Can I do this?

[timb]

I just kept answering 'yep, as soon as we get a backhoe' everytime my wife would ask if we could do this or that around the property, so she got pretty used to the idea. Before we ever went to the dealer I dropped the price bomb, and I think she was a little sticker shocked - until we actually looked over a JD48 hoe at the dealer. She allowed as how that did look like a pretty complex and impressive attachment and maybe $7K wasn't out of line! I'm not getting one until next year (geez I need to get the tractor first!) but I think she wants it more than I do now!

(No, she's not for sale). /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Tim

 

[riptides]

Did someone mention grade?

I hope your going downhill. Gravity is your friend.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Freds]

My leach field is actually on a higher grade than my septic tanks and probably 130' away. Aren't pumps wonderful. It had to be to get away from the water table.

If you find a contractor that is busy maybe he will let you do a lot of your own work (like was suggested) and just be there for the inspections and to lend his nohow when needed. You'll probably still pay him too much for his *expertise*, but it should save you a lot anyway.

I like the idea of checking on regulations AFTER getting the backhoe a LOT. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
My health inspector came once, to check on the sites drainage, but that was before our new building codes here.

 

[Jackrabbit_Slim]

Kevin, I think you should be fine as far as accomplishing the work.

I'm both happy and sad to see that problems with inspectors are everywhere. I moved out here last year, and I can't believe all the red tape. I think they expect me to feel it's a privilege just to live on my own property.

To echo a previous suggesstion, I've had a couple of non tractor related projects where the contractor and I saw eye to eye and he more or less acted as the front man. Of course he looked the work over before we called for the inspection Might work for you, too.

Slim

 

[Ronbo]

I have a clearstream septic treatment system. I love it. Cost was 5500 installed. It has an aerator in the middle tank and pumps the treated water out to sprinklers.

Only pressurized systems allowed in my county.

Ron

 

[Boondox]

Two questions: (1) What ever happened with your plan, Kevin? And (2) any trick to just replacing the leach field? Years ago my wife's grandmother planted beech saplings near the leach field; the roots have taken over and plugged the PVC pipe. Since I cannot move the field, I was thinking of cutting the pipe near the tank and digging up the entire field, roots and all, bringing in more dirt, compacting it, trenching, and changing over to an infiltrator system.

Pete

 

[Kevin37]

Pete
Here's where I am with the "plan".
The backhoe was ordered and I'm told is at my dealership. I'm waiting for a call to set up the appointment to have it installed.
While waiting for that, I am trying to arrange a meeting with someone who knows about drain fields. I've got the name of a soil scientist who used to be an inspector for the county health department. I'll have him out to my property to help me find some alternative drain field sites to dig perc holes and also ask his opinion on doing some of the work myself. It's what he used to do for the county, so hopefully I can get some good insight. It's slow going right now, and the first two weeks in August will be lost because I'll be boating on Lake Champlain off the Maquam shore!!

I'll try to update with the experts recommendations and my results. I live in a TOUGH county for septic requirements /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Kevin

 

[LBrown59]

Drain fields or leach beds were used prior to the advent of the aerator because the septic tanks back then weren't very efficient treating the waste so the effluent required further treatment after it left the tank.

Around the late 60s to early 70s The aerator septic tank was developed which eliminated the need for Drain fields or leach beds as the effluent from them is 98% pure

The aerator is designed to operate properly and efficiently using an open unobstructed drain pope to discharge the effluent from the tank.

I seriously question the wisdom of obstructing the flow of this drain pipe in any way which is exactly what happens when you replace the drain pipe with a drain field or leach field in a vane attempt to purify the remaining 2 percent after the tank has removed 98% of the impurities.
Adding a drain field or leach field to the tank is sorta like plugging the tail pipe of a car or restricting flow in the exhaust pipe.

I seriously doubt that a drain field or leach field removes much if any of the remaining 2 percent after the tank has removed 98% of the impurities.

Suppose it did remove 1% of the 2% but the drain field or leach field caused the tank to drop from 98% efficiency to 96% efficiency.

We now have and expensive inferior septic system and the overall efficiency has dropped from the 98% we had before adding the drain field or leach field to the 97% we now have with the drain field or leach field.

Seams to me this whole leach field inspection permit thing was drummed up to keep the installers in business and generate revenue from permits and inspections while providing busy work for Gov. officials.