What is Alternative Septic System?
An alternative septic system is a system that is different from the common traditional style septic system. An alternative system is required when the site and soil conditions on a property are limiting, or when the wastewater strength is too strong for the receiving environment. Alternative systems require less soil. In other words, the drain fields are smaller, and the standoffs to water table and soil restrictions are reduced. Most people are familiar with the conventional septic system. Depending on the landscape of the area, occasionally the traditional tank and field doesn’t work. On those occasions land owners will have to use an alternative septic system. The first indicator that you might need to switch systems is unusual water pooling in your backyard or drain field.Alternative onsite wastewater disposal systems can reduce the soil absorption area or leach field size requirement substantially and can in fact in some cases reduce the needed area to zero. For problem sites where space or soil conditions make it difficult to install a conventional leach field or where an existing septic system has failed, these designs are very important alternatives.
The alternative septic system designer conducts the site and soil inspection and testing, prepares the system design and installation plan, supervises the septic system construction, and certifies that the system was installed as designed. Alternative septic system designs are used for new or replacement septic systems on difficult sites where soil conditions (such as a rocky site, limited soil percolation rate, or high ground water level), or other terrain conditions (such as limited space for a septic system or steeply sloped sites) do not permit the installation of a conventional septic tank and drainfield system.
An alternative septic system is a system that is different from the common traditional style septic system. An alternative system is required when the site and soil conditions on a property are limiting, or when the wastewater strength is too strong for the receiving environment. Alternative systems require less soil. In other words, the drain fields are smaller, and the standoffs to water table and soil restrictions are reduced. Most people are familiar with the conventional septic system. Depending on the landscape of the area, occasionally the traditional tank and field doesn’t work. On those occasions land owners will have to use an alternative septic system. The first indicator that you might need to switch systems is unusual water pooling in your backyard or drain field.Alternative onsite wastewater disposal systems can reduce the soil absorption area or leach field size requirement substantially and can in fact in some cases reduce the needed area to zero. For problem sites where space or soil conditions make it difficult to install a conventional leach field or where an existing septic system has failed, these designs are very important alternatives.
The alternative septic system designer conducts the site and soil inspection and testing, prepares the system design and installation plan, supervises the septic system construction, and certifies that the system was installed as designed. Alternative septic system designs are used for new or replacement septic systems on difficult sites where soil conditions (such as a rocky site, limited soil percolation rate, or high ground water level), or other terrain conditions (such as limited space for a septic system or steeply sloped sites) do not permit the installation of a conventional septic tank and drainfield system.
|
What are site conditions that lead to consideration of an alternative septic design?
|
|
Different types of Alternative septic systems:
- Netafim sub-surface drip irrigation
- NU water ATU (No UV required)
- Geo-Flow sub-surface drip irrigation
- Sand-Filter System and Sand-Filter rebuilds
- Mound System and Mound System rebuilds
- Advantex Treatment Systems
- Glendon Bio-Filter Systems
- Nibbler Systems
- Whitewater ATU (UV required)
- Fast Treatment Systems (UV required)