Septic system design, installation, maintenance & repair guide questions & answers #6:

These septic system articles explain how to buy, inspect, install, test, diagnose maintain and repair septic tanks, drainfields, and all other components of all types of septic systems.

Page top photo: a new septic tank being installed at a New York home.

Septic System Installation FAQs

These questions & answers were posted originally

at SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR - the home page for an extensive library of onsite wastewater treatment and disposal systems.

Also see our index to all septic system questions and answers at SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR FAQs

Photo above: a peat mound septic system installation in Two Harbors, Minnesota.

 

I need an alternative septic system for my property at Lake Texoma;

I need an alternative septic system for my property at Lake Texoma; only have 8-10 inches of topsoil and then clay - normal septic (although was one at the site and was filled in) will not work, aerobic spray will not work as I have a 'wet' ditch within 60 feet of any area I can 'spray' water.

I read about a mound system - can't and will not pay 20k

- and a drip system which I'm told is as expensive as a mound system.

Either I come up with an affordable alternative or I will not be building on the lots. Any ideas and cost? On 2020-01-01 by John Kaiser

by (mod) - mound or drip / aerobic septic system options

In the ARTICLE INDEX find links to alternative septic system designs including

AEROBIC SEPTIC SYSTEMS, ATUs - home and

MOUND SEPTIC SYSTEMS

Do I need to seal un-used septic tank openings in the new septic tank by using cement?

A new prefabricated concrete septic tank may have multiple unneeded / unused pipe penetrations with preinstalled rubber connections (with uncut blank sections). Is it ever a problem with high ground water / mud pressure pushing thru these unused penetrations? Will time deteriorate them?

Should these unused penetrations be sealed with 4" plugs / blanks or hydraulic cement? On 2018-11-12 by W Cahoon

Reply by (mod) -

Not as long as the unused penetrations are un damaged and so not leaking.

Followup by Cahoo

I understand that when penetrations are undamaged and are not leaking there is no problem.

The question is, does anyone know if these unused/unneeded extra tank penetrations are EVER damaged by excessive water/mud outside pressure OR deterioration over time?

Specificity, when a new tank is installed as a replacement in the area of a original (replaced) drain field and and the surrounding soil is completely saturated by water and mud

--- so much that when you step around the tank you sink in and push the soil "Down Somewhere"

--- possibly putting pressure against the unused/unneeded penetrations and THEN causing damage. "IF" it did happen I suppose no one is likely to know

--- but if it did happen, high ground water may be forever leaking into the tank thru a damaged preinstalled unused penetration.

I wonder if this problem has ever been considered by the tank manufacturers

-- and maybe (hopefully) they HAVE considered it and have determined that it is not a problem.

 

Will septic tank and its absorption field damage my stone wall?

The house behind mine is 20 feet above my ground and I have a stone retaining wall.

The buyer of this house is installing a septic tank in back of the house and the backyard is only 35 feet behind the house.

Will this septic tank and its absorption field damage my stone wall?

Your knowledge and opinion are greatly appreciated. (Sept 9, 2014) Dana

Reply:

Dana

What might damage your stone wall would be driving excavaction equipment into it or excavating so close to it as to undermine the wall. Check with your building department about the required property setbacks for your neighbor's septic tank and fields - that ought to protect you.

let us know what you're told.

 

Worried about septic tank freezing in Thunder Bay Winter

We live in Thunder Bay. We had our septic tank pumped early fall. It is December and I see where the tank top is the grass is exposed there is only about 3 inches of snow. Is there something I should be worried about.

I'm afraid of the tank freezing. I know when tank works properly there is heat but to expose the grass was not sure. (25 Dec 2014) Dave 

Reply:

Dave it's normal for the septic tank to be a bit warm, both from receiving warm household water and from bacterial action. As long as there are no signs of backups nor sewage effluent leaking out to the surface your system is probably fine. But tell me if this snow-melt over septic is a new thing or if it has occurred in prior winters as well.

Also see our article about melting snow over septic system components found at

SEPTIC TANK GRASS or SNOWMELT

Reader follow-up:

Hello thanks for responding. Unfortunately this is the first winter for us. We bought the house in June. When we got it pumped the next door neighbour helped me and said that the owner never had a problem.

I did cover the tank covers with a shallow wood box to prevent hitting the cement cover with shovel in the next time that I get it pumped. I will keep a close watch the next little bit. I will check out the site of which you sent. Thank you Merry Xmas

See SEPTIC PUMP ALARM SYSTEMS

Reply:

Thanks for the follow-up, Dave, keep us posted.

What kind of cesspool can we build given our soil perc test results?

We had a test boring done in the only place we can put a new cesspool and the results were Perched Water: 6'1" comment possible stream. Estimated Actual Ground Water Level 18' O +/-

My question is how and what kind of cesspool can be put in under these conditions (Oct 1, 2014) perne construction

Reply: I would not install any kind of cesspool

Perne

I would not install any kind of cesspool - as that approach to wastewater disposal does not effectively treat the effluent (not enough aerobic bacteria) and as cesspools are not permitted in new construction in most jurisdictions.

If your lot space is very small you may need an advanced wastewater treatment system, even an aboveground one such as Jantrania discusses. It's time to ask for help from a septic design engineer.

 

We need a design for a septic system over soil with high water table

I'm trying to get a septic permit for a property I gave an offer to. In 2002 it was denied due to "too shallow to water table". Is there any solution to this? 20 January 2015 Susie

Reply:

Susie you need

1. to find out what septic designs your local health department will approve, perhaps a raised bed septic or a mound septic design or another alternative design - see the designs including the two I cite In

SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN ALTERNATIVES - home

2. to find a local septic design engineer who understands local soil conditions as well as what the building department finds comfortable among various designs

Keep us posted

...

Continue reading  at SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR - topic home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see - more recent Q&A on septic system diagnosis, repair, installation, inspection

Or see these

• SEPTIC MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS

Suggested citation for this web page

SEPTIC SYSTEM INSTALLATION 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 SEPTIC SYSTEMS

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.

Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.

Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like.
You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted.
Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response.

---

 

IF above you see "Comment Form is loading comments..." then COMMENT BOX - countable.ca / bawkbox.com IS NOT WORKING.

In any case you are welcome to send an email directly to us at InspectApedia.com at editor@inspectApedia.com

We'll reply to you directly. Please help us help you by noting, in your email, the URL of the InspectApedia page where you wanted to comment.

Citations & References

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

---

ADVERTISEMENT

---