HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-08-23 Letter, Septic Service OptionsCITY of ORONO
Yost Office Box 66•Crystal Bay, Minnesota 55323•Municipul Offices
On the North Shore of Lake Minnetonka
August 23, 1983
John Quam
Fullerton Lumber Company
Pillsbury Building
608 - 2nd Avenue South
Minneapolis, MF 55402
Re: Septic system serving caretaker/garage unit at
3350/3400 Fox Street - Fullerton Residences
Dear Mr. Quam:
I have finally had a chance to discuss this situation with Jerry
Johnson and to view it myself. Based on what Jerry found,
apparently there is no septic tank serving this unit; sewage
apparently runs into a distribution box feeding into a single
drainfield line of unknown length. Because of this configuration,
the waste has no opportunity to break down before entering the
drainfield, and under continuous usage this drainfield could be
expected to plug up and become unusable in a short time. It is
likely this was installed originally as a "graywater" drainfield,
intended to serve a sink or a washtub and not toilet wastes.
While I was on the site the area that had been dug up was not
actually discharging effluent or odors to the surface. I did
talk to the gentlemen who apparently lives in the building
(Wilmer ?) and he noted the building has been occupied only
occasionally in the past and he did not know whether the building
would continue to be used as a residence.
It appears you have two options: A) Discontinue occupancy of the
unit or strictly limit the occupancy so that no surface discharges
occur; or B) Replace the septic system. It is likely that the
existing drainfield line is of little value since it has apparently
been accepting solids as well as liquids. Soil testing to determine
the design parameters of the new drainfield system would be required.
A minimum of two septic tanks (1,000 gallon - 750 gallon) would be
needed, followed by a drainfield sized on the basis of the potential
waste load from the unit. The design flow rate used is 150 gallons
per day per bedroom. Presuming that testing would prove accept-•ble
for a trench drainfield, you might end up with anywhere from 125
to 330 square feet of drainfield per bedroom depending on the
soil perc tests.
BUILDING & ZONING — 473-7357 • ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE — 473-7358 • PUBLIC WORKS — 473.73S9
ASSESSING
John quam
August 23, 1983
Re: Septic System at 3350/3400 Fox Street
Page 2
We normally discourage connecting "guest houses" or "caretaker
quarters" to the septic system serving the main houses on larger
Properties such as these. In most cases the system serving the
main house is not designed to handle this extra flow.
If you wish to replace this septic system, please refer to
three paqe "repairs" worksheet attached. Don't hesitate to
call me if you have further questions. I would appreciate
could let me know your intentions for this unit.
Sincerely, ,
Michael P. Gat€fon
Septic System
Enclosure
the
if you