Specifications for Residential Property Owners Connection to New Public Sewer Spalding Tract property owners are required to connect to the community sewer system when construction is complete and the project is certified for operation. SCDC Ordinance No. 2005-2. Introduction Currently structures are connected to their own septic tank and leach fields. Naturally occurring bacteria in the septic tank break down the solids that flow into the tank. The liquified solids and water then leave the tank as a blackwater effluent. Until this project is completed effluent will continue to be dispersed into the ground through the property owner s leach field. This new system replaces the leach field. A collector system of pipes and four transmission pumping stations will transport the effluent from the septic tanks to the above ground, lined, evaporation ponds, located near County Road A-1. In order to maintain sufficient depth of collector pipes to prevent freezing, at the individual property boundaries, property owners may have either a full gravity system from their tank to the connection point or, if the septic tank is too deep in the ground or down hill from the collector pipe, then a service lift pump will need to be installed in the tank to pump the effluent to the collector pipe. During the design phase, efforts were made to plan the system layout to minimize the number of tanks that will require pumping. Now that the construction contract is getting started, additional attention is being put to questioning borderline locations, again with the goal of installing a minimum number of service lift pumps in tanks. General Requirements All property owners are responsible for providing a certified septic tank, equipped with an effluent filter inside the outlet end of the tank and an accessible tank lid on a riser for inspections and maintenance. And the owners are responsible for installing the pipe line and for connection the tank to the new system. The project will provide a 1 ½ inch Schedule 80 PVC capped connection at the property line. The contractor will install a capped cleanout within the road R/W and a pipe marker over the top of the connection point. For those tanks that will need service lift pumps during the new system construction period, the sewer system contract will install the pumps and electrical connections as a part of the District contract. The owner is still required to provide the certified tank, 1
provide the installed pipe from the tank to the property line connection point and make the pipe connection. Property owners will be required to install a service lift pump if not before the current contract is closed, if one is needed. However, in keeping with the goal of minimizing the number of septic tank lift pumps to be required, the District s engineers will work with property owners ahead of the contractors work progress. To accomplish the necessary level checks, the tank outlet end lid needs to be exposed so the water level in the tank can be recorded. Following a logical routing for the pipe, between the tank and the property line, a distance and difference in elevation will be determined. They will be looking for an acceptable drop in elevation for gravity flow. The timing for doing this will be dictated by the contractor s plan of work. Their schedule will be posted outside at the District office and kept current weekly. If the existing tank needs to be replaced, then consideration needs to be given where to put the new tank to serve the building and provide gravity flow from the tank to the property line if at all possible. We all want to avoid having to install a service lift pump. Again, the District s engineers will work with property owners to place a new tank in a location to provide gravity fall from the tank outlet to the District s system. The goal is to make these determinations before the Contractor (Sundt) begins work on your street, thus any adjustments to connection points can be made before work is done, thus avoiding a change order and added cost to the District. The engineers are available now to do these checks; see second paragraph below under Permits and Inspections. Permits and Inspections Sewer connection permits and applicable fees are required before any work is started by the property owner. Contact the District s office, located at 502-907 Mahogany Way, Spalding Tract, Susanville, CA 96130. Septic tank and sewer line inspections must be requested at least 24 hours in advance. Contact the District s engineers at the field office trailer next to the District Office or call 825-0004 between 9AM and 11AM, Monday through Thursday for an inspection appointment. Inspection services are outlined in a later section of this document. Materials and Installation Requirements All of the work to be done by the property owner can be done at any time the sooner the better. However, the existing leach field must continue to be used until the contractor s (Sundt s) work is completed and the project is certified for operation. Existing septic tanks may be used if they pass inspection, including having a 2
serviceable baffle, leak test and installation of outlet filter and inspection/maintenance riser with lid that meet the specifications from Exhibit F of Ordinance No. 2005-2, following: Tank Source Size Tank Installation Cook s Concrete Products, Redding, 243-2562 or equal. Size, as determined by the District. The minimum tank size shall be 1000 gallon capacity. Septic tanks buried 3' or deeper or subject to traffic loading may require certification for loading conditions. Specify a 1 ½" or 2" PVC wall sleeve for the tank outlet to match the size of the lateral line needed to tie to the District s system. Use 4" of well-compacted sand, pea gravel or 3/4" minus rock under the tank, as bedding material. Smooth the bedding material to create a level pad with a tolerance of 1/4" in 20'. If native soil is not suitable for tank support, the District may require overexcavation and more sand or pea gravel. Call for inspection prior to setting tank. The Inspector will inspect the tank cavity, and should be present for the placing of the tank. Around and under external piping, use compacted 3/4" minus rock. Compact the backfill over and around tank to a minimum of 85% maximum dry density. Tank watertight test: Septic tank inlet and outlet pipes are plugged and the tank filled with clean water to the top. Twenty-four hours later the water level is to be inspected. The tank is either certified or use if the drop in water level is less than 1/4" from the top, or if the tank does not hold water, the owner will be required to replace the tank and a subsequent inspection will be made as indicated above after a new tank is installed. Access Riser Orenco, Roseburg. 541-673-0165, 24" diameter or NDS24-RIS Round Rise 24" TUF TITE 6" tall Riser and NDS 24-RISL Domed Lid 24" TUF TITE available from J. W. Woods, Susanville. Riser Installation Install with lids 1-3" above the surrounding surface. Bond with two-part epoxy from Orenco, cured 24 hours before backfilling. Call for inspection prior to backfilling. Lids to match riser size, installed with gasket and hex bolts. 3
Access lid sealed with a neoprene O-ring, 3 bolt design with ½" stainless bolts, with two cast recessed lifting bars. Lids to say Sewer or S. Effluent Filter Pipe Effluent Filter shall be installed inside the septic tank at the outlet end. The filter shall be Orenco Biotube Effluent Filter #FT 0444-36 or equal. 1 ½" or 2" SCH 40 PVC or SDR 17 HDPE. Fittings and service cleanouts are to be of the same type, class, and grade of material as the pipe or as approved by the engineer. Slope will be at least 1/8" per foot or as directed by the District. Use a minimum of bends and fittings. Use no bends greater than 45 O unless approved by the District. Check for water tightness of pipe joints by blocking the low end and installing an elbow and 5 foot high stand pipe at the high end of the pipe. Fill with water and let stand for 24 hours. A 1/4" drop in 24 hours is acceptable. Trace Wire Install 12 gauge solid-core trace wire, green, from the cleanout to the tank riser, wrapping around each twice. Connect to cleanout at ground level. Secure to pipe also every 20' and at all bends. Make splices and connections with waterproof heat shrink splice kits, or approved underground connector. Clean-Outs One at least five feet from the building, and one at least every 100 feet. Caps should be installed slightly below grade. In improved areas, (such as driveways) cover with a Brooks Type 1-RT or 3T box. Backfill Call for an inspection of the gravity line prior to backfilling. Thoroughly compact bedding and backfill material under and around service piping connection to septic tank so as to prevent differential settling and leakage into or out of connection. Provide 4" pipe bedding of 3/4" minimum crushed rock, pea gravel, or sand, free of sticks, stones, or other debris. Install piping and provide a minimum of 12 inches of pipe bedding material as pipe zone material around and above pipe. 4
In improved areas, such as driveways, above the pipe zone, use 3/4" crushed rock and compacted to 95% of maximum dry density. Compacted native material may be used in unimproved areas, such as lawns. Minimum cover is 30 inches unless authorized by the District. Sewer Lines Installations near existing waterlines and wells shall meet the Near Water Lines following: and Wells Near domestic water Parallel with water lines A gravity sewer line shall not be placed within one foot horizontally of a domestic water line. Pressure sewer lines from pumped septic tanks shall not be placed within 10 feet horizontally of a domestic water line unless it is placed inside a larger diameter SCH 80 PVC or DR 9.0 HDPE sleeve. Crossing a water line A minimum of 4 inches of vertical separation must be maintained above or below the water line at the sewer crossing. If the gravity sewer line crosses above, or within one foot below the water line, the sewer line must be sleeved inside a larger diameter Schedule 80 PVC or DR 9.0 HDPE sewer pipe for a minimum of 4 feet horizontally on each side of the water line. Near wells Schedule 40 PVC or HDPE sewer pipe is to be sleeved inside a larger diameter Schedule 40 PVC or HDPE sewer pipe when within 25 feet horizontally of a well. Sewer Lines Near Property Lines Sewer Lines Near Buildings Existing Leach Fields Sewer lines shall be installed at least one foot horizontally away from any property lines. Sewer lines shall be installed at least two feet horizontally away from any building. Existing leach fields shall be permanently abandoned after connecting to the community sewer system. A final inspection and certification will be performed to verify that all leach lines have been disconnected and abandoned with at least ten (10) feet of separation between the septic tank and the abandoned leach line. 5
At this time, and during System construction during 2006, the septic tank lift pump specifications and installation requirements are not included in this write-up. Their installation will be done by the Contractor as a part of their contract. The District assumes maintenance responsibility and ownership of the septic tank lift pump one year from the date of the system s final inspection. During this first year period, routine maintenance and repairs of the service lift pump, other than those due to improper installation, will be performed by the District s operators. Improper installations will be correct as warranty work under the Spalding Community Sewer System construction contract. Summary Responsibilities District Property Owner Sundt Construction Issue Connection Permit. Obtain Connection Permit. Construct Work with property owner Provide certified tank, used evaporation ponds. where grades may be -Uncover tank lids Install all pipes within a problem. -Pump sewage the road R/W Perform inspections. -Fill tank with water for 24 Install service lateral for hour leak test existing tanks only -Install filter at outlet from pipe main line to -Install access lid or the property line. Install new tank. Install service lift pump Install pipe from the tank. pkg. in tanks where to the property line. required, including Connect to new service electrical connections. lateral when system is complete and approved Disconnect and permanently abandon leach field. 6
Inspection Services by Lampe Engineering Septic System Inspections 1A Septic tank has been located, access manholes exposed and water level checked for gravity flow. 1B Septic tank pumped and inspected for structural defects, inflow of ground water, functioning baffle, inlet and outlet fittings in place. If the septic tank fails the inspection, the owner will be required to replace the tank and a subsequent inspection will be made after a new tank is installed. 2 Septic tank inlet and outlet pipes are plugged and the tank filled with clean water to the top. 24 hours later the water level is to be inspected. The tank is certified for use or if the tank does not hold water, the owner will be required to replace the tank and a subsequent inspection will be made after a new tank is installed. N A new septic tank must be supplied by a certified manufacturer, inspected for proper installation, structural defects and water tightness as outlined above for existing tanks. 3A Septic tank will be inspected for installation of effluent filter and access hole riser and lid. 3B Pipe line to connect tank to community service will be inspected for location, grade, air pockets, depth, separation from potable wells or sleeved, water tightness and type of pipe. Final - When the Community Sewer System Project is completed and certified for operation, the individual septic tanks will be disconnected from the leach field and connected to the new sewer collection system. The individual septic systems will be inspected to insure that the existing leach field has been abandoned and permanently disconnected from the septic tank outlet, the septic tank outlet is properly connected to the new effluent service connection line, and community system. And abandoned septic tanks are pumped and backfilled with sand to ensure they do not collapse. 7