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Valuable things to know BEFORE buying a home with a septic system
Things to know before you buy a property with a Septic System
Some people find it odd in this day and age to have homes that rely on septic systems for wastewater removal. However a septic system is really the only way to be fully responsible for your own waste-water and water usage. Instead of paying someone else (the water utility) to remove the waste-water and process and store it, you are doing it all yourself. It sounds like a big job, but its really not. If you can remember a few key points it is very easy.
1. The average life of a septic system is 25-35 years. However I have seen a 40 year old system that was still in great working order. The key is proper management & maintenance!
2. Instead of putting food waste in the garbage disposal put the meat scraps in the trash and the vegetables in the composter.
3. Always use biodegradable soaps and shampoo.
4. Use toilet paper that easily bio-degrades. Avoid Charmin, it has too many oils and won't break down.
5. Don't flush feminine products down the toilet as these items won't break down, but they will kill your septic.
6. Get your tank pumped out every 3-5 years. It costs about $200 for your average tank.
7. If possible divert your washing machine and dishwasher waste water (gray-water) into a sunny spot in your yard. Your gray-water should never leave your property. This will also save money on watering your lawn!
8. Maintain the grass on your disposal field. Keep it healthy and mow it regularly. Do not plant any trees within the drain field, as the roots will grow into the drain lines and cause problems. This may force you to replace the drain field if it becomes damaged by tree roots.
9.Do not place any impervious cover (driveways, portable buildings, sidewalks, or decks) over your tanks or drain field.
10. Keep any heavy livestock or vehicles off the drain field area. They may cause the pipes to be crushed and fail.
11. Never dispose of cooking grease or oil into your sink, this will harm your septic. Always collect this in a can or jar and dispose of with your garbage.
12. Do not install a lawn sprinkler system over a drain field. This will cause the field to become saturated and reduce the capacity of the field.
13. Before building any home additions, you must contact the county to ensure your systems capacity is sufficient to handle the increased load.
14. Install low flow toilets and showerheads in all bathrooms. Conserve water whenever possible. Don't leave the faucet running while you brush your teeth. Don't run the faucet to get the water good and cold for a drink. When you turn on hot water use a bucket or pot to collect the warming water and use it for watering house plants or pets. Bathe the dog in the yard instead of the bathtub.
15. Keep clear detailed records of the system maintenance and a map of the location of the tank and drain fields, and any service contracts for the system. This information is critical to have when listing your house for sale.
Acting Solicitor General Gregory G. Garre filed this brief in opposition in the Lucas case.
The Lucas case involves three individuals and two corporations convicted of criminal charges of, among other claims, violating the Clean Water Act by causing pollution of wetlands by installing faulty septic tank systems in a private home development in
The Justice Department said the appeal does not pose directly the conflict among lower courts over the wetlands-protection issue, because the convictions would stand under any interpretation of the Act. The Department also argued that there is no conflict among lower courts on whether septic tanks are covered by the Act, so that issue is not worthy of review.
A small community located in the southern part of
The water for the project is being pumped from a well located in Sand Pit, Limon and stored in a large tank near Hone Creek. It is from the storage facility in Hone Creek that the water will be distributed to the six different communities who desperately need the precious commodity; however, they will have to wait. The design is being modified and production has stopped so until the aqueduct is completed at the end of this year or the beginning of next year, residents of these communities must continue to resort to primitive methods to obtain water.
Many residents are extracting the water they need to wash clothes, dishes, and to bathe from their local wells. Every house in the community has a well, some of which are operated manually and some are operated by a motorized pump, however, most of the well water is contaminated and not used for consumption.
Many residents place containers on their patios or in the yard to collect rain water, which lucky for them is abundant this time of year as we are entering the peak of rainy season. Most residents do add a few drops of chlorine to the reciprocals of fresh rainwater in order to ensure that the water is safe to drink, but that is not a fail-proof system.
Evelyn Villalobos, a local housewife in the Hone Creek Community, confirms that she does have a well on her Costa Rica property, however it is without a pump so they have to collect the water they need using a plastic container that holds one gallon at a time.
Villalobos and her two children of three and four years, occasionally visit the nearby river in order to bathe due to the water shortage. Villalobos explains that "some foreign friends give us drinking water sometimes; the water from the well can't be drunken due to a terrible smell of iron".
As for purchasing drinking water in the local markets Villalobos explains that she only does so when it is strictly necessary because the bottled water "is very expensive and does not even last a week". In addition to the obvious inconveniences of having to struggle to obtain drinkable water many locals are suffering from health problems due to the dilemma as well.
Wilman Red Molin, director of the Hone Creek Medical Clinic, explained that "in many houses the well is near the septic tank and contamination is generated. Cases of dengue are diagnosed due to the storage of water". Molin also adds that many patients present symptoms of parasites and bacterial diarrhea due to consumption of contaminated water.
Molin is confident that if the people of these communities had drinking water, many of these cases could be avoided and his number of patients with these problems would decrease significantly.
According to Ricardo Sancho, the executive president of Aqueducts and Sewer Systems (AyA), the delay in the project is due to issues in the finance department, however, many believe that drinkable water for 12,000 people shouldn't come with a negotiable price tag, after all water is a necessity not a luxury!
Sir – Congratulations to Glyn Hartley and Ian Coleman (Friends of Port Hughes) on their comprehensive Letters to the Editor in YPCT August 19 and 26, respectively. Both letters said it all. They expressed the widely held views of the Port Hughes community.
Your health is the most important thing in life. It's a simple statement, but one that often gets lost in the shuffle of our busy lives. Our health is more important than status, money, or wearing fancy cloths and driving a hot car. But in our commercial society, the safety of our drinking water is one of the things in life we often take for granted. So just like you would take the time to shop for a safe car or home, take the time to explore a water treatment system.
When we go to the faucet for a glass of water, we just expect it's going to be clean and safe. But in recent years, there has been a growing concern about contamination of our water supplies. Unfortunately it's not getting the best water treatment you would think. We hear unsettling news accounts that make us question the safety of our water.
What this article is going to do is provide you with a few important guidelines for learning more about a home water treatment system. You should first grasp what water quality problems exist. Sorry to say no water is 100 percent pure. Water can include contaminants from both natural and man-made sources. Things like metals, chemicals minerals, gases and bacteria can all be found in many water supplies.
The good news is a lot of these contaminants are really harmless. The bad news is that some impurities can be a great risk to your health and well-being. While others can damage your plumbing equipment, stain laundry and fixtures and emit a host of bad odors in your home.
Perhaps the most important thing you can do to eliminate exposure to water-borne contaminants is to assess the area you live in. Federal and state laws require public and municipal water systems to test for contaminants. Microbial pathogens, radioactive elements and certain toxic chemicals are all screened for by public water authorities.
When you consider your health, these contaminants are what can cause the most damage. But since public and municipal systems are regulated, a home water treatment system is not really needed.
But what you do have to consider is if your water supply comes from a private well. Then you need to be more proactive in testing this water to avoid health risks down the line. Since your health is of the utmost importance, get your water tested by a state-certified facility. The best water treatment analysis will pinpoint the contaminants living in your water supply. Probably your biggest concern should be testing for the presence of microbial pathogens, which includes bacteria, parasites and viruses. Take special note if your well is near a septic tank or at a location prone to animal waste and nitrates.
In this instance, a water treatment system is a vital part of being a homeowner. A good system can prevent such items getting into your home and your body. But out of the many types of water systems only some are designed to treat specific water quality problems, so take some help from the experts to find the right one.
But the home wasn't situated just for the sight of rolling terrain and distant rugged peaks — the home has a passive solar design, meaning the position of the house maximizes the sun's energy.
Ted and Susanne Johnson's ranch home is one of many homes that are more environmentally friendly as a result of
Under the ECOBuild regulations, new homes or big expansion projects must meet a certain number of points based on the size of the home. Ways that points can be earned include large-scale energy saving systems such as a geothermal heating and solar energy systems, to smaller efforts, such as having energy-efficient appliances and windows.
Homeowners who exceed the points requirement can receive significant rebates back on permit fees. Homeowners who come short must pay a fee that goes into grants and rebates for other energy-efficient projects.
Going green
In the Johnsons' case, they didn't stop with the home's position on the lot. They also installed a geothermal energy system, which takes advantage of constant underground temperatures to heat or cool a home, and a recycling septic system that uses water from the home to irrigate the lawn.
The walls are made of pre-fabricated, special insulated panels, which not only provide superior insulation, but sped up the building process by about two months, Ted Johnson said.
His parents live next door in a similarly constructed home.
The siding of the homes are made of a dark-colored reclaimed wood from Wyoming, and the stones of the living room fireplace are found in Colorado, reducing the cost and fuel used in transport.
The wooden awning that covers the long porch not only serves as a place for the couple's two daughters, Camille, 4, and Charlotte, 2, to play, but also to shade the windows to block out unwanted heat in the summer.
The homes exceeded the points required by the ECOBuild program, earning the Johnsons a 25-percent rebate on their permit fees for both homes.
"It's a great incentive, and it's a great program," Susanne Johnson said of ECOBuild.
The family had wanted to build "green" anyway, she said, and the program helped them along and gave them new ideas.
"It feels really good. We knew we were doing the right thing, especially with kids and a recent baby," she said of Teddy, Jr., the week-old addition to the family.
Besides being environmentally friendly, many of the home's features just made financial sense, Ted Johnson said.
Some features, such as the septic tank, did not cost too much more than a standard system. Others, like the geothermal system, could cost up to twice as much as its traditional counterpart.
"But that's a five- to 10-year pay back," he said of the system. "So we'll start seeing return on that soon. It just made sense economically."
For some, unfair and unwanted
Palmer said he has seen a definite increase in green measures since the regulations were adopted. He said 250 to 300 homes have been built under the new regulations, and some builders have gotten rebates of as much as $20,000 through the program.
"There's been a higher consciousness on the part of builders," Palmer said.
However, not everyone has found the program so helpful.
When Susan Nottingham built a new home on her ranch property near Burns, she didn't realize just how much the regulations required of a home that size.
She ended up with 55 points where the program called for 70, resulting in a hefty $4,300 fee.
"It was put in place to discourage people from building in
Rich Kedrowski, who built the
He said the home already had energy efficient insulation, appliances, boiler and windows. Short of installing a geothermal or solar energy system, there was no way the home could have met the requirements, he said.
"Most people don't want that stuff," he said. "To add those things to these houses would cost you an arm and a leg."
Only three homes so far have not met the requirements and have had to pay the fee, Palmer said.
Illegal requirements?
The program is based on a similar set of rules and studies done in
But county officials claim that doesn't make the program illegal.
"We don't look at it as an impact fee," said County Attorney Bryan Treu, referring to fees such as road impact fees that new developments must pay. "This is a development fee, just like paying for a building permit or tap fee."
"I can tell you, these (regulations) were reviewed by the
Still, Palmer said the regulations will be tweaked this fall, with changes that make the rules more fair for builders. For example, one of the point options is for the home to be within walking distance of a public transportation system, not exactly a fair requirement for someone building on ranch land.
But overall, he said he calls the program a success — it gives people options while encouraging environmentally friendly building.
"Basically we're asking, if you want to build big, build green," he said.
foul smell from vent pipe after new septic tank installed
Thank you for taking the time to read and respond.
Here's the scenario:
1) Old house with septic/indoor plumbing added at a time when PVC was available...that's all I know of the timeframe
2) There is a three inch PVC vent immediately outside the house running up exterior to roofline...ten feet from toilet and ten/20 feet from septic tank
3) never smelled...I have been the neighbor many years
4) I bought the house one year ago
5) 4 months ago I had the septic tank pumped out completely
6) 2 months after that I got hooked up to community sewer..a new system just installed in the town [very very small town]
7) that means they crushed the old tank in place and buried it..it was empty relatively speaking...and installed a new one slightly closer to the house (cement 1000 gallon)
8) it has been used 20-25 times in 2-3 months...only light use while we are working on the house
9) immediately after new install of tank the vent pipe started to smell foul
10) and with hardly anything in the tank?
11) the community sewer holding tank is 1/4 mile down the road
11A) I did my house same way same contractors same week...no problems...at least i assume they did it the same way!
12) anyone have a guess as to why the vent is smelling now and never before???
13) I vented it higher and now i just smell it on the other side of the house!
14) how high can I go and still draw effectively? it is currently about 18" past the porch roofline
15) can anyone think of anything they may have done wrong do make this smell happen now?
a cracked exit pipe- would that cause the vent to smell bad?
16) do vent filters work and would this vent be a candidate for one?
This new law requires the residential buyer of a property with a small capacity well to complete the change in ownership form prior to or at closing of the property.
For realtors, this means we need to include the necessary information as part of the Real Estate to Buy and Sell Contract. So the buyer can get the process going before closing. Once on the paperwork is filled out, then the closer is responsible for sending the well permit change form within 60 days of the closing, with as much information as is available. However, if the closer cannot get the well permit number in time before closing they still need to send in the form incomplete and it will not be rejected.
If the house was built before May of 1972, it may not have a well permit. If that is the case then it is highly recommended that the seller be required to "late register" the at well before the closing using the State Engineer's form GWS-12. (which you can get at www.water.state.co.us)
There are two different kinds of forms that you will come across.
GWS-44 (exempt) is for a small capacity well that is limited to 15 gallons per minute.
Usually these well are for residential properties, stricly indoor use, with permitted outside irrigation up to one acres of landscaping and for non commercial stock.
GWS-45 (non-exempt) is for wells that are more than 15 gallons per minute. Normally not residential.
Information to get before you purchase a property with a well:
1- Find out if the the ground around the well is sloped away from the well to allow proper drainage away from the well.
2- How old is the well?
3- Is the well registered?
4- Are there any water restrictions?
5- Is the quality of the water good?
6- What is the current pumping rate for the well.
7- Is the well actually located in the property lines? Or is it outside the property lines?
8- How easy is the well to get to?
9- Is the well casing above ground? Is it sealed weather tight?
10- It is in good sanitary condition? Where is the septic tank compared to this?
11- Is the casing made of steel, that is above ground?
Rural Decentralized Energy Production from Animal Waste Biogas Plant : Evaluation of Options for Water Minimization Using Process Simulation Software.
P.V.Pannirselvam*. Costa S.E*, G.M Gilson* and H.N.S.Henio*.
*Departamento de Engenharia QuímicaCT.
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte,
Natal-RN. 59078400.
ABSTRACT: In the past, farm waste did not pose a problem as the manure made great fertilizer, so farmers simply spread it on their fields., but it now faces problems .In conjunction with these problems with farm waste and the sewage biowaste both lead to contamination of water resources . These wastes has been studied jointly as the resources for water , fodder , fertilizer and energy recovery. This is the objective of our research work to develop economically and ecologically sound bio energy design for small community.The high rate up flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB ) and Anaerobic Baffled Reactor(ABR) , solid mixing bioreactor were used to produce energy using internal combustion engine To model these process, several flow diagrams were synthesized based on the biogas production using compressed biogas storage tanks , hydroponics filter system , fiber separation in order to evaluate the water reuse options using fiber feed supported fodder hydroponics and Gravel bed hydroponics as filter system .The material balances on individual components ,based on stream composition, were made . Recycling the optimum amount was achieved after several case studies, simulations, and equipments design and the process optimization. The integrated small biogas energy plant were made possible , shown to be viable economically ,but several problems were encountered to design and implement the project , Among the actual technologies ABR is more promissing than UASB as well as hydrophones green fodder production are shown to be more economic than gravel bed wetland system for water recovery.
Keywords:Biogas;biowaste ;water ; reuse ; energy ; fodder, fertilizar;small
Urban Solid and Agrowaste:In many cities in developing countries, the most serious environmental and health problems are related with inadequate solid waste management (SWM).The waste, mainly waste organic waste, dumped in open places causes heavy environmental pollution to soil, groundwater and surface waters as the amount of the waste generated is growing very fast .In the past, farm waste did not pose a problem as the manure made great fertilizer, so farmers simply spread it on their fields. Today, many of the big farms , which were prosperous as they are specialized and these "farm machines" are designed to produce in bulk and the farm waste problem began to mount. So this huge amount of centralized production began to runoff into nearby stream, and other water supplies not only in developed countries , but also in the country like Brazil Thus there is need come down this growth (Odum,2001 ). In conjunction with these problems associated with farm waste and solid waste ,posing contamination of water resource , we need to reconsider them not as the waste, but as the resource for water and energy recovery for the way to wealth .This is the major objective of our research work where the effort is made to design and develop ecologically sound integrated bio systems for small community based on the principle of Industrial ecology(Odum,2001). A viable development of the practical small scale biogas rural power production in the semiarid North East is the main focus of our study as the water was observed to be the limiting factor ."Good Quality" water is increasingly a scarce resource and wastewater treatment costs too.(Pannirselvam,1998). The anaerobic digestion of animal waste produces "biogas",which is typically made up of 70% methane and 30% carbon dioxide. Since methane is easily combusted, it makes for a good source of decentralized small scale rural energy production In this context of the biogas production based on wastes from cow and chicken , water plays importante role as much as the energy for also the animal feed and the sustianable local development based on the wastes.(Pannirselvam , 2007, 2002); (Kikkawa, 1996).;( Kev ,2002);( Nijaguna.B.T .2002) ;(Hall, 1992).
Reuse of waste water :The once-through use of this water in house is becoming uneconomical and environmentally unacceptable, principally to our semi arid dry region of the Northeast of Brazil.Instead, recovery and recycling of used house hold wastewater is becoming more attractive from both an economic and ennvironmental perspective. (Kev ,2002).In this context , the water minimization and recycling the septic tank sludge is yet other reserch area as this lead to substantial savings through reduced wastewater disposal cost and rural small .Such a system can use hyprophonic fibrous suported fodder or gravel bed . ( Kev ,2002;Pannirselvam,1998).
Integrated Water and Energy recovery system from Agro and Urban Wastes.
:To address the need for efficient design, evaluation, and operation of integrated wastewater treatment and recycling processes, our research group are evaluating and expanding the scope of a software tool for cleaner production called SuperPro Designer. The use of computational modeling and dynamic simulation approach and the system design based on energy and environment concerns were also used . The fundamental approaches in process analysis (synthesis, modeling, and design) of energy and water recovery from agro waste and effluents have particular attributes, require different types of information and provide results applicable in several ways. The system design for small scale energy production from wastes integrated with water conservation using reuse treatments involve complex dynamic system design and operation. The focus of this paper is also on the modeling of water recycling options as they apply to the smallscale biogas energy gereation plant using animal wastes.( Nijaguna.,2002:Hall, 1992)
The term integrated Biosystem with Bioenergy has been introduced to describe the idea of using an inter-related set of enterprises so that the "waste" from one component becomes an input for another part of the system, which reduces costs and improves production and/or income.. There should be no "ideal" Bioenergy production and the integrated waste tretment biosystem, as each application will have different constraints, abilities and interests to obtain and make adaptation of example systems to different situations so that each system suits the small enterprise mix.(Kev,2002).The individuals system requirements need to be considered.
The main objective of this work is to make optimum design of the bigas basd energy production for the minimization of water with focus on small farmer with three important areas :
1 .Enhance productivity, water use efficiency and water conservation for the small scale bioenergy production sytem from solid wastes
2 Prevent organic pollution from wastes and waste wastes .Develop flow sheet for such process
3. Nutrient stripping and effluent treatment aagro wastes ic
waste using novel biodigestor into animal feed and liquide fertilizer.
4. Develop system design tools for the small clean intrhrated production of fuel, fodder and fertilizer. Research is being planned to undertake a number of models and the projects are under various stages of development. Solid Biodigester and water reuse are key element in all these models, which include:system modeling, simulation, design and Project optimization with economic objectives.
Cleaner Energy Production using Agro Wastes with minium use of water.
Approach Composting for bioferilizer and Anaerobic Digestion for biogas or both. Aiming at sustainable development, the organic waste as a source of nutrients and energy has to be reused. Nowadays, composting and anaerobic digestion (AD) are seen as the most favored options to deal with organic solid waste.(Odum,2001; Hall,2002). Both treatment options reduce the environmental burden and enable the generation of a nutrient rich fertilizer. Furthermore, in the case of AD, energy in form of biogas is produced. Now a days, energy is scarce and their production out of biodegradable waste is willingly seen. Thus, AD is attaining more relevance in SWM sector.In the past, this approach was rarely considered as a feasible and sustainable solution for the SWM in developing countries. Only in industrial countries (especially
BioEnergy from agrowaste : The gas (Marsh Gas) obtained from the natural waste decomposition process is a mixture of Methane (CH4) and Carbon dioxide (CO2) and is commonly called as the 'Biogas'. Anaerobic digestion, like pyrolysis, occurs in the absence of air; but in this case the decomposition is caused by bacterial action. This is a valuable fuel which is in many countries produced in purpose built digesters filled with the feedstock like dung and effluents from the dairy, septic tank sewge sludge.(Kev, 2002;Nijaguna,.2002:Hall, 1992)
Indian small sytem anearobic biogas technology:
In the recent past the planning, construction, operation or management of low-tech biogas plants has not always been done appropriately, thus many projects failed (.Pannirselvam,1998;Chris,2007 )... The selection of the following technologies is based on ou extensive research, means on literature review and e-mail correspondence and has to be seen as scientific founded system analysis . At least, our research revealed that some of the case studies in India are more successful than any other country as there is greater deman for energy, but the need for china is more for fertilizer and fish feeding. Where as in
The technology of plug-flow (Figure 1a) reactor was designed specifically to handle organic waste for production of biogas and manure by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
BARC Biodigester, Mumbai: This kind of technology is said to be the state-of-the-art in the low-tech context. Several plants work successfully in India and Sri Lanka, where water filtration using sand filter and thermopilific hydrolysis are well demonstrated in a small scale system .(Chris,2007) Figure 1a shows the details of this reactor.
ARTI Biodigester, Pune: It seems to be a promising technology. The small compact biogas plant is applicable for households. A good reputation and more than 2000 installed plants are a remarkable reference. In addition ARTI has won the international Ashden Award recently (Chris, 2007)
Biotech, Biodigester Trivandrum: The technology has more than 12'000 references small plant working with small investments for 3 kW energy. From domestic biodegradable waste like cooked food waste, vegetable waste and waste water from kitchen and is selected as a finalist for the international Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy in 2007. In a 3 to 5 member family 1 cubic meter plant is sufficient to treat domestic waste. It generates biogas to meet 50% cooking needs. Generation of power from MSW / market / slaughter house waste is another area of specialization of BIOTECH. Under this category 9 (or more) plants are already completed in
Brazilian project for small system for energy generation use biogas. This technology currently working is based on the energy conservation strategy and efficient energy use. In a confinement of 100 cows, a biodigester was designed to produce a volume of
Brazilian project on the waste water reuse options
Water Minimization Options: Processing waste water of biogas plant for reuse requires that the the amount of the used water need to be significantly reduced. This can be done in a number of different ways as intensively studied recently by Brazilian , National Research Program of Sanitation(PROSAB) successfully demonstrated in Pilot scale for good quality water recovery and also well studied in other countries such as
- Hydroponics fodder: The waste ABR treated waste water is used for green fodder (figure
- Gravel bed and sand bed hydro culture filter: The water is filtered for recirculation
- Liquid fertilizer of anerobically treated biowaste.
Practical bioreactors for anaerobic biodigestion
:Continuous or in batches, and the digestion is allowed to continue in the reactor called biodigester few weeks. A well-run digester as shown in Figure 1 using plug flow on connectional in bioreactor design will produce 200-
The anaerobic baffled reactor for solid waste water treatments
Several reports and research studies shows the importance of the anaerobic up flow sludge blanket (UASB) and Anaerobic Baffled Reactor (ABR) for sanitation in dense peri-urban areas. In these study, the performance of an anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) in the treatment of domestic wastewater was assessed by extrapolating existing understanding of the characteristics of laboratory-scale ABRs to design a pilot-scale reactor. A modeling study was undertaken using data from the pilot-scale ABR from different operating periods and measured community wastewater characteristics, and used to predict effluent characteristics of an ABR treating domestic wastewater from a dense peri-urban area under specified operating conditions. The cumulative experiences and information gained in all the parts of this project were brought together to propose improvements in ABR dimensions with good results in
High Rate Anaerobic biodigester: The performance of an anaerobic co-digestion process is much dependent on the types and the composition of the material to be digested. High moisture organic waste constitutes a large fraction of municipal solid waste and caused a nuisance. Anaerobic digestion of this high degradable fraction has been developed during the past 20 years. (Nijaguna.2002;Hall,1992;Chris, 2007) .Parameters such as characteristic of substrates, temperature, organic loading rate and hydraulic retention time were studied. The most important conversion of intermediate of volatile fatty acid was observed as a indicator of digestion efficiency. Anaerobic digestion of this high degradable fraction has been developed during the past 20 years. Parameters such as characteristic of substrates, temperature, organic loading rate and hydraulic retention time were studied. (Chris, 2007).The most important conversion of intermediate of volatile fatty acid was observed as an indicator of digestion efficiency. One stage and two stage system are based on the stage separated into acidogenic phase and methanogeny phase. Two stage digestion of this kind of wastes were proved a better efficiency than single stage digestion. Batch system and continuous system are conducted in single stage and two-stage system. and are observed more and more popular in the digestion of solid state and food waste in Europe, mainly in German Two stage digestion of mixed feed will be applied to industrial scale plug flow reactor (figure 1a) due to its larger resistance to high loading rate, high and stable gas production (Chris, 2007) This two stage reactor is utilized in this work, the solid reactor percolation reactor and the other ABR. Our pilot plant experience unlike the experience of Tecpar zeri, which uses modified Chinese up flow (Figure 2b), approach has not been successful. The percolation two stage reactors have been operated and the detailed results have been published, With out the energy and water the project has not proved to be successful. Thus the small generation of the energy is found to vital in the project .yet another problem is mixing of solids which need pumps.(Pannirselvam,1998) .
This system is used for biowaste from fruit processing industry, animal wastes from chicken and cow. The main equipments studied for the project are anaerobic biodigester, sedimentation filtration units and pumps. The first case study made involves conventional single stage biogas production from animal (chicken) waste the effluent sludge used for liquid fertilizer, with out any separation of the solid, the second one was related with making the separation of the solid , the second case study separation of the solid fiber using sedimentation and liquid fertilizer , the other case study is the liquid fertilizer not only from the solid green wastes , but also using ABR reactor(Figure 4).The last case study is recovery of the good quality water using hydroponics filter with solid fiber separated to make the green fodder of corn seed via hydroponics
The main assumptions made in the model are related to the inferred value of the solids properties and the use of transfer coefficients for thermal and kinetics constants. The values of these constants assumed are validated by the simulation results comparing it to the real process published results. In the following Figure 3, the complex process scheme of the final case study made based on the design using computer software are outlined earlier . (Pannirselvam, 1998). In this work, we designed the flow sheet for the processing the waste and also the whole heat recovery system for water recycle as well water heating to maintain the bioreactor ate the required temperature .temperature.
We also designed the process flow sheet (Figure 3) for the processing the animal and fruit waste using anaerobic bioconversion and also the heat recovery system based on the gas for heating and recirculation of the hot water for biodigestion . From the results obtained, it was observed that the biodigester dimension is very important design components.
The sustainable integrated Biosystem developed and projected consists of several sub system which are outlined in the Figure 3 and 4. .The input and output of the system are shown clearly The details of the design are illustrated in these figures are the biodigester, the effluent of the solid biogas system feeding liquid waste , ABR reactor and biofilm reactor . They are projected to be running parallel and result in organic liquid fertilizer for diverse uses. The main system components are in the Figure 4 and the simulated system flow sheet is in Figure3,
Biodigesters: This is the main feature in integrated system small bioenergy design: This play an important role in converting organic wastes to biogas, reclaimed water and relatively pathogen-free fertiliser.In several country the biodigester technology has a long history, but is currently used only in large-scale operations.The system selected for small scale is the bioreactor, which is modified Chinese and up flow sludge blanket that work (Figure 2b)with pretreated solid waste (Pannirselvam ,1998) , but our system analyshes showed , ABR (Figure 4)is more appropriate for small systems .
Effluent processing for biofertilizer : After the bioconversion, the remaining liquid goes through a series of settling tanks ( Figure 2) and the biofilm supported immobilized anaerobic bacteria (Figure 4) growth is enhanced with respect spent septic tank sludge wastes and then solar energy pausteizition is prompted to make the effluent as fertilizer pantheon free .This fertizer and fibr seperted were also used as the material prima to produce hydroponics green fodder
Sludge processing for animal feed: Once leaving the digester the sludge rich with protein is allowed to settle in the settling tank. (Figure 4) It is then collected and sanitized, using a portion of the biogas from the digester.
Sludge processing for substrate hydroponics fodder culture and water recovery from municipal waste water. This system also compared to the pilot plant based gravel bed fodder system using elephant grass .(Pannirselvam ,2007).The sludge then goes into boxes and is seeded with corn or sorghum seeds.
Several techno-economic parameters on investments and costs were estimated for the small scale pond based system design and compared to the conventional systems , where a better energy and biomass waste utilization were observed in relation to conventional bio process system
This small integrated systems project of nutrient recovery for the hydrofonics system were analyzed with two studies and was then optimized using several simulation to have the increased efficiency, reduced resource use, avoidance of chemicals and less waste generation and the recycling of nutrients and materials and water ..
The preliminary process was flow sheet first made (Figure 3), then also we obtained results on equipments design of the integrated system ..Several results were obtained related to diverse case studies made with the economical objective .
Also we made cash flow analysis for the closed and open use of the water system .The results obtained of the project is the optimized design and also the economical parameters were analyzed . It is observed that the economic return from fodder is more than fertilizer. Even though isolated biodigester system is not economically viable as practiced ,but the integrated system has shown to be viable economically , clean and environmentally sound so that a small farmer can produce energy competitive with market price if the co products from organic fertilizer , feed fiber and fodder based on the small scale
The detailed process economic analyses for the diverse case study are also important step towards the solution to the complex problems of this project . With this methodology with computer aids, the results obtained in a process and environmental analysis were used as the input information in a new simulation. The economics of the bioconversion process of water recovery using ABR and hydroponics fodder from fiber is shown to be significantly better than the bioenergy production alone. The cogeneration system is too complex to be apply to rural energy, require trained man power to design and operate but heat pump can be appropriate technology for rural areas with lager energy savings. System design work for the energy production for production chain for total and integrated use including the agro waste was successfully carried out. The energy integration was made possible with the use of the dynamic simulation based on the computation models with the several software tools for the system design and analysis. The optimization of the complex system integration had been possible with economic objectives .In the future, the present work system models and methods should permit the sustainable energy project developments ,and then following this , the small rural bioenergy units will be implemented with considerable economical benefits with reduced risk for the sustainable production chain. of fuel, fodder and water recovery in dry arid areas, taking into consideration the system complexity.( (Kikkawa, 1996)
The solid waste problem is still seeking for efficient solution for which simple biodigestion technologies could be part of the solution .Among the actual technologies ABR is more promising than UASB as well as hydrophones green fodder production are shown to be more economic one related to known gravel bed wetland system for water recovery. The present study allows the observation that the integration of the process energy needs tools for modeling for environmental and energy analysis of real rural energy problems. The process synthesis with the qualitative analysis and the flow sheet development were realized ,but several problems were encountered to implement the project to rural area in the Northeast of Brazil as this system was very complex one. To deal this complexity ,ecological system engineering, cleaner production principles based design tool using process simulation software and web based network tool were under way to speed the participative collaborative work on the flow sheet building and equipment design for farmers. The contribution in this area is made about the design of the two different biodigester on solid state mixed bioreactor and ABR and also for the liquid biowaste skudge from septic tank both ]integrated for the small system of energy production , improved understanding of basic biological and ecological principles., provision of sustainable integrated production Even though the isolated treatment of the animal solid waste alone is not economical vible to produce electrical energy as practiced now , the integrated small system has shown to be viable for small farmer as they can make energy with the local market price .However this system require higher investments. In the new project which is under developing stage, the recoveries of the water were made possible by the simulation model for integrated energy production combined wit the sewage water. Thus this project is proven successful in pilot plant scale as well as the viability of the small system simulated to produce 10 KVA However much detailed future study and demonstration units are needed based on our results . The better understanding of water recovery problems as the results of the present work made possible the simplification of the complex integrated bioenergy project Thus making possible to find the way towards practical small system to make wealth from waste by waste water recovery and reuse for tropics dry area..
Andreadakis,A.D (1992) Anaerobic digestion of piggery wastes.Wat. Sci. Tech., v 25, n. 1,pp. 9-16.
Carioca, .J O. B., Arora, ,H. L. ;Panirselvam . V. P. Dasilva, E. (1987);.Energy Resources: Perennial and Renewable. Impact Of Science On Society, Inglaterra, n. 148,
Chris Zurbrugg (2007), Basics of solid waste management in developing countries , Review report of sandec / eawag, Swiss acessed in accessed on 20 December www.eawag.ch/organisation/abteilu ngen/sandec/publikationen/publications_swm
Hall D., Rosillo-Calle.(1992). Biomass for energy. Renewable Energy. Sources for Fuels and Electricity. Island
Kev Warburton., Usha Pillai-McGarry e Deborah Ramage.(2002). Integrated biosystems for sustainable development Proceedings of the InFoRM 2000 National Workshop on Integrate .Food Production and Resource Management, February 2002 RIRDC Publication No 01/174,
Kikkawa, J. (1996). Complexity, diversity and stability. In: Kikkawa, J. and Anderson, D.J. (eds.). Community ecology: pattern and process. Blackwell: Melbourne.pp 432.
Li, K., Wang. Q (2000).Digester Fish pond Interaction in Integrated Biomass System ,Proceed of the Internet Conference on Material Flow Analysis of Integrated Bio-Systems ,March-Oct .
Nijaguna.B.T .(2002).Biogas technology , New age International limited, NewDelhi, 2002
Odum.H.T.,Odum.C.E.(2001). A prosperous way down::Principles and Policies,, university pressof
Pannirselvam P.V., Diva.W.F., Melo.H.N (1998). Process, Cost modeling and simulations for integrated project development of biomass for fuel and protein, Journal of scientific and industrial research, vol.57, Oct, pp. 567-574.
Pannirselvam, P.V et al (2000).Computer Aided and Economic Analysis of Integrated Process for Fiber, Feed and Fertilizer,SIENTEX2000 – I International symposium on Textile Enginering, Natal/RN, Brazil .
Pannirselvam P.V.(2002) Characterization of residues ,In Carioca, J. O. B. ; Arora, H. L. . Recycling Process for Animal Feed and Human Food from Residues., Editor Universidade Federal do Ceará e Banco do Nordeste,
Pannirselvam P.V.(2007).Ecological System Engineering :Sustainable Technolgy Development ,
http://ecosyseng.wetpaint.com/page/Sustainable+technology+Development accessed on 20 December.
KTLA News
December 2, 2008
PASADENA -- A 30 pound Chow Chow is recovering after being trapped below ground in a 12 foot well.
The dog's owner called the fire department shortly after noon Monday when she realized that 'Crystal' had fallen to a large hole in her brick patio which housed a old septic tank.
Firefighters with the department's urban search and rescue team brought in equipment to cut a larger hole into the patio.
Once it was big enough, they lowered a firefighter into the well to retrieve Crystal.
Moments later the firefighter emerged with the dog wrapped in a cloth tarp.
Crystal was taken by her owner to a local veterinarian to be examined for any injuries.
Fire officials say the dog may have broken a leg or hip.
Workshop set on septic tank rules
Special to the Daily News
Updated: 12/04/2008 10:31:49 AM PST
The State Water Resources Control Board has proposed regulations that will establish new statewide minimum requirements for all new and existing onsite wastewater disposal systems, including septic tank systems with leach fields.
The SWRCB estimates that implementation of the proposed regulations will cost
The SWRCB is holding 11 workshops throughout the state in order to receive public comments on the proposed regulations and on the adequacy of the associated draft Environmental Impact Report. The nearest workshop to
All individuals, businesses, homeowners associations, community groups, developers, property owners and others that may be interested in the proposed regulations have been encouraged to attend this workshop and submit comments.
All comments will be considered by the SWRCB prior to their adoption of the regulations and certification of the Final EIR sometime early next year.
Implementation of the regulations as proposed would likely have impacts on all residents with existing septic tanks, on owners of unimproved residential parcels and on future land development.
Properly Maintain Septic Systems
- Owners of septic systems should have them pumped out every three to five years. This allows the septic tank to operate efficiently.
- Be careful not to flush or pour anything into drains that will kill the bacteria living in a septic tank. Healthy colonies of bacteria are necessary for the process that treats wastewater in the septic tank, reducing the nutrient inputs to the groundwater.
- Don't use garbage disposals; they contribute unnecessary solids and grease to a septic system. Use a compost pile instead.
- Don't plant trees or shrubs near the drain field because their roots can clog the drain lines.
- Distribute laundry loads throughout the week to avoid overloading the system on any given day.
Dec 5, 2008
World - Polluted Indonesian river to get major cleanup, says ADB
Stephen Coates
JAKARTA (AFP) – One of the world's most polluted rivers, the Citarum in Indonesia, is about to receive a massive cleanup that will improve the lives of millions of people, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The regional bank said it had agreed to provide a 500-million-dollar multi-tranche loan package to support Indonesian government efforts to rehabilitate the strategic but horribly polluted river on Java island.
The loan, to be delivered in chunks of 50 million dollars over 15 years, is part of the government's 3.5-billion-dollar plan to restore the Citarum and improve the lives of 28 million people who depend on it in some way.
ADB Senior Water Resources Engineer Christopher Morris said pollution levels in the river compromised public health, while the livelihoods of fishing families had been hit by the widespread death of fish.
"ADB's initial assistance will provide safe water supply and sanitation facilities for poor families who currently use water from the polluted canal for bathing, laundry and other uses.
"It will also allow the cultivation of an additional 25,000 hectares (62,000 acres) of paddy, benefitting 25,000 farming families."
He said the loans would bolster local efforts to integrate water management along the river, which stretches from
Once it reaches the capital it becomes a canal bubbling with industrial and household waste, but it still provides 80 percent of the surface water supply to the city of 12 million people.
Along the way it is lined with hundreds of small-scale industries, only about 20 percent of which are estimated to have waste water treatment programmes.
Dozens of villages also use the river as a place to dump their untreated sewage and household garbage.
Morris said the ADB and the Indonesian authorities would work together with local communities to try to "stop some of the behaviour" that makes the river a "dumping site for all the household waste."
This would involve small-scale projects to build sanitation facilities in villages along the river, as well as larger wastewater treatment plants.
"There's a direct correlation between a lack of water supply, and a lack of sanitation, and poverty in the
"The communities with toilets and better water supply and the communities which are protected from flooding ... are wealthier."
A health ministry survey published in The Jakarta Globe daily this week showed that 40 percent of households in the country of 234 million people were not fitted with toilets.
It found that 25 percent of households did not have a septic tank or other system for disposing of human waste, and only 73 percent had garbage disposal facilities.
But not everyone is impressed with the Citarum plan. A local advocacy group, the People's
The alliance has called on the ADB to abandon the scheme, according to The Jakarta Post newspaper.
But the ADB said the plan to rehabilitate the Citarum would benefit millions of people in
It will also help to reduce the flooding that paralyses
State lawmaker revives springs protection bill
Senate environmental panel chairman introduces legislation to create Marion-based pilot program to evaluate water-quality rules
File/Alan Youngblood/Staff Photographer
One of two statues used in the 1960s television series "I Spy" is seen in the main spring at the headwaters of the
By Bill Th ompson
Staff writer
Published: Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 6:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 6:03 a.m.
Even though efforts to protect and preserve the state's freshwater springs have failed miserably in each of the last three regular legislative sessions, state lawmakers will try again in 2009.
State Sen. Lee Constantine, the new chairman of the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee, has revived the issue by recently filing a bill that follows the path blazed by former state Sens. Burt Saunders and Nancy Argenziano, both of whom sought to make Marion County the laboratory for experimenting with enhanced springs protection.
As Saunders advocated in his own bill earlier this year,
The twist is that
Yet Constantine, who sponsored the only successful springs bill since former Gov. Jeb Bush's Florida Springs Initiative was launched in 2001, says the issue is fluid. The particulars of his bill might change as the legislative session progresses, he said, and evolve into a broader statement on future water policy in
As it now stands,
Saunders' measure called for:
The Department of Environmental Protection, in cooperation with local governments in those areas, to draw primary and secondary "protection zones" around each spring to slow the flow of nitrogen from farms, septic tanks, golf courses and other sources.
The state Department of Health to conduct an inventory of all the septic tanks within each springs zone, and to have a licensed contractor inspect and certify them to ensure they function properly. Homeowners within the zones would be required to pump their septic tanks every five years, and failed septic tanks would have to be repaired or replaced.
The DEP to establish maximum daily levels of pollutants that can flow into each spring. Wastewater treatment plants and septic tank users in the designated protection zones would be limited in the amount of nitrates they could discharge.
Homeowners utilizing septic tanks would be required to hook up to centralized water and sewers when and where available, unless granted a waiver by the Health Department.
The affected counties to work with the state in enacting these regulations, including incorporating a springs protection policy into their comprehensive land-use plan, commonly known as the comp plan. Those counties that fail to do so would be prohibited from amending their comp plan to allow for new growth.
"We are not concentrating or spending enough time on our springs. We are losing these valuable resources. I honestly feel this could be the first step and look at the water policy we need for protection and growth. This could be a broader opportunity," he said.
The law mandated that in building the highway to complete the
This bill could be in that vein,
"We've got a chance to put in the right policy that gets us down the right road so that we don't do any more harm," said
Fay Baird, coordinator of the Silver Springs Basin Working Group, a committee of public officials, environmentalists and private citizens that facilitates proposals to monitor the health of the springs, said the main benefit is that some lawmaker is keeping this issue alive.
"Frankly, I am surprised anybody put in anything," Baird said. "But he is familiar with springs issues at least, and even if it is a placeholder, I don't see much of a downside."
County Administrator Pat Howard said parts of the original springs ordinance, which was divided into more specific sections by the Aquifer and Springs Protection Task Force, the citizens group that reviewed the law at the County Commission's request, still must go before the Planning Commission and eventually county commissioners. Those pieces include regulations for springs protection and an irrigation ordinance.
File Photo
One of two statues used in the 1960s television series "I Spy" is seen in the main spring at the headwaters of the
Scientists work to eliminate toxins in wastewater-treatment system
State exploring rapid infiltration's environmental effects, and whether it adds nitrogen, phosphorus to groundwater
A popular alternative to privately owned residential wastewater-treatment systems may be contributing to high levels of both nitrogen and phosphorus in ground water -- the very source of
Scientists know the systems cause a large redistribution of groundwater where they are placed, and are trying to determine what effects that may have.
They could be changing the very chemistry of the underground supply of water, possibly freeing up toxins such as naturally occurring arsenic trapped in marine sediments, said A. Scott Andres, a senior scientist and hydrologist with the Delaware Geological Survey.
The Delaware Geological Survey, working with state environmental officials and private consultants, is studying the environmental impact of "rapid infiltration bed" wastewater-treatment systems that became popular during the development boom earlier this decade.
Andres presented his preliminary findings Friday at a Scientific and Technical advisory Committee Meeting for the Center for the Inland Bays. Ronald E. Graeber, manager of large wastewater systems with the state division of water resources, said he expects the research to help the state fine-tune its program, which he called "safe and effective."
State environmental officials have been issuing permits under guidelines that set limits on nitrogen, require detailed hydrological survey work and require disinfection of the treated waste to remove pathogens, Graeber said. The guidelines don't set a limit for phosphorus because state officials have never believed a limit was needed.
Both state and federal standards say nitrogen in drinking water should not exceed 10 milligrams per liter. Nitrogen primarily is a health concern for babies, pregnant and nursing women, and sometimes for the elderly and frail, because it can lower oxygen levels in the blood. In the extreme, it can cause a very low oxygen condition known as "blue baby disease."
Rapid infiltration beds have been around for decades and are especially common in dry, sandy areas where maintaining the water supply is a concern, but didn't become commonplace in Delaware until about five years ago. A combination of rising land costs, rapid development and a state initiative to limit state infrastructure spending to designated growth areas prompted several applications from private sewer utilities. Several of the companies proposed using rapid infiltration beds to treat wastewater in rural subdivisions.
Andres said his goal, as a researcher, is to look at the potential flaws in the systems.
"If you make a mistake, you don't have a lot of time to fix it," he said. "It's going to be off your property and on your neighbor's property."
Researchers are finding that the large slug of wastewater created by a bed changes the natural hydrology in an area.
In addition, Andres said test wells below the surface found wide variations in nitrogen levels, with some spots slightly exceeding state and federal standards.
One of the bigger surprises is the presence of phosphorus some distance from the discharge site.
"This is the situation that's not supposed to happen," he said.
It takes "remarkable conditions" to move phosphorus in water, he said. Typically, it binds to soils and reaches lakes, streams, creeks and bays in runoff during storms.
The combination of nitrogen and phosphorus poses a greater threat to aquatic life than it does to humans.
The elements cause rapid growth of aquatic plants and algae and can quickly set up a cycle of rapid growth and decomposition that results in low oxygen levels in the water -- a condition that can wreck havoc with fish and other aquatic life. Excessive levels of nitrogen and phosphorus are big concerns in Rehoboth,
But another concern is what happens to the water chemistry when the hydrology -- even in a very small area -- changes so rapidly, Andres said.
Arsenic that is currently trapped in marine deposits can become soluble when the water chemistry changes, Andres said.
And there are concerns in the potential for big alterations in the natural rates of groundwater recharge.
Natural recharge to groundwater occurs at a discharge rate of about 13 inches to 15 inches a year. A septic tank discharges at a rate of 3.28 feet a year and a treatment plant that sprays treated wastewater on fields has a discharge rate of about 3 to 9 feet a year.
A rapid infiltration bed discharges at sometimes as much as 30 feet a year, he said.
The goal of the research, Andres said, is to find out: "What is the appropriate way to be sure we're not making a mess?"
Health department ruling puts
coffee stand in doubt Whatcom County
A coffee stand owner says the county health department is being unreasonable by requiring him to connect to a well and septic system if he wants to serve smoothies and milkshakes. If he doesn't, officials could force him out of business.
Larry Call, who owns Rocket Coffee at East Smith and Everson-Goshen roads, says sales have decreased between $900 and $1,100 a week and he's laid off one employee because health officials in October forced him to stop serving his popular smoothies and milkshakes.
Tom Kunesh, an environmental health supervisor at Whatcom County Health Department, says the department is looking out for public health by requiring on-site water and septic to serve potentially hazardous foods. Legally, every four hours the blender head and utensils must be washed and sanitized, he said.
To get water to fill the espresso cart's water tank, Call must bring it from his approved water source about six miles away, Kunesh said. Even if Call added more tanks, that's still too far away.
"If your water and waste capacity is limited, the incentive is to conserve, rather than comply with health code requirements," Kunesh said.
Kunesh's decision is stricter than any Dan Engle has seen. Engle is the general manager of Seattle-based Bridge Industries II, which manufactures the cart Call uses.
"The design that he's got in his espresso cart right now really is pretty much nationwide accepted, and people are really happy with it," he said. "I've never run into a situation where it's been this rigid."
At the coffee stand, customers have cussed at employees and squealed away because they were angry they couldn't get a blended drink, Call said. It's having a ripple effect and reducing sales for other drinks, and eventually he'll probably have to close the stand.
"I had no idea that we were in the wrong all this time," he said. "We've passed inspections. We've never had a complaint. Nobody's ever been sick."
Call said he simply can't get a loan for roughly $50,000 to install a well and septic tank. But he is willing to spend about $5,000 to buy a larger-capacity sink system from Bridge Industries II.
Kunesh said that won't be acceptable and says Call has to get water on site.
The dispute has County Council member Barbara Brenner livid to the point of tears, claiming an arrogant department is beating up a small business. She'd like to find a lawyer to help Call, she said.
"I just feel like there is a point where government does step over the line. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you always should," Brenner said.
"If our Health Department can't find a way to make it work when it's legally working on other places without special treatment ... then they don't want to make it work."
Supervisors and their Planning Consultant are exploring a well and sewage ordinance to address concerns of new wells being drilled to close septic systems.
The board received a call from Carson Helfrich of Community Planning and Management, LLC, Paupack, recommending the board allow him to give a workshop regarding their need to move ahead on passing a well and sewage ordinance in the township to protect the groundwater supply.
There is currently no such ordinance, which according to secretary Kenneth Coutts is a problem because although there is a rule that no new septic system can be installed within 100 feet of a well, the same rule doesn't apply to new wells, which theoretically allows a new well to be drilled right through a septic tank.
While such a nearsighted well driller may not necessarily exist in Palmyra (P), the board agreed on the need to learn more to consider passing such an ordinance, and agreed to receive Helfrich in January.
Life At The Bare Minimum
It's rare for an eek!ojournalist to be honest about the actual goals of the energy game. Normally, when giving Congressional hearings and so forth, eek!ologists tend to obscure the effects of eek!opolicy by droning on and on about "savings" and "investments". Naturally the savings and investments go to enterprises that exist wholly in the mind, like "wildlife corridors" (a notoriously malleable concept of the nonhuman sex and foodie travel industry) and "sustainable economies" (as if we haven't been sustaining the ever-evolving and dynamic extant economy since prehistoric times - with a short timeout for idiotic Marxist schemes).
As a public service, I offer the most recent installment in this genre, a quick start guide entitled
As noted above, the piece opens with an appeal to "savings" and "investments", or (as it is commonly denoted when applied to the Wall Street investment community and 401K investors) greed:
"I haven't paid an electricity bill since 1970," says Richard Perez with noticeable glee. He can afford to be smug. While most of us fretted over soaring utility bills this year, he barely noticed. Nor is he particularly concerned about forecast price hikes of 30 to 50 per cent in 2009.
Smugness seems to be a cardinal virtue in the eek!ology community, even extending to one's choice of clothesline string.
Perez, a renewable-energy researcher at the University at Albany, State University of New York, lives "off-grid" - unconnected to the power grid and the water, gas and sewerage supplies that most of us rely on. He generates his own electricity, sources his own water and manages his own waste disposal - and prefers it that way.
The Apostate, a renewable-energy heretic in
And The Apostate is perfectly capable of generating his own electricity when the local government-run utility, Memphis Light Gas and Water, fails yet again to provide normal service to the Apostate homestead. The household has a 25 kW propane generator, run on renewable propane supplies. The propane, an organic fuel derived from the natural decay processes of dead animal and excess botanic matter, is periodically renewed by a nice man with a large tanker truck.
"There are times when the grid blacks out," he says. "I like the security of having my own electricity company."
Professor Perez sounds like a man who also had to depend on a government-run utility.
Perez is not alone. Once the preserve of mavericks, hippies and survivalists…
And unfortunates who are forced to rely on service from "public infrastructure investments"…
For people who live off-grid, self-sufficiency means guilt-free energy consumption and peace of mind.
It's certainly been that way for the Apostate. During one of the many blackouts and brownouts caused by inclement, probably global-warming related, weather events like dawn and dusk, the Apostate revels in the lack of guilt when he can watch a DVD, take extended hot showers, or even the odd jacuzzi with the Mrs.
Whether you live in town or the middle of nowhere, the first consideration for any wannabe off-gridder is to calculate how much energy it takes to run your home and whether it is feasible to replace this with alternative sources of power where you live.
The good news is that the energy you require is likely to be a fraction of what you presently use, says Tony Brown, head engineer at the
That truly is good news, and is one of the best arguments for modern civilization. No longer are people forced to live on the edge of disaster. The energy you use, the quantity of food you eat, the medical care you receive, the clothing you own, the art you appreciate, the comforts you enjoy - all are likely to be a fraction of what you require. You could get by living in a hole in the ground covered with branches, carrying water from a polluted mudhole, and crapping in a ditch. Which is how many of the poor in the Dehli suburbs live at this very moment. Yes, we have much good news to be thankful for.
The average
And those "excess" kWh keep people from dying of heat stroke and hypothermia, enable the cooking of gastronomic delicacies, allow the leisure to write music and paint glorious visual art, permit time to organize gender consciousness-raising drum circles and gay rights protests, and allow college professors on work release from the Gibbering Ward of the Bates Motel and Rest Home to publish their Deep Thoughts on eek!omorality.
Burn, baby, burn. If I had my way, I'd have a 50 mW fluidized bed nuclear reactor in my back yard and I'd keep the whole damn block at a comfortable 84 °F.
It would be a struggle to generate this much energy from renewables alone…
That's true. Only so much can be done by rubbing two sticks together. Which is why I'm into the nuclear reactor thing.
so an important first step is to dramatically reduce wasted energy.
I propose, as a start, the elimination of every gender and ethnic studies university program in the West. The savings on heating and cooling offices and classrooms alone would probably power the entire Third World for the remainder of the century, and wasted "intellectuals" like Ward Churchill could get a productive job in a Kinko's or something.
With a bit of effort and investment, you should be able to get by on a few hundred kilowatt-hours of electricity a year… Some 80 per cent of off-gridders rely on the sun to do this, with good reason: it blasts our planet with enough free energy every hour to power the world for a year and you don't need to live in the middle of nowhere to get it. The simplest way to tap into this is to use a solar collector for your domestic heating or hot water.
Not so fast, here. Unless one manufactures one's own "solar collector" with ingeniously woven forest litter and renewable switchgrass, that means one simply moves the power consumption to the mining, transportation, manufacturing, and retail industries. That may be convenient for one's own Smugluosity Factor, but moving the problem off-site, out of mind, and on to somebody else's grid hardly addresses the Planetary Righteousness And Grid Thing .
In fact, the remainder of the article glorifies the use of water turbines, photovoltaics, advanced windmills, chemical batteries, fuel cells, and other paraphernalia required to live "minimally".
"I've got five computers, two laser scanners, two fridge-freezers, a microwave, a convection oven, vacuum cleaners - you name it," says Perez. "There's an external beam antenna on the roof for the cellphone and a bidirectional satellite for internet connection. I've got 70 kWh stored in batteries that could last me five days. I have too much electricity."
Now there's a man who is "off the grid" only in an alternative universe where tunnel diodes grow on silicon trees.
Leak in Fiberglass septic tank
We have a 2-tank system (both 1500 gal). Effluent is pumped out of the 2nd tank uphill to be dispersed in the drainage field. There is a leak in the 2nd tank as fluid no longer reaches a level high enuf to get pumped. Level stable at about 26 inches from bottom, around the level of the seam between top and bottom halves. Is it possible to patch the tank from the inside? What about applying some sort of sealant to the inside seam?
Never go inside an old septic tank. That is NEVER a good idea. The best way to fix a problem like that, is to find out where it is leaking from the OUTSIDE. That is where you would do your patch work.
Leak in fiberglass septic tank
A septic contractor proposes to go inside the tank to seal it - supposedly he has safety equipment. I'm just skeptical that there is a sealant made for this kind of thing (other than an actual fiberglass patch). Do you know of any?
Fiberglass is the best I know of, to fix fiberglass. I have fixed a few glass tanks my self. Using other types of patches.They just never seem to work very long. If it is cleaned and sanded or ground down under the gel coat. The glass will fix the tank almost as good as new.
Leak in fiberglass tank
THanks for the feedback on the fiberglass patch - I'll suggest that. Maybe there is a paste you can mix up and apply.
he would need both a ventalation fan, a confined space lift, some type of encapsulating suit, and a safety observer to be safe doing this, even then I would only go in after vacuming out the tank and spraying it down with a very good germacide. better than the ventalation fan would be a supplied air respirator, for your own safety i would insist he show proof of insurance and a written plan for entering a confined space.
Yesterday, 04:34 AM
Speedwrench, he would also need a countinuous air monitor seeing as its a confined space, I believe
Home Owners Guide to Septic Systems
Your Septic System is your responsibility! How does it work?
Top Four Things You Can Do to Protect Your Septic System
1. Regularly inspect your system and pump your tank as necessary.
2. Use water efficiently.
3. Don't dispose of household hazardous wastes in sinks or toilets.
4. Care for your drainfield.
Typical septic system:
All of your household wastewater exits your home through a pipe to the septic tank.
Septic tank:
The septic tank is a buried, watertight container typically made of concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene. It holds the wastewater long enough to allow solids to settle out (forming
sludge) and oil and grease to float to the surface (as scum). It also allows partial decomposition of the solid materials. Compartments and a T-shaped outlet in the septic tank prevent the sludge and scum from leaving the tank and traveling into the drainfield area. Screens are also recommended to keep solids from entering the drainfield. Newer tanks generally have risers with lids at the ground surface to allow easy location, inspection, and pumping of the tank.
Septic system aliases:
• On-lot system
• Onsite system
• Individual sewage disposal system
• Onsite sewage disposal system
• Onsite wastewater treatment system
To prevent buildup, sludge and floating scum need to be removed through periodic pumping of the septic tank. Regular inspections and pumping are the best and cheapest way to keep your septic
system in good working order.
Typical single-compartment septic tank with ground-level inspection risers and screen
The wastewater exits the septic tank and is discharged into the drainfield for further treatment by the soil. The partially treated wastewater is pushed along into the drainfield for further treatment every time new wastewater enters the tank. If the drainfield is overloaded with too much liquid, it will flood, causing sewage to flow to the ground surface or create backups in plumbing fixtures
and prevent treatment of all wastewater. A reserve drainfield, required by many states, is an area on your property suitable for a new drainfield system if your current drainfield fails. Treat
this area with the same care as your septic system.
Septic tank wastewater flows to the drainfield, where it percolates into the
soil, which provides final treatment by removing harmful bacteria, viruses,
and nutrients. Suitable soil is necessary for successful wastewater treatment.
Alternative systems
Because many areas don't have soils suitable for typical septic systems, you might have or need an alternative system. You might also have or need an alternative system if there are too many typical septic systems in one area or the systems are too close to groundwater or surface waters.
Finding Your System
Your septic tank, drainfield, and reserve drainfield should be clearly designated on the "as-built" drawing for your home. (An "as-built" drawing is a line drawing that accurately portrays the buildings on your property and is usually filed in your local land records.) You might also see lids or
manhole covers for your septic tank. Older tanks are often hard to find because there
are no visible parts. An inspector/pumper can help you locate your septic system if
your septic tank has no risers.
Some Septic Systems use new technology to improve treatment processes and might need
special care and maintenance. Some alternative systems use sand, peat, or plastic media instead of soil to promote wastewater treatment. Other systems might use wetlands, lagoons, aerators, or disinfection devices. Float switches, pumps, and other electrical or mechanical components are often used in alternative systems. Alternative systems should be inspected annually. Check with your local health department or installer for more information on operation and maintenance needs if you have or need an alternative system.
When septic systems are properly designed, constructed, and maintained, they effectively reduce or eliminate most human health or environmental threats posed by pollutants in household wastewater. However, they require regular maintenance or they can fail. Septic systems need to be monitored to
ensure that they work properly throughout their service lives.
Saving money
A key reason to maintain your septic system is to save money! Failing septic systems are expensive to repair or replace, and poor maintenance is often the culprit. Having your septic system inspected regularly is a bargain when you consider the cost of replacing the entire system. Your system will need
pumping depending on how many people live in the house and the size of the system. An unusable septic system or one in disrepair will lower your property value and could pose a legal liability.
Protecting health and the environment
Other good reasons for safe treatment of sewage include preventing the spread of infection and disease and protecting water resources. Typical pollutants in household wastewater are nitrogen, phosphorus, and disease causing bacteria and viruses. If a septic system is working properly, it will
effectively remove most of these pollutants.
Why should I maintain my septic system?
With one-fourth of
Inadequately treated sewage from septic systems can be a cause of groundwater contamination. It poses a significant threat to drinking water and human health because it can contaminate drinking water wells and cause diseases and infections in people and animals. Improperly treated sewage
that contaminates nearby surface waters also increases the chance of swimmers contracting a variety of infectious diseases. These range from eye and ear infections to acute gastrointestinal illness and diseases like hepatitis.
Inspect and pump frequently
You should have a typical septic system inspected at least every 3 years by a professional and your tank pumped as recommended by the inspector (generally every 3 to 5 years). Alternative systems with electrical float switches, pumps, or mechanical components need to be inspected
more often, generally once a year. Your service provider should inspect for leaks and look at the scum and sludge layers in your septic tank. If the bottom of the scum layer is within 6 inches of the bottom of the outlet tee or the top of the sludge layer is within 12 inches of the outlet tee, your tank needs to be pumped. Remember to note the sludge and scum levels determined by your service provider in
your operation and maintenance records. This information will help you decide how often pumping is necessary.
How do I maintain my septic system?
What Does an Inspection Include?
• Locating the system.
• Uncovering access holes.
• Checking for signs of back up.
• Measuring scum and sludge layers.
• Identifying any leaks.
• Inspecting mechanical components.
• Pumping the tank if necessary.
Four major factors influence the frequency of pumping:
The number of people in your household, the amount of wastewater generated (based on the number of people in the household and the amount of water used), the volume of solids in the wastewater (for example, using a garbage disposal increases the amount of solids), and septic tank size.
Some makers of septic tank additives claim that their products break down the sludge in septic tanks so the tanks never need to be pumped. Not everyone agrees on the effectiveness of additives. In fact, septic tanks already contain the microbes they need for effective treatment. Periodic
pumping is a much better way to ensure that septic systems work properly and provide many years of service. Regardless, every septic tank requires periodic pumping.
In the service report, the pumper should note any repairs completed and whether the tank is in good condition. If the pumper recommends additional repairs he or she can't perform, hire someone to make the repairs as soon as possible.
Use water efficiently
Average indoor water use in the typical single-family home is almost 70 gallons per person per day. Leaky toilets can waste as much as 200 gallons each day. The more water a household conserves, the less water enters the septic system. Efficient water use can improve the operation of
the septic system and reduce the risk of failure.
High-efficiency toilets
Toilet use accounts for 25 to 30 percent of household water use. Do you know how many gallons of water your toilet uses to empty the bowl? Most older homes have toilets with 3.5- to 5-gallon reservoirs, while newer high-efficiency toilets use 1.6 gallons of water or less per flush. If you have
problems with your septic system being flooded with household water, consider reducing the volume of water in the toilet tank if you don't have a high-efficiency model or replacing your existing toilets with high-efficiency models.
Faucet aerators and high efficiency shower heads Faucet aerators help reduce water use
and the volume of water entering your septic system. High-efficiency showerheads
or shower flow restrictors also reduce water use. Water fixtures Check to make sure your toilet's reservoir isn't leaking into the bowl. Add five drops of liquid food coloring to the reservoir before bed. If the dye is in the bowl the next morning, the reservoir is leaking and repairs are needed.
A small drip from a faucet adds many gallons of unnecessary water to your system every day. To see how much a leak adds to your water usage, place a cup under the drip for 10 minutes. Multiply the amount of water in the cup by 144 (the number of minutes in 24 hours, divided by 10). This is the
total amount of clean water traveling to your septic system each day from that little leak.
Use Water Efficiently!
• Install high-efficiency shower heads
• Fill the bathtub with only as much water as you need
• Turn off faucets while shaving or brushing your teeth
• Run the dishwasher and clothes washer only when they're full
• Use toilets to flush sanitary waste only (not kitty litter, diapers, or other trash)
• Make sure all faucets are completely turned off when not in use
• Maintain your plumbing to eliminate leaks
• Install aerators in the faucets in your kitchen and bathroom
• Replace old dishwashers, toilets, and clothes washers with new, high efficiency models.
For more information on water conservation, please visit www.epa.gov/owm/water-efficiency/index.htm
Watch your drains
What goes down the drain can have a major impact on how well your septic system works.
Waste disposal
What shouldn't you flush down your toilet? Dental floss, feminine hygiene products, condoms, diapers, cotton swabs, cigarette butts, coffee grounds, cat litter, paper towels, and other kitchen and athroom items that can clog and potentially damage septic system components if they become trapped.
Washing machines
By selecting the proper load size, you'll reduce water waste. Washing small loads
of laundry on the large-load cycle wastes precious water and energy. If you can't
select load size, run only full loads of laundry. Doing all the household laundry in one day
might seem like a time-saver, but it could be harmful to your septic system. Doing load after load does not allow your septic tank time to adequately treat wastes. You could be flooding your
drainfield without allowing sufficient recovery time. Try to spread water usage throughout the week. A new Energy Star clothes washer uses 35 percent less energy and 50 percent less water than a standard model.
Care for your drainfield
Your drainfield is an important part of your septic system. Here are a few things you should do to maintain it:
• Plant only grass over and near your septic system. Roots from nearby trees or shrubs might clog and damage the drainfield.
• Don't drive or park vehicles on any part of your septic system. Doing so can compact the soil in your drainfield or damage the pipes, tank, or other septic system components.
• Keep roof drains, basement sump pump drains, and other rainwater or surface water drainage systems away from the drainfield. Flooding the drainfield with excessive water slows down or stops treatment processes and can cause plumbing fixtures to back up. If the amount of wastewater entering the system is more than the system can handle, the wastewater backs up into the house or yard and creates a health hazard.
You can suspect a system failure not only when a foul odor is emitted but also when partially treated wastewater flows up to the ground surface. By the time you can smell or see a problem, however, the damage might already be done. By limiting your water use, you can reduce the amount of wastewater your system must treat. When you have your system inspected and pumped as needed, you reduce the chance of system failure. A system installed in unsuitable soils can also fail. Other failure risks
include tanks that are inaccessible for maintenance, drainfields that are paved or parked on, and tree roots or defective components that interfere with the treatment process.
What can make my system fail?
Failure symptoms
The most obvious septic system failures are easy to spot. Check for pooling water or muddy soil around your septic system or in your basement. Notice whether your toilet or sink backs up when you flush or do laundry. You might also notice strips of bright green grass over the drainfield. Septic
systems also fail when partially treated wastewater comes into contact with groundwater. This type of failure is not easy to detect, but it can result in the pollution of wells, nearby streams, or other
bodies of water. Check with a septic system professional and the local health department if you suspect such a failure.
Failure causes
Household toxics
Does someone in your house use the utility sink to clean out paint rollers or flush toxic cleaners? Oil-based paints, solvents, and large volumes of toxic cleaners should not enter your septic system. Even latex paint cleanup waste should be minimized. Squeeze all excess paint and stain from
brushes and rollers on several layers of newspaper before rinsing. Leftover paints and wood stains should be taken to your local household hazardous waste collection center. Remember that your septic system contains a living collection of organisms that digest and treat waste.
Household cleaners For the most part, your septic system's bacteria should recover quickly
after small amounts of household cleaning products have entered the system. Of course, some cleaning products are less toxic to your system than others. Labels can help key you into the potential
toxicity of various products. The word "Danger" or "Poison" on a label indicates that the product is highly hazardous. "Warning" tells you the product is moderately hazardous. "Caution" means the
product is slightly hazardous. ("Nontoxic" and "Septic Safe" Stop, look, and smell! are terms created by advertisers to sell products.) Regardless of the type of product, use it only in the amounts shown on the label instructions and minimize the amount discharged into your septic system.
Hot tubs
Hot tubs are a great way to relax. Unfortunately, your septic system was not designed to handle large quantities of water from your hot tub. Emptying hot tub water into your septic system stirs the solids in the tank and pushes them out into the drainfield, causing it to clog and fail. Draining your hot tub
into a septic system or over the drainfield can overload the system. Instead, drain cooled hot tub water onto turf or landscaped areas well away from the septic tank and drainfield, and in accordance with local regulations. Use the same caution when draining your swimming pool.
Water Purification Systems
Some freshwater purification systems, including water softeners, unnecessarily pump water into the septic system. This can contribute hundreds of gallons of water to the septic tank, causing agitation of solids and excess flow to the drainfield. Check with your licensed plumbing professional
about alternative routing for such freshwater treatment systems.
Garbage disposals
Eliminating the use of a garbage disposal can reduce the amount of grease and solids entering the septic tank and possibly clogging the drainfield. A garbage disposal grinds up kitchen scraps, suspends
them in water, and sends the mixture to the septic tank. Once in the septic tank, some of the materials are broken down by bacterial action, but most of the grindings have to be pumped out of
the tank. Using a garbage disposal frequently can significantly increase the accumulation of sludge and scum in your septic tank, resulting in the need for more frequent pumping.
Improper design or installation
Some soils provide excellent wastewater treatment; others don't. For this reason, the design of the drainfield of a septic system is based on the results of soil analysis. Homeowners and system designers sometimes underestimate the significance of good soils or believe soils can handle any volume of wastewater applied to them. Many failures can be attributed to having an undersized drainfield or high seasonal groundwater table. Undersized septic tanks—another design failure—allow solids to clog the drainfield and result in system failure.
If a septic tank isn't watertight, water can leak into and out of the system. Usually, water from the environment leaking into the system causes hydraulic overloading, taxing the system beyond its capabilities and causing inadequate treatment and sometimes sewage to flow up to the ground surface. Water leaking out of the septic tank is a significant health hazard because the leaking
wastewater has not yet been treated. Even when systems are properly designed, failures due to poor installation practices can occur. If the drainfield is not properly leveled, wastewater can
overload the system. Heavy equipment can damage the drainfield during installation which can lead to soil compaction and reduce the wastewater infiltration rate. And if surface drainage isn't diverted away from the field, it can flow into and saturate the drainfield.
Local Health Department
EPA Onsite/Decentralized Management Homepage www.epa.gov/owm/septic
EPA developed this Web site to provide tools for communities investigating and implementing onsite/decentralized management programs. The Web site contains fact sheets, program summaries, case studies, links to design and other manuals, and a list of state health department contacts that can put you in touch with your local health department.
National Small Flows Clearinghouse www.nesc.wvu.edu Funded by grants from EPA, the NSFC helps
a Web site, online discussion groups, a toll-free assistance line (800- 624-8301), informative publications, and a free quarterly newsletter and magazine.
Rural Community Assistance Program
www.rcap.org RCAP is a resource for community leaders and others looking for technical assistance services and training related to rural drinking water supply and wastewater treatment needs, rural solid waste programs, housing, economic development, comprehensive community assessment and planning, and environmental regulations.
National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association, Inc.
www.nowra.org NOWRA is a national professional organization to advance and promote the onsite wastewater industry. The association promotes the need for regular service and educates the public on the need for properly designed and maintained septic systems. For more information 14 A Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems Septic Yellow Pages www.septicyellowpages.com
The Septic Yellow Pages provides listings by state for professional septic pumpers, installers, inspectors, and tank manufacturers throughout the
professionals. National Association of Wastewater Transporters www.nawt.org NAWT offers a forum for the wastewater industry to exchange ideas and concerns. The NAWT Web site lists state associations and local inspectors and pumpers. EPA-832-B-02-005 December 2002 Revised March 2005
Additional copies can be obtained from: U.S. EPA Publications Clearinghouse
Telephone: 800-490-9198
Fax: 513-489-8695
Office of Water U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
This document has been reviewed in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency policy and approved for publication. Mention of profit-making organizations, trade names, or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. Recycled/Recyclable Printed with vegetable-based ink on paper that contains a minimum of 50% post-consumer fiber content rocessed chlorine-free.
Septic System Dos and Don'ts (adapted from National Small Flows Clearinghouse)
• Check with the local regulatory agency or inspector/pumper if you have a garbage disposal unit
to make sure that your septic system can handle this additional waste.
• Check with your local health department before using additives. Commercial septic tank additives do not eliminate the need for periodic pumping and can be harmful to the system.
• Use water efficiently to avoid overloading the septic system. Be sure to repair leaky faucets or
toilets. Use high-efficiency fixtures.
• Use commercial bathroom cleaners and laundry detergents in moderation. Many people prefer
to clean their toilets, sinks, showers, and tubs with a mild detergent or baking soda.
• Check with your local regulatory agency or inspector/pumper before allowing water softener
backwash to enter your septic tank.
• Keep records of repairs, pumpings, inspections, permits issued, and other system maintenance
• Learn the location of your septic system. Keep a sketch of it with your maintenance record for
service visits.
• Have your septic system inspected and pumped as necessary by a licensed inspector/contractor.
• Plant only grass over and near your septic system. Roots from nearby trees or shrubs might
clog and damage the drainfield.
• Your septic system is not a trash can. Don't put dental floss, feminine hygiene products,
condoms, diapers, cotton swabs, cigarette butts, coffee grounds, cat litter, paper towels, latex
paint, pesticides, or other hazardous chemicals into your system.
• Don't use caustic drain openers for a clogged drain. Instead, use boiling water or a drain snake
to open clogs.
• Don't drive or park vehicles on any part of your septic system. Doing so can compact the soil
in your drainfield or damage the pipes, tank, or other septic system components.
DOH fines 4 businesses
The state Department of Health fined the following businesses in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties:
■ Ugly Stick Saloon, 27790 Route 342, LeRay, paid a $250 fine for having an uncovered septic tank and raw sewage on the ground, and for not submitting approvable wastewater treatment plans in a timely manner following that finding.
The septic tank people came today to start on our septic tank issues.
We noticed some darker areas in our yard a couple of weeks ago and after some investigating my hubby realized it was the sewage. YUK!
We now know why our doggies were getting sick about a month ago - they had dug a couple of holes in the yard and were drinking the water that was coming up from below. YUK again!
Come to find out our run off pipes were about 300 feet short ~ so that is what they are doing now.
Diggin up the yard and laying pipes.
But the permit issued for the septic system at Dave's Place and Backdoor Pottery in Center Point is strictly for residential use, say
And there's the rub.
The county cited John in July for allegedly violating state regulations. He pleaded not guilty.
"He has to get the system brought into compliance with specifications for a commercial food establishment," said Ray Garcia, director of the county environmental health office.
When remedies didn't come fast enough for county commissioners, they authorized an injunction — which hasn't been issued — to shut down the
John, 64, asserts county officials knew when he upgraded the septic systems on his property in 2002 that he planned to run a business there.
He complains county workers unfairly targeted his business, asserting it has a good record with other regulatory agencies and has raised more than $25,000 for charitable causes through its International Chicken Race held in October.
His lawyer, Patrick O'Feil, said the problem isn't with the septic system, but John's failure to advise the county that its use had become commercial.
John said the restaurant had lacked required grease traps, and a patio and fish pond had been built over the system's drain field, but said those issues were resolved last month.
County officials say they're reviewing plans filed by a contractor John hired to see what action is needed, if any.
"It's an antiquated system that was originally for a cabin, and I'm not sure what he's done to upgrade it," said county Commissioner Bill Williams, who defeated Johns in a 2006 race for his seat.
Williams is pursuing a comprehensive fix to the numerous septic tank problems in Center Point, which threaten to pollute the
He wants to install pipes in the small town to convey its sewage to a treatment plant in Comfort, a project for which the county just received approval of a $187,000 state planning grant.
Garcia backs his staff's work handling John's situation.
"We didn't say his system is failing. We said it's not in compliance," he said.
John said he's willing to pay a small fine to resolve the case.
"I just want this drama over with, and I don't want the
Septic Tanks - Not Good
» Posted in House & Home at 7:19 pm
For those of you who don't have septic tanks, skip this article. For those that do, you will no doubt identify with this. Those small septic tanks are the WORST things man invented. They barely hold enough "sludge" to make it through a couple of months. What on earth were they thinking when they installed those for a household of four? Duh!
On the other hand those with the oversize septic tanks - say 2,500 gallons - can go forever and a day without a cleaning. This saves money as they only get cleaned out once a year. On the other hand the smaller tanks average 4 to 6 times a year. At $125 a pop, you're going to be wishing you had the deluxe septic tank. Oh the joys of living on an acreage.
If you want to get away from it all over winter, then treat yourself to going on
An Ounce of Maintenance is Worth A Pound of Repairs
When was the last time you gave your house a check-up?
Cars need to be serviced every five thousand kilometers or so, but your home doesn't exactly have an odometer. That's why it's important to put it on a regular inspection and maintenance routine. By tackling this seasonal and monthly outline of specific tasks, you can keep your household running safely and efficiently all year long.
Spring / Summer
- Trim trees and plants away from your home, including the roof
- Clean and remove debris from gutters and downspouts
- Examine and repair caulking of the windows, stucco, and trim
- Examine paint on siding, trim, and doors (paint is essential for protection)
- Clean shade screens
- Examine roof for loose, cracked, or missing shingles/tiles
- Get your water tested by a pool company at the beginning of the season
- Have septic tank pumped
· Inspect sprinkler system operation and adjust timing as needed
- Examine and repair caulking at the windows for weatherization and insect control
- Close the chimney damper to improve air conditioning efficiency
- Clean and wax or oil cabinets to protect the finish
- Examine weather stripping on exterior doors and windows to reduce energy costs
- Clean fireplace/chiminey
- Examine bath tile grouting to prevent moisture damage
- Lubricate and adjust locks, hinges and latches
- Examine window locks for proper operation
- Lubricate garage door roller shafts, wipe down tracks with dry cloth and tighten bolts
- Examine cabinets, drawers, and hinges for proper alignment
- Clean dryer vent duct and damper to remove any lint buildup or obstructions
- Have your a/c or heat pump, and/or evaporative cooler cleaned and serviced by a qualified technician
Fall / Winter
- Clean and remove debris from gutters
- Adjust sprinkeler system operation and timing as needed.
- Reseed the lawn for winter grass
- Rinse off A/C compressor/condesing unit coil
- Drain and clean evaporitive cooler
- Drain hot water heater
- Consider covering your pool when not in use
- Interior:
- Turn on your furnace to make sure it is in proper working order
- Inspect and repair caulking in sinks, tubs, showers, thresholds, walls, windows and all interior areas
- Check the fireplace and open the damper of the chimney before first use
- Clean and wax all kitchen and bath cabinets and paneling
- Call your electric company to do an energy audit
- Check hoses on washer, refrigerator, and dishwasher for deterioration
Monthly List of "To Do's"
- Test your smoke detector by pressing the button to be sure it beeps or rings loudly. Replace batteries as needed.
- Change your heat pump and or a/c unit filters
- Check the salt level in your water softener
- Drain the holding tank for your R/O system and it to refill
- Treat home for insects as needed. This will also help mitigate scorpions
- Have a professional test your pool water
Old septic systems aren't good enough any more. DNR cracks down.
Will everyone in
According to Wright/Franklin County Sanitarian Earl Kalkwarf there are around 700 un-sewered towns in
"The DNR sent letters saying these towns have to come up with some sort of engineering," Kalkwarf said. "That's a waste of money unless the towns think they are going to be survivors and have people stay around to pay for it. A sewer system (like Belmond has) for a small town will cost millions of dollars."
Rowan officials received a letter from the DNR and ordered an engineering study a couple of months ago. Goodell approved the design for a basic lagoon sewer system last month, but funding is still unclear. The City of
Kalkwarf said some small towns may be "off the hook" if inspections are made and proper septic systems are installed.
A letter from the DNR to the City of
Some planning must be done in Alexander by January 15.
Kalkwarf said all septic tanks must have a filter to keep solids in the tank, plus a secondary form of treatment. Some properties may not have enough space or the proper soil type to install a modern septic system. In these cases, property owners may have to group together to provide multiple-home systems. "Maybe one for each block," the sanitarian said.
"There is some grant money available from USDA Rural Development," Kalkwarf said. "Still, it's going to cost the homeowners some money.
"Small septic systems are going to be cheaper than doing a complete community system where you have to put in sewer mains and a lagoon and hire an operator. Right now, each household has a septic tank (that eventually) drains into a creek. That has to stop. People will need secondary treatment, like a big leach field or something. It will cost from $2,500 to $5,000 to upgrade a working septic tank, or about $7,500 to install a whole new system. "
Several years ago in
"Not everyone in
"On the positive side, there are a lot of new ideas," Kalkwarf said. "They are testing several over by Waverly. I saw a new deal from
Kalkwarf agrees with the DNR's plan to correct uncontrolled discharge of wastewater. "People are starting to realize that our water is not be taken for granted."
About 1.5 million gallons of septage is disposed of annually in an unlined percolation/evaporation pond adjacent to the
The pond is not designed to be used in this way, is poorly designed, and is not properly permitted, according to a letter the county recently received from the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. Its continued use "presents a huge liability to the County in the event that groundwater contamination occurs," the letter, dated Oct. 30, states.
The letter was brought up for discussion at the Dec. 2 board of supervisors meeting by Randy Akana, director of General Services and Terry Barber, director of the Public Health Department.
After the discussing some alternatives to using the disposal pond, supervisors directed staff to develop a plan soon.
"We need to make a decision soon," county administrative officer Brian McDermott said during the meeting.
"This board needs to do something," said supervisor LaVada Erickson.
The water control board "strongly" recommends that the county's plan include "properly closing the Montague septage disposal pond in a manner that would protect groundwater quality into the future."
"The county has a little over $300,000 set aside to close that facility," said McDermott, "The state is going easy now, but if we wait until the state gets tough, it could cost much, much more."
The county has contracted with Pace Engineering to complete a study that identifies potential alternatives for disposal of septage, which is the partially treated waste stored in a septic tank. Septage is composed of scum, which floats to the top and is generally where the bacteria that treats the waste is located; effluent, which is the semi-treated liquid that comprises the majority of the material in the septic tank; and sludge, which is the solid material which collects at the bottom of the tank.
Alternatives could possibly exist at wastewater treatment plants in Yreka, Weed and Lake Shastina, although currently neither of these sites "have the capacity to accept this volume of septage and still be fully protective of water quality," according to Rou O'Connor, associate engineering geologist for the North Coast Water Quality Control Board.
County auditor Leanna Dancer said she has talked with Pace Engineering and that the Lake Shastina Community Services District seems to be the most likely prospect for receiving the septage.
Supervisor Marcia Armstrong said, "It's not a question of, does the county want to be in the septage business? We have to be! There's no other choice."
Armstrong noted that large numbers of residents in her
"They need to be pumped," she said. "The septage needs to be dumped somewhere."
McDermott suggested that, "The county could help someone get set up to handle this."
Several septic tank pumping companies were present at the meeting, one of which, Darrell Fisher, said the septage could be hauled to Oregon, although it would cost more.
"However," said Fisher, "if it is mandated by the state, the extra cost actually becomes negligible."
Resolution of Appreciation to Charlie Fehely
Recently retired Public Works Road Department employee Charlie Fehely was presented with a framed resolution from the board expressing the county's appreciation of his 31 years on the job.
The presentation was made by McDermott, who served as director, deputy director and as senior engineer at Public Works.
"Charlie is the kind of employee who will help anytime he is asked," said McDermott.
Fehely received an ovation from the supervisors and the audience.
"I really enjoyed working for the county," he said, "I really learned a lot. I thought I would let some young blood in."
Septic tank exam too costly
After years of debate, the state of
Owners of all OWTS will be required to have their septic tanks inspected for solids accumulation every five years by a service provider, not the government, and that documentation is to be retained by the OWTS owner, not submitted as a report. No operating permit is required. This is what the state will require.
Here is what the city of
•An operating permit from the
city. •A check of appliances and fixtures inside the home to assure proper connections.
•A visual examination of treatment tank, where inspectors will check the inlet and outlet valves, tank volume, waste levels, cracks, corrosion and leakage.
•Inspection of the distribution box for leakage, cracks, corrosion and levelness. Pipes leading from the tank to the box and to the distribution field can be checked for corrosion or breakage via a digital camera.
•Distribution field or pit is typically inspected by a dye flush test to assure that the system is draining properly. Probes can be used to test for drainage levels.
The city claims that the cost to homeowners of this routine examination is between $350 and $500. In checking with certified inspectors for
Residents were assured by the Calabasas City Council that OWTS requirements would not be punitive. Not only do they far exceed what the state will require, but their cost estimates for individual homeowners have no basis in fact.
Residents only seek what is fair and reasonable. What has been proposed by the City Hall is neither.
Nepal, Kathmandu: squatters find way to rid of river pollution
December 11, 2008 · No Comments
Until a year ago, life was like a nightmare for squatters of Narayan tole behind the Maharajgunj-based Kanti Children's Hospital: [a] pungent smell emanated from the polluted
[T]he squatters sought help from [...] Lumanti, an NGO working in the slums, Waterr Aid and UN-HABITAT, [who] contributed Rs. 90,000 and technical expertise. Two small wastewater treatment plants (septic tank with upflow bio-filters) were built with this assistance. [...] Twenty-eight households of the area have linked their toilet sewage pipes with these tanks, which discharge only clean water into the river. The squatters use decomposed waste as fertiliser.
"Earlier, only a few of us had toilets in our households. We used to defecate out in the open at night. The handful of toilets had their drainage pipes linked with the river," said Gita Devi Dhakal, one of the squatters.
[...] With Asian Development Bank funding, the department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC), under the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MoPPW), is constructing over 30 bigger wastewater treatment plants under the Urban and Environmental Improvement project (UNIP) in a number of cities.
[However], the bigger the plant, the more it costs. [S]mall [household] treatment plants [are cheaper and occupy little space].
"Every planner can learn a lesson from the initiative of the Narayan tole squatter community," said Lajana Manandhar, executive director of LUMANTI. "If all households build small plants, then we can clean up the polluted rivers of
Source: The
Love is unexplainable. Love hurts. Does the hurt heal?
Why is it that so many people expect the butterflies and stars to be there throughout the relationship? Why is more love than can ever be explained not enough? Why is it that it takes screw up after screw up before you realize that you have to get it together ... but it is too late?
When something is worth fighting for - you have to fight!
Love is an amazing thing and sometimes it is taken for granted... the grass is not always greener on the other side. My dad used to say that if it looks like the grass is greener on the other side, it might be - but consider that it could also be because there is a septic tank over there.
Love is a powerful thing!
Septic system behind Felton shopping center fixed quickly
Sentinel staff report
Posted: 12/12/2008 12:48:46 PM PST
FELTON - The septic system that serves the
The problem was reported before noon, and was fixed within a few hours, Heather Reynolds of Environmental Health said.
Reynolds said the stuck float caused the tank to fill and overflow.
She said this is the first reported problem since the new treatment system was installed less than two years ago.
A local resident saw the sewage overflowing behind Mama Mia's restaurant and called county officials.
Tough new septic tank regulations proposed
The state Water Resources Control Board is holding five public meetings statewide this month and six more in January before a Feb. 9 public hearing in
Mail: State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, attn: Todd Thompson, P.E., 1001 I St., 15th floor, P.O. Box 2231, Sacramento, CA 95812.
Learn more
The state's proposed septic tank discharge regulations, draft environmental impact report and related information are online at www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/septic_tanks.
What's my part?
If your
Proposed: Inspection of existing septic tanks every five years by a qualified service provider. Cost: $325. Currently: No regular inspections, except before a property's sale.
Proposed: Lab testing of well water every five years on lots with wells and septic systems; reporting of results electronically to the state. Cost: $325. Currently: No regular tests; sometimes required before a property's sale.
Proposed: For septic tanks within 600 feet of surface water that doesn't meet state standards: a professional determination on whether the septic system is to blame; if so, required septic system retrofits or supplemental treatments (mechanisms added to the systems, such as fan filters). The state estimates this scenario could apply to just 25 existing
Proposed: For future septic systems and for major replacements of existing, failing systems, at least 3 feet of soil between groundwater and the bottom of a leach field trench, or 2 feet for systems with supplemental treatments. Cost: Varies with soil conditions and groundwater levels, can be $10,000 or more. Currently:
Sources: State Water Resources Control Board;
Harold Kay has needed his rural
His almost 8-acre property behind
The total estimated cost of $650 every five years was news to Kay.
"Wow," he said, but added that protecting his community's groundwater is important, too. "We don't want to insure our cars and smog our cars, but we know we have to do it for the betterment of society."
Kay's is one of 31,885
"This is at a time when people are already struggling with what they can afford," she said.
On Thursday,
The regulations would require well tests and septic tank inspections every five years and more space between trench lines and groundwater for future or failing septic systems. In some rare cases, entirely new systems or retrofits may be required, costing as much as $45,000.
The proposed regulations have raised some red flags in McEwen's office. The rules are based on case studies done in just two counties,
"In general, we feel that because of the way the regulations are written that it would have more of an impact on rural counties in Northern California than is stated in the draft EIR," she said, referring to the Environmental Impact Report the state is seeking public comments on for its proposal.
The proposed state regulations don't differentiate between the two water levels, or whether one is impermeable to the other, McEwen said. The regulations would require 3 feet of soil between groundwater and the bottom of leach field trenches, rather than the 12-inch minimum acceptable now.
But depending on how high a property's water table is, its owner may have no choice but to install advanced, pressurized systems that can be twice as expensive as a conventional gravity-flow installation costing $4,000 or $5,000, McEwen said.
"It's going to be more difficult for
As for the frequency of inspections, two septic tank servicers in
The need often depends on the size of a household, but delaying maintenance is unwise regardless, said James Fawnsworth, manager of Al's Septic Service.
"I've seen little old ladies living alone go for 10 years, and the tank is just full of water. But if you're a family of four ... I could see it creating problems," he said.
Dominic DiNino, a real estate agent, said he's worried about the regulations driving up prices for his clients. One property in escrow now will require a $5,000 septic tank installation, but the buyers won't be ready to build for five or six years.
McEwen said if owners gain a septic system installation permit while the county's current regulations apply, they won't need to adhere to the proposed regulations, which wouldn't take effect until July 2010 if adopted. However, she reminds property owners that permits are good for only one year, though they can be renewed for another year if installation has begun.
Thursday's 7 p.m. meeting in the Shasta County Board of Supervisors chambers is part of the state's gathering of public comments for the proposal's draft environmental impact report. The comment period ends Feb. 9 with a hearing in
Responses to the comments will be written into a final report and undergo another public comment period set for August, state documents show.
Septic Tank Care and Maintenance
A septic tank is essentially a miniature natural waste treatment plant. It works by holding water and wastes in an enclosed area so that bacteria can go to work on the solids in it and break them down into liquids and gasses. Septic systems are the most widely used type of waste disposal throughout rural and suburban
Without a functioning septic system, you can't even legally sell your home – so it makes sense to maintain and care for it properly.
Proper septic tank care involves preventive maintenance and common sense precautions. To keep your septic system in top working order, you should follow some simple rules.
1. Periodic pumping and cleaning of your septic tank is a necessary maintenance step. If the tank isn't drained and cleaned on a regular basis, the sludge of solids in the bottom will eventually overflow into the leaching field, clogging it and causing backups and odor, not to mention a health hazard. Most experts recommend having the septic tank cleaned every 2-3 years. If there's a foul odor around the septic tank, or if it's clogging and overflowing, it may need to be cleaned sooner.
2. Be careful what you flush. Anything that the bacteria in the septic system can't digest will be left to clog it up. The fewer solids that get flushed, the happier your septic tank will be.
3. Use a toilet paper that degrades easily to avoid a buildup of solids that will clog your septic system so that you need to have it pumped sooner. High wet strength toilet paper that doesn't break down easily in water is harder for your septic tank to deal with.
4. Conserve water. The more waste goes into your septic system, the sooner you'll have to have it pumped. Set your toilet to use less water with each flush, or switch to a toilet the uses 1-2 gallons of water per flush.
5. By the same token, avoid overloading your septic system. It needs time to deal with wastes and fluids if it's going to do so efficiently. Don't run the dishwasher and washing machine at the same time that someone is showering, or do all the family laundry in one day.
6. Avoid pouring grease or oil down the toilet or your drains, and reduce the use of the garbage disposal.
7. Don't overdose on the detergents, soaps and other chemicals to avoid killing the bacteria that do all the dirty work.
8. Your septic tank doesn't need an additive, but a once a month treatment with a natural drain and septic tank cleaner (Drain Line and Septic Tank Cleaner) can help keep drains and pipes running efficiently and clear away the gunk that collects along the insides of pipes.
Do be very careful of the septic tank products that you choose. Avoid those with lye or other caustic ingredients that can do more harm than good.
Tough new septic tank regulations proposed
Photo by Greg Barnette / Record Searchlight
If you're going
What: Public workshop on proposed state septic tank regulations.
When: 7 p.m. Thursday.
Send a letter
The state Water Resources Control Board is holding five public meetings statewide this month and six more in January before a Feb. 9 public hearing in
Mail: State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, attn: Todd Thompson, P.E., 1001 I St., 15th floor, P.O. Box 2231, Sacramento, CA 95812.
What's my part?
If your
Proposed: Inspection of existing septic tanks every five years by a qualified service provider. Cost: $325. Currently: No regular inspections, except before a property's sale.
Proposed: Lab testing of well water every five years on lots with wells and septic systems; reporting of results electronically to the state. Cost: $325. Currently: No regular tests; sometimes required before a property's sale.
Proposed: For septic tanks within 600 feet of surface water that doesn't meet state standards: a professional determination on whether the septic system is to blame; if so, required septic system retrofits or supplemental treatments (mechanisms added to the systems, such as fan filters). The state estimates this scenario could apply to just 25 existing
Proposed: For future septic systems and for major replacements of existing, failing systems, at least 3 feet of soil between groundwater and the bottom of a leach field trench, or 2 feet for systems with supplemental treatments. Cost: Varies with soil conditions and groundwater levels, can be $10,000 or more. Currently:
Sources: State Water Resources Control Board;
Harold Kay has needed his rural
His almost 8-acre property behind
The total estimated cost of $650 every five years was news to Kay.
"Wow," he said, but added that protecting his community's groundwater is important, too. "We don't want to insure our cars and smog our cars, but we know we have to do it for the betterment of society."
Kay's is one of 31,885
"This is at a time when people are already struggling with what they can afford," she said.
On Thursday,
The regulations would require well tests and septic tank inspections every five years and more space between trench lines and groundwater for future or failing septic systems. In some rare cases, entirely new systems or retrofits may be required, costing as much as $45,000.
The proposed regulations have raised some red flags in McEwen's office. The rules are based on case studies done in just two counties,
"In general, we feel that because of the way the regulations are written that it would have more of an impact on rural counties in Northern California than is stated in the draft EIR," she said, referring to the Environmental Impact Report the state is seeking public comments on for its proposal.
The proposed state regulations don't differentiate between the two water levels, or whether one is impermeable to the other, McEwen said. The regulations would require 3 feet of soil between groundwater and the bottom of leach field trenches, rather than the 12-inch minimum acceptable now.
But depending on how high a property's water table is, its owner may have no choice but to install advanced, pressurized systems that can be twice as expensive as a conventional gravity-flow installation costing $4,000 or $5,000, McEwen said.
"It's going to be more difficult for
As for the frequency of inspections, two septic tank servicers in
The need often depends on the size of a household, but delaying maintenance is unwise regardless, said James Fawnsworth, manager of Al's Septic Service.
"I've seen little old ladies living alone go for 10 years, and the tank is just full of water. But if you're a family of four ... I could see it creating problems," he said.
Dominic DiNino, a real estate agent, said he's worried about the regulations driving up prices for his clients. One property in escrow now will require a $5,000 septic tank installation, but the buyers won't be ready to build for five or six years.
McEwen said if owners gain a septic system installation permit while the county's current regulations apply, they won't need to adhere to the proposed regulations, which wouldn't take effect until July 2010 if adopted. However, she reminds property owners that permits are good for only one year, though they can be renewed for another year if installation has begun.
Thursday's 7 p.m. meeting in the Shasta County Board of Supervisors chambers is part of the state's gathering of public comments for the proposal's draft environmental impact report. The comment period ends Feb. 9 with a hearing in
Responses to the comments will be written into a final report and undergo another public comment period set for August, state documents show.
Anonymous said...
There are important omissions in your article.
The septic tank process comes in two parts, what happends in the tank and what happens in the drain field!
The tank uses an airless system, where the microbes in our waste digest our waste and turn it into mainly methane gas.
Things like salt/sodium, bleach, alcohol - all antiseptics stall the process and lead to the buildup of waste in the tank, which may then require emptying.
Avoid putting antiseptics in the tank and it will go on for years.
The drainfield completes the task using the microbes in the soil to clean the remaining liquid.
Again salt/sodium cause problems with the soil making it compact and preventing the liquid passing through.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Supreme Court Adopts COA Dissent Saying Justifiable Reliance on MLS Listing Is A Jury Question
In Crawford V. Mintz, the COA majority reversed a jury verdict and held that defendants real estate agent and broker did not negligently represent a home's features because plaintiffs were not justified in relying on an MLS listing that stated the home was connected to the city sewer. Plaintiffs discovered that the home actually had a septic tank when it backed up and flooded their backyard. The jury awarded them the cost of repairing the sewer system and connecting the home to the city sewer. The COA majority said that reliance was not justifiable because plaintiffs received the MLS listing not from defendants but from their own realtor, and because plaintiffs' realtor omitted the disclaimer "Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed" from the listing. Judge Steelman dissented, arguing that despite any disclaimers, the information given to plaintiffs was false, and the trial court properly submitted the issue of justifiable reliance to the jury. The Supreme Court reversed the COA per curiam for the reasons stated in Judge Steelman's dissent.
Tips for maintaining your septic systems
The state recommends these seasonal maintenance tips for people with private wastewater treatments systems:
· If you live in an area without a natural windbreak, you may want to consider installing a snow fence. If you added a layer of mulch over the area, the snow fence will help keep the mulch in place and will trap snow.
· Spread out your laundry schedule to one warm/hot load per day. Use normal amounts of water — the warmer the better.
· Don't leave water running all the time to prevent freezing. A slow trickle could freeze, while a steady stream could overload the system with water.
· Don't add antifreeze to the system.
· If you will be gone for more than a day or two, have someone visit and use water regularly. If you will be gone for an extended period (weeks or months), pumping the tank before leaving may be a good option, but always consult with a professional before deciding to have a tank pumped.
· Fix any leaky plumbing.
· Keep all vehicles (including ATVs and snowmobiles) and high-traffic people or animal activities off the system, all year.
· Make sure all risers, inspection pipes and manholes have tight covers. Adding insulation is a good idea. Unsecured covers represent a grave danger to children.
· If any seeping or ponding occurs, contact an onsite professional.
Dozens of bulls were lined up, ready to be slaughtered at Al-Musyawah Mosque in Kelapa Gading,
The mosque committee for the sacrifice day had put a temporary tent up over a large cement slab, housing a septic tank.
Volunteering medical doctor Dr. Ahmar was the busiest person at the mosque that day, his white T-shirt stained with blood from sacrificed animals.
"We know blood and other waste products are not good, especially if we let them flow directly into public drains, causing pollution. That is why we installed this septic tank," Dr. Ahmar, an event committee member, told The Jakarta Post, recently.
Before they had the septic tank, Ahmar says, the committee faced the usual problem of managing animal waste on the sacrifice day.
"It works just like septic tanks for toilets in our home. The soil absorbs the waste naturally," he says.
The committee members would call out the owner of the next animal to be sacrificed. The bull or goat would be positioned close to the open septic tank, where the prayers were recited before the ritual was completed.
The committee would then skin the animal and divide the meat for distribution to the needy, before dumping the waste products, such as dung and blood, into the tank before washing down the cement slab and calling out another name.
"We do the same thing every Muslim day of sacrifice here. We slaughter the animals and give the meat away to less fortunate people," Dr Ahmar says.
Naniek Susetijonarti, a veterinarian from the city fishery and husbandry agency, says people in
"The Muslim day of sacrifice is an exception because so many people want to conduct the ritual," Naniek says.
Unfortunately, in some parts of the city like Penjaringan, North Jakarta and Palmerah,
"We don't have a proper place to slaughter cattle. We have to slaughter them on the street," Ridwan, a resident of Palmerah, says.
"Here, people just throw everything into the river, not only the waste from the animals. It is usual," Rosyid, another resident, says.
Naniek says people must scrutinize the waste products of animals.
"We have to split up the entrails from blood and another waste products because the entrails contain bacteria," Naniek says.
The agency held a short course several months ago to inform the public how to properly dispose of the waste on Idul Adha.
"It seems only a few people implemented it," Naniek says
A proposal to change regulations could affect 25,000 households in
At a special meeting held last week, more than 150 people filled the board chambers of the
"They took some pretty harsh criticism from citizens," said Wesley Nicks, director of the county's environmental health department.
The meeting attracted officials from governments in
"I was impressed by the intelligence of the questions and the diversity of the questions," Nicks said. "There were certainly some people that were angry."
Isolated incidents of ground water contamination have occurred in
"It does occur on occasion. We haven't seen a big influx of problems with systems that would justify (more) regulations," he said.
People who spoke at the meeting voiced satisfaction with the way the county monitors septic tanks and saw no need for the state to add additional regulations, Nicks said.
"At the present time these systems are serving Californians very well. The horror stories are few and far between," said Doug Donesky, a local resident who also serves as district 4 planning commissioner.
In coming weeks Nicks will send his written comments to the state water board commenting on its draft environmental review of the proposed changes.
He said his comments will mirror local citizens' concerns. A number of similar public workshops are scheduled in other rural Northern Californian counties this month.
"We'll wait and hear what the state does with it," Nicks said. "The water board will then mitigate its plan, change the draft regulations or provide further explanation," Nicks said.
If signed into law, homeowners would be required to hire professionals to inspect septic tanks and test private wells every five years, a task that could cost land owners thousands of dollars.
Developers could also be hit with new costs associated with installing equipment.
Rural counties are hardest hit by the proposed regulations, because a higher percentage of homeowners use private wells and septic tanks rather than municipal water and sewer.
Plans for changes to septic tank regulations originated in
Donesky questioned why an urban area in the state was affecting rural counties with different geology.
"Somehow that morphed into 'let's go to
If you have a septic tank, you probably have a love/hate relationship with it. Most of the time it saves you money, because you do not have to pay regularly for water reclamation services. However, when something goes wrong, it can be a costly and messy affair. People with septic tanks need to make sure they are properly maintaining their tanks, and they can do so with these basic tips.
Pump the Tank when Needed
You need to pump your septic tank regularly. The regularity of pumping depends on the size of the tank and the size of the residence. Experts recommend a typical home with a 1,000-gallon tank should be pumped every three to five years. If your tank is smaller, you will need to pump it more often. Pumping the tank removes the solid build up that is an inevitable part of the septic process.
One way to stretch the time you can go between septic tank pumpings is to increase the amount of solid waste that is destroyed by the bacteria in the system. You can do this by installing a Fixed Activated Sludge Treatment (FAST) septic system in your home. FAST systems create the ideal environment for the bacteria that are necessary to decompose much of the solid waste you send into the system. FAST systems house these bacteria in an underground, aerated, self-cleaning reactor chamber that allows for optimal bacteria growth. This unique system leads to a 90-95 percent removal of total suspended solids from the waste water.
Keep Water Flow Even
Too much water and too little water sent through a septic tank can cause problems. To keep the tank running efficiently, keep the water flow as balanced as possible. Too much water, such as what you may send through the system if you are doing extensive laundry, can put more water through the system than it was built to handle. This means that it can flood the system. Also, too much water flow can push some of the solids that have settled into the bottom of the tank into the leaching field, causing clogs and environmental damage. Times of low water usage can lead to the death of the bacteria in the system.
Keeping water flow even is not always possible. There will be times when you need to use more water, and other times, such as when you are out of town, that you will not be using as much water. The unique design of FLASH systems makes them capable of handling a changing water volume.
Avoiding Nitrogen Contamination
The process that occurs inside the septic tank produces nitrogen as a byproduct. Too much nitrogen in groundwater leads to contamination that is when it reaches human drinking water. This means that your septic tank could be a very real environmental hazard.
The bacteria in the septic tank work to neutralize much of this nitrogen. For this reason, you need to make sure that the bacteria are functioning properly. Avoid sending high amounts of household cleaners and other strong chemicals down the drain, as these can kill some of the bacteria in the system, causing more nitrogen to build up and leach into the environment. It is not possible to avoid sending these products down the drain completely, but avoid excessive use. Also, avoid using powdered detergents in a septic system.
If you have a FAST system, you will not need to be as concerned with nitrogen buildup. The FAST system involves multiple processes when treating wastewater, including bio-chemical, physical, and biological processes. As a result, the system greatly reduces nitrogen levels in the water that is sent to the leach field.
Pools of sewage affecting health of residents
By Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter
Published: December 16, 2008, 23:30
The majority of people living in the area are labourers who say they have been living with the stench for the last couple of months.
Gulf News has been told that
It has been claimed that one of the reasons for the pools of sewage is that the companies responsible for the labour accommodation have been pumping sewage from their septic tanks into the open.
This is being done to save the cost of paying for sewage tankers. Tanker operators have recently increased their fees for making each trip to the Al Aweer Sewage Plant
Operators have defended the increase in the cost, saying the money charged is nothing compared to the number of hours they have to spend waiting outside the Al Aweer Sewage Plant. The tankers charge Dh2,000 for a 10,000 tonne tanker and operators say they spend up to eight hours waiting at the sewage plant. Mohammad, a labourer, said: "It is done after midnight. It happens every other day. "I have tried to telephone the The alleged violations by the companies come despite the civic body increasing fines for violators from Dh10,000 to Dh100, 000 in addition to confiscating of their tankers for a month. Labourers have complained that they are suffering from itchy feet as a result of having to wade through the sewage. "It has also become impossible to for us to go to the nearest mosque for prayers and instead we have some of us offering prayers inside our premises or in a small patch of dry and clean area located close our accommodation wall," said Rameez, another worker. The workers said rain had exacerbated the problem. Residents have also claimed that another reason for the overflowing septic tanks was because some labour accommodations have too many people living in the rooms. Hashim, an Egyptian worker, said: "If a particular septic tank is built to accommodate the waste for 700 people it will definitely overflow if it is required to handle waste for a thousand people. "The only way by which the companies can avoid the septic tanks from overflowing is by taking the services of sewage tankers, which in the current circumstances they are avoiding. "The problem of overflowing septic tanks became worse from the time the tanker operators had increased their charges per trip. More trips means paying up more money." Supervisors at a couple of accommodations located in the affected area denied having to do anything with the overflowing sewage and were quick to pass on the blame to tanker operators. A supervisor, who did not want to be named, said: "The tanker operators come to this area at after midnight and empty the sewage filled tankers. They do this to avoid long waiting period at the Al Aweer Sewage plant." In reply to a query whether anyone of them have found it useful to report the matter with the By Bruce Henderson Sewage bubbles up in Larry Deckbar's backyard in Mint Hill when it rains. Deckbar says This week's rain, after months of dry weather, was welcomed across most of Long before the couple moved in, the county deemed their lot unsuitable for a conventional septic system. At the homebuilder's request, the county reclassified the lot as suitable for an "innovative" system – the one that failed. The Deckbars say the county didn't follow its own rules in evaluating the lot. They're balking at a proposed repair, involving an even more rarely used septic system, that their consultant says would be illegal and wouldn't work. After nearly two years of the bubbling brew, they appealed for help Tuesday night to the board of county commissioners. The couple say they've spent $10,000 on consultants and attorneys, and they fear their $466,000 house has lost value. "Who wants to buy a house without a working septic system?" said Larry Deckbar, a computer-equipment salesman. Commissioner Bill James, who represents the area, thinks the solution is to connect the Deckbars' neighborhood to a distant Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities sewer main, which carries an estimated cost of $202,000. "I agree that it's an intolerable situation," James said. "The question is who is willing to write the check to fix it." County officials say they made no error in permitting the septic system. They and homebuilder Hobart Smith Homes say they're committed to finding a solution. In permitting decisions, county officials consider six factors, including topography, available space and soil characteristics, wetness and depth. County warnings that systems installed on such sites aren't guaranteed to work – included on the approval for the Deckbars' lot – no longer appear on reclassifications. In the past two years, county records show, only 13 percent of septic-tank permits were for conventional systems that use gravel-lined trenches. New system designs often take up less space, allowing installation on lots that are small or have limited areas of suitable soil. Corbitt said most of the new systems work as well or better than conventional systems. "It's not like it's the kiss of death if it's provisionally suitable," said Hobart Smith president H.C. Smith Jr. "(Deckbar) is taking it the wrong way." Smith said his company is working with the Deckbars, county and state staff to find a solution. But the couple argue that no septic system should ever have been permitted on their lot. A state soil scientist who evaluated their property wrote that "soils in this area are unsuitable for subsurface sewage treatment and disposal systems." He referred, Larry Deckbar said, to the location of the system in their backyard. The couple's own soil scientist recommends that their home be connected to a sewer line or a septic system off their property. Larry Deckbar just wants a fully functioning home again. "Of all things," he said, "we loved the yard the most." By Faisal Masudi and Mohammed Al Khan, Staff reporters Authorities have fined several companies for apparently failing to take steps to stop a sewage leak in a labour camp in Sonapur. "This is not flood water from the recent rains – it is raw sewage and it has been like this for months," said a Bangladeshi labourer. "We feel like we are in prison - we can't go outside. We have to walk on edges and over stepping stones to cross the street," said a resident of Community 264. A new model of septic tank, specifically designed for use in urban areas by Vietnamese inventors has been awarded a gold medal by the World Intellectual Property Organisation. (Source: VNA) A toddler brought to By Mary Lou Kelsey That was also the year of the even deadlier — and costlier— septic tank backup which occurred, of course, when everyone wants a septic tank backup — on Christmas Eve. Invited guests were still there at three in the old a.m. Then the sewer went down. Oddly, none of the guests were still there at 5 a.m. That's one way to get everyone to go home. Our Christmas gatherings got neither smaller nor any more practical. We did learn to check the septic system every year to avoid future meltdowns. We had to move some decorations to make space for more folks. And guests began bringing new decorations, some of which were not strictly for the Christmas season. One year we awoke the morning after and were thrilled to see a pair of bright pink, plastic lawn flamingos, caught in a compromising position, on our front lawn. The neighbors were not quite as thrilled. My mother adored Christmas decorations. I adore Christmas decorations. But I do not get to adore them outside the house, which may have something to do with the fact that my husband hates to set them up outdoors. One year, I think that he purposely broke the lighted reindeer I had placed in front of the house so he would never have to put them out again. This year I am considering borrowing the reindeer from my neighbor across the street, although the odds are pretty good that I would get caught. It was just a thought. It's not a sin just to consider a thought, is it? President Jimmy Carter didn't think so when he talked about it in Playboy magazine. One year we purchased a colorful sign that clearly read "Happy Holidays" when we saw it in the store. Much to our dismay, when we hung it on the front of the house and turned on the lights, it sure seemed to look like an ad for a house of ill repute. There is one grand problem being the daughter of a woman who loved Christmas decorations. She spent many happy hours making sure her house was property decorated, both inside and out. Each year she bought so many new ornaments that she ended up having to give away the older ones. They were good decorations and she found it hard to part with them. That dilemma was resolved by giving them to me. They were not my favorite decorations, but you don't deny your mother the joy of giving you her old Christmas ornaments. My mate was not quite as delighted by the prospect of the vast additional decorating to be done. The problem was emphasized by the fact that he was also elected as a head packhorse to pick up and deliver these precious items to me. Thus came all of the Christmas decorations and ornaments to my house. How about next year we have an exchange? Sewage water is potentially harmful for human health. The damage caused by sewage water is dependent on its contents. Sewage water can damage property as well as health of those residing in the house. Since sewage water contains many harmful contaminants and pollutants, it would be best to hire a professional sewage damage cleanup. Quick action against overflowing sewage water will help you contain the sewage damage. The longer you take to call sewage damage cleanup experts, the more damage you'll have to pay. Sewage damage cleanup plays an important role in protecting the health of concerned people in case of sewage overflow. Water can carry a variety of microorganisms with it that can be very harmful to others. Sewage damage cleanup experts are aware of the best way to clean up sewage water along with restoring the house to a dry state and retrieve as much valuable property as possible. Sewage water often contains animal or human body waste, which makes it even more harmful. You should never attempt to proceed with this task without wearing proper protection gear. Sewage damage cleanup experts can decontaminate a house. The decontamination process includes removal of sewage water, cleaning as well as disinfection. Sewage damage cleanup should be called as soon as possible and in case of major sewage flooding, the house should be completely evacuated for the initial stage of decontamination, disinfection and cleaning. You should move into your house only when the sewage has been removed and the house disinfected. After cleaning and disinfecting the house, open all doors and windows for proper ventilation. You should keep in mind that sewage damage cleanup, must take place in two parts, the physical cleanup and then the chemical disinfection. You should never undertake a sewage cleanup on your own, you should leave it to experts since they have protective gear as well as proper knowledge required for the job to be well done. Slight backflow of sewage water can be cleaned up with the help of mop and disinfectants but for major sewage damage that might be caused by the breakage of septic tank or similar cause, you should call professionals to clean up. Sewage water can adversely affect the air quality of your house. It generally carries a bad odor that can make breathing very difficult. A sewage damage cleanup should also include dehumidifying, disinfecting and sanitizing the house. There should be no foul odor in the house after a proper sewage damage cleanup. Sewage water can lead to a variety of diseases like salmonella typhoid, bacillary dysentery, skin infection and Hepatitis A to name a few. It can also cause allergies and nausea. To prevent being affected by sewage water, it might be essential to throw away carpets, cushions mattresses and the like. Carpets can be salvaged in case of water damage but it is very difficult to salvage a carpet from sewage water damage. You should discontinue using any porous material that had been affected by sewage water as they might continue to contain harmful bacteria and virus.
Seeping sewage turns beloved yard into a nightmare
The homeowners blame the county for letting the builder put in an 'innovative' system.
Leak view in Sonapur: When green is not in
Parts of the camp, home to thousands of expatriate workers, have been submerged in sewage ever since septic tanks in the area overflowed several months ago. Septic tanks are usually emptied by sewage tankers, but according to workers who live in the affected area, many camp owners have stopped paying for the service.
Tanker operators are allegedly demanding higher fees because they have to work extra hours and make more trips to
Some accommodations in Sonapur are overcrowded – with up to eight people per room – putting pressure on the plumbing system. There is no direct sewage pipe network between Sonapur and Al Awir.
"The Drainage and Irrigation Section has no jurisdiction over this issue," said Abdul Majid Sifaee, head of that section at
"Our jurisdiction only extends as far as the drainage network. There is no drainage network in that area and therefore we cannot take any action. The responsible party would be the environmental department's Public Health and Safety Unit."
Action taken
Redha Salman, Head of the Public Health and Safety Unit at
Worst hit
Streets 18, 19 and 23 have been worst hit, with waste water knee-deep in some areas.
"When a truck or bus drives by, the ripples carry the sewage straight into our rooms," an Indian worker added.
The sewage overflows mainly from three housing units on Street 23, another worker said.
The camp is also riddled with smaller pools of sewage, made by tankers illegally dumping waste. Many truck drivers don't want to wait long hours for their turn to discharge their tanker's load at the treatment plant. They instead dump sewage wherever they can -- down rainwater drains, on city roads or out in the desert. Some of the sewage recently made its way through a storm drain into a public beach in
The otherwise pristine coastline next to the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club was lately found to be contaminated with faeces and was shut down by the municipality. Authorities said the spill has been cleared up, but the beach remains closed.
New waste treatment design scoops world gold medal
The award-winning design was jointly developed by Hoang Duc Thao, Director of the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Drainage and Urban Development One-Member Limited Liability Co., and his partners.
The medal was presented during an international science exhibition that took place in
As many as 38 countries and 500 scientific organisations around the world had submitted projects for display at the biennial expo.
The 3-year old boy died after falling down a septic tank, last night.
Cameron County Sheriff Deputies say, child's play turned deadly.
They say, the boy fell down the septic tank while playing a game of Hide-N-Seek with his teenage sister.
It happened right outside the family's home on
As a child, everyone loves to play hide-n-go seek, but for one baby boy, it turned devastating.
We went back to where it all took place, and spoke with a neighbor, who says her heart and prayers go out to the family.
"So sad, so sad that a three year old died this way, in a septic tank."
Neighbor, Olivia Guerrero says, as a mother herself she can only imagine how tough this 3-year old's death must be on the family.
"It's hard as a parent to lose a child, and I know we try to keep our eyes on them, but sometimes it doesn't happen that way."
Last night,
In the ambulance ride over to the hospital, they were able to revive him, but sadly hed died this morning.
Today, signs of the baby's fall still remain in the septic tank.
"It could've had a cement thing on top or something like that."
This is about a 16-foot pole, and it's what investigators used last night to figure out how deep this septic tank is.
Guerrero says, "The water was over his head and I'm sure he didn't know how to float or swim or anything, it's a deep septic tank."
"It's hard to think that somebody in a time like this. It's very hard to lose a child, so my heart goes out to them."
The Cameron County Sheriff's Department continues to investigate.
At this time, it is not known if the family of the child will face any charges.
Decking the halls is not always joyous
Lebanon Daily News
I have completely avoided decorating my halls. I started, but there are no boughs of holly. My spouse gave up on all boughs. I felt I deserved boughs as a mother's prerogative. Many, many years ago, he found that tinsel was also unfit. That was the year after the deadly tinsel-chucking party. Tree-trimming guests got carried away with the delicate art of applying tinsel to the tree and they ended up having the Christmas tree-trimming equivalent of a food fight. Clumps of bright tinsel were everywhere, except on the tree.
Operators have defended the increase in the cost, saying the money charged is nothing compared to the number of hours they have to spend waiting outside the Al Aweer Sewage Plant.
The tankers charge Dh2,000 for a 10,000 tonne tanker and operators say they spend up to eight hours waiting at the sewage plant.
Mohammad, a labourer, said: "It is done after midnight. It happens every other day.
"I have tried to telephone the
The alleged violations by the companies come despite the civic body increasing fines for violators from Dh10,000 to Dh100, 000 in addition to confiscating of their tankers for a month.
Labourers have complained that they are suffering from itchy feet as a result of having to wade through the sewage.
"It has also become impossible to for us to go to the nearest mosque for prayers and instead we have some of us offering prayers inside our premises or in a small patch of dry and clean area located close our accommodation wall," said Rameez, another worker.
The workers said rain had exacerbated the problem.
Residents have also claimed that another reason for the overflowing septic tanks was because some labour accommodations have too many people living in the rooms.
Hashim, an Egyptian worker, said: "If a particular septic tank is built to accommodate the waste for 700 people it will definitely overflow if it is required to handle waste for a thousand people.
"The only way by which the companies can avoid the septic tanks from overflowing is by taking the services of sewage tankers, which in the current circumstances they are avoiding.
"The problem of overflowing septic tanks became worse from the time the tanker operators had increased their charges per trip. More trips means paying up more money."
Supervisors at a couple of accommodations located in the affected area denied having to do anything with the overflowing sewage and were quick to pass on the blame to tanker operators.
A supervisor, who did not want to be named, said: "The tanker operators come to this area at after midnight and empty the sewage filled tankers. They do this to avoid long waiting period at the Al Aweer Sewage plant."
In reply to a query whether anyone of them have found it useful to report the matter with the
By Bruce Henderson
Sewage bubbles up in Larry Deckbar's backyard in Mint Hill when it rains. Deckbar says
This week's rain, after months of dry weather, was welcomed across most of
Long before the couple moved in, the county deemed their lot unsuitable for a conventional septic system. At the homebuilder's request, the county reclassified the lot as suitable for an "innovative" system – the one that failed.
The Deckbars say the county didn't follow its own rules in evaluating the lot. They're balking at a proposed repair, involving an even more rarely used septic system, that their consultant says would be illegal and wouldn't work.
After nearly two years of the bubbling brew, they appealed for help Tuesday night to the board of county commissioners. The couple say they've spent $10,000 on consultants and attorneys, and they fear their $466,000 house has lost value.
"Who wants to buy a house without a working septic system?" said Larry Deckbar, a computer-equipment salesman.
Commissioner Bill James, who represents the area, thinks the solution is to connect the Deckbars' neighborhood to a distant Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities sewer main, which carries an estimated cost of $202,000.
"I agree that it's an intolerable situation," James said. "The question is who is willing to write the check to fix it."
County officials say they made no error in permitting the septic system. They and homebuilder Hobart Smith Homes say they're committed to finding a solution.
In permitting decisions, county officials consider six factors, including topography, available space and soil characteristics, wetness and depth.
County warnings that systems installed on such sites aren't guaranteed to work – included on the approval for the Deckbars' lot – no longer appear on reclassifications.
In the past two years, county records show, only 13 percent of septic-tank permits were for conventional systems that use gravel-lined trenches.
New system designs often take up less space, allowing installation on lots that are small or have limited areas of suitable soil. Corbitt said most of the new systems work as well or better than conventional systems.
"It's not like it's the kiss of death if it's provisionally suitable," said Hobart Smith president H.C. Smith Jr. "(Deckbar) is taking it the wrong way."
Smith said his company is working with the Deckbars, county and state staff to find a solution. But the couple argue that no septic system should ever have been permitted on their lot.
A state soil scientist who evaluated their property wrote that "soils in this area are unsuitable for subsurface sewage treatment and disposal systems." He referred, Larry Deckbar said, to the location of the system in their backyard.
The couple's own soil scientist recommends that their home be connected to a sewer line or a septic system off their property. Larry Deckbar just wants a fully functioning home again. "Of all things," he said, "we loved the yard the most."
By Faisal Masudi and Mohammed Al Khan, Staff reporters
Authorities have fined several companies for apparently failing to take steps to stop a sewage leak in a labour camp in Sonapur.
"This is not flood water from the recent rains – it is raw sewage and it has been like this for months," said a Bangladeshi labourer.
"We feel like we are in prison - we can't go outside. We have to walk on edges and over stepping stones to cross the street," said a resident of Community 264.
A new model of septic tank, specifically designed for use in urban areas by Vietnamese inventors has been awarded a gold medal by the World Intellectual Property Organisation.
(Source: VNA)
A toddler brought to
By Mary Lou Kelsey
That was also the year of the even deadlier — and costlier— septic tank backup which occurred, of course, when everyone wants a septic tank backup — on Christmas Eve. Invited guests were still there at three in the old a.m. Then the sewer went down. Oddly, none of the guests were still there at 5 a.m. That's one way to get everyone to go home.
Our Christmas gatherings got neither smaller nor any more practical. We did learn to check the septic system every year to avoid future meltdowns. We had to move some decorations to make space for more folks. And guests began bringing new decorations, some of which were not strictly for the Christmas season. One year we awoke the morning after and were thrilled to see a pair of bright pink, plastic lawn flamingos, caught in a compromising position, on our front lawn. The neighbors were not quite as thrilled.
My mother adored Christmas decorations. I adore Christmas decorations. But I
do not get to adore them outside the house, which may have something to do with the fact that my husband hates to set them up outdoors. One year, I think that he purposely broke the lighted reindeer I had placed in front of the house so he would never have to put them out again. This year I am considering borrowing the reindeer from my neighbor across the street, although the odds are pretty good that I would get caught. It was just a thought. It's not a sin just to consider a thought, is it? President Jimmy Carter didn't think so when he talked about it in Playboy magazine.
One year we purchased a colorful sign that clearly read "Happy Holidays" when we saw it in the store. Much to our dismay, when we hung it on the front of the house and turned on the lights, it sure seemed to look like an ad for a house of ill repute.
There is one grand problem being the daughter of a woman
who loved Christmas decorations. She spent many happy hours making sure her house was property decorated, both inside and out. Each year she bought so many new ornaments that she ended up having to give away the older ones. They were good decorations and she found it hard to part with them. That dilemma was resolved by giving them to me. They were not my favorite decorations, but you don't deny your mother the joy of giving you her old Christmas ornaments. My mate was not quite as delighted by the prospect of the vast additional decorating to be done.
The problem was emphasized by the fact that he was also elected as a head packhorse to pick up and deliver these precious items to me. Thus came all of the Christmas decorations and ornaments to my house. How about next year we have an exchange?
Sewage water is potentially harmful for human health. The damage caused by sewage water is dependent on its contents. Sewage water can damage property as well as health of those residing in the house. Since sewage water contains many harmful contaminants and pollutants, it would be best to hire a professional sewage damage cleanup. Quick action against overflowing sewage water will help you contain the sewage damage. The longer you take to call sewage damage cleanup experts, the more damage you'll have to pay.
Sewage damage cleanup plays an important role in protecting the health of concerned people in case of sewage overflow. Water can carry a variety of microorganisms with it that can be very harmful to others. Sewage damage cleanup experts are aware of the best way to clean up sewage water along with restoring the house to a dry state and retrieve as much valuable property as possible. Sewage water often contains animal or human body waste, which makes it even more harmful. You should never attempt to proceed with this task without wearing proper protection gear.
Sewage damage cleanup experts can decontaminate a house. The decontamination process includes removal of sewage water, cleaning as well as disinfection. Sewage damage cleanup should be called as soon as possible and in case of major sewage flooding, the house should be completely evacuated for the initial stage of decontamination, disinfection and cleaning. You should move into your house only when the sewage has been removed and the house disinfected. After cleaning and disinfecting the house, open all doors and windows for proper ventilation.
You should keep in mind that sewage damage cleanup, must take place in two parts, the physical cleanup and then the chemical disinfection. You should never undertake a sewage cleanup on your own, you should leave it to experts since they have protective gear as well as proper knowledge required for the job to be well done. Slight backflow of sewage water can be cleaned up with the help of mop and disinfectants but for major sewage damage that might be caused by the breakage of septic tank or similar cause, you should call professionals to clean up.
Sewage water can adversely affect the air quality of your house. It generally carries a bad odor that can make breathing very difficult. A sewage damage cleanup should also include dehumidifying, disinfecting and sanitizing the house. There should be no foul odor in the house after a proper sewage damage cleanup.
Sewage water can lead to a variety of diseases like salmonella typhoid, bacillary dysentery, skin infection and Hepatitis A to name a few. It can also cause allergies and nausea. To prevent being affected by sewage water, it might be essential to throw away carpets, cushions mattresses and the like. Carpets can be salvaged in case of water damage but it is very difficult to salvage a carpet from sewage water damage. You should discontinue using any porous material that had been affected by sewage water as they might continue to contain harmful bacteria and virus.
County says no to challenge on No Name rulingBy Steve Estes
The march to electrification of No Name Key hit a snag last week as the State Department of Community Affairs found the land use regulation change that would have permitted electricity to the remote island off Big Pine not in compliance.
Apparently not sure that allowing electrification of the island was the best route at this time, the Monroe Board of County Commissioners Wednesday agreed not to appeal the DCA decision, and to set a public hearing for January 29 to rescind the land use regulation that made the electrification possible.
Residents of No Name Key approached the county commission several months ago, asking that their island be included in the central wastewater collection system being developed for the region.
No Name Key with about 46 homes, as well as about 500 other remote properties, weren't originally included in the county's master plan for sewer implementation in what is now called the Cudjoe Regional system, which stretches from Lower Sugarloaf Key to No Name.
As the dialogue progressed, the push began to use the development of sewers for the electrification of the island, which since its original habitation has been powered by solar arrays or generators.
Those residents won their battle in September when the then-seated commission voted 3-2 to introduce a comprehensive land use change that would finally permit public utilities on No Name, as well as a land development regulation implementing that new policy.
The general process for DCA approval is to change policy through a comprehensive plan amendment, and then implement that policy with a land use regulation.
The county is only permitted two windows each calendar year to transmit proposed comprehensive plan changes to DCA. It had used both windows for 2008, so the No Name issue had to wait until January for transmittal.
Unwilling to wait for that, the commission approved the land use regulation, and that's part of the reason DCA denied approval. DCA opined that the LDR wasn't in compliance with the comprehensive plan, a plan which hasn't yet been officially changed.
The existing policy says that Monroe County will discourage the extension of public utilities to islands that fall into the CBRS (Coastal Barrier Resource System) designation, to aid in discouraging more development on islands that are prone to environmental and physical damage from storms.
The proposed policy allowed the extension of central wastewater collection systems and the utilities necessary to achieve that.
The No Name Key Property Owner's Association, which reportedly represents about 30 of the homeowners on the island, Tuesday filed a legal challenge to the DCA ruling, according to Don Craig, land use consultant.
"We want the county to join with us in the challenge," said Craig. He said it would present a unified front to the DCA to implement what the commission approved in September.
"The residents will work with the county and DCA to provide wastewater in the cheapest and most efficient manner possible," said Craig.
The county commission didn't think it was the best idea to challenge DCA's ruling and voted 4-1 not to do so.
Commissioner Sylvia Murphy also suggested that the commission take steps to rescind the ordinance allowing utilities at this time. She also wants the commission to scrap the comprehensive land use policy change.
"I want FKAA (Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority) to evaluate as soon as possible wastewater service possibilities for No Name Key," she said.
That includes all types of approved central systems and on-site systems.
Mayor George Neugent, one of the original dissenting votes against forwarding the land use regulation to DCA, said the BOCC was right where he knew it would be.
"I was adamantly opposed to sending this to DCA (outside normal process) and in an attempt to speed things up, we have found ourselves again back at square one," he said. "And again we find ourselves meddling in the affairs of the Aqueduct Authority. We have charged them with developing the best plans for central wastewater systems."
"If the people on No Name Key want electricity and central collection systems, and are willing to pay for it, we need to address that," he said.
Neugent has long said that sewering No Name Key would be one of the most expensive undertakings per property the county has yet tackled. FKAA has estimated it will take about $57,000 per home to run a central collection system to the homes on the island. That doesn't include the $600,000 or so in costs to run electricity, nor does it include permitting costs.
Commissioner Mario DiGennaro, who spearheaded the push for the land use change, said he hadn't had enough time to do research on the DCA denial, and thus was voting to join the appeal. He stated that if the county was probably going to get dragged into the litigation anyway, they might as well join forces with the residents.
The move by the BOCC potentially puts No Name Key residents back at the starting line for central wastewater. Neugent and Murphy have said that the project is too expensive for the county to undertake.
And FKAA officials have said that they won't begin the planning process for central sewers on No Name Key until the electrification issue is resolved. The presence, or no presence, of electricity will play a large part in what type of systems FKAA recommends for the island to bring it up to the state's 2010 standards.
The September vote had ruled out low-pressure STEP (Septic Tank Effluent Pump) systems and on-site individual systems, which now appear to be back on the table. Both of those systems don't require primary power for operation, but instead can be powered by the home's existing systems.
Should the county rescind its September action in January, only those two types of systems would be available for use on No Name Key.
Property owners had asked for assurances then that the September vote meant they would be connected to a central system, and were told by County Attorney Suzanne Hutton that until the commission began building the system, it could change its collective mind.
The commission changed drastically in November, and apparently so did its collective mindset on the issue.
Wednesday's vote also doesn't rule out that No Name Key will receive a central collection system. It depends on the outcome of the FKAA report.
Septic upgrades help protect our waterways
Last week
Today, however, we'd like to shift focus slightly and talk about why these upgrades are so important to protect the environment. We'll also discuss simple steps any resident can take to protect their existing systems.
In recent years, water quality in both the
Wastewater mixes with the groundwater that flows into streams, rivers and eventually joins with, and that groundwater accounts for more than half of the water in both the
Homeowners who upgrade their systems to reduce the amount of nitrogen entering groundwater can play a significant role in decreasing these environmental pollutants.
Regardless of the type of septic system in use, each homeowner is responsible for maintaining his or her system. All homeowners should have their tanks inspected and pumped regularly to protect their systems.
Other steps to properly maintain and extend the life of a septic system include limiting drain use, purchasing water-saving showerheads, only running full loads of laundry and giving the septic system ample time to process the wastewater between wash loads.
Never discard solid items, such as sanitary supplies and cigarette butts, in the septic tank. Instead, deposit them in the garbage. Keep chemicals, paints, petroleum products, pesticides and medicines out of the tank, since these items kill needed bacteria in the system and can contaminate underground drinking water. Avoid planting trees or bushes within 20 feet of any septic system component or near drain fields, as the roots can breach the system; instead, plant grass.
Redirect downspouts or runoff away from the system or drain field as the water can stress the system. Lastly, don't place heavy objects or permanent structures over the drain field or within 20 feet of any component.
"Septic system failure is a condition whereby the wastewater being discharged is not fully attenuated (filtering the bacteria, viruses and chemicals in wastewater) before discharging into the state's groundwater," said Bob Mitchell, Worcester County Environmental Programs director.
State funds from the Bay Restoration Fund program are available to low-income residents using septic systems to replace or repair their systems.Those who do not meet the criteria for 100 percent funding to upgrade or replace their systems are still eligible for funding for the pretreatment unit. Residents may determine their level of eligibility at http://www.mde.state.md.us/Water/CBWRF/osds/li_criteria.asp.
Newsmakers: Septage plant still not fixed
By BRIAN McGILLIVARY
Editor's note: Ninth in a series of stories on the people, places and events that made news in northern
He only wishes he had written the year on it.
"Was it one, two, three years ago? Honestly, I don't remember," said Buday, head of the county's Department of Public Works that oversees operation of the troubled plant.
The $8 million facility opened in May 2005. A month later a tank collapsed and released 150,000 gallons of partially treated waste. An independent investigation found thousands of pieces of structural steel missing from three of the facility's four main buildings, as well as design deficiencies and shoddy workmanship that required over $2 million in repairs.
The plant shut down completely only for two weeks, but more than three years later it's still not fixed. The estimated completion date promised by the design-build team of Gourdie-Fraser Inc. and The Christman
The septage plant was constructed to end the practice of spreading septic tank waste on farm fields; this October, the county spread almost 400,000 gallons of treated septic tank sludge on local fields.
Buday said final equipment upgrades planned by Gourdie-Fraser, some tweaking of the process, and final state approval should get the county producing a pathogen-free, class A biosolid it can sell.
Getting the plant to run correctly, however, may be the least of the problems for taxpayers in Elmwood,
The facility will lose $3.4 million by 2014, according to an independent analysis recently crafted by accounting firm Plante & Moran and engineering firm URS.
Analysts called for wholesale changes in the way the plant is funded, including annual fees on septic tank owners and special tax assessments levied on property outside of sewer districts.
The basic problem, according to the report, is the plant doesn't receive nearly enough waste to operate efficiently. At the current 12 cents a gallon rate, the plant would need to take in 19 million gallons of septage annually to remain solvent.
The plant currently accepts about 4.5 million gallons of septage each year.
The analysis recommended several cost-cutting options, some of which the county is pursuing, said Wayne Kladder, Acme Township supervisor and chairman of the county Board of Public Works.
The county board, BPW and the townships will meet with the analysts on Jan. 14 to go over the report.
"What happens with that report is extremely important. It just can't sit there," Kladder said.
Buday said volume and revenues were both up this year and he's optimistic the report will help guide them out of the financial hole.
"Are we ending the year perfect? No, but I think the future looks brighter than it did two or three years ago," he said.
It all began slowly on Sunday Evening.
We noticed that the water in our toilet bowl was higher than normal and was taking some time to drop to normal levels. Then Dad came in and asked if we had noticed the issue as he had the same problem. We checked the other two toilets and we knew we "had a problem".
Next morning, Lana did a marathon ring around to find a plumber that could visit us and clean out the septic pipe. Lana called about four and talked to answering machines. Then one answered his own phone and Lana exclaimed, "Wow! A real person!"
"Now, don't get excited yet." was the reply. All the plumbers had long lists and couldn't get to us before Christmas. We had eleven people who couldn't hold on quite that long!
Eventually one lady answered the phone and said, "Hang on, I'll just get him." and Lana grabbed Dad in excitement saying, "He is there! We have hope!"
The plumber arrived mid afternoon and went to work with his "electric eel" which went down the pipe and found the blockage. The plastic spade (pictured) was the culprit. It had been dropped in by "someone" into the access hatch (also pictured), and wedged in the pipe. Our relocator strikes again! $280 later and it was all over.
"Now you're back in business." said the plumber as he left.
"In more ways than one." replied Lana.
But this was only part one!
Unbeknown to us, the release of the blockage caused a wave of muck to rush into the first septic tank. This then surged into the cleansing tank and blocked the exit pipe which is designed to pump out excess water - not muck.
The first we knew of this problem was on Wednesday after lunch when the warning light and alarm on the septic started.
"Opa," Eric informed Dad, ominously, "The warning light is on."
We opened the tank and started a new call around. We needed a pump out of all the muck from both septic tanks on the day before Christmas. And all the muck disposal venues were closed for Christmas. Lana eventually got to a local fellow and mentioned we have eleven people here. He explained that he couldn't get it done until after Christmas. Lana then played the "sympathy card", talking about the number of bottoms using the system. He sighed and said, "Everybody should have a toilet - and a telephone."
Lana paused in hope and he continued with a sigh, "Give me your address. Give me half an hour to go down the shop and buy my wife a card and a couple of bottles of red and I'll be out there."
He arrived and cleaned out the tanks, with Dad helping and working together with him. Meanwhile, Dad pulled out the pump and cleaned out the muck from there. Eventually all was OK and we were once more back in business. He as supposed to charge us $560, but he only charged us $500.
Having just finished building a new home, I understand the complexity of selecting the proper residential septic system and septic tanks. Balancing cost, building codes, longevity and suitability takes quite a bit of study and expertise.
One system that kept my attention was a complete, self-contained sewage waste water treatment systems from Microfast septic systems that had been designed for all sizes of family homes and vacation property. This residential septic system will biologically consume all organic contaminants in waste water and release
just clear, odorless, water to the environment.
This type seems to be the ideal septic systems for homes on landscaped property or near natural bodies of water such as mine, yet can also be used in the most fragile ecosystems. Environmental protection appeals to me, as it subsequently did to my county's building inspectors. Because the system is officially approved, it can replace the standard septic tank, reducing backfield requirements and allowing waste water re-usage.
In summary, septic systems can be environmentally friendly, yet effective and economical. FAST biological septic systems can replace conventional septic tanks and sewer lines. The environment benefits because FAST waste water treatment neutralizes septic sewage, consuming contaminants, releasing just air and clear, odorless water. This website details the components, operation, and proper maintenance of an in-ground septic tank and system.
Septic tanks are a necessity if you live in extreme rural areas that aren't supplied with city or county water. You may avoid paying a monthly water bill to the city, but you'll want to save that money toward any future issues with your septic tank. You'll also want to do a few preventative maintenance steps in order to keep your expenses as low as possible.
1. Anything put down your toilets or drains should be bio degradable. Anything that isn't could clog up the pipes and cause a breakage.
2. Only put authorized and safe chemicals down your drains. There are some very toxic chemicals that will either erode the pipes or tanks or cause a fumes problem in your home.
3. Putting too much water through your system can cause it to shut down, too. I know that seems weird, but our research indicates its a concern.
4. Be sure to check reviews on various septic tank treatment you see advertised because they can sometimes be more harmful than they're worth. Dispose of all chemicals properly.
5. If you are not an expert in septic tanks systems, or don't have enough prior experience, then please consult a plumber or other qualified individual before treating the problem yourself. You can often do more harm than good on your own.
6. Don't overload the system with too much food, either. If in doubt throw it in the trash and burn it before clogging your septic system.
7. Pay attention to your leach field so you know if a problem is developing.
8. Follow a regular septic tank maintenance schedule.
With these tips you can help keep your septic costs down and prevent a major disaster in the future.
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