Can I do this?

[Kevin37]

Opinions greatly appreciated here.
I'm looking at adding a backhoe to my setup and I'm trying to figure out my limitations of use. If I am of average skill with such an implement, will I be able to do my own septic drain field? The pictures and plans all seem so straight forward and simple. Is there more to it then appears? What am I missing?

Kevin

 

[mathteacher]

septic systems are rather easy to put in. There is not much to them. You could do them with a shovel, but I SURE WOULD NOT do that. The problem comes into play is the regulations in your area. When I was building my house I had thought about doing my own but after the regs and the different tests and inspections it was easier to just pay someone that does it for a living.

Donald B.

 

[Freds]

As long as you get some info and permits from your county health board I don't see a problem. Things like size of the field and if the area you are planing on putting it has the proper drainage. You will need to dig a hole for this while the health board guy makes sure that water will drain into the ground and not lay there if your water table is too high or you are on clay. Since you aren't a licensed contractor and they don't *know* you, it may need inspected before you backfill the field.
I can't even change a hot water tank where I live anymore without getting it inspected and having a permit. Good thing it's located in the basement and not in sight. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[MarkV]

Kevin,
I don't see any reason you could not physically dig and install a septic system. I had an Infiltrator system, plastic domed system with no gravel, put in and it was pretty straightforward. It required trenches that were 3' wide and 3' deep and were dead level. The inspector used a laser to check level. The tank also required careful leveling and was set 1' below grade. The rest of it was running PVC. Not to complicated.

That being said the real question is your local regulations. They vary greatly from place to place. Some areas only let systems be installed by licensed installers and will only approve certain types of systems. Some areas require an engineer to design the system. One of my neighbors put his in and was only allowed to because he was an owner builder and not allowed to sell the house for 1 year. He wished he had hired it out because the inspector was very picky. He felt like it was because he was not a regular installer.

I'd check with the health department and see what your local regulations are. That will tell you a lot about how practical it would be.

MarkV

 

[Skitch]

My wife and I just built a house and hired out the septic system. No less than 5 inspections. I feel sorry for the contracter who did it b/c of all the time he spends waiting for an inspector to show up before he can continue. I also feel sorry for my bottom line for paying him to wait.

If you do decide to go at it your self, may I suggest renting a transom from a local rental store. It will be your best friend and is well worth the cost.

 

[California]

Accomplishing the work shouldn't be difficult but passing inspection may depend on local customs. In some areas the inspectors serve a second purpose, to defend local businesses from competition.

I would evaluate this by talking to local contractors. Then ask the permit agency if it is realistic for owner-built work to pass inspection.

You may decide to do 90% yourself, with a licensed contractor to polish it off and face the inspectors.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'm looking at adding a backhoe to my setup and I'm trying to figure out my limitations of use. )</font>

Yeah, be sure to look into all the stuff that was already said AFTER you get the backhoe. You don't want to take a chance at missing out on getting a new hoe!

 

[Kevin37]

uh-oh......Mike is on to me.... just trying to justify....... don't tell the wife!!
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[rockyridgefarm]

you want mine to talk to yours? She uses it more than I do...

 

[dummy]

Aside from the local bureaucrats, the only thing you're probably missing out on is depth. On my side of the Potomac, the last couple of septics I saw installed, the fields were set around the 16 to 18 foot mark. Backfill with washed gravel, set piping no more than 5 feet deep, more gravel (6-12"), then fill. And if you need a "sand mound type " system, over here, that means a tracked machine for install. No rubber tired equipment, disturbs the ground too much. So, if that's your justification, you might need a new machine and a hoe.

Check some of the local jobs and ask questions. Your results may vary. One of the local guys got caught 3 weeks ago skipping out on the trench depth (supposed to have been 14 feet but he only dug 6), so do ask more than a couple.

Aside from that, how hard is it??? Pressure lines can go any direction, waste lines usually go downhill and according to Bird (wasn't it )? "Don't bite your nails while working"

 

[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.