Let's talk septic systems....

DirtySCREW

DirtySCREW

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Other than the HIGHER PRICE TAG.....what are the Cons of a modified or mounded(?) septic system??

I would love to have my own homestead amd be self sufficient.

99% of the land I find won't perc!
So...do I continue to look for land that will perc but most likely will be a lot smaller piece of land (1 acre)....or get the most land I can afford but will have to have a modified septic.

I've been told a modified system was in the neighborhood of 15k...true?

Regular septic is around 5k?

Pros and cons.....let's discuss.

I'm a smart man, but I can not speak intelligently about this topic...lol
Cause I don't know.

DS
 
REELDOC said:
How deep was the test performed?
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I don't remember on the one I hired a soil scientist for.

But when I search zillow or whatever and find listings....some say land won't perc.

DS
 
It may not perc at minimum code depth but you might can go down another couple feet and find percable soil. You can also check with the local code guys and see whet other folks do that own land.
 
Low Pressure. Dont matter if it "percs" or not since you will have a pump and soil cap of at least 12"
 
Mirac said:
You dont know how to talk shyt ??

šŸ¤£





Sorry, sounded funnier in my head.....
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It's actually from Col Jessup in A Few Good Men when he says he can't speak intelligently about the travel habits of Private Santiago....lol

DS
 
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A "mounded" system is called a Modified Conventional system. Basically you need 18" or so of soil that will perk, and you're allowed to spread another 12" on top to get the 30" requirement.

Conventional systems are running around 7,500 - 9,500 right now. Modified conventional maybe 2 - 3K above that.

If you don't have 18"+ of soil that will perk (including the repair area), you're looking at drip, low pressure, or high pressure systems. They can run anywhere between 18k - 50K.

As far as pro's and cons of the different types of systems, Conventional is the least costly to install and maintain. Basically all you need to do is have the tank pumped every 5 - 10 years if needed.

Modified conventional is the second least problematic, as long as there is adequate sized dirt on top and surrounding the leach field. I've seen systems that had problems because they were too small and tended to stay wet and smell. A few more dump truck loads of fill that would perk spread around and across the field solved that problem.

The other systems require annual costs associated with mandated state inspections (you can get certified to do them yourself), pumps that will need to be replaced infrequently, etc.

It's always best if you can find a perk site for a conventional system. Although the county will send people out to check, you are much better off hiring your own firm. Yes, you'll spend a couple of grand but a "good firm" that works for you will probably find sites that the county would miss.
 
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When I had a house built in Salisbury NC about 15 years ago and it was a brand new build, the first day it rained ? I couldn't flush a toilet, the septic tank was full . So < I called the contractor that sold me the land and built the house and he came over and had the septic tank pumped out. 2 days later it rained again, no more toilet again. Brought in the septic tank installers, they tell me everything is ok and I have a 25 year warranty. But, It doesn't work ? They shrug their shoulders and drive away. Brought in the inspectors, they tell me everything looks ok. Very long story, cut very short. The head state inspector drove from Ashville to my house and he explained how they " Perc" test. It used to be they would drill a hole in the dirt, they pour in a measured amount of water and there was a time limit when the water had to be absorbed. It is passed then the land was fit for a septic tank. The head inspector for all the state of NC said to me they dont do it like that anymore, now the state inspector comes to your land. With a shovel takes a scoop of dirt and puts it in his hand. He then takes a bottle of water and pours it on the dirt and squishes the water into the dirt to see how much water is absorbed. Neither the amount of dirt or water is actually measured, its just what the inspector thinks it should be. So, for 15 years Ive had to live with a septic tank that would fill up with rain water and it would eventually drain out. 1/2 inch of rain would take 2-3 days, more then an inch might take a week. This means, no toilets,laundry or showers for that time. My family actually had to use camp toilets in the bathrooms and I would have to empty them in the woods, in a brand new house with no legal recourse. For 15 years we lived like this until I sold the house to a company that buys houses for resale. I feel sorry for the person that actually buys the house from them. When I was thinking about putting the house on the market with a realtor, I asked about the septic system test a home inspector will do for the new buyer. I was told that the home inspector will pass the septic tank inspection for the new buyer as long as the toilets will flush when he does the inspection. This means, my house will only pass if it hasn't rained in a week. Buyer beware.
 
Lager said:
When I had a house built in Salisbury NC about 15 years ago and it was a brand new build, the first day it rained ? I couldn't flush a toilet, the septic tank was full . So < I called the contractor that sold me the land and built the house and he came over and had the septic tank pumped out. 2 days later it rained again, no more toilet again. Brought in the septic tank installers, they tell me everything is ok and I have a 25 year warranty. But, It doesn't work ? They shrug their shoulders and drive away. Brought in the inspectors, they tell me everything looks ok. Very long story, cut very short. The head state inspector drove from Ashville to my house and he explained how they " Perc" test. It used to be they would drill a hole in the dirt, they pour in a measured amount of water and there was a time limit when the water had to be absorbed. It is passed then the land was fit for a septic tank. The head inspector for all the state of NC said to me they dont do it like that anymore, now the state inspector comes to your land. With a shovel takes a scoop of dirt and puts it in his hand. He then takes a bottle of water and pours it on the dirt and squishes the water into the dirt to see how much water is absorbed. Neither the amount of dirt or water is actually measured, its just what the inspector thinks it should be. So, for 15 years Ive had to live with a septic tank that would fill up with rain water and it would eventually drain out. 1/2 inch of rain would take 2-3 days, more then an inch might take a week. This means, no toilets,laundry or showers for that time. My family actually had to use camp toilets in the bathrooms and I would have to empty them in the woods, in a brand new house with no legal recourse. For 15 years we lived like this until I sold the house to a company that buys houses for resale. I feel sorry for the person that actually buys the house from them. When I was thinking about putting the house on the market with a realtor, I asked about the septic system test a home inspector will do for the new buyer. I was told that the home inspector will pass the septic tank inspection for the new buyer as long as the toilets will flush when he does the inspection. This means, my house will only pass if it hasn't rained in a week. Buyer beware.
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THIS is exactly what I'm afraid of. Risking everything to 'get out' of the city and have a self sustaining life but having to deal with this.
Toilets, AC, and refrigeration are pretty important!

DS
 
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Radar said:
Whatā€™s options did they give you?
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We had a traditional septic that failed (original, house was built mid-70s). The county came in to inspect to tell us what we could put in, and they said that because of the nature of the ground and no leach field for replacement septic, there were zero options. Nothing, nada, squat. Pump-and-haul; having the tank emptied every other week. BUT...they'd get the state soil guy out if we wanted to appeal. "IF"? F&#! yeah, I want to appeal.

State guy comes out, spends a couple hours probing the soil, checking this and that, mixing chemicals with soil. The result is the only system they would approve was a pressure distribution system
(https://groundstone.ca/2018/11/pressure-septic-system/). So, $20K and a month later, that's what we got.

IMG_20170921_192200.jpg
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DirtySCREW said:
THIS is exactly what I'm afraid of. Risking everything to 'get out' of the city and have a self sustaining life but having to deal with this.
Toilets, AC, and refrigeration are pretty important!

DS
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My case is extremely rare, dont let this stop you from getting out of the city. You get used to the situation after a while, you also get used to carting everyone's poop out to the woods to be dumped. Then cart the toilet container back to your house to be rinsed out using a garden hose just to have a stuck terd land in your yard. Believe me, 3 teenage grand kids and the wife will produce a lot of waste in just a few days. Getting clean for the next days work requires taking a sponge bath, you get used to that also. Now, making payments on a $200 K house and have to do this, that's something you don't get used to. 15 years later, Im in a new house that does not have this problem and after a month of living like this ? It still brings a smile on my face when I can take a dump in a modern toilet AND take a shower during a rain storm. Its like I went forward in time ??
 
Diablos said:
Id install a composting toilet (or an outhouse), before id deal with that
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Or just put a barrel in the ground and fill in with rock and sand. It will eventually soak into the ground. Use a good RV septic treatment like Digest-it and dont flush paper.
 
bigfelipe said:
Shit flows down hill.
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Actually, this was what I was referring to. If you're at the top, it kinda doesn't matter of your lot doesn't perk. :)

You (generic you, not you you) probably wouldn't be particularly well-liked by yer neighbors, tho.
 
@DirtySCREW ...where are you looking at land and how many acres?
I don't think I've ever seen any land up here, of any size, that wouldn't perk.
As for system cost, we had a 2br standard system put in at our SC place 4 years ago for $3400.
Had a 3br system installed on another lot on the same street last year for $4000.
Different contractors.
 
Snal~ said:
@DirtySCREW ...where are you looking at land and how many acres?
I don't think I've ever seen any land up here, of any size, that wouldn't perk.
As for system cost, we had a 2br standard system put in at our SC place 4 years ago for $3400.
Had a 3br system installed on another lot on the same street last year for $4000.
Different contractors.
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Was looking in Pender County....rocky point /Burgaw area.
Those prices are what it is for septic here if the land percs. Soil scientist I hired said it be $15k to get one place to pass with all the dirt that would have to be brought in. So I had to pass on that land.

DS
 
DirtySCREW said:
Was looking in Pender County....rocky point /Burgaw area.
Those prices are what it is for septic here if the land percs. Soil scientist I hired said it be $15k to get one place to pass with all the dirt that would have to be brought in. So I had to pass on that land.

DS
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What kind of soil is in the area? We have red clay here in SC and at our home in NC.
 
Snal~ said:
What kind of soil is in the area? We have red clay here in SC and at our home in NC.
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It's just dirt that holds water bad. The name Burgaw I've heard is an Indian word for 'mud hole'...must be true...cause very little percs out there.

DS
 
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