Steep slope septic system piping FAQs.

This article sseries describes the installation of drain lines on steep slopes between a house and the septic tank.

FAQs on installing or replaceing septic / sewer pipe at Steep Sites

These questions & answers about how to route pipes for septic systems built on steep slopes were posted originally at SEWER / SEPTIC LINES at STEEP SITES - be sure to see the advice given there.

On 2019-02-08 by (mod) - What kind of valve goes from the pump to the drain field

Anon

I don't know as I don't know what sort of septic system we're discussing, nor where the pump and drainfield are, nor what slopes, distances, etc. are involved, but I SPECULATE that you're asking about a check valve that would be used to prevent up-sloping pipes from draining backwards into the septic pump or effluent pump system.

On 2019-02-08 by Anonymous

What kind of valve goes from the pump to the drain field

On 2018-05-08 by (mod) -

Marvin,

As I can't see anything about your drainfield from here in Central Mexico I'm left having to guess.

OPINION: Design of effluent disposal systems on a slope is difficult: the installation has to control the flow of effluent in the upper trenches, slowing its passage there. Otherwise, as is patently obvious, all of the effluent wants to rush down to the lowest point in the system, reaching it quickly and overloading it by saturating the soil just as you have described.

I think that a savvy septic design engineer would look very carefully at the slope of the upper lines, making sure they don't slope too much, maybe staying within 1/8" per foot. Since digging with a backhoe and placement of pipes is often not lab-grade precise, careful monitoring and adjustment during construction could be what was needed - and maybe lacking.

At this point I think the engineer would dig a few test cuts into the system to see how effluent is flowing, and she might be able to fix the system by adding some flow restrictors upstream from the lowest and flooding trench.

Another alternative might be to go to a dosing system design.

On 2018-05-08 by Marvin

My old drain field failed. My contractor replaced the failed drain field with 4 trenches (supposedly) level with a step-down to a 5th trench.

The installation permit and inspection report call this a "Serial" drain field with "2" trenches. In less than 12 months after installation, effluent is surfacing to my yard at the step-down to the 5th trench.

The property has 6% slope.

The Health Dept and the contractor seem clueless as to the cause of this hydraulic overload. What is causing this problem and can it be corrected?

On 2018-02-21 by (mod) -

Elsa

The sewer line piping should slope between 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch per foot.

On 2018-02-21 by Elsa

What is the maximum pipe slope for sewer line from main building to septic tank?Please.

On 2017-10-10 by (mod) -

Use 45s not 90s just as with any drain line

There is no limit on vertical drop AFTER a plumbing trap.

Maintain the required minimum slope, typically 2% or 1/8"/ft to 1/4"/ft in non-vertical lines

On 2017-10-09 by Jason youngman

I'm Looking to step my sewer pipe down a couple of times. What's the best thing to use to step it down

On 2017-09-24 by (mod) -

Costa,,

perhaps what you have installed is a sewage ejector pump or lift pump that is Raising waste water out of your building to a sewer line that is at a higher level.

You can read more about these pumps if you used the inspectapedia on Page search box or the ARTICLE INDEX to find our article series titled SEWAGE EJECTOR PUMPS and also SEWAGE PUMP ALARM

Typically a sewage ejector pump may have an alarm that sounds if the level of sewage in the pumping Basin gets too high, indicating that the pump isn't working and that there's a risk of a sewage backup in your building

On 2017-09-22 by Costa

I am tied into this city sewer system but I also have a pump alarm that is sounding not sure what's going on

On 2017-02-08 by Chuck

Can I run sewer line from a guest house to main house 120ft above ground ?

On 2016-09-15 by Ray

I need to lay a sewer pipe 60 meter run which is down the hill how do I go about this

On 2016-09-03 by (mod) -

Sure, Frank,

take a look at sewer ejector pumps and effluent pumps - search InspectApedia.com for SEWAGE PUMPS to see solutions.

On 2016-09-02 by frank

cant get enough slope to my drain from my shop any ideas

...

Continue reading  at SEWER / SEPTIC LINES at STEEP SITES - topic home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Steep Slope Septic System Articles

• SEPTIC CONSULTANTS, DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS
• SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN ALTERNATIVES - home
• SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS - home
• SEWER / SEPTIC LINES at STEEP SITES
• STEEP SLOPE SEPTIC DESIGNS

Suggested citation for this web page

SEWER / SEPTIC LINES for STEEP SITES FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to DRAIN SEPTIC SEWER PIPES

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