Neighbor's new septic over prop line

[MikePA]

Here is a link that describes sand mound septic systems.

 

[JimR]

Yes the mound is the new drain field. If the soil can't absorb fluids you need to go up with a mound system. Eventually it will have problems more so that a ground system with good soil to absord the fluids. In my opinion it would be easier to dig a large rectangular pit and build a really good system in ground. Those mounds are very ugly. We have a few in town that are in front of the house. This was after the septic in behind the house failed. The houses are in a wetlands district.

 

[swiftboot]

Seat Time, "dont fail us now". What have been your latest developements in your property line setbacks on the septic system. Heres hoping it wasnt that you called on Doc Holiday to meet you and neighbor at the OK Corral. Inquiring minds want to know. thanks, chuck

 

[Seat_Time]

Update:

So anyhow, on Wednesday the Health Dept had their usual meeting to discuss regular business and issues such as mine. I was not there. I did, however, go on record by sending an email expressing my concern for having the neigbor's septic meet code not only as regards set backs, but also construction. I followed up with another email yesterday asking about the outcome from the meeting. So far I haven't heard back. I will make sure to close the loop on this and let everyone know the outcome.

 

[JimR]

Thanks for the update and Good for you. Don't let up on them as they might back off on it.

 

[Tom_H]

My local septic service rep said he's seen land that would not perc even for a sand mound.

This is correct. We have from 12" to 36" of clay that sits atop a cilica cemented hardpan called durapan that is completely impermeable to water. The durapan ranges from 4' to 16' thick. This stuff formed when silica was deposited from a volcanic eruption 600,000 yr. ago and the cilica leeched down over time and cemented the clay. Wind deposited the clay on top of that in the time following. The land is totally flat and does not drain well. The winter rain supersaturates the clay on top into something akin to oatmeal mush.

For septic, code requires the number of bedrooms in a house to be equaled or outnumbered by the number of dry wells at the end of the septic lines. The dry wells are 36" in dia. and 33' deep into a packed sand layer, filled with granite river cobble averaging 10" to 12" in dia. This is capped at the durapan level with a concrete disc to prevent soil from dropping into the spaces between the cobble. The effluent goes from the septic tank to the dry wells. Water wells have to be a couple of hundred feet away and penetrate to much deeper strata, separated by other layers of almost impermeable soils.

 

[Wannafish]

Seat Time -

I'm sittin' on the edge of my seat...this commercial break is too long!

=8~)

 

[JimR]

Take it from me and my experience. You have no idea how long it takes the System to work. They are in no big hurry as they don't get paid by the job or the hour to get anything done. Some of them are even volunteers that do not get paid. The process is slow and nobody is really in any hurry to fix anything soon. I'm still waiting for someone to grab the bull by the horns and run with it.

 

[Seat_Time]

No real news to update. The town meeting came and went with no decision/ruling made. They said they didn't have definitive evidence as to the location of the property line. The ball is back in my neighbor's court as he (apparently) now needs to show lot lines via a legitimate survey. I'm not sure where any of that will make a difference; I have maintained that even if the physical mound is within his property lines, he is still way too close given the set back regs. Oh well, we'll see. I did go ahead and send the proverbial 8x10 glossies to the town and health dept (shades of Alison's Restaurant...but I digress). Here's a repost of one of the initial "over the line" pics and another new one that shows that my neighbor has indeed cleaned things up a bit. He even went so far as to put in a stake with tape right along what he determined the property edge to be (you may be able to make it out about half way down the picture). I almost forgot...here's a quote from the township to the health dept (they copied me on the email) "needless to say, this is something that has to be fixed to comply with the proper setbacks and to comply with septic design regulations ensuring adequate operation of the system. this will be interesting to watch." I'll keep you updated on my progress...

 

[dmccarty]

Seat_Time,

Are the big wooden stakes his or yours?

I can't see any other stakes. If those big stakes are the lot line and he has to be 10 feet away methinks there is a problem.

Later,
Dan