$eptic installation?

[heehaw]

i've only had 2 systems installed myself, but in both cases, i did a perk test, even though it wasn't required on the last one, and then put in more field lines than was called for. that is/was the cheapest part of the installation. i was interested in getting certified and doing the perk test in this area, but unless you are a licensed engineer or surveyor, you can't get certified. seems like a pretty lucritive field..but here i don't know of anyone that does the perk test or whatever its called, and sells or installs the systems..
heehaw

 

[gmason]

Here in NC, the county HD rep comes out and with a little 5' auger takes samples 2'-4' down and then uses his senses(sight,smell, feel, taste) to determine perkablility. I guess if you've done it that way over thousand os samples, you'd get pretty good at soils. And all of this is free to the landowner.

We didn't like the first location he picked, so we brought him back out and made holes over another 6ac, but still had to go back to the first sight.

We had to go LPP, so that meant bi-annual inspections at $110 a pop. That's what encouraged me to go take the 3 day class and test to get certified. So, now not only do I not have to shell out $220+yr, but I know the hows and whys of my septic, plus I now know exactly who to call if I have any problems/question.

One of the things that we learned in the class, is that over 50% of NC is on a septic. Given that, the cost of the septic system compared to the overall cost of the house is 2%-3%. Where landscaping is 6%-8%..... It's not uncommon around my area to see 500k houses on well and septic, 5ac lots going for 150-200k, but people want to spend to fewest $$$ on the septic system they can. I know we did.
I'm not defending some of these States policies, but clean groundwater is a precious commodity and it's a benefit to all to make it as clean as possible.

good luck
gary

 

[patrickg]

heehaw, I've helped a PE do two sets of tests. In both instances the results were counterintuitive. The FiRST CHOICE locations in both instances failed pretty badly but we found real good locations that just didn't look so likely.
Since the map that "details" the registered/filed perk test site for my new house is not all that exact, I'm gonna drill the heck out of the whole general area with my 3PH auger and run the lateral lines where I get the best results doing my own perk tests. It isn't exactly rocket science to drill a hole, pour water in it, come back x hours (next day) later and fill lit to an approximate depth, and note the time required to fall y amount.

I will have to look up the prescriptive meathod as it has been about 2 years and I don't recall the exact details. I think it was how much the water goes down in an hour that gives you your figure of merit that determines the total feet of lateral lines required to meet the state's Department of Environmental Quallity standards (in effect back then). They have changed the rules but since I have my original test on file, I'm good to go. I will put in at least as many feet of laterals as we filed but I want to be sure I get enough, hence my own tests and fine tuning of the location to get the best performance available in the general area of the original tests which were made before we converged on a house design (with walkout basement).

And on a related subject:

I wonder when California will change everyone over to composting toilets? They are already rationing water and fighting other states and the agriculture community for water to allow more developers to put in more subdivisions. Composting toilets would save enough water to allow a considerable population/tax base increase.

I'm pretty prepared for the great water shortage, as long as we don't have a terrible multi-year drought in south central OK, as I can use RO and biologic filters on my pond water for all our potable water needs. (( ponds and counting)

Patrick