Building Inspection, Diagnosis & Repair Info

Septic system D-box or drop box layout in the septic system - US EPA 1980Septic System D-Box Piping

Septic system drop box piping: what type & size of pipe is used from septic tank to D-box and from D-box into the septic drainfield or soak-bed trenches?

Septic system D box installation, specifications, inspection, diagnosis, and repair: in this article series about septic system drop boxes we describe the best procedures for locating and inspecting, repairing or replacing the septic drainfield distribution box, or the "D-box" or "Splitter box".

If the D-box is leaking, smells, or is tipped, clogged, or otherwise not working this article describes how to diagnose & fix the trouble.

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Septic D-Box Piping: Solid or Perforated?

Are the pipes from the D-box solid or perforated?

Septic system drop box or D-box being installed, Tucson AZ (C) Daniel Friedman

Our reader asked:

Are the pipes leading from the D-Box have a drywell system) solid or perforated, one side of the yard is very wet, the other side seems bone dry,

could one the pipes either clogged or the other broken, not sure which one to dig up 1st - Joe M

Answer: It depends on septic drainfield layout

Our photo (left) shows a septic system drop box or D-box being installed in a new septic soakaway bed in Tucson, Arizona in the U.S.

The use of solid vs. perforated pipes downstream from the D-box would depend on the septic field layout, but typically from the D-box there will be a solid effluent-carrying pipe serving as a manifold that then feeds individual perforated lines in drainfield trenches.

In theory in my OPINION there is nothing preventing the beginning of gravel-trenches quite close to the d-box, in which case wherever the pipe is running in a gravel trench intended to absorb effluent, the pipe would be perforated.

But I would NOT run perforated effluent piping through mere soil backfill (i.e. not a gravel-filled trench) as you'd be inviting soil infiltration and clogging of the line.


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Citations & Reviewers

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

  • New York State Department of Health, APPENDIX 75-A WASTEWATER TREATMENT STANDARDS - INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLD SYSTEMS , [PDF] New York State Department of Health, 3 February 2010, retrieved 3/1/2010, original source: https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/nycrr/title_10/part_75/appendix_75-a.htm
  • [1] Readers of this page should also see System Design Regulations 75-A.7 Distribution lines, distribution boxes, gravity flow, pressure distribution, dosing, siphons design specifications for septic systems.
  • [2] Thanks to reader Nicholas Day for discussing D-box troubles and repairs, September 2010
  • [4] "Drainfield Rehabilitation", Pipeline, Winter 2005, Vol. 16, No. 1, NESC, National Environmental Services Center, 800-624-8301 [copy on file as [/septic/D-boxes/NESC_2005-16_1.pdf
  • [5] 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).
  • [6] Builder's Guide to Wells and Septic Systems, Woodson, R. Dodge: $ 24.95; MCGRAW HILL B; TP;
  • [9] Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, Bennette D. Burks, Mary Margaret Minnis, Hogarth House 1994
  • [10] 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
  • [11] Percolation Testing Manual, CNMI Division of Environmental Quality, PO Box 501304, Saipan, MP 96950
  • [15] 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
  • [18] The NSFC Products List has an excellent list of design manuals/modules National Small Flows Clearinghouse (NSFC) now (2019/12/13) hosted at http://www.nesc.wvu.edu/ Tel: 304-293-4191 e-mail info@mail.nesc.wvu.edu.
  • In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested

    CONTINUE READING or RECOMMENDED ARTICLES.

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