Tractor Buying Sanity Check

[Bird]

Whew! I don't know what part of the country you're in, but 20-30k for an aerobic sewer system? I paid $4k for mine 3 years ago, my brother paid the same for his nearly a year earlier, and a brother-in-law paid $100 more for his a year later. I suppose you could get a bigger one, but this one's rated for 500 gallons a day and that's more than adequate for us. My brother has a single sprinkler head for his and I have two. I don't know exactly what the chemical analysis of the effluent would be, but we've never been able to smell anything at all, and once since we've had it, I was walking by one of the sprinkler heads when it came on and hit me full broadside and it didn't look or smell any different that any lawn sprinkler.

Bird

 

[dmccarty]

These types of septic systems are considered experimental in NC and require state approval at this time. I don't understand the expense other than design and time costs due to getting state approvals. But that should not add up to 20 grand. I don't see where any material costs could drive up the price either. I think our design is for 480 gallons a day so we are talking the same size system as well.

Right now it is a builders market up here and we can't get anyone to do anything. Its unreal. We have been waiting for 5 months to get a driveway done, house site cleared, and septic put in. The contractors are going to the big projects and letting the little ones go. Yesterday we got no can do from two more contractors. Some won't even return phone calls.

I think we HAVE to get a tractor to get our work done. I just hope I can find someone to haul in the ABC for the driveway and fill dirt for the septic.

I really think I need to go into the contractor business.... At least until the economy goes bad.

Later....
Dan McCarty

 

[Bird]

Dan, weird things happen, don't they? State law regulates sewer systems in Texas, but the county administers, enforces, etc. My $4k total included $100 for the design (has to be designed by a licensed person other than the one who will do the installation), $160 for the soil analysis (which is kind of silly since the aerobic system is what you use if the soil doesn't perk), $10 for the permit, and $5 notary fee, and the rest was for the material and installation. However, last year the county raised the permit fee from $10 to $400; how's that for inflation? We are also required to file an affidavit with the deed at the courthouse stating that we will maintain a service contract with a licensed installer. The initial installation included a two year warranty and service contract. Since that time I pay $200 for an annual service contract and they come out and spend about 30 minutes checking everything 4 times a year. There are some companies that would charge less, but I know and trust these guys to do everything right.

Just as I started to post this, the man drove into the driveway to do the quarterly check on the system. He told me they still charge $4k, but that the manufacturer of the equipment has redesigned it to make it more compact, less on-site assembly, etc. so that a 3 man crew can do the entire installation from start to finish in half a day.

Bird<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Bird on 10/18/00 12:30 PM.</FONT></P>

 

[roysallis]

If you are going to get any additional SCVs it is less expensive to get them when you order the tractor than to have them added later.

 

[dmccarty]

North Carolina has the same system, the state regulates but the county approves. I got in a battle with the county because he would not approve the perc site. The site was checked about 15 years ago by a Soil Scientist and I got another company to recheck his results and find me another site near where we would like to have the "Dream House." I read enough of the state regulations on HOW to determine the perc on a site that I had a clue as to what was going on. I KNEW the people I paid to check the soil were getting correct results. When the county guy came out I knew he was WRONG. I had watched and asked lots of questions to the people I paid and they had spent hours on the site working. The county came in and made a decision in seconds. He told me that the soil would not perc, could not perc and he would never approve the sites. He had refused some of the sites 15 years ago I'm sure. Furthermore he told me that the state had never overruled him. I got the state to come in and review the sites and I could tell within five minutes that the county was going to be overrulled. Which he was.

But the county wanted the state to sign off on the site which the state refused to do since that is NOT THE STATE LAW. The COUNTY has to approve the site. So the county guy was between a rock and a hard place since I had THREE Soil Scientist saying one thing and he saying the opposite. Eventually he signed the paper. Not fun.

I never made an issue out of the whole deal just followed the process stated in the law. But I'll be mighty happy when we finally get the septic system finished.

But since we can't find an installer its kinda moot.

We also have to have the system check every year, only once I think, but I can go to a class to be certified. We do have a guy who will do the checking for 135 a year. Seems like the only price break I'm getting compared to the prices down your way.

Was this an Orenco(sp) system? For that price it might be worth heading for a state approval on the system. It might be the quickest way to get a septic system in the ground.

Thanks!
Dan McCarty

 

[dmccarty]

I'm getting the three SCV's added with the order. I'm getting a FEL with a 4n1 bucket so that is two SCV's and I'm getting the third for a hydro top link for the box blade.

Not real happy with the dealer box blade brand, Dirt Dog, it just does not seem heavy enough. Its all 1/4 inch steel but it seems to be 200-400 pound lighter than it should. Having said that, it certainly look like it could handle abuse.

I'm also having a $125 off tractor pump/power thingy in case I get the JD48 backhoe.

I saw a skid steer on the way home from work with a 4n1 using it in one of the ways I need to. Its funny how I drive by construction equipment now-a-days and stare at the machines! I saw a really nice D7 and one of the vibratory compactors at the same site. I sure could use those for a week or so!

Thanks.
Dan McCarty

 

[Bird]

Dan, that sounds kinda familiar. Our "county sanitarian" was an eccentric character and I never had a problem with him, but my brother did, and eventually went to the County Commissioners Court to get everything straightened out. Since then they've fired that man and hired another one.

Our aerobic systems are the Model G-500 made by Hydro-Action, P. O. Drawer 160, Kountze, TX 77625-0160, phone (409) 246-3749. I'll bet they'd send you the literature on what they build. Good luck with yours.

Bird

 

[Rch]

BTW. http://www.orenco.com/main_index.asp is the Orenco System's URL.The site has a list of pertinent laws listed by states under " Ask the Experts" Lit & links;http://www.orenco.com/ate/ate_litAndLinks.asp (scroll down). Here in central WI, Wood county has installed ~20 on an experimental basis. Interestingly municipalities are the enemy of such home systems because it removes an incentive to annex. Currently the League of Municipalties is contesting a set of standards from the Depart. of Natural Resources of the State of WI that would allow such "home sewage systems" such as Orenco. Currently, a holding tank system is being used in soils that don't percolate where a tank truck for 60-70 bucks hauls it to be sprayed on designated fields after the pH has been raised to 12 with lime.

RCH

 

[dmccarty]

I have been real busy the last couple of days, I had family in town and I bought the JD4700! Added the JD48 back hoe which hurt pocketbook but it will pay for itself. This will get the stumps at on my schedule instead of rushing to get things done with rental equipment.

The tractor should be in my hands Friday AM. I'm going to be working all weekend building a driveway, clearing the road, and the future house site. The tractor has to start earning back money!

We had an interesting development regarding the County Health Inspector in todays newspaper. Apparently funds are missing from the department, the State Bureau of Investigation has been brought in to find out what is going on, and the Inspector was delivered his "pink slip" by a Sheriff Deputy. Kinda interesting to see how this plays out. I've been concerned what kind of problems we might have with him but that is a moot point now!

I'm researching, again, the septic system law/regs to see if we might get a different system in that we had planed. Orenco has a good reputation and I have studied there website in the past. I'll just have to see what happens. At least with the tractor I can bring in and spread fill dirt for the septic field if I need to.

Thanks!
Dan

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Please excuse a late question from a newbie. Can someone tell me if this aerobic system is AKA a constructed wetland? These go for about $5K in Oklahoma and use plants to do "the dirty work."