Presented by: Jon Bellamy On Site Septic Systems Presented by: Jon Bellamy

Septic systems are Governed By: Florida Administrative code 64-E6

Permit Terminology New – Current standards Repair – replacement with grandfather rules Existing – using the same tank and drain field but adding on to a residence. – No Bedrooms Modification – Using same tank, adding drain field for renovations to a home of office.

Septic Teminology Black water – “Pooh” and other solids in water Grey Water – Black water, with out the solids. Also known as effluent water Septic Tank – A tank which is water tight and has been approved by the health department. Must be vacuum tested, and manufactured by an approved contractor.

Septic Terminology Con’t. Drain Field – Area of soil that allows gray water to filter back into the ground or back into the atmosphere. ALSO known as; leech field or field drain. Drain field Material – any product that is approved by environmental health that stores water under the ground to allow it to percolate into the surrounding soil. Septic filter – a device to keep solids from going to the drain field.

Common Field Drain Material Chambers Bundled Pipe

Other Field Drain material not commonly used by contractors Ez Lay – Made of Styrofoam – Breaks down with house hold cleaners. (acetates) Rock with PTI Pipe : Cost

Septic Filter The septic filter didn’t come into use until the mid 1990’s. The purpose was to keep solids from making it to the drain field causing it to stop up and fail.

How a SEPTIC TANK works A common misperception, a septic tank only works when it is full. The water in the tank allows for solids to separate and fall or float. (pooh-sinkers and Floaters) The solids are kept in the front baffled area only allowing grey water to get to the back baffled area of the tank. From there the grey water passes through the septic filter going out to the field drain.

Examples of septic tank Concrete Polyethylene or Plastic

Inside View of tank Polyethylene or Plastic Concrete

Side View of a working Septic Tank

Septic Tanks (Con’t) Inside the tank 2 types of bacteria Grow. Anaerobic Aerobic This bacteria helps break down the sludge.

Anaerobic bacteria Naturally forms Does not require oxygen to live Requires more time to break down sludge Generally works on the “Sinker” part of sludge

Aerobic Bacteria Naturally Forms Requires Oxygen to live. Works Faster than anaerobic bacteria in breaking down sludge. Typically deals with the “Floaters”

Common Myth NO! Should I have my septic tank pumped annually? Remember when the tank is pumped not only are we removing sludge, but we are also removing the bacteria. Recommendation – pump every 5 years.

Myth vs. Fact Should I use any type of septic tank treatment? Studies have shown that by adding septic treatment products, it helps the bacteria to grow and multiply. Rid ex, and other brands do the same thing as “Bakers Yeast” Is it necessary? No- remember the bacteria forms naturally.

Field Drains For onsite treatment systems, the field drain is the most important part. This is what allows the water to percolate back in or evaporate out

Reasons for field drain failure 1. Roots 2. Bio-material 3. heavy equipment driving over it 4. Heavy usage of antibiotics-Chemopatients

Field Drain Types There are 3 types of Field Drains Common 1. In Ground 2. Mound- Above Ground Special rarely used 3. Advanced Aerobic treatment units

Field Drains - Soils To establish what type of Field drain you will work at your home, soil tests will have to be performed. The soils test tells us what type of soil you have (ie: sand, clay, sandy clay, or hard pan) It also tells us where the mean high water table is. – This is not ground water, it is where ground water has been over the last 100 years. This is known as “mottling”.

Mottling in Soil Sand Clay

Florida Requirements for Soil Current code: Field drain has to be 24 inches above the mottling Any hard pan with in 36 inches of the bottom of the field drain has to be removed. Sand is preferred, however with clay the drain field gets enlarged. By almost 2 times.

Designing a new septic system When designing a septic system, there are rules and setbacks that have to be meet. The rules are more strict than if using, grandfather rules for repairs. Most new systems will be mound systems, with pumps.

Why a mounded system? New regulations want the septic system to work more on evaporation rather than percolation. This allows for more purification of water. Studies have found that a system with a pump, also known as a “dosed System”, uses the entire field drain by filling it up then letting it evaporate or absorb. Gravity fed systems only use the front 25% because the water get introduced gradually.

Determining the location If a new system is a dosed system, we can install the mound anywhere with in a 800 foot radius because it is on a pump. This allows the mound to be placed further out of sight than in the front yard. The system has to meet all of the following set backs.

Set Backs System has to be 75 feet from any residential well System has to be 100 feet from any shared well (2 homes) System has to be 200 feet from any public well (serving more than 2 homes) System has to be 50 feet from an irrigation well

Set Backs System has to be 15 feet from any potable water lines System has to be 75 feet from river, lakes, or ponds. ( Rivers require a surveyor) System has to be 75 feet from wet ditches, or 5 feet from dry ditches. System has to be 5 feet from side and back property lines, OR DEEDED UTILITY EASMENTS System has to be 15 feet from front property line.

Set Backs System has to be a minimum if 2 feet off the foundation *** or 5 feet off the drip line of the house. **** Plumbing codes require a clean out at 24 inches off of the house. Most contractors use 5 feet minimum. System has to be installed 25 feet from swimming pools System has to be 25 feet from water treatment units

Set Backs System has to be 5 feet off of any tree. Note- if it is a mounded system the tree is allowed to be in the slope. If you take out the roots of a tree on one side the tree will live. If you have to take out 2 sides, take the tree down because it will die.

Site plan

Septic mounds VS Landscaped Standard

Mound Requirements All vegetation has to be removed from the area of the mound – this includes 6 inches below to remove grass roots. Mounds have to be constructed of Septic sand. Once the field drain product is installed, there has to be a minimum of 6 inches of sand on top of the product.

Mound Requirements There has to be a minimum of 4 feet of sand from the side of the field drain to the edge of the mound before you can start a slope. Slopes- the grade (steepness) of the angle. This is shown as 5:1. 5 is the number of feet out, 1 is the number of feet high. So if the mound is 2 feet high, the slope would be 10 feet long. (5x2).

Mound – slope requirements 2:1 slope – requires sod on sides, grass seed and hay on top. Very hard to mow and maintain. 3:1 Slope – requires sod on sides, grass seed and hay on top, can be maintained with a push mower. 5:1 Slope – Requires only grass seed and hay. Very easy to maintain, can be mowed with a riding mower.

Repairs Gravity drain Requirements All New Setbacks apply except for : Residential well- system must be at least 50 feet from owners well. Unless 75 feet can be obtained. Soils and water table- Must be a minimum of 6 (1973 or earlier) or 12 (1973 – 1983) inches above the “mottling” or mean high water table.

Installation When installing a drain field product, the best practice is to install it completely level from front to back. The theory is that water is self leveling and more of the field drain will be used. Code states that you are allowed 1 inch of fall per 10 feet. However you can not go over maximum depth given.

Installation The Distribution box “D-Box”, or the pipe “header” that connects all of the runs has to be installed completely level. All lines of the field drain have to be of equal length to provide “Equal Distribution” All runs in a “dosed” system are required to have a “footer”. Footer - A pipe that connects the back of the runs together.

D-box and Header pipe Distribution box Header Pipe

Field drain lay out Accepted field drain, all lines are “Equal” in length Not Accepted, Drain lines are not “Equal”

Your Turn On the site diagram given, please draw in a septic system to replace the one shown. Remember your set backs and rules. Any Questions????