How To Install A Septic Tank Into An Existing Vault? (TOP 5 Tips)

• Set it level where it’s going through the wall or under the footing, and from there run with about an 1/8″ per foot of pitch (slope) toward the septic tank. Go further or all the way into the tank if required. If not, switch to 4″ 3034 with the appropriate adapter and pipe toward the tank with 3034.

What is a vault septic system?

A holding tank or vault receives wastewater from a home or commercial establishment and stores it until it is pumped out and hauled to a receiving/processing facility. Although similar to septic tanks, vaults have no outlet piping and must be watertight. The volume can range from 1,000 gallons to 4,000 gallons or more.

How deep in the ground should a septic tank be?

Septic tanks are typically rectangular in shape and measure approximately 5 feet by 8 feet. In most cases, septic tank components including the lid, are buried between 4 inches and 4 feet underground. You can use a metal probe to locate its edges and mark the perimeter.

Can you have a septic tank without a leach field?

The waste from most septic tanks flows to a soakaway system or a drainage field. If your septic tank doesn’t have a drainage field or soakaway system, the waste water will instead flow through a sealed pipe and empty straight into a ditch or a local water course.

What are the 3 types of septic systems?

Types of Septic Systems

• Septic Tank.
• Conventional System.
• Chamber System.
• Drip Distribution System.
• Aerobic Treatment Unit.
• Mound Systems.
• Recirculating Sand Filter System.
• Evapotranspiration System.

Do concrete septic tanks float?

A precast concrete septic tank will never “float” to the surface as some lighter weight tanks can do in certain situations. With a specific gravity of 2.40, precast concrete septic tanks resist buoyant forces better than other septic tank materials.

How much does it cost to pump a septic tank?

How much does it cost to pump out a septic tank? The average cost is $300, but can run up to $500, depending on your location. The tank should be pumped out every three to five years.

Should you fill a new septic tank with water?

2 Answers. Yes the system should be filled with water and the installer should have done that. There is a good chance the tanks can float out of the hole if it rains heavy when they are first put in if you do not put water in them.

How deep are drain fields buried?

A typical drainfield trench is 18 to 30 inches in depth, with a maximum soil cover over the disposal field of 36 inches.

How long do septic tanks last?

A septic system’s lifespan should be anywhere from 15 to 40 years. How long the system lasts depends on a number of factors, including construction material, soil acidity, water table, maintenance practices, and several others.

What can I use instead of a septic tank?

Alternative Septic Systems

• Raised Bed (Mound) Septic Tank Systems. A raised bed drain field (sometimes called a mound) is just like what it sounds.
• Aerobic Treatment Systems (ATS) Aerobic systems are basically a small scale sewage treatment system.
• Waterless Systems.

Are septic tanks still legal?

Septic Tanks Explained… Septic tanks cannot discharge to surface water drains, rivers, canals, ditches, streams or any other type of waterway. you are required to upgrade or replace your septic tank treatment system to a full sewage treatment plant by 2020, or when you sell a property, if it’s prior to this date.

What is the difference between a septic tank and a leach field?

The septic tank stores solid waste products that are not reduced to liquid effluent until you have them pumped out and disposed of properly. The leech field is a series of perforated pipes that provide an effective means for disposing of contaminates without endangering animals or contaminating the ground water.

Installation – Septic Tank and Septic System Services, Repairs, Installations in New Jersey

Whether it’s new construction or renovation, AL Septic offers more than 40 years of expertise in the septic industry. Don’t take any chances with your investment. Invite one of our professionals to come out and do a thorough examination of your situation. Septic system waste will flow out of the home and into the holding tank in a standard system. The solids are held in this tank, while the liquids are transported to the opposite side of the tank. The liquids drain to the leeching field most of the time via gravity.

Experience plays a significant role in offering this service with little fuss and without surprises.

There are several elements that must be taken into consideration in order to ensure that your task is finished efficiently and on schedule.

Drainfields constructed in the old school style are made of conventional gravel.

• In the classic gravity drainfield, long trenches filled with specific gravel (inch and a half in diameter, round, uniform, and scrubbed clean) are used to disperse effluent into the soil, with perforated pipes running down the middle of the trench to distribute the wastewater.
• The effluent is distributed to the earth via the trench’s floor, which is made of concrete.
• If vaults are utilized, some county health officials will allow a smaller drainfield to be constructed.
• Plastic pipes are now almost universally utilized in septic systems, whereas previous systems relied on clay or concrete pipes instead.
• But for structural and financial reasons, concrete septic tanks continue to be favoured over fiberglass and particularly polyethylene tank options in the wastewater treatment industry.
• In practice, this is not always the case.
• Health regulations typically allow the installer one inch of leeway in each direction.
• In finer soils, loamy sands, and even finer soils, the trench bottom will serve as the distribution mechanism for the water and nutrients.
• For a long time, most jurisdictions assumed that pressure distribution had no added value in soils that did not contain the term sand in their names.
• The only way to assure years of trouble-free operation and long-lasting service is to implement a regular septic system cleaning and maintenance program.

Once your system has been properly built, AL Septic will schedule regular maintenance with your consent to guarantee that it continues to provide years of dependable service.

Septic Permit Instructions (Health)

HAEDownload the OWTS Permit Application Instructions as a PDF file from the link provided.

Permit Types

• In the case of new construction or new systems constructed to service additional houses, shops, garages, barns, and other structures where a sewage connection from a municipality or sewer district is not accessible within 400 feet, a new system is required. The term “major repair” refers to any type of repair that includes the replacement, extension, or modification of the soil treatment area. Minor Repair: A septic tank replacement necessitated the need for this service. A sealed vault, vaulted privy, composting toilet, or a sealed vault and composting toilet are all required for the construction or maintenance of a sealed vault, vaulted privy, composting toilet, or a sealed vault and composting toilet. For further information on these systems, refer to the “Limited Use Wastewater Systems” guidelines. Improvements to the soil treatment area are required for building extensions and basement finishing projects that increase the overall number of bedrooms in a residence. Only if test pits need to be examined prior to submitting an application for a permit is a site evaluation required.

Application Process

1. Prior to submitting an application for an OWTS permit, a soils test on the land must be done. The soils test will consist of either percolation testing and two soil test pits, or two soil test pits dug in the region of the planned soil treatment area, depending on which option is selected. As part of the application procedure, the soils test pits must be kept available for inspection by Larimer County officials at all times. The opening of the test pit should be secured by fence, spikes, or other necessary precautions in order to avoid accidents or injuries. If test pits must be covered prior to submitting an application for a permit, a site study may be requested
2. However, there is an additional price for this service. Fill out an OWTS Permit Application and drop it off at either the Fort Collins or Estes Park addresses indicated above to be considered. Applicants are required to provide a copy of the soils test result, design document, plot plan, and engineer’s design (if applicable) along with their application. Each type of permit has a different set of costs, which are indicated at the top of the application form, and payment is required at the time of submission. A soils report as well as a sketch design are required to be included with the application for New System permits. The sketch plan includes the fundamental calculations for the proposed system, as well as a strategy for how the system will be deployed and configured. For traditional, non-engineered systems, this may be included as part of the soils report or submitted separately if the system is not designed. It is required that the system be developed by a licensed professional engineer under the following circumstances
3. The soil types 0, 3A, 4, 4A, and 5, as well as sites with a percolation rate that does not fall between 5 and 60 minutes per inch, are considered to be high-percolation sites. Land where the depth to bedrock, seasonal high groundwater, or seasonal low groundwater is no more than 4 feet below the present grade. Systems that make use of pressure distribution. A site that has a slope of 30 percent or greater and where the intended soil treatment area is located
4. A plot plan is required for all permit categories and must be included with the application (example on opposite page). Plot plans are not required to be hand drawn but should include the following information: property borders and existing structures
5. The size of the planned system
6. And the approximate location of soil testing (percolation tests and/or soil test pits). Immediately upon submission of the permit application, Department employees will conduct a site inspection on the property to verify the appropriateness of the site, check the test pits, and review the soils report information. During the site inspection, the site must be well marked with the address, and the soil test pits must be accessible for examination at all times. The opening of the test pit should be secured by fence, spikes, or other necessary precautions in order to avoid accidents or injuries. Because of inclement weather, site inspections and soil test pit inspections may be postponed throughout the winter months. An OWTS permit will be provided in about 5 days from the time the application is submitted if all requirements of the Larimer County OWTS Regulations are met, and the results of the site inspection are satisfactory. If you are working during the busiest time of the year, expect a lengthier turnaround.

Notes

• The permit will specify the minimum system size for the tank and the soil treatment area, among other things. It is critical to thoroughly review the permit before commencing construction to ensure that there are no details or additional inspections that are special to the project. When past testing information for the property is available and a site examination of a soil test pit reveals that the depth to groundwater or bedrock is greater than 4 feet from the current grade, the requirement for a soils report may be waived for Major Repair permits. The size of the system is determined by the number of bedrooms in the house as well as the results of the soils test. Overall, finer clay type soils require a bigger soil treatment area than coarser sandier types of soils. The system should be designed according to the anticipated total number of bedrooms, if there is an unfinished basement or a future expansion that may increase the number of bedrooms. The cost of adding to or upgrading a system that has already been finished might be much greater than the cost of adding more capacity during the initial building phase of the project.

Sample Plot Plan

Providing a plot plan on a separate 8-1/2″ x 11″ page that depicts the following information is not required; the plot plan does not have to be to scale.

• The planned OWTS’s location
• Existing or proposed structures, wells (including those of neighbors)
• Roadways
• And other features
• The slope of the land
• Indications as to the location of soil test pits

How Does a Septic Tank Work?

Mr. Fix-It-Up-For-The-Family You may save a lot of money if you understand how a sewage treatment system works—and what can go wrong—so that you can handle your own septic system maintenance.

How does a septic tank work?

Pumping the tank on a regular basis eliminates sludge and scum, which helps to keep a septic system in good working order. It is possible for a well-designed and well built septic system to last for decades, or it might collapse in a matter of years. It is entirely up to you as long as you can answer the question of how do septic tanks function. Healthy septic systems are very inexpensive to maintain, but digging up and replacing a septic system that has completely collapsed may easily cost tens of thousands in labor and material costs.

It’s critical to understand how a septic tank works in order to maintain one.

Let’s take a look below ground and observe what happens in a properly operating septic system, shall we?

Understand that a septic system is a cafeteria for bacteria

Bacteria are responsible for the proper operation of a septic system. They decompose garbage, resulting in water that is clean enough to safely trickle down into the earth’s surface. The entire system is set up to keep bacteria healthy and busy at all times. Some of them reside in the tank, but the majority of them are found in the drain field. 1. The septic tank is the final destination for all waste. 2. The majority of the tank is filled with watery waste, referred to as “effluent.” Anaerobic bacteria begin to break down the organic matter in the effluent as soon as it enters the system.

1. A layer of sludge settles to the bottom of the container.
2. 4.
3. Scum is mostly constituted of fats, greases, and oils, among other substances.
4. Grease and oils float to the surface of the water.
5. (5) A filter stops the majority of particles from reaching the exit pipe.
6. The effluent is discharged into the drain field.
7. Effluent is allowed to leak into the surrounding gravel because of holes in the drain septic field pipe.

When gravel is used to surround pipes, water can run into the soil and oxygen can reach germs. The garbage is completely decomposed by aerobic bacteria found in gravel and dirt. 9. Potable water seeps into the groundwater and aquifer system from the surface.

Septic Tank Clean Out: Don’t abuse the system

Septic systems that have been correctly planned and constructed require just occasional ‘pumping’ to remove the sludge and scum that has built up inside the tank. However, if you don’t understand how a septic tank works, you may unintentionally hurt or even destroy the system.

• Drains are used to dispose of waste that decomposes slowly (or not at all). Cigarette butts, diapers, and coffee grounds are all known to cause issues. Garbage disposers, if utilized excessively, can introduce an excessive amount of solid waste into the system. Lint from synthetic fibers is emitted from washing machine lint traps. This substance is not degraded by bacteria in the tank and drain septic field. Bacteria are killed by chemicals found in the home, such as disinfecting cleansers and antibacterial soaps. The majority of systems are capable of withstanding limited usage of these goods, but the less you use them, the better. When a large amount of wastewater is produced in a short period of time, the tank is flushed away too quickly. When there is too much sludge, bacteria’s capacity to break down waste is reduced. Sludge can also overflow into the drain field if there is too much of it. Sludge or scum obstructs the flow of water via a pipe. It is possible for tree and shrub roots to obstruct and cause harm to a drain field. Compacted soil and gravel prevent wastewater from seeping into the ground and deprive germs of oxygen. Most of the time, this is caused by vehicles driving or parking on the drain field.

Get your tank pumped…

Your tank must be emptied on a regular basis by a professional. Pumping eliminates the accumulation of sludge and scum that has accumulated in the tank, which has caused the bacterial action to be slowed. If you have a large tank, it may be necessary to pump it once a year; but, depending on the size of your tank and the quantity of waste you send through the system, you may go two or three years between pumpings. Inquire with your inspector about an approximate guideline for how frequently your tank should be pumped.

…but don’t hire a pumper until you need it

Inspections and pumping should be performed on a regular basis. However, if you’re not afraid of getting your hands dirty, you may verify the sludge level yourself with a gadget known as The Sludge Judge. It ranges in price from $100 to $125 and is commonly accessible on the internet. Once you’ve verified that your tank is one-third full with sludge, you should contact a professional to come out and pump it out completely.

Install an effluent filter in your septic system

Garbage from your home accumulates into three distinct strata. The septic filter is responsible for preventing blockage of the drain field pipes.

Septic tank filter close-up

The septic tank filter is responsible for capturing suspended particles that may otherwise block the drain field pipes. Obtain an effluent filter for your tank from your contractor and place it on the outflow pipe of your tank. (It will most likely cost between $50 and $100, plus labor.) This device, which helps to prevent sediments from entering the drain field, will need to be cleaned out on a regular basis by a contractor to maintain its effectiveness.

Solution for a clogged septic system

If your septic system becomes clogged and you find yourself having to clean the filter on a regular basis, you might be tempted to simply remove the filter altogether. Hold on to it. Solids, wastewater, and scum are separated into three levels in septic tanks, which allows them to function properly (see illustration above). Solids sink to the bottom of the container, where microbes breakdown them. The scum, which is made up of trash that is lighter than water, rises to the surface. In the drainage field, the middle layer of effluent leaves the tank and goes through an underground network of perforated pipes to the drainage field.

1. Keep the effluent filter in place since it is required by your state’s health law.
2. Waste particles might flow through the filter and clog the perforated pipes if the filter is not used.
3. Your filter, on the other hand, should not require cleaning every six months.
4. A good chance is high that you’re flushing filter-clogging things down the toilet, such as grease, fat, or food scraps.
5. A garbage disposal will not be able to break down food particles sufficiently to allow them to flow through the septic tank filtration system.
6. Plastic items, disposable diapers, paper towels, nonbiodegradable goods, and tobacco products will clog the system if they are flushed through it.

For additional information on what should and should not be flushed down the toilet, contact your local health authority. More information on removing lint from your laundry may be found here.

Get an inspection

Following a comprehensive first check performed by an expert, regular inspections will cost less than $100 each inspection for the next year. Your professional will be able to inform you how often you should get your system inspected as well as how a septic tank functions. As straightforward as a septic system appears, determining its overall condition necessitates the services of a professional. There are a plethora of contractors who would gladly pump the sludge out of your tank, but many, in my experience, are unable to explain how a septic system works or how it should be maintained.

A certification scheme for septic contractors has been established in certain states; check with your state’s Secretary of State’s office to see whether yours is one of them.

Also, a qualified inspector will be able to tell you whether or not your tank is large enough to accommodate your household’s needs, as well as the maximum amount of water that can be passed through it in a single day.

As you learn more about how a septic tank works, your professional should be able to tell you whether or not your system will benefit from this treatment.

Alternatives to a new drain field

If an examination or a sewage backup indicate that your drain field is in need of replacement, the only option is to replace it completely. As a result, it’s important to talk with a contractor about other possibilities before proceeding with the project.

• If an examination or a sewage backup indicate that your drain field is in need of replacement, the only option is to replace it completely. A contractor should be consulted about alternative possibilities because the costs might be quite expensive.

Protect your drain septic field from lint

When this device is in place, it inhibits lint from entering the system, especially synthetic fibers that bacteria are unable to digest. One of these filters, which I’ve designed and termed theSeptic Protector, was invented by me. An additional filter is included in the price of around $150 plus delivery. Learn more about how to filter out laundry lint in this article.

Don’t overload the septic system

Reduce the amount of water you use. The volume of water that flows into your tank, particularly over a short period of time, can be reduced to avoid untreated waste from being flushed into your drain field. Replace outdated toilets with low-flow ones, install low-flow showerheads, and, perhaps most importantly, wash laundry throughout the week rather than just on Saturday mornings to save water.

Meet the Expert

Septic systems, according to Jim vonMeier, are the solution to America’s water deficit because they supply cleaned water to depleted aquifers, according to vonMeier. He travels the country lobbying for septic systems, giving lectures, and giving testimony. For septic system inquiries, as well as information on the operation of the septic tank, contact him by email.

New System, Repair, Vault, and Statement of Existing

Application forms are required if you desire to establish a new system, repair or upgrade an existing system, connect to an existing system that has been authorized, or install a vault.

The use of a vault is only permitted under specified conditions. Please call the Environmental Health Services Division at (970) 400-6415 to find out if your circumstance qualifies for this program.

Requirements

Application forms are required if you want to establish a new system, repair or upgrade an existing system, link to an existing system that has been approved, or put in a vault. It is only in exceptional conditions that a vault may be utilized. In order to establish if your case qualifies, please call the Environmental Health Services Division at (970) 400-6415.

• Completing the Septic Information Form (included in the Application Packet) and paying the applicable charge
• Site and soils evaluation, design document, engineered design (if required), signed and stamped engineering design, and site plan are all included. If the information is less than ten years old, it can be used
• The Parcel Identification Number. Obtaining this information is possible through the Weld County Assessor’s Office. If the applicant is not the property owner, an Authorization Form must be completed. Detailed map showing the property’s location
• The name of the property owner must be displayed on the premises. Packet containing an application

A site inspection will be performed prior to the issue of the permit. Please ensure that the site is clearly designated, and that the locations of the well, the occlusion system, and the soil tests are likewise clearly marked with stakes or flagging. If we are unable to locate your website, we will be unable to complete your application.

Chapter 13.35 SEPTIC AND WASTEWATER DISPOSAL SYSTEMS

Sections: 13.35.010General. 13.35.020Definitions. 13.35.030Septic and wastewater disposal systems that have been approved. 13.35.040 The prerequisite for a plat note. Connection to the city sewer system is required under Section 13.35.050. 13.35.060Exceptions. 13.35.070Approval from the county is necessary. 13.35.080 Design requirements must be met. At the sewage treatment facility, waste from cesspools and septic tanks is emptied and processed.

13.35.010General.

On-site wastewater disposal systems, including septic systems, holding tanks or vaults, and cesspools, are defined in this chapter as meeting the general standards.

13.35.020Definitions.

A. “Cesspool” refers to a covered pit that accepts raw sewage without the use of a septic tank as a further treatment. B. “Septic system” refers to an on-site wastewater system that often includes a septic tank or settling tank, as well as an absorption system that may include absorption trenches, absorption beds, deep wall trenches, or seepage pits, among other things. In this definition, a “septic tank” is a waterproof receptacle that accepts the discharge of sewage and is intended and constructed to allow for the deposit of settled solids, digestion of the substance deposited, and discharge of the liquid component of the sewage into an absorption system.

D.

13.35.030Permitted septic and wastewater disposal systems.

A septic system may be approved by the city council with the preliminary subdivision plat approval (for new subdivisions) or by the building official (for existing lots or parcels) if it meets one or more of the following criteria: a sewage holding tank or vault, privy, cesspool, septic tank, or septic system for the storage, treatment, or disposal of sewage or waste water. a. The lot is located in an existing subdivision that has been explicitly designated for septic system usage on the recorded subdivision plat; b.

The lot is not located within a water source protection overlay zone.

The proposed property does not meet the following criteria: 1.

it is more than five acres in size; 3.

it does not fall within a water source protection overlay zone In addition to being larger than one acre in size, the proposed lot must be placed inside a planned subdivision at least one-quarter mile (1,320 feet) away from an existing sewage line, and it must not be within a water source protection overlay zone.

13.35.040Plat note requirement.

The construction of any sewage holding tank or vault, privy, cesspool, septic tank, or any septic system for the storage, treatment, or disposal of sewage or waste water within the city limits is prohibited, except that a septic system may be approved by the city council in conjunction with the preliminary subdivision plat approval (for new subdivisions) or the building official (for existing lots or parcels) if it meets one of the following requirements: a.

1. The lot is located in an existing subdivision that has been explicitly designated for septic system usage on the recorded subdivision plat; b.
2. The lot is not located within a water source protection overlay zone.
3. The proposed property does not meet the following criteria: 1.
4. it is more than five acres in size; 3.
5. it does not fall within a water source protection overlay zone C.

13.35.050Mandatory connection to city sewer system.

When a note is included in a subdivision plat for a property informing the property owner that the property must be connected to the public sewer system, the property owner is required to connect any new or existing structures to the public sewer system, as well as abandon or remove any existing septic systems, at the property owner’s sole cost and expense, within three years of a connection to a sewer line being available within 300 feet of the property.

B. If any of the following conditions exist, a property owner is required to connect any new or existing structures to the public sewer and to abandon or remove any existing septic systems at the owner’s sole cost and expense within one year of a sewer line becoming available within 300 feet of the property: a.

The septic system is interfering with the operation of any culinary or municipal wells.

It is not totally functional or emitting smells since the septic system is not fully functional.

13.35.060Exceptions.

A property owner who owns a subdivision plat or a piece of land that predates or does not have a note requiring the property owner to connect to the public sewer and who has an existing septic system in good working order shall not be required to connect any existing structures to the public sewer, or abandon or remove an existing septic system in order to connect to the public sewer, unless the system is found by the city to be polluting or negatively impacting groundwater, the environment, or the property owner’ It is not permissible for the owner to do any of the following:a.

1. Change or change an existing system, including expanding the size of or adding new structures to an existing system.
2. Install a new septic system to replace an old one that is failing.
3. If the septic system is within 500 feet of a water source protection overlay zone, the owner is required to do the following:a.
4. Have new septic systems installed within 500 feet of a water source protection overlay zone.

B. A property owner may submit a written request to the city council requesting that EMMC13.35.040 be waived in unusual circumstances. Exceptions will be considered and granted by the municipal council on an individual case-by-case basis.

13.35.070County approval required.

Prior to the issue of a building permit, the Utah County health department must approve septic systems in writing before they may be installed.

13.35.080Design criteria.

All septic systems must be developed in line with the regulations of the Utah County health department as well as the International Plumbing Code (IPCC).

13.35.090Discharging waste from cesspools and septic tanks at sewage treatment plant.

Except at the designated site created for such purposes at the Eagle Mountain City sewage disposal treatment plant, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to discharge the waste material collected and gathered in cleaning cesspools or septic tanks anywhere within the corporate limits of the city except at the designated site created for such purposes at the sewage disposal treatment plant. Those who engage in illegal discharges may face fines of up to $10,000 per incident.