What is a Septic System? A Septic system is a small scale sewage sewage treatment system used when there is no large scale sewage treatment provided by local governments or private service providers. The type, style and components are regulated in the construction and replace by local Government Environmental laws. Traditionally systems have a septic tank, where sewage and greywater with heavy solids to the bottom and liquids escape through the drain. Through the drain the liquids go to the septic field where is goes through a filtering system and back into the groundwater table. Solids build up in the tank over tank and must be pumped out on a regular basis relative to the water usage of the dwelling. Solids must not enter the septic field, otherwise the system will fail sooner than expected and will require a replacement. Septic Systems have many designs and costs associated with them, which are determined by the physical environment around the proposed systems. Some factors that could be considered are soil conditions, lot grading and or drainage, existing nearby well and septic fields. Unsuitable soil conditions, such as clay which holds water, would a require specific soil trucked in and thus raising the system cost. When conditions do not permit a on-site septic system a holding tank could be installed. They have similar conditions regarding wells and water body setbacks, they are inexpensive and require more frequent pumping.
How to get approved for a septic system.
To get approved for a septic system is a process involving paperwork and field testing. It is not recommended to attempt this process on your own. First step would be to contact an Engineer or Qualified Person to access your needs. An Engineer can design you a system exactly for your needs if the project is technical. A Qualified Person will pick a system design from a set of government approved designs. From here they will access your lot size, setbacks from all features, and will do a test pit. A test pit is a hole dug to approximately six feet in depth where they will access the soil conditions, which help determine the type of system required. A design and required paperwork is than submitted to Environment Office for approval. If approved construction can begin, if not they will set conditions that will need to be met before construction.