Replies

1. 
   gfretwell | Jul 29, 2012 10:57am | #1

   If lift pumps are somewhat standard in your area a real septic contractor should know how to do it.

   In SW Florida, mound systems are being required in a lot of places so the contractors know about pumps..

2. 
   DanH | Jul 29, 2012 03:02pm | #2

   Yeah, in many parts of the country such setups are pretty much SOP, and any competent installer would know what to do.  It's not rocket science.

   One does need to be sure that the perc tests are properly done, and on a pumped system it's even more important to pump out the tank at regular intervals.  Some localities require a sand filter ahead of the laterals simply because the filter will obviously clog if the tank is not properly serviced, whereas without the filter the laterals will quietly fail.

3. 
   Piffin | Jul 30, 2012 09:39am | #3

   Experienced installer can handle it, but in most places I know of, you need an engineered system designed just to get the permit.

4. 
   [email protected] | Jul 30, 2012 07:19pm | #4

   You will probably need an engineer

   Here the systems need to be designed by a Professional Engineer, (typically it will be a Civil Engineer, but some Geotechnical Engineers will do these designs), in order to ge the permit.  Some systems require backup generators for the lift pumps, some require backflow valves, some require both.  

   The least complicated is a garvity flow to a bsin lower than the served structure, with more tank capacity than the well system can provide without power, then you don't need the backup generator, or backflow valves. 

   I have a compound where the water system is spring fed, and it requires a backup generator. 

   I have another compund where the whole compound is generator run, and it doesn't require a backup generator, but the septic tank, that is in front of the macerating lift pump, is twice as large, as the water systems pressure tank. 

   One advantage to having an engineered system, is that they can defend calculations that decrease the size of the leach field based on low flow fixtures, that a contractor can't.  We just installed a septic system for a new building that is designed to use minimal water.  The toilets are less than a gallon per flush, the urinals are flush free, and the showers and lavatory faucets have the lowest flow rates made.  There are 45 wildland fire fighters stationed at the building, and last month it consumed less than 60-gallons per day.  We went through a huge battle with the plan checker at the local health district who approves septic system designs, because his system sizing is based on a table done by the EPA in 1972, when toilets still used 7-gallons per flush, urinals used 1.5-gallons, and there wasn't such a thing as a low flow shower head or faucet.  We had to get his boss involved, and install a metering system to monitor how much water is consumed inside the building, but our leach field is less than a third of what he wanted.  Our measured water consumption on the fixtures that drain to the septic system is at about 60% of what we predicted during the design, so the leach field should last a long time. 

5. 
   JimB | Jul 30, 2012 08:26pm | #5

   Depends a bit on where you are located. Different states have

   different regulations regarding who can design what type of system.  Here in Virginia, health department staff likely would do the design for this system.  Some states license designers that may or may not also be licensed engineers, in others licensed installers can do simple designs.  A few have no regulations regarding who can design or install systems.  It's worthwhile to pay a knowledgeable designer to get it right; while it's not rocket science, a poorly designed system can be a long-term head-ache.

   As someone else mentioned, if you have to pump to a higher location, it's best to design with gravity flow to the septic system and to pump chamber, with some storage volume in the pump chamber to allow some capacity for power outages.