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Beausoleil
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# Posted: 16 Aug 2014 07:23pm
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We have a 2-bedroom cottage (not used mid-Oct.- mid May) in the area of Gracefield/Maniwaki, Quebec. It was built in 1970 with a septic system. In 2000 we replaced the septic tank. Now we are looking to replace the soil absorption field. Can anyone suggest an environmental company in the area which could do a report for us?
We have considered replacing it ourselves and have studied the Quebec requirements. It would mean digging the trenches, installing gravel and new piping, etc. However we are concerned that could be wasted effort if the municipality comes knocking.
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old243
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# Posted: 16 Aug 2014 09:00pm
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Are you having problems with the trench field,. is water coming up some where.? If you only use it in the summer , your usage can't be that great. What size of tank did you install, I assume it was a n approved concrete tank. Your problem might be as simple as checking the inlet and outlet of the tank , for blockages.Or having it pumped out If there are trees close to the tank or bed you could have roots bunging your pipes. I read an article online about the use of a copper wire buried in or beside a sewage pipe or drain, the copper sulfate will repel the growth of roots.
I replaced my tank and bed about 10 years ago. It has worked well since. In my case the township requested a percolation test of my soil. Which I did, a local backhoe contractor , installed the bed. I actually installed an extra 100 feet of bed , beyond the recommendations , as we were digging anyway. Put in lots of clear stone. then had it checked before backfilling,and approved. Then carefully backfilled it . One thing the contractor told me is never let anyone drive over the bed. old243
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bldginsp
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# Posted: 16 Aug 2014 09:11pm - Edited by: bldginsp
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I've no idea what requirements are there, but where I am you can do the work yourself on an approved system, so long as a geo engineer does a perc test and the health dept. inspects as they see fit.
Instead of a gravel/pipe system, I used the chambers which require no gravel at all. They are plastic half-rounds, 30 x 48 inches, that you lay on the ground and cover with dirt, leaving an open cavity underground for the water to flow into and absorb into the dirt. Very easy to instal, the hard part is moving all that dirt.
You sure they won't let you do the work yourself?
I agree with old 243 that you should exhaust every possibility before replacing the drainfield, but 44 years is a lot for a drainfield, even one that gets limited use. As well, 44 years ago the standards for installation of these things was a lot less than it is these days, so it may not be very large to begin with,
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Beausoleil
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# Posted: 17 Aug 2014 09:26pm
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Appreciate the input. We have very lovely grass in the area of the tank which needs cutting weekly! It is a large tank. Yes, we could have roots from trees blocking things too. When we have used a clothes washer (now not doing so for obvious reasons) we see water around the second lid. When it was pumped in Fall 2012, we got a notice that there was back flow (no surprise).
With regard to the chamber system bldginsp described, Quebec regulation mention this option. They are placed in trenches which could be 24" wide and have 6 ft. centerlines. Maximum line length 20'. For a 2-bedroom cottage they require 213 feet. That would mean 11 lines of 20 ft, or a total width of 60 ft.! I just don't have that space available. Using the perforated pipe, I can have lines of 60' long, but again, no space to do it.
The Quebec regulations require a percolation test and the soil has to be permeable or high permeable.
We are wondering about going to a holding tank option, which will mean the regular cost of pumping out. It will still require a new installation project.
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bigsexy
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# Posted: 18 Aug 2014 06:48pm
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Does anyone know where you can purchase a holding tank like this was posted on (trollbridge)
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bldginsp
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# Posted: 18 Aug 2014 07:00pm
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That's a tough one, Beausoleil. You could, perhaps, go with an engineered system where they bring in a lot of fill and make a dirt hill in your back yard which absorbs the water, but that is very expensive.
With the holding tank option, perhaps you could install a grey water system that diverts non-sewage water away from the holding tank onto landscaping, to reduce pumping costs. Just a thought, but grey water systems are increasingly popular as a 'green' technology
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Beausoleil
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# Posted: 18 Aug 2014 09:53pm
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Regarding greywater, my son has purchased a compact unit called "Biolan Lite" and is awaiting approval to use it at his cottage near ours in Quebec. It is approved in Ontario. The website is http://www.envirolet.com/greywaterlight.html
They claim this is an excellent solution for greywater. The combination of a holding tank for waste water and this unit for greywater could be the best solution in regards to cost and space required.
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bldginsp
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# Posted: 19 Aug 2014 08:49am
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If Quebec will allow the use of a greywater system, might they allow you to install a smaller septic if it is only receiving toilet waste? Just a wild guess- but it makes sense that if the septic drainfield is taking far less effluent it doesn't need to be as large. In which case maybe you have enough room for the smaller septic system in conjunction with a greywater system. Just a guess, I kind of doubt any health dept. is going to allow installation of a septic smaller than 'what's required' just because the problem in the past has always been failed septics because they were designed too small. But the times they are a changing with respect to water use attitudes, and it might be worth a conversation with your health inspector.
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old243
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# Posted: 20 Aug 2014 09:45am
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We have a greywater system, installed about 15 years ago. All our wash shower and kitchen sink water goes to it . Don't know what your situation is regarding nosy neighbors, inspection etc. It consists of 4 45 gallon plastic barrels ,with screw lids, many half inch holes bored in the sides. They are joined by 3 inch pipes running from one to another. A large pit was dug and the barrels installed. The pit was then completely filled with a load of 3/4 inch clear stone. a 4 inch big O pipe goes out to grade it is also packed in stone. Very careful to not drive over the area . This allows area to breath .Probably shouldn't be near trees. Has worked well, probably better than something a health unit could dream up, and a lot cheaper. Hope this might help old243
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Beausoleil
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# Posted: 1 Sep 2014 04:23pm
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Well, we decided to dig up some of the old weeper system, and sure enough found the pipes both plugged and collapsed! We are now considering the option of infiltration chambers which bldginsp mentioned. I have emailed the U.S. company with questions and have yet to find a source in Ontario or Quebec. Do the units come in a standard size? You mention 30" x 48". Is that the width and length? What is the height? I saw from the website that you can put as little as 6" of soil above them and you can drive over the area. Is that really true? Any idea of the cost per unit?
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turkeyhunter
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# Posted: 1 Sep 2014 07:31pm - Edited by: turkeyhunter
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these are the ones I used at my camp
http://www.infiltratorsystems.com/products-solutions/chambers/traffic-rated-series
...drive over them no problem
I have driven over them with truck and my farm tractor.
also when the 4inch PVC pipe DUMPS;) into the infiltrator....I laid a 12inch x 12inch conc. patio paver (99 cents at Home depot) in the bottom to keep it from undermining...a friend who installs them said he does it on everyone he installs.
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Dekagoldwingers
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# Posted: 2 Sep 2014 12:23am
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Barr plastics in BC deals in tanks and chambers or infiltrators. Not sure if they have branches across Canada.
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bldginsp
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# Posted: 2 Sep 2014 08:55am
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Infiltrator dimensions vary with manufacturer. I was told not to drive over them, and that they needed more than 6" soil above. The kind shown above are made to be driven over. Talk to your health dept about what they will accept in terms of soil above and the number required.
If your pipes were collapsed and clogged, perhaps the soil in the area of your drainfield is still able to absorb water. In otHer words your system failed due to piping and not soil failure, which does eventually happen. I'd be surprised if the health dept will allow you to replace the drainfield in the same place, for that reason, but maybe they will, or maybe if you just dig up enough of the pipes to replace them you can get more use out of the system, at least for a while.
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