In Minnesota you don't have a choice. When the property gets sold, the new owner is forced to install a mound system. No other system will be allowed. Only problem is finding enough room for a mound system, especially if you have 4 or more bedrooms.
It can certainly be difficult, when space is limited and we have to go to a mound we normally will do what is called a sand mound mantle, the toes get extended considerably, at times we may also have to have additional treatment to further reduce space.
Are these useful in an area that floods regularly? My neighboring property has a failed septic system and the guy flipping the house said theyre installing an above ground system. The house is right next to a creek that floods every year (deep fast moving water) to the point that the house was lifted onto a 3.5 ft high concrete foundation using a fema flood isnurance payout. What happens when flood water rises above the sand mound and will this cause problems for me, the neighbor downstream of it?
Thanks for the question. A sand mound should never be placed in an area of flooding, this of course will ruin the entire sand mound. Once the sand becomes overly saturated the effluent would not get properly treated, bacteria would channel through the sand without getting picked up by the other bacterial colonies in the sand that consume new bacteria coming in from newly dosed effluent.
These systems are usually 3-4 times as much cost as a conventional system and they are forced upon people that are uneducated on the systems even when their soil is acceptable for a conventional system. People should learn to understand their soils test and not allow them to take advantage of them.
wht240sxka as practitioners we educate the homeowner as much as possible, in many cases we show them the test pits and show case the high water or clay/silt. As practitioners we always start from a conventional system, if our conditions don’t allow for a gravity system we go to the next solution and so on. We are audited by Health Department and Ministry of Environment when Systems don’t perform. We as practitioners have a tremendous amount of liabilities, so certainly there will be some contractors that will automatically go towards a better treatment solution. ...but to think that a conventional system works for every site condition is not correct.
I live in Northern California.. they making me put one in.. 70 thousand.. I don’t k ow what I’m going too do.. I’m a country boy.. I just make a redwood box.. it works great..
Thanks so much for the Video, however in Australia (at least in NSW) we were not required to have a sand mound, the waste water is sprayed onto the paddock. There are 2 Tanks, 3/4 buried. We are on 5 Acres and a designated area is for this waste water (not supposed to use for edible plants). The tanks are checked and treated regularly by our plumber. The waste from the house goes into the first tank and is agitated (I think) on a set cycle and then pumped to the 2nd tank where it again is agitated on a set cycle before being pumped out through sprays onto the set area. An Electrician has in fact now looked at it and somehow fixed the problem, sorry but I don't know exactly what was done and in fact I have been told that of the 4 power points located on top of the 2nd tank, one seems to trip the circuit breaker and has been left unplugged. The system seems to be working though so I'm not going to worry about it just now. Im off for a few weeks then its Christmas, so a problem for another day or at least untill it plays up again. Thanks all.
You bet, small stone to let's say 2-3" should be fine, no heavy rock / boulders as it could start bowing the lateral lines. Spread drain rock evenly so the weight distribution is even throughout.
Exactly like my 2-year old system. My hi level alarm came on, when I looked in the pump tank, the water being pumped to the above ground drainage field, was coming right back to the tank via the drainage field return line, at almost full pump pressure! No wonder the tank isn't emptying. The system is not even two years old and was installed by a reputable installer. The field has two vacuum breakers that look intact. I haven't contacted the installer yet to see what warranty options I have but for now I'm using a pool pump plugged into a wireless remote power switch, when I see the red alarm light on, (I disabled the audible alarm) I run the pump with a long hose out to a large wooded area near my house. What can I look for before I have them come out?
Hi John, sometimes the pump impeller can get stuck due to hair, wipes or other material that doesn't break down well. This can cause the pump to hum but not pump. Freezing in the line can certainly be a problem, although you may not be facing these temperatures quite yet. A broken or plugged line can also be an issue. Sometimes power outages can cause pump failures if there is no surge protection. Hope it's an easy solution for you!
Regulations on certain system types is going to vary from state to state, and sometimes county to county. For soils with poor permeability we use a sand mound system. Normally I would say that yes, an above ground system is going to be one of the best methods to deal with very slow Perc rates, but you will have to discuss the system with your health department.
You can certainly plant these hedges just away from the toe, about 4 ft to accommodate the growth. This should not cause any damage and will certainly conceal the mound nicely.
That would defeat the purpose of a sand mound, we are trying to create vertical separation from the limiting condition or restrictive condition / layer. For example if high water table is 1ft below grade we are not going to excavate into the ground and place sand. Thus we have to elevate the system above grade to the vertical separation minimum distance as in our standard's book with spec sand. Meeting the vertical separation distance allows the removal of harmful pathogens from going into the aquifers, water tables, wells, waterways etc.
I’m getting ideas for my 9 acres of raw land gonna start next year, a rock sheet piece of land, should be interesting however, homes in the are have mound septic systems so I’m sure that’s what I’ll have to do
How tall are these mounds typically for a 4 bedroom house say 2200 sq. ft. I live in Oregon and on a low lying area. I currently pump my effluent 900' to a drainfield on the upper end of the property. We may want to build another house, but there is no more room in the current drainfield area to support another residence. I'm on 16 acres so space isn't the issue. Water during the rainy season where my house is can be inches from the surface. Thank you
Thanks for the question, typically a minimum of 2 ft from the limiting or restrictive condition, in your case seasonal high water. We choose an area where the surface water doesn’t accumulate, preferably on a slight slope. For your case I would use 2 ft of mound sand, upto 8” of drain rock, fabric cover then topsoils to a minimum 6”-12” for frost protection. The colder the climate the topsoil should be closer to 12” with perhaps some wood chips or wood shavings mixed in. We generally calculate for lineal space, mounds work best being long and narrow. Cheers,
I am a contractor by trade. I build houses , but i have NEVER installed a septic system. I was told by the county where im building my next house that traditional septic systems aren't allowed. So, Im going to have to install one of these unfortunately. Anyone know the material only cost on something like this? Not a chance in hell I can afford to pay some company to do it, considering based on the comments its apparently like $30k.
Hi Brian, You will probably need a professional's oversight, there is a fee associated with that. You would have to contact various practitioners for cost in for overseeing you install the system. Many jurisdictions require this. For cost of supplies you would have to locate septic tank manufacturers in your local area for this and also plumbing supply stores for piping, pumps, control panels etc.
Mattywho you are correct. Just bought a house with one of these systems and it totally ruins the backyard...it is an eyesore and renders most our one acre property useless.
😂 best disadvantage comment. We refused to allow a stupid big hump in our backyard so had it placed half way up hill then infilled the “ditch” on the uphill side
Above ground systems are placed in clay type soils, high water table areas where there is limited vertical separation in soil. You can’t very well place piping network below grade in clay soils, nor can you place in ground piping in high water. The video explains this. Gravity systems don’t work for every situation. Septic systems are highly regulated, we go through thorough training and on going training to identify the right design for each challenge.
Well, for one, you may be forced to install one like I am being by the city. So, in that case videos like this are very necessary. Just because you're fortunate enough to not have to doesn't mean we all are.
Well done. Straight forward and to the point. Thank you!
Thank you!
I thought u was talking about her eye
I agree we'll done!
First video I see that actually explain the hump in my backyard. Been looking for answer for 2 yrs.
Lol, glad this was helpful!
In Minnesota you don't have a choice. When the property gets sold, the new owner is forced to install a mound system. No other system will be allowed. Only problem is finding enough room for a mound system, especially if you have 4 or more bedrooms.
It can certainly be difficult, when space is limited and we have to go to a mound we normally will do what is called a sand mound mantle, the toes get extended considerably, at times we may also have to have additional treatment to further reduce space.
Thank you for the information
No problem at all! Hope it was helpful!
Very good presentation and information
Mike Burns thanks Mike
Good god ma’am, this looks like a hostage video on septic tanks. Blink twice if you need help
😂
😂😂😂
Excellent explanation.
Thank you very much!
Thank you.
Are these allowed in Hawaii?
Are these useful in an area that floods regularly? My neighboring property has a failed septic system and the guy flipping the house said theyre installing an above ground system. The house is right next to a creek that floods every year (deep fast moving water) to the point that the house was lifted onto a 3.5 ft high concrete foundation using a fema flood isnurance payout. What happens when flood water rises above the sand mound and will this cause problems for me, the neighbor downstream of it?
Thanks for the question. A sand mound should never be placed in an area of flooding, this of course will ruin the entire sand mound. Once the sand becomes overly saturated the effluent would not get properly treated, bacteria would channel through the sand without getting picked up by the other bacterial colonies in the sand that consume new bacteria coming in from newly dosed effluent.
These systems are usually 3-4 times as much cost as a conventional system and they are forced upon people that are uneducated on the systems even when their soil is acceptable for a conventional system. People should learn to understand their soils test and not allow them to take advantage of them.
wht240sxka as practitioners we educate the homeowner as much as possible, in many cases we show them the test pits and show case the high water or clay/silt. As practitioners we always start from a conventional system, if our conditions don’t allow for a gravity system we go to the next solution and so on. We are audited by Health Department and Ministry of Environment when Systems don’t perform. We as practitioners have a tremendous amount of liabilities, so certainly there will be some contractors that will automatically go towards a better treatment solution. ...but to think that a conventional system works for every site condition is not correct.
I live in Northern California.. they making me put one in.. 70 thousand.. I don’t k ow what I’m going too do.. I’m a country boy.. I just make a redwood box.. it works great..
@@kevinsargent79Update on your situation?
Thanks so much for the Video, however in Australia (at least in NSW) we were not required to have a sand mound, the waste water is sprayed onto the paddock. There are 2 Tanks, 3/4 buried. We are on 5 Acres and a designated area is for this waste water (not supposed to use for edible plants). The tanks are checked and treated regularly by our plumber. The waste from the house goes into the first tank and is agitated (I think) on a set cycle and then pumped to the 2nd tank where it again is agitated on a set cycle before being pumped out through sprays onto the set area. An Electrician has in fact now looked at it and somehow fixed the problem, sorry but I don't know exactly what was done and in fact I have been told that of the 4 power points located on top of the 2nd tank, one seems to trip the circuit breaker and has been left unplugged. The system seems to be working though so I'm not going to worry about it just now. Im off for a few weeks then its Christmas, so a problem for another day or at least untill it plays up again. Thanks all.
Our new neighbors have (had) this system. Today they leveled the entire mound! What does that mean and how will it affect us?
Can you put stone on top of the mound visible to the eye, trying to stop my dogs from digging
You bet, small stone to let's say 2-3" should be fine, no heavy rock / boulders as it could start bowing the lateral lines. Spread drain rock evenly so the weight distribution is even throughout.
Exactly like my 2-year old system. My hi level alarm came on, when I looked in the pump tank, the water being pumped to the above ground drainage field, was coming right back to the tank via the drainage field return line, at almost full pump pressure! No wonder the tank isn't emptying. The system is not even two years old and was installed by a reputable installer. The field has two vacuum breakers that look intact. I haven't contacted the installer yet to see what warranty options I have but for now I'm using a pool pump plugged into a wireless remote power switch, when I see the red alarm light on, (I disabled the audible alarm) I run the pump with a long hose out to a large wooded area near my house. What can I look for before I have them come out?
Hi John, sometimes the pump impeller can get stuck due to hair, wipes or other material that doesn't break down well. This can cause the pump to hum but not pump. Freezing in the line can certainly be a problem, although you may not be facing these temperatures quite yet. A broken or plugged line can also be an issue. Sometimes power outages can cause pump failures if there is no surge protection. Hope it's an easy solution for you!
So, does that mean that an above ground system is ok if a property doesn't pass the perc. test?
Regulations on certain system types is going to vary from state to state, and sometimes county to county. For soils with poor permeability we use a sand mound system. Normally I would say that yes, an above ground system is going to be one of the best methods to deal with very slow Perc rates, but you will have to discuss the system with your health department.
@@groundstonewastewaterservi5066 Thank you!!
Can perennial flowers & small shrubs be planted on these mounds?
Grass is always best, perennial flowers or fine. With shrubs the root system can be intrusive and I would avoid them.
Can you plant a photinia hedge in front of the toe, to conceal it from the back deck of the house?
You can certainly plant these hedges just away from the toe, about 4 ft to accommodate the growth. This should not cause any damage and will certainly conceal the mound nicely.
Why not excavate the location of the sand mound so that the sand is below grade and the pump can be eliminated from the system?
That would defeat the purpose of a sand mound, we are trying to create vertical separation from the limiting condition or restrictive condition / layer. For example if high water table is 1ft below grade we are not going to excavate into the ground and place sand. Thus we have to elevate the system above grade to the vertical separation minimum distance as in our standard's book with spec sand. Meeting the vertical separation distance allows the removal of harmful pathogens from going into the aquifers, water tables, wells, waterways etc.
I’m getting ideas for my 9 acres of raw land gonna start next year, a rock sheet piece of land, should be interesting however, homes in the are have mound septic systems so I’m sure that’s what I’ll have to do
One way to obtain information on the type of system you may need is exactly what you said, look at the types of systems in your surrounding area.
No u won’t . It’s 60 thousand
@@kevinsargent79 60K is about 2x more than what a mound septic system would cost
How tall are these mounds typically for a 4 bedroom house say 2200 sq. ft. I live in Oregon and on a low lying area. I currently pump my effluent 900' to a drainfield on the upper end of the property. We may want to build another house, but there is no more room in the current drainfield area to support another residence. I'm on 16 acres so space isn't the issue. Water during the rainy season where my house is can be inches from the surface.
Thank you
Thanks for the question, typically a minimum of 2 ft from the limiting or restrictive condition, in your case seasonal high water. We choose an area where the surface water doesn’t accumulate, preferably on a slight slope. For your case I would use 2 ft of mound sand, upto 8” of drain rock, fabric cover then topsoils to a minimum 6”-12” for frost protection. The colder the climate the topsoil should be closer to 12” with perhaps some wood chips or wood shavings mixed in. We generally calculate for lineal space, mounds work best being long and narrow.
Cheers,
The one I have is about 4 feet tall
I am a contractor by trade. I build houses , but i have NEVER installed a septic system. I was told by the county where im building my next house that traditional septic systems aren't allowed. So, Im going to have to install one of these unfortunately. Anyone know the material only cost on something like this? Not a chance in hell I can afford to pay some company to do it, considering based on the comments its apparently like $30k.
Hey man, same boat here. Any update on what you had to do? Really intrigued.
Hi Brian,
You will probably need a professional's oversight, there is a fee associated with that. You would have to contact various practitioners for cost in for overseeing you install the system. Many jurisdictions require this. For cost of supplies you would have to locate septic tank manufacturers in your local area for this and also plumbing supply stores for piping, pumps, control panels etc.
Her face never changes.. i started to only focus on the fact that she may be a robot lol
Joe Anderson she is totally a robot....I saw that also
Well... she is describing septic systems, how excited do you expect her to be?
True, a bit "deadpan," but I'd rather have her reading the narrative than some guy that normally does installs.
Same lol
Maybe you should pay attention and then google the kind of gas sewage makes because its deadly!
She forgot the "disadvantages" of the above ground systems... they LOOK LIKE SHIT !
Mattywho thanks for noting the negatives
Mattywho you are correct. Just bought a house with one of these systems and it totally ruins the backyard...it is an eyesore and renders most our one acre property useless.
😂 best disadvantage comment. We refused to allow a stupid big hump in our backyard so had it placed half way up hill then infilled the “ditch” on the uphill side
Thanks for the info but her lack of blinking totally creeped me out.
I was about to say the same thing, but decided to look at the comments first before repeating it.
She finally blinked as I read this.
@@seeqr9 I’m sure she’s smarter than you and me.
@@scarroll625 and?
@@seeqr9 take it easy tough guy
Growler supreme.
Very interesting! But your voice fry is excruciating.
This has to be the most boring (though useful) presentation I have ever seen.
Robot woman
Robot
Why though. Our tank with a flat leech field powered by gravity was diy'ed by someone 30 years ago and is still going fine. Over complicated crap
Above ground systems are placed in clay type soils, high water table areas where there is limited vertical separation in soil. You can’t very well place piping network below grade in clay soils, nor can you place in ground piping in high water. The video explains this. Gravity systems don’t work for every situation. Septic systems are highly regulated, we go through thorough training and on going training to identify the right design for each challenge.
@@groundstonewastewaterservi5066 gov can't regulate it if they don't know it's there
Well, for one, you may be forced to install one like I am being by the city. So, in that case videos like this are very necessary. Just because you're fortunate enough to not have to doesn't mean we all are.
this was too much crap talking for me
Zing!