100 A Southwest Boulevard   •    PO Box 389 Newton, NC 28658   •    828-465-8270

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ON-SITE WASTEWATER

The On-Site Wastewater division permits and supervises the installation of septic systems where sewer lines are not available so that sewage may be safely disposed of with the least impact on individuals and the environment.
 

tank
 The septic tank is a two piece concrete box, sealed at the joints to prevent water seepage. It is placed just below ground level on an undisturbed bed of soil and leveled carefully. The home's waste line is connected to it. There are doors in the top which allow access for inspection and pumping of effluent.
The doors on the top of the tank allow access for inspection and periodic pumping. Inside the doors on the outlet end is a "tee", which keeps grease from entering the drain lines and clogging them. The tank is separated into two chambers by a "baffle wall", which prevents solids from entering the second chamber of the tank. doors
dropbox
 After leaving the tank, the effluent is piped to a distribution device, in this case a "dropbox", which is carefully leveled. There are two pipes leaving this box, one to the first trench, the second, which is higher, to the second trench. This allows the first trench to fill before the second. Another box allows the second trench to feed before the last.
In this installation, three trenches are used, for a total of 300 linear feet. The total length is determined by the number of bedrooms in a residence and the soil characteristics. The number of trenches used is determined by the lot layout, size, and topography.
three trenches
careful examination The Environmental Health Specialist carefully examines each part of the installation of the system to ensure that it will operate according to the design specifications. Here, he measures the depth of the gravel in the trench, which allows effluent to move freely and absorb into the ground. There must be at least 12 inches of gravel in the trench.
After the system is approved, the contractor may cover the system. The area is seeded with grass to aid in removing surface water (evapotranspiration) and the plumbing is connected to the tank. backhoe
 
 

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