

 

[fried1765]

For Maine:

Generally speaking, holding tanks are an option of last resort, because they do not solve the problem of
wastewater treatment, they just relocate the problem. If a bona-fide system can be installed on a property,
holding tanks are not allowed. Further, while the initial installation costs may be lower, pumping costs over the
long term can be prohibitive (especially for year round use). In fact, a holding tank can not be used for any first
time residential development unless the Municipality has adopted a Model Holding Tank Ordinance from the
Subsurface Wastewater Disposal Rules, which makes the Municipality responsible for maintaining the holding
tank.

What is REPEATEDLY missed here, is that: The laws are DIFFERENT IN EVERY STATE!

 

[PILOON]

What is REPEATEDLY missed here, is that: The laws are DIFFERENT IN EVERY STATE!

Same goes for Canada, and even different municipalities within a Province

 

[riptides]

What is REPEATEDLY missed here, is that: The laws are DIFFERENT IN EVERY STATE!

County too, within the State.

 

[ruffdog]

What is REPEATEDLY missed here, is that: The laws are DIFFERENT IN EVERY STATE!

....and different neighborhoods within the county.

 

[GeeVee]

I live in Volusia County, and have installed 3 systems- 2 gravity and one pumped system. Twice I've used perf piep and once I have used infiltrators (clam shells) Here in FL, Septic permits are obtained in each County Health Department, then in the city or county once you have a health department permit.

A couple of things to consider from my experience I can share with you.

Its very very hard to DIY legally. Not impossible, but no one makes it easy. The State Health Department wants everyone to use a State licensed Plumber who practices Septic work as their business. Tanks and drain/leach filed pipe is going to be very hard to source. Distributors will not sell infiltrators to DIY, so you would be left with perforated corrugated pipe and sock, which is okay, and you can buy it at HD or Lowes.

I see a few hitches in your desires?

You might get denied a permit, if you don't have a building permit for the dwelling. How could they be sure you are sized correctly? Or sited properly?

You may need to consider the future. A bank or mortgage company, particularly if a "home inspection" is done to sell the house at a later date, think of your heirs, no record of a permit to install a septic system is a simple thing for a bank to find and will kill a deal.

The work is easy if the water table is low. If not, its a real chore. On the pump system I had to install a pump tank a few feet away from the existing single box that was concrete, 4wx5dx10l, and just below grade and just outside the back patio slab. The outlet from the original tank is the constraint. It had to gravity feed the plastic pump tank, where the pump would sit on a pedestal in the tank and when the float triggers, pumps about 100 gallons and shuts off, leaving about 40 gallons (needs to keep some weight in the tank so it doesn't float out of the ground). The main tank keeps solids and a "mat" of floating solids in it, and only really gravity feeds clarified water to the pump tank- similar to a two chamber tank.

I rented a small trackhoe to dig the hole, had to run a small pump to keep ahead of the water table filling it, and drop in and "sink" the plastic tank- because empty, it wanted to float in the constantly collecting groundwater in my hole. I had to over dig a couple of times to get the tank to sit and stay at the elevation I needed it. The round plastic tank looked kind of like a large grenade, and targeting the flat spot provided to get the 4" crossover pipe in the right spot, and have the manhole (to service the pump or pump out the tank if needed) at the right heights, was tough. I had to roll it into the hole, easy enough not realy heavy, and then push/hold it down with the excavator bucket while filling it with water to weigh it down so I could use my skidsteer to backfill enough dirt to hold it down on its own, then in the wet dirt, make the pipe connections between the two tanks. Not fun.

After all i just typed, the real offering was- you may not be able to build a septic DIY or otherwise, without a dwelling plan to permit. You also may be taking a risk with mortgagability on a DITY system here in Florida.

 

[mred2]

Holding tanks are allowed here in some areas. But you must have a contract with a company to pump it before it is approved.

 

[PILOON]

Also here in Quebec, on some very densely populated waterfronts, they allow holding tanks however to my knowledge that only applies to older existing locations and not for new constructions.

 

[OT Ducati]

Get a plan done, pay the fee, build it, have it inspected and your done.
It's easy.

 

[finn1]

You may be able to do the work yourself, but the county will probably require that the work be signed off by a licensed septic installer. The country isn’t going to sign off on work, even if it meets all the specs, if there isn’t a license involved to maintain a chain of accountability.

Simply put, individuals in the Health Department aren’t responsible for the system meeting code, the license holder is.

 

[fried1765]

You may be able to do the work yourself, but the county will probably require that the work be signed off by a licensed septic installer. The country isn’t going to sign off on work, even if it meets all the specs, if there isn’t a license involved to maintain a chain of accountability.

Simply put, individuals in the Health Department aren’t responsible for the system meeting code, the license holder is.

"SIMPLY PUT" .........EVERY STATE IS DIFFERENT !!!

 

[Storm56]

Every state is different. Where I live in NE PA you are allowed to install your own system. I did it. You need to get a perc test performed by the local septic code enforcement officer. Once the results are obtained you must have a certified engineer draw up a design. The code enforcement officer come by a few times during the build. If all is well you get a permit.

I installed ours, saved a nice chunk of change. In fact the code enforcement officer told me I could go in business installing sytems anytime and he would recommend me!

 

[Tinhack]

No permit, perk test, enforcement officer or engineer drawing here. All those are just for control and money grab. Everybody wants a piece of the pie. I installed mine 22 years ago this month. I did everything. It's been pumped once. The field is a 40' closed H pattern. I can tell it's still working during the summer months--The grass is green over the field.

Ran my own water from the meter (1200'), well (800') and power lines from my poles too (100',100', 300').

And, while we're at it; Put in my own 1400' driveway and property fencing. This ain't no lot in the city, you know.

 

[fried1765]

No permit, perk test, enforcement officer or engineer drawing here. All those are just for control and money grab. Everybody wants a piece of the pie. I installed mine 22 years ago this month. I did everything. It's been pumped once. The field is a 40' closed H pattern. I can tell it's still working during the summer months--The grass is green over the field.

Ran my own water from the meter (1200'), well (800') and power lines from my poles too (100',100', 300').

And, while we're at it; Put in my own 1400' driveway and property fencing. This ain't no lot in the city, you know.

The easy way to tell if your septic system is not working, is when the turds come up in your toilet, instead of going down.
Grass color observation is not conclusive!

 

[CptSteelHead]

Call some one to come out and give you an estimate. They'll usually tell you what they're going to do. Pay them for the time spent. Now a days a lot of guys are using plastic septic tanks. I know that sucks.
I stopped at the concrete place the other day. They usually make the concrete tanks. They still do. But they had a whole bunch of plastic ones, too.

Pooh runs down hill a 1/4 inch per foot. Also how many bedrooms will you have?

 

[fried1765]

Call some one to come out and give you an estimate. They'll usually tell you what they're going to do. Pay them for the time spent. Now a days a lot of guys are using plastic septic tanks. I know that sucks.
I stopped at the concrete place the other day. They usually make the concrete tanks. They still do. But they had a whole bunch of plastic ones, too.

Pooh runs down hill a 1/4 inch per foot. Also how many bedrooms will you have?

I would absolutely recommend a concrete tank over the plastic type.
In some areas you can buy a concrete tank with a "Heavy top".
This is a good idea, if the tank is somewhere in your yard where you might occasionally drive a CUT or a car over it.
In a normal drive over area, you need a HEAVY tank, for delivery type trucks.