A Safe Septic System for Nearby Waterways | Pro2Pro | This Old House
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- Опубликовано: 13 сен 2024
- Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey walks us through a system that was designed for a home built near a pond and the ocean.
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Due to its proximity to a pond and the ocean, our Westerly Ranch House [www.thisoldhouse.com/watch/westerly-ranch-house] project required a septic system equipped with advanced secondary treatment. The purpose of the treatment is to reduce the ammonia and nitrogen that typically leaches into the ground downstream from the tank. Combined with a traditional septic tank, this system converts nitrogen to gas which is vented through the roof of the house. Our plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains more here.
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A Safe Septic System for Nearby Waterways | Pro2Pro | This Old House
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I was building these sand filters for whole sub divisions several years ago. The houses all had the 1500 gallon tanks with the baffles, there were a few 5000/10,000 gallon lift stations throughout the sub division and they went to a 50'x200' filter located in wild areas of the subdivision. One filter could handle about 40,000 gallons of blackwater a day and would cover about 700 homes. The treated water was pumped to underground leach fields located in common areas and wild areas in the subdivision, or could be discharged above ground if the proper UV treatment was used. Of course, we had several test wells throughout the property and sent samples from each monthly to be tested. The real benefit to the developer is it allowed lots to be sized without the accommodations for leach fields, so full and half acre lots could be 1/3 and 1/4 acre lots. The Home Owners Associations would take over the maintenance and collected the monthly fees from the homeowners.
That's all great until the HOA realizes its going to be $500,000 to replace all that equipment/dig up the earth 20-30 years from now and they don't have the $$$$.
@@aaronbays4 , all of the mechanical stuff like the pumps are installed with lift eyes and the plumbing has quick disconnects on them. There are also many clean out access points all over the system. But, just like anything, it requires regular maintenance. Most of the HOAs have hired a third party to do the maintenance. But when they are collected roughly $30 a month from more than a thousand houses, I am pretty sure they can afford $500,000 in about 20 or 30 years. The septic tanks at the houses are the homeowners responsibility, so the maintenance crews are only responsible for everything downstream. The life span of the the electronics is about 20 years, and the main tanks and plumbing should last at least 50 if maintained. I estimate the average annual operating cost would be around $100,000 a year with no issues, which includes one full time maintenance person which most of these subdivisions already have a crew of three or four people anyway. It is a good solution for land that doesn't perk. it is cheaper than putting in full septic systems in each homesite, plus the houses sell faster being on a "sewer system".
@@ericzimmerman7524 I'm still skeptical about private entities like an HOA maintaining a sewer system. Seen it time and again on the news about the HOA's being corrupt, people stealing/embezzeling the funds, mis-spending the $$$$, not properly investing the $$$$ and not a having rainy day funds to cover that $500,000 wallop when the entire septic system breaks, sometimes they're just set up to fail because people don't pay the dues or they don't collect enough $$$$ to cover expenses. I wouldn't move into a development with its own private sewer system.
@@aaronbays4 , personally I would not want to live in a house with any HOA, but this is deviating from the subject. As for corruption and abuse of funds, it doesn't matter whether it is privately owned or not, everyone us suspect. The sewage treatment system works, and if maintained will last a long time before needing major work done. We put in a single unit a few times for houses way out and the homeowner did not want to have to clear the land for a leach field.
There not that expensive lmao. Ive installed a ton of them. One 346 bedroom that was around 1.2 mill. Maintenance a year for 346 bedroom complex is aprox. Like 9 grand a year. Then add regular tank pumping every few years. Pump are just simple gould high head artesian well pumps. Like 550/600 bucks.
I'll bet $20 bucks those machine operators were standing around doing nothing until Richard started the video. haha
Good video. So much work is involved.. and probably very expensive. Isn't there a 3 x 500 gallon set where 1st one is trash, 2nd is aerobatic and 3rd is chlorine and the water is dumped on the grass? Shouldn't need any leach field as the water is clean enough. The electricity for the air pump should come under $5 a month (12 cents / KW). And only thing that breaks should be the pump every 10 years. The whole system should cost $1,000. + installation.
Lol just when you thought you had to spend a lot of a septic. This guy shows up & says. O no no no. You need this system here. 2nd house loan should cover it
Listed as a "Pro2Pro" section but I'm not a pro and I'd love to see more sections like this in the normal show!
I basically do the same thing in my fish tanks lol
Brings up some interesting questions other than the cost of the initial installation. What does it cost per day to run all those pumps? Life expectancy of the pumps & replacement cost? How long do the filters last and or how are they back flushed to remove the inevitable solids that will get trapped in the filters? How often does the state/county/township require that the septic tank gets pumped and what provisions are in place to access the tank for pumping?
Hey Richard, can you do a video how to maintenance the pump and those fabric filters? How long can they last? How to replace the pumps?
How much does this cost?
Ok now the tough questions how long do the filters in the vault last and how much to replace them??
R C If you’re building something like that, and you know it’s near the ocean.... whoever owns that house is filthy rich. So it’s not a issue for them. You’re average Joe can’t afford something like this.
You don't get rich by wasting money. No way they should take this on without knowing the long term cost. Good question.
Super reliable. Been using them in Oregon and Washington for 50 years. Im an installer for 30 plus years in area this was filmed. There a good system. Total materials and installation. For 3 or 4 bedroom aproxx 23 to 29
@@toddreynolds8875 23 to 29 What? Cost in Dollars please.
@@charleskorte2752 yes. 23 to 29 thousand. All materials and labor and wire control panel to house. And. Re loam seed disturbed area
So the water goes thru both tanks then the filter then back to the first tank? When does it to to the field
"Sorry, no I can't do anything this weekend, gotta clean out my poop filter"
Why do you need to clean it out that makes no sense
There is a cool alternative, EcoJohn, which incinerates everything, black water, gray water. Minimum cost $11,000 for a two-person system. Runs on propane, diesel, or jet fuel, in case you own an airline company
This is a mini sewerage treatment plant. I bet that new building codes will make this mandatory for all new construction.
North east coast has for about 15 years now
Doesnt freeze in winter??
What is the technical name for this septic system and are their any dealer/installers in massachusetts or surrounding areas. Thanks
Orenco AdvanTex I think
The first time this system has a problem, the homeowner is just going to shut it off and bypass all the expensive stuff, letting it just drain into the soil like a conventional septic. Honestly all they really needed here was a two-tank system with aeration in the second tank.
The system appeases the EPA during construction, that's all!
It wont work by gravity cant get thru to leachfield. Has to be pumped. Install tons of them
What building Departments approve this application, what is property set back
I really hate dosing tank pumps, that looked like it had enough drop to not have to use the last pump. The first part of the system looks like just an add-on and if it fails the system will still function. When the septic tank fills to the brim when the dosing tank pump fails, you will be stuck with no way to use the toilets/drains. I have heard till septic trucks get there people just pumping it on the ground. Also if you live in a place where the power is out a lot and for some reason that pump circuit trips off it will fill up before you know anything is wrong. Officials don't think these things through. Here in the south your required to have a dosing tank because its required to have a raised drain field. It turns something you shouldn't have to mess with but every few years to something you have to keep an eye on all the time. Don't let me get started on cheap pumps too. lol sorry for ranting. I really like the first part of the system, some nice add-on to help reduce our footprint on the environment.
I live on a lake and would like to upgrade to a similar system. Anyone have a link to the system installers?
What septic system do you currently use ?
Absolutely correct. The Earth Atmosphere is loaded with Nitrogen.
78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, less than 1% Argon and just 0.04% Co2 and other trace gases.
The video is a very clear explanation and that septic system is great for the earth and atmosphere.😀👍
What is today's practice for discharging washing machines AND dishwashers with septic systems?
Does this cost as much as the house, or do the builders charge for the septic system and throw in the house for free?
A package treatment plant, with a soak away, have been in use in UK for at least 20 years, wouldn't be allowed to install a septic tank, without proper treatment, for a new property, only old ones left effectively. It's what happens when you have 66 million people in just under 100,000 miles² land mass.
Nice video
Hi I am wondering how much it cost for the house with 4 adults living in it
Anyone want to take a look at my piece of land in Los Angeles and see what system I need? It has a creek and well on it
Very cool
I don't care what Kevin Costner says... You can't piss into a Mr. Coffee and get Tasters Choice.
Genius
Thats gotta cost a TON! $$$$
If the so called standard System is a average $15/20/25/ grand I could just imagine the cost of this system.
Waterfront property is a curse. Cost me over $30,000. I finally have an understanding of how it works.
23 to 29 average
Nevermind the installation costs.... There's probably only a half dozen guys in the state with the know how to troubleshoot a problem with the system. The repair costs have got to be astronomical.
Hi TOH ,thank you guys for this important information ! 👍😊
I would NOT install a garbage disposal with this setup, that would be just asking for major issues!
What does he mean by solids poop?
Looks like this won't work if there's a power outage or if the pumps simply fail.
Same goes for all pressurized systems.
So much to go wrong with that overcomplicated system...
lambert1702 actually quite simple and common, septic mounds have been around for a long time and proven to work.
Yeah not really a complicated system
Very simple. And very reliable. They been in business for 50 years. Orenco corp. Oregon. Been used on west coast since the 70's. Very good systems. Expensive. Bout 25 all installed. Plus engineer costs
Sir, I’m a plumber and I’ve been reviewing the septic system designed by Michael Reynolds at “Earthship, Biotecture “ in Toas New Mexico. Are you familiar with Earthship construction? I would be interested in your comments! Yours Mark Lane
Just like anything new nowadays more parts more complicated more troubles, k i s s
Well such a system could be mechanical and gravity fed for the most part and work the same way. But it'd have to be much larger and a lot more grade to fall down neither of which they had.
Meanwhile, NYC pumps millions of gallons of untreated sewage every time it drizzles right into our oceans.
Great place to be....
Feds banned NYC from doing that a while ago. Anything they pump into the ocean now has some kind of initial treatment done to it, it's not completely raw. On the otherhand, NYC ships "biosolids" in rail cars to other states where sleazy politicians created backdoor agreements to take it in exchange for cash, and then it just gets dumped into "designated" disposal areas (really just fields that have been dug out).
@@cup_and_cone it's a shame those are dumped, they make for amazing fertilizer!
@@cup_and_cone Or it sits in the train cars on a rail siding for a week or two at a time, because of rail-road schedules. Ends up stinking up the whole town, happened in some place in Alabama, dateline or 60 minutes or somebody did a huge story about it.
Precious water shed a mile away,but your well has to be how far away😅
This is around $50k
Fifty grand?
25
Great more stuff to fail and service. I would never use this method.
That yard looks plenty big enough for a normal system. Even taking into account nearby water.
Depends on the depth to water table.
State law im installer in the area. Anything within a mile of ocean. Has to be treatment plant. Dont matter if its in a 40 foot deep hill of gravel. State drove a line on a map 15 yrs ago. End of story. Sad but true
Shittin' into a hole in the ground sounds a lot easier....aaaand cheaper
Sounds extremely expensive
I’m cheap I’ll just use a bucket
I'm cheaper I use the neighbors bucket and birdbath to wash my hands
@@NissanPRO4X LMAO
HAHA
That secondary treatment is too complicated. You can get rid of ammonia and nitrates by flushing the water through a man made wetland. plant a couple grasses and cattails and they will soak up all the nitrogen
Cost $2,000,000.00. I love how This Old House don’t really talk about cost. Lol
WHAT A WASTE OF TIME AND REAL ESTATE.
Yeah..... good luck trying to find a septic guy that has any idea about how to service that system
Very simple
$$$$$$$$$$
Complicated Crap Composter !
So many things to go wrong, but it wont make it 10 years.
Pretty reliable. Been in business since late 60's making this product. Used alot on oregon Washington coast. Then. Now alot on east coast. Very well made. Have installed a ton of them over the years
This is so inefficient its ridiculous
Worthless. They already can convert new catalyst that burns NH3 at a low temperature and produces N2.. So just burn liquid ammonia as a fuel... The result is cleaner air...
Way cheaper too. And less maintenance.
how do you separate the ammonia from the water? Typical septic system has less than 50 per million of total nitrogen. This is just another ntification de-nitrification that has been used for a century, this is how wastewater treatment plants work.
@@capeguy Ask the Japanese.
The novel catalyst (CuOx/3A2S) is a mullite-type crystal structure 3Al2O3·2SiO2 (3A2S) carrying copper oxide (CuOx). When NH3 was burned with this catalyst, researchers found that it stayed highly active in the selective production of N2, meaning that it suppressed NOx formation, and the catalyst itself did not change even at high temperatures.
Expensive piece of junk
what a shitty system
So what happens when one of the pumps or part of the system breaks??? You know it will eventually happen. Does it release a bunch of raw sewage into the ground?? Thus negating all the bullshit expensive equipment that's supposed to make this more eco-friendly.
"Anaerobic" literally means, in this case, "Non/Without-Oxygen", i.e.- an organism that can thrive without Oxygen.
If you're going to be an "expert" about a specific topic, please do your homework first.
Thank you.
But anaerobic bacteria does not thrive in a septic tank. They die off and that's why systems like this one making it aerobic are used.
@@Burniemacfitness
"Anaerobic" was their term - not mine.
And that makes them correct. Theres 2 types of bacteria in a septic system. Aerobic and anaerobic. Septic systems dont work correctly when they have anaerobic bacteria. That's why these add on systems are there.
@@Burniemacfitness
Well,... you and I both learned that in High School... and I taught it in College Biology.
You still didn't offer any useful input into my original statement concerning their erroneous description of the different types of bacteria - (for those reading this, but are bored with Biology) those thriving in Oxygen, and those that can't.
That's all I was saying...
Watch the video again, and pay attention this time.
Total crap!!!...🤣