04-22-1985 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Proper ne;'ntenance of existing septic systems can have a po--..tive impact on their efficiency and continued operation. However, ),� the Crystal Bay area, many systems are located or designed such that tank access is extremely difficult, i.e. tanks buried under 8-10' of cover with no manhole. Older shallow tanks still require major excavation to open up the strip cover sections. Note that the 4" diameter inspec- tion pipes. located in most tanks were installed to function only as inspection pipes; the tank solids generally cannot be adequately removed and baffles cannot always be reliably checked through the inspection pipe. Ncte also that Orono's On -Site code adopted in 1978 on finally required retrofitting of all septic tanks with inspection pipes and manholes to within 6-12" of the ground surface. It became apparent that the majority of existing septic tanks would need to have the entire tank cover replaced in order to add the required 20" dia- meter manhole. Because tank covers are not generally sold separately from the tank, they would have to be special ordered. The costs for cover replacement approached the costs for replacing entire tanks; the code was subsequently amended to only require installation of inspec- tion pipes. Each time a septic tank is pumped out, the pumping contractor is required to send notification to the City. If we presume that ^on - tractors have been judicious in their reporting, records indicate that only about 50 of the 1000 plus septic systems in Orono are pumped each year. Since the code requires pumpouts at least once every three years, we would expect to see 300-400 pumpout slips each year. Clear- ly, people do not pump their tanks as often as they should. In Crystal Bay, pumpout records indicate that only about 60% of the systems have been pumped out since records were first kept in 1978. To summarize, reliance on a change in habits or attitudes toward septic systems would indeed require some major educational efforts by the City and the history of system maintenance indicates efforts to date have not been completely successful. Each family is different in their water use habits and a push for major changes in usage patterns would likely be met with conscious and unconscious resistance. Water saving fixtures could be retrofitted into each house at a cost ranging from $750-2000 per house. These potentially would reduce the daily flow rate by up to 50% but would still require the use J septic systems. OPTION 2. Repair or reconstruction of individual systems and replacement of existing systems constructed to City standards per Ordinance 210. For the most part, existing septic systems in the Crystal Bay area are quite substandard. As discussed in the inventory review, the existing tanks generally are of block construction, not sealed off from groundwater fluctuations. Where a two tank system exists, when both tanks are in relatively good condition, baffles intact and of 600 gallons each or greater, in a fairly shallow location where ground- water would have a minimal effect on their functioning, existing tanks might be considered as suitable for continued use should system repair or reconstruction be contemplated. New precast concrete sealed tanks could be placed in approximately the same location as existing tanks. 8