Rural Sewage Flashcards

1
Q

When do you need a septic tank, and what is its purpose?

A

When a building isn’t connected to the city sewage system. It’s used to digest sewage (break down the solids.)

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2
Q

What are the two main components of a septic system?

A

Septic tank, and disposal field.

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3
Q

What are the three layers that make up the effluent in a septic tank?

A

Scum, the top layer, liquid sewage, the middle layer, and sludge, the bottom layer.

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4
Q

Where are the anaerobic bacteria present?

A

In the settled sewage in the tanks.

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5
Q

How long should a septic tank be able to hold sewage for?

A

24 hours.

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6
Q

What would you consider when determining the expected daily sewage flow for a septic tank?

A

Number of people using the tank, cooking habits, soap accumulation from hard water, the use of certain soaps & detergents.

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7
Q

What would determine the location of a septic tank?

A

The soil type, area available, the water table, distance from property lines, water sources & buildings.

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8
Q

What types of things do you tank into consideration when sizing a septic field?

A

-The amount of raw sewage received in a 24 hour period. -Sufficient space for expected accumulation of sludge. -A 50% increase for each garbage grinder. (Garberator). -# of bedrooms. -Size of the residence. -Frost line. -Type of soil. -Water table.

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9
Q

What would you do if a septic tank is installed but you find that all the locations for a septic field end up being either too close to a property line or too close to a water source?

A

Install a pumpout (holding tank). A type of tank that’s pumped out once in a while, no disposal field is used in this situation.

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10
Q

What’s the reason for the siphon tank being sized so that it discharges a large amount of effluent at one time?

A

This ensures that the entire disposal field’s used.

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11
Q

What’s the purpose of the outlet tee?

A

To allow the clearest liquid to enter into the secondary chamber.

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12
Q

What type of soil would you use as fill for a disposal field?

A

You would use a porous soil in order to allow air to reach the gravel bed.

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13
Q

How do you test the suitability of the soil for the proposed disposal field?

A

A percolation test. 2 holes 12” x 12” width, 22” to 32” depth. Test for one hour.

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14
Q

Rather than using a distribution box to distribute the clear effluent from a septic tank, you may instead install a header. How should the header be graded?

A

Level with the branches then sloped away from the header at 2” per 100 ft.

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15
Q

What would be required if a private sewage disposal system had the absorption field installed at an elevation above the septic tank?

A

A pump system should be used.

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16
Q

When performing an inspection of a septic tank, you notice that there’s very little scum in the tank. What is the cause?

A

Too much detergent from a clothes washer, or a broken outlet tee causing scum to leave the septic tank.

17
Q

What’s the most efficient and cost effective system to use for a disposal field containing 600 feet of laterals?

A

Install a effluent tank and a bell siphon. This will discharge a large amount of effluent at one time.

18
Q

What is the best location for a sewage disposal field?

A

Elevated and well ventilated.

19
Q

What is the grade of the pipe from a septic tank to the distribution box?

A

1/4 per foot. 1 in 50.

20
Q

What is the expected grade from the distribution box to the end of the lateral? (The slope of the trench.)

A

2” per 100 ft.

21
Q

What’s the minimum permissible length of a building drain to a septic tank?

A

1 meter (3 feet.)

22
Q

If a septic field’s installed, how should the field be sloped?

A

Away from the house.

23
Q

What is the gravel in a septic tanks main purpose?

A

For oxygen permeation. (To allow air to go through.)

24
Q

A septic tank uses a subsurface disposal field to distribute effluent evenly. How much backfill (including both aggregate and porous soil) should be placed over the piping in order for oxygen to reach the effluent?

A

6” of aggregate (gravel) and between 6” to 24” of porous soil.

25
Q

If a condensing boiler or furnace is attached to a septic system, what pH range should the water be neutralized to?

A

pH - 6 to 9.