Rural Sewage Disposal – Septic Systems
In rural locations where a municipal water treatment system is not available, there are a few different systems which may be used for waste disposal, usually a holding tank, a septic system, or a filtration system.
A holding tank is just that – intended to hold the waste and to be pumped put regularly as required.
A septic system includes a cement or polyethylene fibreglass tank, or possibly an older metal tank. These tanks have two chambers. The first chamber collects the solid wastes which settle out to the bottom of the tank and should be pumped out periodically – every 3-4 years. The second chamber collects the liquids which then seep out into the tile or leaching bed.
A conventional septic system can be used if there is 3’of unsaturated natural soil without high clay content. If the system is close to ground water, or bedrock, a raised tile bed is required. In this case sand is trucked in to create the filter bed above the water table or bedrock.
In specific cases where a sand bed cannot be constructed effectively, an aeration or peat moss system may be required. These take much less space and the waste is filtered through the peat moss. These systems can be used where there is very little setback from the water, but do require inspection on a regular basis.
Purchasers should determine the size, location and age of the septic system before purchasing, and if possible look at the records for the system indicating when and how often it has been pumped and inspected. It is also usually recommended to have it inspected by a licensed contractor.