2manyrocks
Super Member
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You should be able to find out the mininum size required by your local codes by calling whoever inspects septic systems in your county. Your
Who knows about septic systems??
- Thread starter Shemp
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TedLaRue
Gold Member
Botabill said:
Botabill's post is right on the money. Tank size corresponds to the time allowed for the sewage to decompose, and is based on occupancy of the house.
The leach field size/type corresponds to the soil percolation rate.
Around here the Health Dept. has to approve of your septic system and the installer has to be licensed. The approval requires results of a percolation test of your soil and a map of your leach field and any local streams, etc. But it's self-reported and they usually don't check the perc-test. The licensing exam isn't that difficult, either.
Build to your local requirements. You'd be foolish to under-build your own septic system.
Rara Avis
Veteran Member
If you are designing from scratch...make sure you separate your Washing Machine output from the rest of your septic system...It will pay dividends by providing a LONG LIFE to your septic field...
dangier_VA
Silver Member
Shemp,
A lot of good information in the previous posts. I would put a 1000 gal tank in. Pretty much the standard here in Virginia. Your leach field is sized for the number of bathrooms vs percolation rate. This is on a normal gravity septic system. If you need a pumping system-that's much different. Your local codes will dictate the requirements. You may also have to have an engineer's stamp of approval.
David
A lot of good information in the previous posts. I would put a 1000 gal tank in. Pretty much the standard here in Virginia. Your leach field is sized for the number of bathrooms vs percolation rate. This is on a normal gravity septic system. If you need a pumping system-that's much different. Your local codes will dictate the requirements. You may also have to have an engineer's stamp of approval.
David
firedog
Gold Member
Good responses so far.
In addition, the tank size is calculated on the # of bedrooms (which is based on # of people) and the drain field is calculated on the soil type. So sandy or sandyloam would reduce your drain field (square foot of trench bottom) but should not affect the tank sizes.
Also, in Texas, most coastal counties have gone to strictly aroebic systems for new installations. And since 97' you'll need to have a maintenance contract with someone to check/maintain your aroebic system if the county population is over 70K, under 70K you can do it yourself (with training, of course).
In addition, the tank size is calculated on the # of bedrooms (which is based on # of people) and the drain field is calculated on the soil type. So sandy or sandyloam would reduce your drain field (square foot of trench bottom) but should not affect the tank sizes.
Also, in Texas, most coastal counties have gone to strictly aroebic systems for new installations. And since 97' you'll need to have a maintenance contract with someone to check/maintain your aroebic system if the county population is over 70K, under 70K you can do it yourself (with training, of course).
tommu56
Elite Member
dangier_VA
I put a 1250 galllon bruser tank in so that I could back fill with native soil
check nesweco web page.
What about the drain field that is just as important as tank?
tom
I put a 1250 galllon bruser tank in so that I could back fill with native soil
check nesweco web page.
What about the drain field that is just as important as tank?
tom
SnowRidge
Elite Member
One other thing that may be important. Here things are starting to get tricky. What everyone said about the number of bedrooms defining the septic system size is correct, but there is a kicker. The building inspectors determine how many bedrooms you have, not the architect or what the plans say.
If a room over a certain minimum size has a closet, they call it a bedroom, even if its design purpose is something else. Put a closet in your study, it's a bedroom. Put a closet, or what the building inspector might consider a closet, in your workshop, it's a bedroom. Imagine designing your dream home with an attached workshop, complete with a small materials storage room, and finding out that you will have to put in a much more expensive septic system because the county says your workshop is a bedroom. The end result may well be a three or four bedroom house that requires a five bedroom septic system.
Here at least, it is vital that someone planning to build a house out in the country that will require a septic system check with both the septic authorities, who work for the state, and the building and zoning people who work for the county before even designing the house or purchasing a set of plans.
If a room over a certain minimum size has a closet, they call it a bedroom, even if its design purpose is something else. Put a closet in your study, it's a bedroom. Put a closet, or what the building inspector might consider a closet, in your workshop, it's a bedroom. Imagine designing your dream home with an attached workshop, complete with a small materials storage room, and finding out that you will have to put in a much more expensive septic system because the county says your workshop is a bedroom. The end result may well be a three or four bedroom house that requires a five bedroom septic system.
Here at least, it is vital that someone planning to build a house out in the country that will require a septic system check with both the septic authorities, who work for the state, and the building and zoning people who work for the county before even designing the house or purchasing a set of plans.
Last edited:
shaley
Platinum Member
I'm a licensed onsite engineer in VA. I can't speak for Texas regs but here is a link to a Texas designers guide. Looks like 1000 gal for a 3 BDRM home is required.
http://theurbanrancher.tamu.edu/construction/septictank.pdf
http://theurbanrancher.tamu.edu/construction/septictank.pdf
MarkV
Super Member
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The nation of Texas does things a bit different than other places from what I’ve seen. Even here in the rural hills of Georgia where building permits are not required you still have to have a septic system approved and inspected. Here the Health Department are the people in charge of septic systems and you have to have there sign off before a building permit, if required, is issued or power is turned on.
The tank sounds way small to me, as others have said. Here requires 1000 gals minimum for a 2 bedroom house and it goes up 500 gals per bedroom after that.
I’d sure be checking what the local requirements are so that you don’t have to add a new system when you build.
MarkV
The tank sounds way small to me, as others have said. Here requires 1000 gals minimum for a 2 bedroom house and it goes up 500 gals per bedroom after that.
I’d sure be checking what the local requirements are so that you don’t have to add a new system when you build.
MarkV
Bird
Rest in Peace
Shemp said:
You definitely want to start by contacting your county officials. Laws and regulations are always changing, but . . . in the early 90s, a brother-in-law hired an unlicensed installer to put in his septic system. The guy did a good job, but the county's inspector went after both the installer and my brother-in-law. Brother-in-law had 10 acres, and at that time, at least, Texas law was that no inspection, permit, etc. was required if you have 10 acres or more; you could do whatever you wanted to do. Brother-in-law's daughter works for a wealthy civil attorney and he finally got the county to back off. Brother-in-law gave me a copy of the state law; unbelievable; not a pamphlet or brochure, but a big, thick book.
