Way Down Below..Farther Even than the Carpet

Today, Ed and I spent the better part of the afternoon in Whatcom County's class on 'How To Inspect Your Own Septic System.'  After all the brouhaha in late 2009 about everyone having to lay out $200-$300 to have a 'professional inspection,' the County revised the law to permit anyone who took the County's class in inspections to do the inspection on his/her own septic system.  We had already had our septic system inspected, but the law requires that it be inspected regularly (every 1 or every 3 years, depending upon the kind of system it is).  So, having taken the class, we could do it ourselves next time.

I know that because I took the class.  But, frankly, I wouldn't, at least not yet, trust me to inspect our septic system.  First of all, you have to be able to take the lid off and it's way too heavy for me to move, so I am stymied at the very first step.

The class, held here in Point Roberts, attracted 60-65 folks, most of them guys, but there were at least a dozen women in the room, as well, most of them of the elderly (like me) class.  I don't know whether any of those other ladies could lift their lids, either.  But it wasn't just the first step that was the problem.  The guy from the County who was explaining to us how to do this work was really very good, but he really didn't expect to be dealing with people like me, people who don't know the first thing about the subject, including the language that one uses to talk about it.  For example, there was much talk of baffles.  I could never quite get it into my mind what he was talking about.  At one point he actually showed me a baffle, pulling it out of a piece of PVC pipe (I do know what PVC pipe is; there's that).  But then, the next time he referred to the baffle and how it needed to be dealt with, I had forgotten about the thing he pulled out of the pipe and that it was called a baffle and thus had no idea what he was talking about.  This was definitely not his fault.  But the class effectively had pre-requisites, classes I had not taken.

It just got worse for me.  By the end of the second hour, when he was warning us about 'ponding' in the drain field, I was not sure whether ponding meant 'ponds of water,' or whether it had some special technical meaning that was obscure to me.  Thus, as Ed learned how to do it, I ended up knowing less than I knew at the beginning.  At least I suspect that at the beginning, I would have been pretty confident that ponding meant water gathering in small ponds.

Now, Ed knows how to do it and we are both certified by having been at the class.  Ed, however, assures me that he will walk me through it with our system so that I will see what it is the instructions were talking about and then my certification will have more content.  That would be good.  I learn that kind of thing better if I'm seeing the real practice.  Otherwise, I'm just likely to hear the word 'baffle' and immediately think of myself as baffled.

Report Card

Yesterday, the septic tank inspectors came to inspect the septic tank.  We're a little behind the curve on this, but not too much.  And now it's done.

Two guys came.  They opened the two lids, poked around with measuring sticks, measuring the top and the bottom.  Then they turned the hose on into the opening for awhile and checked to see whether there was any water coming up to the surface of the drain field (which they said was in a place that we would not have expected it to be, indeed, did not think it was: level with the tank, rather than downhill from it).  There was no surface water.  Everything was as it should be, given that it is a septic tank here rather than a sewer connection.

And then they measured some here and there, presumably for the County's records.  At the end of about a half hour, they went away with their check for $225, the going rate here on the Point, $35 of which, as I recall, goes directly to the County for its good services, whatever they may be in this case: perhaps for keeping the records.

It seemed quite a lot of money for such a brief amount of work.  But, opening the tank does expose one to a noticeably unpleasant smell.  Maybe that's why they get the big bucks.

Also, as a side benefit, now we know not to build on where the drain field is, as opposed to our previous belief that we should not build on where the drain field isn't..

How Did I Get Here?

'Once more into the breach, dear friends,' I'm thinking as I start to write this entry, or, more mundanely, once more into the septic system.  I warned myself that the issue of the septic system inspections would have legs, but I am already feeling I know more (and yet less) about this topic than is good for me.  But I trust that the paragraphs below might be helpful for us all.  Councilwoman Brenner has asked someone of expertise to offer advice about inspections.  This is what he has written, and she has forwarded to us.

 

You asked what might be helpful for a property owner to ask and do when working with an O&M (operation and maintenance) Inspector. . . .

 

First,  ask the O&M Inspector if the inspection fee includes the reporting fee charged by the Health Department.  Also, if an approved design is not on file with the Health Department, will the inspector charge an additional fee and, if so, how much?

 

Ask the inspector if they are also a licensed pumper or a licensed installer.   This may affect any recommendations that an inspector makes . . .

 

Ask the inspector how he or she performs the actual inspection!  Ask how they measure the levels in the tank--do they use a sludge judge?

Ask what else they inspect and what they are looking for.  Ask if they perform a dye test.

 

From a property owner's perspective, one of the most important things to be aware of is that there is a difference between recommendations and requirements!!!  Some inspectors have a tendency to try and sell "extras" such as replacement tank lids and risers.  If a tank lid is no longer structurally sound then it needs to be replaced.  You don't want someone falling into a tank and you don't want water running into a tank BUT if the existing lids are doing their job then a property owner is NOT required to replace them.  Of course the new lids and risers may look better and make it easier for future inspections but they are an additional expense and some inspectors charge small amounts for the initial inspection and hope to make a large profit from the "extras".   Broken baffles are required to be replaced.  Inspectors should look for an outlet filter.  Outlet filters protect your drain field so it is prudent for an inspector to recommend one if a septic system does not already have one.  Another note:  If you are aware that you have an outlet filter, ask the inspector if and how they clean it.  It is critical that an inspector takes care to make sure effluent is not released into the drain field during the removal and cleaning of an outlet filter.

 

Another thing to beware of is unnecessary pumping recommendations.  If an inspector recommends pumping BEFORE the levels in the septic tank have been checked then beware!  Although the guidelines recommend pumping every 3-5 years, the number of people in a household and the homeowner's practices can dramatically affect the condition of the septic tank.  We have seen systems that have went over 10 years without pumping because of homeowner's practices and I know of other systems that require pumping annually!  So make sure the levels in the tank are properly measured before determining whether or not a tank needs to be pumped.

 

Also, make sure the inspector gives you a copy of the report that is filed with the Health Department.

 

I'm hoping that is all for awhile on this topic.