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 Mobile ViewSEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR ADDITIVES / TREATMENTS for SEPTIC SYSTEMS AEROBIC SEPTIC SYSTEMS ALTERNATING BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS BACKUP PREVENTION, SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION, SEWER LINE BACKWATER VALVES, SEWER LINE BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS BOOKS, RECOMMENDED SEPTIC BOOKSTORE, SEPTIC SYSTEMS CESSPOOLS CESSPOOL SAFETY WARNINGS CHECK VALVES, WATER SUPPLY CHEMICALS & TREATMENTS for SEPTICS CHLORAMINE / CHLORINE Tests CHLORINE IN DRINKING WATER CHLORINE IN SEPTIC WASTEWATER CISTERNS CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR D BOX TROUBLESHOOTING DEFINITIONS OF SEPTIC SYSTEM TERMS DIFFICULT SEPTIC SITES DRAINFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS DRIVING or PARKING OVER SEPTIC DRYWELLS, FRENCH DRAINS for FLAT SITES DRYWELL DESIGN & USES DRYWELLS for GRAYWATER DRYWELLS as SEEPAGE PITS DRYWELL SAFETY CONCERNS ARE DRYWELLS DRY? PIT SITE REQUIREMENTS PIT AREA & SIZE PIT CONSTRUCTION DETAILS PIT COLLAPSE or FAILURE FILTERS SEPTIC & GREYWATER FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOODED SEPTIC SYSTEMS, REPAIR GARBAGE DISPOSAL vs SEPTICS GRAVELLESS SEPTIC SYSTEMS GRAVITY/SIPHON DOSING SYSTEMS GREYWATER SYSTEMS HOME BUYERS GUIDE to SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME SELLERS GUIDE TO SEPTIC INSPECT LAGOON SEPTIC SYSTEMS LEACHFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS MEDIA FILTER SEPTIC SYSTEMS MOUND SEPTIC SYSTEMS NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST ODORLESS CHEMICALS / GASES: CHECK FOR? ODORS, PLUMBING SYSTEM ODORS, SEPTIC or SEWER ODORS, SULPHUR SMELL SOURCES OUTHOUSES & LATRINES PLANTS & TREES OVER SEPTIC SYSTEMS PRESSURE DOSING SEPTIC SYSTEMS RAISED BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS SAND BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS SEEPAGE PITS SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEPTIC SYSTEM ARTICLES SEPTIC AUTHORITIES, DESIGN REGS SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION SEPTIC BACKUP REPAIR SEPTIC BOOK, FREE ONLINE SEPTIC BOOKSTORE SEPTIC BIOMATS SEPTIC CARE INSTRUCTIONS SEPTIC CLEARANCE DISTANCES SEPTIC CODES & REFERENCES SEPTIC CONSULTANTS SEPTIC DRAINFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS SEPTIC DRAINFIELD INSPECTION & TEST SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LIFE SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LOCATION SEPTIC DRAINFIELD RESTORERS? SEPTIC DRAINFIELD SIZE SEPTIC DRAINFIELD SHAPE SEPTIC DRAWINGS SEPTIC DYE TEST PROCEDURE SEPTIC FAILURE LAWSUIT SEPTIC FAILURE SIGNS SEPTIC FIELD INSPECTION SEPTIC FILTERS SEPTIC FLOOD RESPONSE SEPTIC HOLDING TANKS SEPTIC INSPECTION & TEST GUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION CLASS SEPTIC LIFE EXPECTANCY SEPTIC LIFE MAXIMIZING STEPS SEPTIC METHANE GAS SEPTIC ODORS SEPTIC PUMPS SEPTIC PUMPING REPAIR SEPTIC REFERENCES SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEPTIC SUPPLIES & PARTS SEPTIC SYSTEM DEFINITIONS SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN ALTERNATIVES SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN MANUAL - Online SEPTIC SYSTEM, HOME BUYERS GUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION & TEST GUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION CLASS SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION LEVELS SEPTIC SYSTEM ODORS SEPTIC SYSTEM, HOME BUYERS GUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEM SAFETY WARNINGS SEPTIC TANKS SEPTIC TANK BAFFLES SEPTIC TANK COVERS SEPTIC TANK, HOW TO FIND SEPTIC TANK GRASS or SNOWMELT SEPTIC TANK, HOME BUYERS GUIDE SEPTIC TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE SEPTIC TANK PUMPING PROCEDURE SEPTIC TANK PUMPING REASONS SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE SEPTIC TESTS: DYE & LOADING TESTS SEPTIC TREATMENTS & CHEMICALS SEPTIC BOOKS REFERENCES CODES SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEWAGE & SEPTIC CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE BACKUP, WHAT TO DO SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP SEWAGE BACKUP PREVENTION SEWAGE CONTAMINATION in buildings SEWAGE CONTAMINANTS in FRUIT / VEGETABLES SEWAGE EJECTOR / GRINDER PUMPS SEWAGE LEVELS in SEPTIC TANKS SEWAGE NITROGEN CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE PATHOGENS in SEPTIC SLUDGE SEWAGE PUMPS SEWAGE PUMP CLOG DAMAGE SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION SEWER GAS ODORS SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT SINKHOLES, WARNING SIGNS SMELL PATCH TEST to Track Down Odors SOAKAWAY BED FAILURE DIAGNOSIS SULPHUR & SEWER GAS SMELL SOURCES SUMP PUMPS TOILETS, INSPECT, INSTALL, REPAIR TOILET ALTERNATIVES TOILET FLUSHOMETER VALVES TOILET INSTALLATION PROCEDURE TOILET OVERFLOW EMERGENCY TOILET PLUGS, SEWER BACKUP TOILET REPAIR GUIDE TOILET TYPES Toilet Types, Flush Methods TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST TRAPS on PLUMBING FIXTURES TREATMENTS & CHEMICALS, SEPTIC VIDEO GUIDES: Septic Videos WASHING MACHINES & SEPTIC SYSTEMS WATER ENTRY in buildings ATTIC LEAKS Moisture or Mold BARRIERS, EXTERIOR WATER BASEMENT CEILING VAPOR BARRIER BASEMENT De-Watering Systems BASEMENT HEAT LOSS BASEMENT LEAKS, INSPECT FOR BASEMENT WATERPROOFING BASEMENT WATER ENTRY PREVENTION CATCH BASINS Chimney Leaks CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CONDENSATION on WINDOWS & SKYLIGHTS CORROSION in ELECTRICAL PANELS CRAWL SPACE DRYOUT PROCEDURES DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE DRYER VENTING DRYWELLS, FRENCH DRAINS for FLAT SITES DRYWELL DESIGN & USES EFFLORESCENCE, Salts & White / Brown Deposits ELECTRIC PANEL MOISTURE EXTERIOR WATER SOURCE ELIMINATION FLOOD Damage Assessment & Repairs FLOOD DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS FLOOD VENTS & FLOOD PORTS FLOODS IN buildings-priorities FOUNDATION DRAINS, INTERIOR FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING GEOTEXTILES & DRAINAGE MATS GRADING & SITE WORK, EXTERIOR GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS HUMIDITY CONTROL & TARGETS INDOORS HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS LOG HOME Leak Diagnosis & Cure LOG HOME Condensation &Moisture MOISTURE in BUILDING WALLS, EFFECTS MOISTURE in CELLULOSE INSULATION MOISTURE CALCULATIONS MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS MOISTURE METER STUDY MOISTURE PROBLEMS: CAUSE & CURE MOLD in buildings MOLD PREVENTION AFTER FLOODING MOLD RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION PERIMETER DRAIN SYSTEMS ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS Soffit Intake Vents & Attic Condensation SEALERS, Basement Floor & Wall Moisture SEWAGE CONTAMINATION SITE & SURFACE DRAINAGE SUMP PUMPS GUIDE SWEATING (CONDENSATION) on PIPES, TANKS VENTILATION in BUILDINGS VENTILATION DESIGN PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS VENTILATION, WHOLE HOUSE STRATEGIES WATER ENTRY in BUILDINGS WET BASEMENT PREVENTION WINDOW / DOOR AIR LEAK SEALING HOW TO Window Flashing & Sealing Guide WINDOW LEAKS INTO BASEMENT WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING WASTEWATER TREATMENT BASICS WATER, WELLS, WATER TANKS: TESTING GUIDE WETLAND SEPTIC SYSTEMS WINTERIZE A BUILDING More Information |
Drywell or seepage pit construction & uses: this document explains what a drywell (or seepage pit) is, describes how drywells are used, gives safety and maintenance advice for drywells, and defines the criteria for drywell failure. What are Septic Drywells, What Drywell Maintenance is Needed? How do Drywells Fail? We warn readers that while installation of a drywell to receive graywater at a property may be a good idea, the use of drywells for this purpose may be a warning about the capacity and remaining life of the septic system. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. DRYWELLS - or seepage pits for disposing of septic effluent or gray water onsiteThis material is a chapter of our SEPTIC BOOK, FREE ONLINE. Readers trying to diagnose and deal with sudden soil subsidence or yard collapses should see CESSPOOL SAFETY WARNINGS as those hazards can also apply to drywells and septic tanks, and also see SINKHOLES, WARNING SIGNS. Additional septic system safety warnings are at SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY. We use the terms "drywell" and "seepage pit" differently as follows: DRYWELLS for GRAYWATER - Drywells as Graywater Disposal Facilities
A drywell or seepage pit, sometimes called a leaching pit, leaching pool, or incorrectly a cesspool, is a covered pit with an open-jointed or perforated lining through which septic tank effluent seeps into the surrounding soil. In other words this is one of the oldest and simplest methods of disposing of gray water or in some cases septic effluent - a simple pit or hole in the ground, open to soil at its sides and bottoms, intended to receive and dispose of gray water (water from building non-sewage drains such as laundry, showers, sinks). A drywell, or "seepage pit" is used at some building sites to receive "gray water" from a laundry, sink, or shower. The pit may be site-built of stone or dry-laid concrete block, rubble-filled, or constructed of (safer) pre-cast concrete. Modern drywells may also be sold as pre-designed units constructed of fiberglass or plastic. A drywell design may be similar to that of a cesspool, but only gray-water and not sewage is discharged into a drywell. The hole or absorption pit is typically 6-8 feet deep and 4-10 feet square (or round) depending on the amount of drainage to be handled and the percolation rate of the soil. Some drywells were filled with large rubble. A top of concrete or stone slab is used to keep surface water and children out of the opening, and is usually covered and graded to be invisible in the yard. Older covers of wood or steel may be very unsafe and present a child or adult hazard, possibly including the risk of fatality. Mark off, prevent access to, and investigate such systems immediately. What's the difference between a seepage pit or drywell and a cesspool?The term "drywell" or "seepage pit" might be used by some people to describe a simple pit for disposing of septic effluent. Note that I said effluent not sewage. By contrast, a cesspool holds both solid waste and septic effluent. I use the term "seepage pit" to refer to a pit used to dispose of septic effluent which originated as blackwater, the solids having been retained in the septic tank. I use the term "drywell" to refer to a pit used to dispose of graywater (greywater) which originated in sinks, laundry facilities, or showers. While their uses and implications of their presence at a property are quite different, the actual construction details of a seepage pit or a drywell are about the same. Let's sum up the use of these terms being rather particular: Drywell: a hole in the ground intended to receive graywater from sinks, showers, or even roof or surface runoff. It may be site-built using stone or concrete block, or it may be constructed of pre-cast concrete buried in a pit and surrounded by gravel to increase its capacity. Seepage pit: a hole in the ground intended to receive septic effluent such as the outlet from a septic tank. Seepage pits may be permitted where site space or soil conditions do not permit a conventional leach field. However even if effluent is successfully "disposed-of" it is probably not being adequately treated if it's coming out of a conventional septic tank. A Seepage pit might be constructed just as the drywell above but it is likely to require different (larger) site clearance requirements. Cesspool: a hole in the ground intended to receive sewage or blackwater from a building. The cesspool may also receive graywater, or in order to reduce the loading of the cesspool, some buildings may direct their graywater to a separate drywell. The cesspool might be constructed just as the two systems above but may have different site clearance requirements. Why are drywells installed?A drywell is used at a property typically for these reasons To relieve the liquid load on an onsite waste disposal septic system leach field, particularly in an area where the leach field is in trouble, at or near the end of its life, or has very limited capacity to dispose of effluent To receive gray water from a building plumbing fixture (laundry or sink) which has been installed at a location so remote from the main house drain (to the septic system) that it is more convenient to construct a separate, nearby outside facility to receive this graywater than to route an indoor or outdoor buried rain to the existing septic system. (Readers are invited to send additional suggestions) Tips for Extending Drywell LifeSome experts recommend installing a filter on water entering the drywell. Particularly for a drywell used to receive water from a clothes washing machine, installing a lint filter between the washing machine and the drywell can extend the life of the drywell by reducing the moment of soil-clogging particles of lint and debris into the system. Intermittent dosing systems such as are used for some alternative septic system designs, can also be adapted to graywater systems. In simple terms, this means that multiple drywells are used, and graywater is routed intermittently among them, giving the unused drywell time to recover. A simple valve system on the graywater drain line can serve to route greywater (graywater) to alternating drywells. Cesspools for more in-depth information about those systems. Questions & Answers about DrywellsQuestion: The drywell at my new home stays full of water and my house floods: who is responsible for the repair?
The gutter downspouts and sump pump are being led to the drywell however it is overflowing at all times and is not taking on any new water. Even the catch basin is filled with water and will never completely drain into the drywell. to temporarily try to resolve this issue I have removed all downspouts and sump pumps out of drywell and are now draining onto my property which inevitably is flooding but better outside my home than in my home. It is new construction and I am basically looking for a little advice on whether this is a structural defect and builder should be responsible for this or is it going to fall on me and how can this be properly fixed. - M.N. Staten Island, NY Reply: For your site the drywell may have never been a workable solution to handling runoff; real estate attorney should review your contract of sale and advise about the new home warranty lawWas the Drywell a Usable Solution for your Building Site?At ARE DRYWELLS DRY? we express the view that in some areas of high water table and wet soils, a drywell is not likely to be a useful means of collecting and disposing of surface or roof runoff in wet weather. That's because in those areas the "drywell" is in fact wet, or flooded, or at least partially flooded seasonally if not all year long. From your description it sounds as if one or more of these problems underlies the flooding problem in your new home The site is one that has a high water table, keeping the drywell flooded - this seems most likely from your description. The drywell was improperly constructed, too small, or lacking proper site preparation, for example by setting a pre-cast drywell into a pit without adequate pit size or adequate gravel Groundwater, surface runoff, or roof runoff directed into the drywell are of much larger volume than anticipated. Who is Responsible for Groundwater, Roof Runoff, or Flooding in a New Home
Our photo ( left) shows a combination that is a near guarantee of a flooded basement: the builder constructed the deck before final site grading, leaving in-slope grade and a virtual pool under the deck and draining towards the home. And gutter improprieties send water running down the house wall during rain. In general one would expect that proper construction of a new home would include taking whatever means were necessary to protect the home interior from water entry. And one would wish that initial site investigation (for questions such as where is the water table?) and building code approval would have reviewed any special water or drainage requirements that the builder needed to meet. Some new home construction contracts excuse the builder from certain home waterproofing steps, explicitly or implicitly leaving those responsibilities up to the homeowner. And unfortunately some new homeowners are unaware that those additional steps are not optional if the home is to be protected from flooding. When the home floods at the first rain, or when it floods three years later after footing drains have become clogged with silt, the owner and builder end up in a finger-pointing contest that might have originated in the these two basic questions, even if other site water problems are absent:
When a new home site combines both problems 1 and 2 above, there is a very high risk of basement or crawl space water entry and ultimately flooding. Just how quickly flooding appears depends further on other site conditions:
Some possible solutions to the Flooded Drywell Problem
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... Technical Reviewers & ReferencesInspectAPedia.com® - Daniel Friedman - Publisher & Editor. InspectAPedia Bookstore lists recommended books, organized by topic & available for purchase. Most of our articles also include a list of recommended books for the specific article topic as well as other references, and information sources. Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website, and if you wish, to receive online listing and credit as a contributor. Particular thanks are due to the many experts and also consumers who read and critique technical articles at InspectAPedia.com. Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below. Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE WATER ENTRY in buildings
How Big Should the Leach Field Be? includes a practical example using sample calculations and a table of soil percolation rate vs. field size Design Basics for Septic Systems: Choosing Septic Tank Size, Leach Field Size - basic septic system volume and absorption system design guides. Components of a Septic System- the Basic Parts of a Conventional Septic Tank and Leachfield, a chapter in the Home Buyers Guide to Septic Systems Sketches of the Septic System Components Private Sewage Disposal Systems - Septic Drawing Library Cesspools for more in-depth information about those systems. DRYWELL DESIGN & USES in-depth information about drywells The Septic System Information Website home page for this topic Septic Systems Inspection, Testing, & Maintenance- online textbook. Detailed how to inspect, maintain, repair information The Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems Septic Tank Pumping Guide: When, Why, How to pump the septic tank Home & Outdoor Living Water Requirements Septic Tank Capacity vs Usage in Daily Gallons of Wastewater Flow, calculating required septic tank size, calculating septic tank volume from size measurements Septic Tank/Soil-Absorption Systems: How to Operate & Maintain [ copy on file as /septic/Septic_Operation_USDA.pdf ] - , Equipment Tips, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 8271 1302, 7100 Engineering, 2300 Recreation, September 1982, web search 08/28/2010, original source: http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/pdfimage/82711302.pdf. How Big Should the Leach Field Be? - table of soil percolation rate vs. field size Septic System Drainfield Absorption System Biomat Formation - what leads to drain field clogging and expensive drainfield repairs Table of Required Septic & Well Clearances: Distances Between Septic System & Wells, Streams, Trees, etc. Ten Steps to Keeping a Septic System Working, suggestions from the U.S. EPA, edits and additions by DJF Pennsylvania State Fact Sheets relating to domestic wastewater treatment systems include
... Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & RepairOur recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia. Inspecting Septic Systems: Online Book, Inspection, Test, Diagnosis, Repair, & Maintenance: our Online Septic Book: Septic Testing, Loading & Dye Tests, Septic Tank Pumping, Clearances, details of onsite waste disposal system inspection, testing, repair procedures.
Advanced Onsite Wastewater Systems Technologies, Anish R. Jantrania, Mark A. Gross. Anish Jantrania, Ph.D., P.E., M.B.A., is a Consulting Engineer, in Mechanicsville VA, 804-550-0389 (2006), Advanced Onsite Wastewater Systems Technologies. Outstanding technical reference especially on alternative septic system design alternatives. Written for designers and engineers, this book is not at all easy going for homeowners but is a text we recommend for professionals--DF. AEROBIC SEPTIC SYSTEMS Builder's Guide to Wells and Septic Systems, Woodson, R. Dodge: $ 24.95; MCGRAW HILL B; TP; Quoting from Amazon's description: For the homebuilder, one mistake in estimating or installing wells and septic systems can cost thousands of dollars. This comprehensive guide filled with case studies can prevent that. Master plumber R. Dodge Woodson packs this reader-friendly guide with guidance and information, including details on new techniques and materials that can economize and expedite jobs and advice on how to avoid mistakes in both estimating and construction. Chapters cover virtually every aspect of wells and septic systems, including on-site evaluations; site limitations; bidding; soil studies, septic designs, and code-related issues; drilled and dug wells, gravel and pipe, chamber-type, and gravity septic systems; pump stations; common problems with well installation; and remedies for poor septic situations. Woodson also discusses ways to increase profits by avoiding cost overruns. Country Plumbing: Living with a Septic System, Hartigan, Gerry: $ 9.95; ALAN C HOOD & TP; Quoting an Amazon reviewer's comment, with which we agree--DF:This book is informative as far as it goes and might be most useful for someone with an older system. But it was written in the early 1980s. A lot has changed since then. In particular, the book doesn't cover any of the newer systems that are used more and more nowadays in some parts of the country -- sand mounds, aeration systems, lagoons, etc. Design Manuals for Septic SystemsUS EPA Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual [online copy, free] Top Reference: US EPA's Design Manual for Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Disposal, 1980, available from the US EPA, the US GPO Superintendent of Documents (Pueblo CO), and from the National Small Flows Clearinghouse. Original source http://www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/Pubs/625R00008/625R00008.htm Onsite wastewater treatment and disposal systems, Richard J Otis, published by the US EPA. Although it's more than 20 years old, this book remains a useful reference for septic system designers. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water Program Operations; Office of Research and Development, Municipal Environmental Research Laboratory; (1980) Eco John® Innovative Toilet Solutions, Global Inventive Industries, Fountain Valley CA, PDF, product brochure "International Private Sewage Disposal Code," 1995, BOCA-708-799-2300, ICBO-310-699-0541, SBCCI 205-591-1853, available from those code associations. "Manual of Policy, Procedures, and Guidelines for Onsite Sewage Systems," Ontario Reg. 374/81, Part VII of the Environmental Protection Act (Canada), ISBN 0-7743-7303-2, Ministry of the Environment,135 St. Clair Ave. West, Toronto Ontario M4V 1P5 Canada $24. CDN. Manual of Septic Tank Practice, US Public Health Service's 1959. Onsite Wastewater Disposal BooksOnsite Wastewater Disposal, R. J. Perkins; Quoting from Amazon: This practical book, co-published with the National Environmental Health Association, describes the step-by-step procedures needed to avoid common pitfalls in septic system technology. Valuable in matching the septic system to the site-specific conditions, this useful book will help you install a reliable system in both suitable and difficult environments. Septic tank installers, planners, state and local regulators, civil and sanitary engineers, consulting engineers, architects, homeowners, academics, and land developers will find this publication valuable. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, Bennette D. Burks, Mary Margaret Minnis, Hogarth House 1994 - one of the best septic system books around, suffering a bit from small fonts and a weak index. While it contains some material more technical than needed by homeowners, Burks/Minnis book on onsite wastewater treatment systems a very useful reference for both property owners and septic system designers. Septic Tank/Soil-Absorption Systems: How to Operate & Maintain [ copy on file as /septic/Septic_Operation_USDA.pdf ] - , Equipment Tips, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 8271 1302, 7100 Engineering, 2300 Recreation, September 1982, web search 08/28/2010, original source: http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/pdfimage/82711302.pdf Soil Percolation Tests soil perc testing guide and instructions Percolation Testing Manual, CNMI Division of Environmental Quality, PO Box 501304, Saipan, MP 96950 Planting Over Septic System Component", Daniel Friedman (author/editor, InspectAPedia.com), The Innovator, Winter/Spring 2008, BCOSSA, British Columbia OnSite Sewage Association, 201-3542 Blansard St., Victoria BC V8X 1W3 Canada Save the Septic System - Do Not Flush These Items Down the Toilet, Daniel Friedman, InspectAPedia.com - PDF document, printable Septic System Owner's Manual, Lloyd Kahn, Blair Allen, Julie Jones, Shelter Publications, 2000 $14.95 U.S. - easy to understand, well illustrated, one of the best practical references around on septic design basics including some advanced systems; a little short on safety and maintenance. Both new and used (low priced copies are available, and we think the authors are working on an updated edition--DF. Quoting from one of several Amazon reviews: The basics of septic systems, from underground systems and failures to what the owner can do to promote and maintain a healthy system, is revealed in an excellent guide essential for any who reside on a septic system. Rural residents receive a primer on not only the basics; but how to conduct period inspections and what to do when things go wrong. History also figures into the fine coverage. Test Pit Preparation for Onsite Sewage Evaluations, State of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Portland OR, 800 452-4011. PDF document. We recommend this excellent document that offers detail about soil perc tests, deep hole tests, safety, and septic design. Readers should also see Soil Percolation Tests and for testing an existing septic system, also see Dye Tests Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank, Bombeck, Erma: $ 5.99; FAWCETT; MM;
This septic system classic whose title helps avoid intimidating readers new to septic systems, is available new or used at very low prices.
It's more entertainment than a serious "how to" book on septic systems design, maintenance, or repair. Not recommended -- DF. US EPA Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual Top Reference: US EPA's Design Manual for Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Disposal, 1980, available from the US EPA, the US GPO Superintendent of Documents (Pueblo CO), and from the National Small Flows Clearinghouse. Original source http://www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/Pubs/625R00008/625R00008.htm Water Wells and Septic Systems Handbook, R. Dodge Woodson. This book is in the upper price range, but is worth the cost for serious septic installers and designers.
Quoting Amazon: Each year, thousands upon thousands of Americans install water wells and septic systems on their properties. But with a maze of codes governing their use along with a host of design requirements that ensure their functionality where can someone turn for comprehensive, one-stop guidance? Enter the Water Wells and Septic Systems Handbook from McGraw-Hill. Wells and Septic Systems, Alth, Max and Charlet, Rev. by S. Blackwell Duncan, $ 18.95; Tab Books 1992. We have found this text very useful for conventional well and septic systems design and maintenance --DF.
Quoting an Amazon description:Here's all the information you need to build a well or septic system yourself - and save a lot of time, money, and frustration. S. Blackwell Duncan has thoroughly revised and updated this second edition of Wells and Septic Systems to conform to current codes and requirements. He also has expanded this national bestseller to include new material on well and septic installation, water storage and distribution, water treatment, ecological considerations, and septic systems for problem building sites. The NSFC Products List has an excellent list of design manuals/modules available from their website or by telephone 800-624-8301 Submissions welcome. send us a suggested document link or request an exchange of website links ... |
