Selecting and installing a septic system is an important task, being not only a serious financial investment but also a long-term commitment to the lifetime of your home or structure. Finding the proper system will require a thorough assessment of your structural needs, and environmental factors are to be considered as well.
This degree of planning will ensure the proper system is determined and is installed correctly, to minimize any potential negative impacts to the drainage field and its surrounding area. Getting these details wrong will likely create environmental, financial, and safety catastrophes down the road; these disasters are often the kind that leads to even further complications later on.
Thankfully, septic and wastewater experts are available to assist you with the process of properly designing, installing, and maintaining your system from end to end, so you can optimize its lifetime and function. Here is a summary of the septic system design process and the steps you can expect to encounter once your project is underway:
System Design Process
At the earliest stage, a thorough assessment is made regarding local regulations and zoning requirements. This will often include things like understanding local installation policies, permitting regulations, and environmental standards. A thorough terrain survey is performed as well, as the placement of utility poles, underground wiring, and other pre-existing infrastructures will very often dictate the ideal location to dig for your septic system, or block its installation altogether.
Other important details will factor into the decision too, such as the type of soil and its absorption capacity, or how local weather or the site’s surrounding features can impact its installation and successful use. Rocky, steep, and wet terrain, for example, will likely prove to be a technical hurdle to the designer, as will areas having high groundwater or shallow bedrock.
Once there is a thorough knowledge of the area, the task can then be presented to a professional septic system designer who will consider factors like tank location, retention time, and drain field size and specifications. With the geographical survey in place, the system designer will work with you to decide the ideal system and begin the planning stages of the installation. Factors like tank size, absorption system size, and other basic design notes are considered at this point as well.
Types Of Septic Systems
There are many varieties of septic tanks available, and they can be made from many materials such as concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene. A septic system designer will help you decide which material and type of system will be most suitable for you, depending on environmental factors and your individual needs, and will share their expertise regarding its proper care.
If a tank is installed with sufficient elevation over the drain field, then a gravity septic system might be used. In this system, nature’s own gravitational force will move effluent (liquid waste) from the septic tank to the drain field. This is also called a basic or standard system.
With a pressure septic system, often preferred for its efficient drainage, effluent is moved via a pump through the system and simultaneously to the drain field.
Sometimes more aggressive treatment is required before effluent can be discharged to the drain field. In this instance, an aerobic system can be utilized to oxidize solid waste, breaking it down to produce cleaner wastewater.
Health Department Approval
Once the site has been confirmed and the septic system selected, the final step in the process before digging can begin is a sign off from your local authorities, which will almost always include the health department.
While it varies from place to place, it’s typical that a conditional approval of the site will be required, which itself will likely entail submitting both a master and supplemental application, a site plan, and a detailed schematic of the on-site septic system that will be installed.
Your local requirements will likely be unique, and it can become confusing pretty fast. A professional septic system designer will help you navigate this process and can answer your questions along the way!
Find A Professional Septic System Designer
An expertly designed and installed septic system, combined with its proper usage and maintenance over time, will optimize the lifetime and efficacy of this important investment and reduce the need for expensive repairs and messy cleanup scenarios.
Contacting the professionals at All Septic & Sewer, who boast decades of combined experience in septic and wastewater management, will ensure the job is done right the first time, and your investment sees its maximum, problem-free potential. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook also!