HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986-11-04 Letter, Septic System Installation StatusCITY of ORONO
Post Office Box 66*Crystal Bay, Minnesota 5=16 Municipal Offices
On th�ovembehr°�P4of 6 -innetonka
Thompson Lumber Company
3220 West Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55416
Attn: Dave Ryerse
Re: Septic Systems for Specific Residences on Countryside Drive
Dear Mr. Ryerse:
I have been contacted by Carl Widmer of Widmer Brothers, Inc.,
and Mimi Dennehy of Merrill Lynch Burnet Realty regarding properties
which Thompson Lumber now controls at 2550, 2590 and 2615 Countryside
Drive in Orono. Specifically, the request was to transmit all
information the City has regarding the septic systems, and define what
work on them has not yet been completed. As you are aware these
houses have been under construction on and off for approximately 18
months.
On October 31, 1986, I met with Duane Ritter of Duane Ritter
Excavating, Inc., the subcontractor who had been hired to install the
septic systems for the above referenced houses. We inspected each of
the systems in question in order to determine what condition the
systems are in and what additional work is needed to make them
functional and acceptable to the City.
I will discuss each system separately for clarity's sake:
A) 2550 Countryside Drive
This system was installed in September, 1985, by Ritter under
permit #8036 dated 8/13/85. The system was inspected by City
Inspector, Lyle Oman, on September 23, 1985, and he gave Ritter the
go-ahead to cover the trenches and tanks, with final inspection to be
completed before issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy.
My inspection on 10/31/86 revealed the following items either
discrepant or remaining to be completed:
1. Pump is inside the pump tank, and wires have been run up to
the house, but a) electrical connection to the house has not been
made; and b) a pump failure alarm has not been installed in the
tank nor has a connection/alarm box been placed in the house.
Note: #12 wire should be for the pump, #14 wire for the alarm.
Ritter's agreement with Points West was that Points West would
subcontract out the electrical work.
BUILDING & 'ZONING - 473.7357 • ADMINISTRATION A FINANCE - 473.7358 • PI'HLIC WORKS - 473.7359
ASSESSING
Septic Systems For Specific Residences in Countryside Drive
November 4, 1986
Page 2 of 5
2. The drop boxes have been disturbed, covers removed, and boxes
partially filled in with dirt. These need to be cleaned out,
making sure all lines are clear, and covers re -installed.
3. The entire drainfield appears to have only 3"-4" of cover
soil. This should be increased to 8"-12" total cover. Grading
work was apparently done on the site after the system was
installed.
4. There is a curtain drain paralleling the upper trench and
outletting downhill, west of the drainfield. The drain tile
outlet should be located, cleared and protected from disruption
to maintain a positive outlet.
A diagram of the system is attached for your convenience, along
wi`ri copies of the inspection records to date for this system. I
also note that we have not yet received a copy of the State
Watt -r Well Record from Braunworth Well Company.
B) 2590 Countryside Drive
Permit #8038 was issued to Ritter on 8/13/85. Tanks were
installed 11/6/85, inspected by me on that date. This site was
originally intended to have a trench drainfield in the front yard, but
initial excavation and regrading of the lot destroyed the front yard
drainfield sites. Testing was subsequently done in the rear yard by
Steve Schermers, who indicated to me verbally that the rear yard would
need a mound. I have never received a copy of the revised testing and
design plans. A pump line was installed from the 3rd tank to the rear
yard. The drainfield has never been commenced.
Items Outstanding:
1. Drainfield plans must be submitted.
2. Upon plan approval, drainfield (presumably mound) must be
installed.
3. Pump and pump alarm must be provided and installed. The
electrical wiring has been buried from the tanks up to the house.
4. Tanks are full of water which may be from surface runoff or
may be from a sump pump in the basement. Any sump groundwater
discharge must be eliminated from discharging to the septic
system.
A diagram of the existing tanks is attached for your convenience.
We have received a copy of the Water Well Rerc from Ingleside
Engineering.
Septic Systems For Specific Residences in Countryside Drive
November 4, 1986
Page 3 of 5
C) 2615 Countryside Drive
Permit x{8039 was issued to Ritter on 8/13/85. System was
apparently installed in August, 1985. Inspector, Lyle Oman, recalls
seeing the installation occurring but there is no inspection slip on
file. The system consists of 3 tanks to the southwest of the house,
and 6 drainfield trenches with drop boxes located northwest of the
house.
we have 2 major problems with this system:
1. The well was installed in front of the house a distance 47'
from the lowest drainfield trench (measured on 10/31/86). Orono
Code requires a 75' separation distance here. The State Well
Code requires a minimum of 50' separation. The well is directly
downhill from the drainfield. Either the well or the drainfield
must be relocated. We have not been able to establish which went
in first, the well or the drainfield; however, we do not have any
record that the well contractor called for a site inspection
prior ;:o drilling (as is require) and we know that the septic
plan approval, given to the general contractor with the building
permit, noted that the well must be located east of the house
maintaining a ,5' setback to the drainfield. Neither the well
driller or the general contractor followed this requirement.
Lyle Oman's well inspection slip of 8/21/85 documents the depth
and pumping flow rate of the well as drilled, but does not give
any indication of final approval of the well.
2. After the drainfield was installed, NSP located a transformer
at a point on the west line of the property and another in the
cul-de-sac, and ran an electric cable between them. In the
process, they cut through at least 3 and perhaps 4 of the 6
drainfield lines, as evidenced by shreds of PVC pipe ane 'inder
rock strewn about in the area they cut through. This has a an
undetermined amount of damage to the drainfield which . s not
been repaired. They may have also severed the pump discharge
line, this again is unknown. NSP didn't contact the City about
the apparent damage, and did not stop when they first ran into
the drainfield. In addition to damaging the drainfield, we now
have a very hazardous situation with an electric cable buried in
an area where an inspector might be expected to be probing to
determine the condition of a drainfield.
3. The pump is in the 3rd tank but electrical connections into
the house have not been made, nor has a tank alarm been provided
or connected.
4. Small (6"-8") pine trees have been planted over the drain -
field. These are a potential problem.
Septic Systems For Specific Residences in Countryside Drive
November 4, 1986
Page 4 of 5
It appears that encroachments into or near the drainfield by
other utilities or systems have caused severe problems on this site,
hence the City cannot issue a Certificate of Occupancy until these
problems are resolved. Note that the alternate drainfield site on
this property, to the rear of the house, will require a mound system.
Given the problems as stated above, we feel it would be most prudent
to abandon the existing drainfield and construct a mound in the rear
yard. A diagram of the existing situation is attached.
To summarize, the following items must be resolved and completed
before the City can consider issueing Occupancy Certificates for these
homes:
A) 2550 Countryside Drive
1) Provide and install pump failure alarm, make electrical
connections from pump and alarm to house;
2) Repair drop boxes;
3) Place additional soil cover over drainfield Hies;
4) Uncover and protect curtain drain outlet.
H) 2590 Countryside Drive
1) Submit plans, soil testing for approval of drainfield in rear
yard;
2) Install drainfield per approved plans;
3) Provide and install pump and pump failure alarm. Make
appropriate electrical connections to house;
4) Inspect basement sump pumps and permanently eliminate any
groundwater sump discharges away from septic system.
C) 2615 Countryside Drive
1) Provide and install pump failure alarm, make electrical
connections from pump and alarm to house.
2) Option 1:
a. Abandon existing well, install new well in approved
location;
b. Remove and relocate buried electric service cable from
drainfield area;
Septic Systems For Specific Residences in Countryside Drive
November 4, 1966
Page 5 of 5
C. Uncover drainfield lines and pump line at points of
electrical service excavation, replace/repair portions of
drainfield as necessary;
d. Remove trees that encroach on drainfield lines; or
Option 2:
a. Install a new mound -type drainfield at the alternate
site in rear yard, using existing tanks and pump station.
Abandon existing drainfield, pump line and curtain drain
(leave in place - no need to dig all this up). This will
allow you to use existing well and electrical service lines
in place.
I would note to you that if you hire Ritter to complete the work
on these systems, no additional permits will be required. If you hire
another contractor, new permits will have to be obtained for the work
to be completed, because:
1. Uce of a contractor not familiar with the existing system
layouts will likely result in additional staff time being spent
on the site to bring the new contractor "up to speed"; and
2. It is a long-standing City policy that general permits are
non -transferable; and
3. In signing for the permit, the contractor assumes
responsibility for the work he performs, hence the permit becomes
an important document if liability problems arise.
Please feel free to contact me at 473-7357 if you have any
questions or if I can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
-At_�D
Michael P. Gaffr ,
Asst Planning 6 Zoning Administrator
MPG/tln
cc: Mimi Dennehy, Merrill Lynch
Carl Widmer, Widmer Brothers
Duane Ritter, Ritter Excavating, Inc.
Jeanne A. Mabusth, Zoning Administrator
Thomas J. Jacobs, Building Official
Lyle Oman, Field Inspector
Mark E. Bernhardson, City Administrator
Enclosure