Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Soil questions Good for pond, BAD for septic system

You know what the big disadvantage to having soil conditions that are good for a pond is.....those conditions SUCK for putting in a septic system!

The local Health Department just told us that our perk test/soil sample failed due to high clay content. I'll still be able to build on the land, but the septic system will be 4 times as much to put in!

Jeeeezzzz!

But hey, my pond is holding water like a porcelain bowl! It would probably cost more to fix a leaking pond than the increased cost of my septic system right?

Did you ask about various septic systems that are approved for use in your county? Some septic systems don't require a drain field.

We talked about our options, and the "Aerobic System" came up. It was the most expensive of all the options.

What they are going to make us do is excavate a large area of the heavy clay soil to a depth where we hit a permeable layer of sand. Then we will backfill that with a "Septic Sand" and our drain field will be placed on top of that. It's pretty common in our area, with the new septic system rules, to run into this problem. I had just hoped we would get lucky and at the home site location, which is about 300 ft away up a hill overlooking the pond, that we would find some soil that would "Perk".

It's aggravating but I'm sure things could be worse...

Hi Gareth
Sounds to me that you have optimal conditions for this type septic system http://www.pilerensning.dk/english/
Zero discharge can't be better or?

cheers

That's some really forward thinking waste control!

Unfortunately, where I live, you would have to move Heaven and Earth to get the local government to approve something like that. I'm sure it would be considered "experimental" and I would run into nothing but problems getting it done. Even though Willow Trees thrive in our area!

Thanks for the recommendation, I appreciate it.