Onsite Wastewater Inspection Company

Transcription

1 1of 3 Onsite Wastewater Inspection Company A Performance Inspection Report To: Client Name Date Street File #159 City, Province Postal Code Re: Performance inspection of the Onsite Sewage Treatment System serving the home at 2579 Example Rd., Islandtown, B.C. Type of inspection carried out: At your request, I attended this property to carry out a performance inspection of the onsite sewage treatment system serving the home with the aim of determining it s condition, location, operation and suitability for your needs. This inspection meets or exceeds the industry standard as set out in the Standard Practice Guidelines for the Inspection of Onsite Wastewater Systems published by the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC). As a Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioner through ASTTBC, an Inspector is required to meet or exceed these requirements and undertake this work in the best interests of the client at all times. System Records: To assist with assessing the system s capabilities and performance requirements, a copy of the following records were provided to me: Permit to Construct Designed For Authorization to Operate As-Built Drawing(s) Operation & Maintenance Plan Permit Example Date: July 1992 Complete: Yes Partial: n/a 3 bedroom single family home Date: August 1992 Complete: Yes Yes No

2 2of 3 Maintenance Records Date n/a Sewage System Related Comments None available property owner did not keep records, verbal statement that septic tank was pumped 2 years ago Land Title n/a Document not provided Type of Sewage System Present: This property has a single onsite sewage system, which consists of a septic tank, a pump chamber, a distribution box and a gravity-fed dispersal field. Today this is referred to as a Type 1 system. The supplied Health Authority records show that the system was designed to serve a 3 bedroom singlefamily residence. This would be intended to serve up to 3-4 occupants on a daily basis. The home is served by a community water supply and no potable water wells are apparent or known to be in the area. Evaluation of the System Condition: Septic Tank - The first component of the sewage system is the septic tank, located under the lawn near the back door (see the attached sketch). The top of the tank is approximately 23cm below the lawn surface. The tank was measured and confirmed to have a capacity of 600 imperial gallons or 2,727 litres which matches the permit records. The large cleanout port lid is located over the inlet pipe. From this point, all wastewater flows from the home were observed to enter the tank in a normal manner, the inlet baffle was found to be in good condition and no other concerns were noted at this point. The outlet inspection port and outlet pipe of the tank were also examined and confirmed to be in good condition and functioning correctly. The tank walls above the fluid line were examined with a camera and were found to be free of cracks or other items of concern and the fluids in the tank are at the normal operating level. The tank is ready to be pumped out based on the amount of solids now contained within the tank. No scum residue was found on interior surfaces above the normal operating levels and no folds or fractures were found on the scum layer that would indicate fluctuations in the fluid level or a true backup of fluids inside the tank since it was last pumped out. Pump Chamber - The second component of the sewage system is the pump chamber, (see attached sketch). The purpose of the pump chamber is to collect the fluids from the septic tank and pump them up and over to the dispersal field. The chamber lid is visible on the surface of the lawn as a riser has been used to make access for monitoring and maintenance easier. A small amount of sludge material has collected on the bottom of the chamber, and this can be removed when the septic tank is being pumped out. The interior piping is in good condition, a pull rope for the pump and a quick disconnect on the pump line is within easy reach from the surface of the ground making for easier pump replacement. Two float switches are installed on this system. One float switch turns the pump on and off depending on the amount of fluid in the chamber, and the other float switch causes an alarm to sound if the pump does not turn on and the fluid level gets too high. Both floats and the pump were tested, and all components are functioning correctly. The alarm panel is the grey box mounted on the post beside the pump chamber. The alarm does sound when the float is activated and can be silenced using the toggle switch on the panel.

3 3of 3 Distribution Box - From the pump chamber wastewater flows into a distribution box (see attached sketch). The purpose of the distribution box is to redirect the wastewater evenly into each pipe of the dispersal field. With the lid removed, the concrete surfaces were noted to have minor pitting typical for its age but no cracks or deformities requiring repairs or replacement. Five 3in or 75mm diameter PVC plastic pipes lead out of the box to the dispersal field. Gravity Dispersal Field - Using a pipe camera the pipes within the dispersal field were examined and it was confirmed that there is no damage to the pipes, no evidence that wastewater has backed up within the field, no clogging, and wastewater is not ponding in any particular area. The grass coverage is mostly uniform with no significant dips or depressions noted. A gentle slope across the lawn to the southeast encourages surface water to travel away from the field and no groundwater intrusion was found within the pipes during a check with a pipe camera. No wet or suspicious areas were found on or below the dispersal field and during the flow test, all wastewater flows from the home were confirmed to arrive at the septic tank, pump chamber and distribution box in a normal manner. Summary of System Performance: Today s inspection found all components to be in good working condition, and wastewater flows traveled through the system in a normal manner. Based on these observations, this system is operating in a normal manner as intended by it s design. Please see the photographs taken during the inspection in Section 2 of this report for further reference. Next Steps Some recommendations for simple improvements are listed in Section 5 that follows this report but they are options only and not essential to this system. Adding a riser over the septic tank cleanout access port, for example, would allow you to monitor conditions and more easily access the tank for cleaning. A preliminary list of people who can do this work is included in Section 6 of this report. For your intended use, the number of occupants would still be within the design of the system but upgrading to some water-saving appliances would further reduce the demands on the system and extend its operating life. There is no indication that a replacement in the near future is necessary but anything that can reduce the workload on the system and delay a replacement until the city sewer line is extended through this area is worth considering. A recommended maintenance schedule is included in Section 3, and further information on use and care of the system can be found within Section 4. Should you have any other questions, please contact our office at any time. Inspector Name Title Business Contact Info

4

5 Overview of Septic Tank Location Septic Tank Inlet/Cleanout Access (Left) and Outlet Inspection Port (Right)

6 Septic Tank Cleanout Access over Inlet Pipe and Baffle Septic Tank Outlet Inspection Port

7 Pump Chamber Upper Interior View (Disconnect & Electrical) Pump Chamber Lower Interior View (Pump & Floats)

8 Distribution Box Interior View - Outlet Pipes to Dispersal Field Distribution Box Interior View - Inlet Pipe from Pump Chamber

9 Distribution Box Interior After Green Dye Arrives from Pump Chamber Typical Interior View of Dispersal Pipes in Field

10 1of 2 Recommended Maintenance Schedule To: Client Name Date: File #:**** Re: 2579 Example Rd., Islandtown, B.C. Owner Responsibilities: The owner of an onsite sewage system has a few simple responsibilities under provincial law, one of which is to ensure that their system does not create a hazard to human health and the environment. This task can be accomplished through regular monitoring and maintenance. We have provided you with a simple monitoring and maintenance schedule as a part of our inspection because you do not have a preexisting version, nor is one specified within the permit for your onsite system. Because your system was installed before May 31, 2005, the maintenance work does not have to be done by a Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioner - Maintenance Provider (ROWP MP). We do recommend that if you choose to do the work yourself, you seek the advice and guidance of a ROWP MP for your own safety and to ensure that the work is completed correctly, as routine maintenance work poses certain biological, electrical and physical hazards. The following items will need monitoring and maintenance. Septic Tank: Have the septic tank examined and pumped out every (number) of years. The next pumping out of the tank should be completed by (year). Tanks should only be cleaned out using the large clean-out accesses, not the small inspection ports, due to the limited means to maneuver the vacuum hose effectively inside the tank and the likelihood of damage to baffles. The fluid level should not be above or below the bottom of the outlet pipe, all baffles should be in place and lids to the tank should be secure. When having the tank cleaned out, ALL material should be removed. The interior does not need to be power washed, sanitized, or similar degree of cleaning nor does it need to have any activators or additives used to re-start the tank. Pump Chamber: The components inside or associated to this chamber should be monitored and/or maintained every (months or years). Items that should be tested or examined include the pump for sound and vibration behaviour, function of the floats including the high-level alarm and it s panel, baffle, chamber structure and that the access lid is secure. Vacuum out the bottom of the chamber at the same time the septic tank is being cleaned if solids or sludge is noted to be accumulating. If the amount appears excessive, determine the cause of this condition and consider the value of having an effluent filter installed on the outlet baffle of the septic tank.

11 2of 2 Distribution Box: The components inside or associated to this box should be monitored and/or maintained every (months or years). Monitor the fluid level in relation to the outlet pipes, the evenness of flows out of the box, confirm the box body is structurally sound and the access lid is secure. It is recommended that you examine the interior of the box at least once annually in the wettest part of the year. Installing a riser to bring the access lid to the surface will make monitoring easier. Vacuum out the box if solids are accumulating inside, and determine the reason for solids to be escaping from the septic tank. Also look for indications of liquid flowing back into the box from any outlet pipe. Gravity Dispersal Field: Regular cutting of the lawn cover is needed to ensure tall weeds, brush and trees do not get established on the field. Be careful not to damage or bury access lids to components as they are needed to carry out regular monitoring and maintenance of the system. In-ground irrigation should not be installed within the field as the installation process could damage pipes and related components, and over-watering can impact the performance of the treatment process within the soils. Planting of trees, fences posts, tilled gardens, or constructing sheds, driveways, retaining walls, hot tubs, swimming pools and similar structures, or drainage ditches, swales or pipe collection or discharges should NOT be done without prior consultation. Should you have any other questions, please contact our office at any time. Inspector Name Title

12 Onsite Sewage System Use & Care Manual For the sewage system serving the residence at 2579 Example Rd., Islandtown, BC

13 Table of Contents Owner s Responsibilities - Overview - Record keeping - System owner safety - Monitoring and maintenance Functional Overview of The System - The septic tank - The pump chamber - The distribution box - The dispersal field Do s & Don ts Emergency Actions - Flooding - Power outage - Sewage backup - Alarm - Emergency contacts 2579 Example Rd., Islandtown, BC Wastewater Treatment System Use & Care 2

14 Owner s Responsibilities: Overview: The majority of BC homes outside of major urban areas use onsite systems (commonly called septic systems) to treat and disperse their wastewater. These systems can be efficient, cost effective and can protect health and the environment. However, they must be properly planned, installed and, maintained. Provincial regulation requires a property owner maintained their sewage system to prevent the creation of a hazard and keep records to prove maintenance is being done. The best way to meet your responsibilities is to either hire a Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioner Maintenance Provider to monitor and maintain your system, or to educate yourself to do the work appropriately and safely. Record keeping: Please retain all records associated to this system including the permit forms, all documents produced as a result of this inspection, and all monitoring and maintenance done in the future. System Owner Safety Do s: - Know the location of all access lids and don t bury them or build structures over top, including sheds, sidewalks or driveways. - If lids are damaged or not secure, immediately call a ROWP Maintenance Provider to replace them. - Prevent children and pets from tampering with system access lids and other components. - Follow all safety precautions included within this Use and Care Manual. - Read this manual and become familiar with your system. Don ts: - Do not attempt to carry out any system maintenance or modifications yourself without taking appropriate safety precautions. If you are unsure as to how to monitor and maintain this system, please contact a ROWP Maintenance Provider for assistance. - Do not touch any of the electrical components (other than the alarm silence switch) unless directed to by a ROWP. - Never climb into, or even put your head into, any portion of the system. Toxic gasses, which are colourless and often odourless, can cause dizziness, shortness of breath, fainting, respiratory damage and even death. There are also other dangers which only experienced practitioners are trained to handle Example Rd., Islandtown, BC Wastewater Treatment System Use & Care 3

15 Monitoring and Maintenance: The Sewerage System Regulation requires that owners ensure their systems are maintained regardless of when they were installed. See the included maintenance schedule. Functional Overview of the System: An overview of the operation of the system is included here. Please don t hesitate to contact (the Private Inspector) if you have questions. The septic tank: Wastewater from the plumbing system of your house flows into a concrete septic tank. Heavier solids settle to the bottom. Lighter materials including fats, oils, and grease, form a layer at the surface. Monitoring the buildup of these layers is an important part of maintenance. Solids must be pumped out before increased levels cause solids or sludge to carryover to the following components of the system as they are not intended to treat or disperse solids. Another side effect of not pumping out the tank is that the increased solid layers reduce the liquid capacity and retention time in the tank severely reducing the treatment abilities of the septic tank. Measuring these layers during maintenance ensures you only pay for tank cleaning services when required. The pump chamber: The second tank is a pump chamber with a! hp effluent pump controlled by a float switch. As the level of liquid rises, the on/off float activates the pump to send the wastewater to the dispersal field. The pump cycle lasts for approximately one minute, after which the float switch drops and turns off the pump until the level rises again. The pump chamber is also equipped with a float that activates a high level alarm to indicate malfunction of the pump or other problem, causing the liquid level within the pump chamber to rise excessively. The audible alarm panel is located on a post beside the pump chamber. If the alarm is activated, be aware that the pump chamber only has a limited capacity, so stop flows to the system to avoid sewage backing up into the house, and call our office immediately if you do not have a Maintenance Provider under contract. The alarm can be silenced by a switch on the alarm panel box. Note that in the event of a power failure, neither the effluent pump or the high level alarm will operate, but the community water system will continue to supply water to your house and any water you use will continue to flow to the wastewater system. Sewage will back up into the house if you exceed the reserve capacity in the pump chamber. Also note that when power service returns, the high level alarm may sound until the effluent pump lowers the liquid level in the pump chamber. This may take a few minutes. The distribution box: The pump sends the liquid to a small concrete box in the dispersal field (see drawing for further reference). This box evenly directs the flows into the pipes of the dispersal field, and will need to 2579 Example Rd., Islandtown, BC Wastewater Treatment System Use & Care 4

16 be examined for structural integrity, solids accumulation, and evenness of flow distribution as part of routine monitoring and maintenance. The dispersal field: Onsite sewage systems are intended to evenly distribute wastewater to the soil where biological activity and the filtering effects of soil provide treatment. Adequate depth of dry, permeable soil is required to ensure proper treatment. For this system, wastewater is distributed throughout the dispersal field by a shallow system of plastic pipes. There are (number) of perforated plastic pipes in trenches filled with drain rock. Effluent flows through the pipes and drains out through to evenly distribute the effluent through the dispersal field. Routine monitoring will determine if flows are evenly being distributed through the field. If irregular flow patterns are found, adjustment to flows may be required using plastic adjustment discs installed inside the box. If solids or sludge is found entering the box and pipes, cleaning out this material may also be required using vacuum, jetting or similar methods used by Maintenance Providers. Root infiltration and other problems can also affect flow behaviour over time requiring cleaning or other action recommended by the Maintenance Provider specific to the cause. Note that greener grass strips on the top surface of the dispersal area are normal. This is caused by increased water and nutrients dispersed to the soil from the distribution pipes, but unusually green and active growth in other areas or if the growth is very uneven, could indicate several other issues. Unusual grass growth at the edges, or over the trench from pump chamber to the dispersal field, or in the vicinity of the tanks - could indicate a leak or other problem. Wet or spongy grass anywhere in the system generally indicates a problem. Leaks or any sign of effluent could pose a health risk and you should immediately contact our office if you do not have a Maintenance Provider under contract. Do s and Don ts The long lifespan of the system, prevention of health hazards, and minimization of impact on the environment depend on your proper use and maintenance of the system. Generally, proper use of the system involves: 1. promoting bacteria growth by avoiding products and chemicals that will reduce or eliminate bacteria growth 2. minimizing non biodegradable material 3. minimizing fats, oils, and grease 4. not overloading the system beyond its capacity to treat the sewage. 5. Ensuring that maintenance is carried out every (number) years Example Rd., Islandtown, BC Wastewater Treatment System Use & Care 5

17 Here s a list of tips to ensure proper treatment and the long life of your system: Avoid, reduce, and control the use of disinfectants, bleach, and anything that kills bacteria. Limited quantities of these products are generally OK, but avoid excessive use. Use mechanical tools to clear clogged drains rather than chemical products. Do not put into the system: lubricating oils, greases, other petroleum products, antifreeze or other automotive fluids, chemical wastes, toxins, paints, solvents, thinners, caustic cleaners, pesticides, herbicides Avoid, reduce, and control the quantities of fats, oils, and grease from food preparation that enter the septic system. They are difficult to break down in the septic tank, and can drastically shorten the life of the system by clogging the pipes and soil in the dispersal system. Limited quantities are OK, but it is important to use strategies to reduce - like collecting fat from fried foods, oil from deep frying, etc., in coffee cans or similar and disposing in garbage. Avoid putting non-biodegradable material into the system, or other materials that decompose slowly. Quicker buildup of solids in the tank will increase the required frequency of pumping out the system. Objects like the following should not be put into the system: bandages, strings, rags, cotton balls, coffee grounds, paper towels, condoms, diapers, cigarette butts, plastics, metals, kitty litter, and other materials that do not decompose easily. Hair can cause thickening and matting of the scum in the tank by entangling other solids, and can cause clogging. Laundry lint poses a similar problem. Some hair and lint is unavoidable, but minimizing the amount of hair and lint entering the system is advisable. Dispose of hair and laundry dryer lint in the garbage to the degree that is practical. In-sink garbage disposal units increase the organic matter entering the system and should not be used unless the system is designed and sized to accommodate the increased organic loading. Composting or disposal of waste food in the garbage is preferable to disposal in the sewage system. Be aware of the volume of wastewater going into the system. Try to even out the flows when feasible. Doing the entire week s laundry for a large household all in one day, for example, can overload the system, negatively affecting it s treatment ability for that day and some time to come. If other uses are also high, the level of treatment can be greatly reduced. Failure of the distribution system to safely disperse effluent can also result. Septic tank additives can do more harm than good. The experts consistently advise AGAINST their use. Enzymes work by breaking up the solids in a septic tank. These solids then become suspended in the wastewater and then build up in the soil. Soil clogging and drastically reduced life of the soil dispersal system will result. Septic tanks are intended to promote settling and retention of solids to avoid soil clogging enzyme additives work against this. Bacterial additives contain insufficient quantities of the correct bacteria to affect the operation of a system. Keep traffic and heavy loads off the distribution area, and the tanks Example Rd., Islandtown, BC Wastewater Treatment System Use & Care 6

18 Don t build any structures over any part of the system. Don t allow heavy farm animals on the system they compact soil and can damage components. Keep surface flows of water away from dispersal field and tanks. Remember that maintenance, troubleshooting, and repairs require quick and easy access to component lids. Keep these readily accessible. Grow vegetation with shallow root systems (grass is good large trees and vines cause problems). Do not overload the system: Your system is designed for normal residential use of your (number) bedroom home. Prolonged flows in excess of this capacity, or events that significantly exceed the design flow will overload the system. This can cause premature malfunction of the system, breakout of sewage to the surface, can create hazards to health and harm the environment. Health regulation violations and liability can result - with the responsibility on the property owner. Although you are not expected to accurately determine and monitor these flows, as the owner, you are advised to use a common sense approach to avoid overloading the system. If you make changes to the house or other buildings that will increase the sewage flows, the design must be reviewed and the system improved and/or enlarged to accommodate the changes. Examples include: additional bedrooms or washrooms, starting a B&B operation, or other home based business with increases to the number of people using the system or to the size of the building. Introducing high strength sewage, industrial or commercial sewage, or generally causing materials and chemicals harmful to bacteria to enter the system can severely reduce the treatment ability of the system, with potential impacts to health and the environment, and malfunction or reduced life of the system. Examples include: adding water softener systems, adding in-sink garbage disposal units, commercial or industrial uses with discharge to the septic system, some hobbies like photographic darkrooms, wine and beer making, etc anything that will alter the sewage flow anticipated by the original design. Emergency Actions The following is a list of problems with advice on how to deal with them. Yard floods can damage components and push organic matter from the septic tank into the dispersal area or cause sewage to backup into the home. If there is a risk of flooding, go to the electrical panel and turn off the circuit breaker that provides power to the pump. Do not turn the power back on until the risk of flooding is over. If flooding does occur, contact our office immediately. The Maintenance Provider may require an electrician be brought in to verify all electrical components are safe and pose no risk of electrocution Example Rd., Islandtown, BC Wastewater Treatment System Use & Care 7

19 Power outage lasting more than a half-day: This onsite system has components that require electricity to operate. Since a municipal water supply serves the property, if occupants continue to use toilets, baths or otherwise generate a wastewater, the onsite system will not readily handle it. Newer onsite systems have a reserve capacity to allow limited use in the home that can range from! to a full day, but older systems may be much less. Since the system s key components will not be operating, this can result in damage to components, back-up into the home, or flooding of the dispersal area when power is restored. Turn the power off to the pump by tripping the circuit breaker on the house electrical panel and do not turn it on until power has been restored and no dimming or surges are evident. Power fluctuations can damage electrical components in the system. Limit the use of water to essential needs only. The high-level alarm may sound once the power is restored and the pump is activated, but the alarm should turn off after several minutes. Contact our office immediately for advice on how to prevent or limit damage, or if the high-level alarm does not silence after several minutes. Sewage backup: Sewage can be a health hazard. If sewage backs up into your home: Stop using water immediately. Prevent wastewater from spreading further into the home by using towels to create a dam. Keep children and pets away from sewage and use rubber gloves and rubber boots when in the area. Contact your insurance company immediately to determine if they want a restoration company to perform the cleanup. If you perform the cleanup, use bleach to disinfect the area. Contact our office or your Maintenance Provider immediately. The Maintenance Provider will advise you on matters such as cleaning the components. Alarm panel sounds: Press the alarm silence button on the panel Contact our office or your maintenance provider immediately. Provide details so the Maintenance Provider can diagnose what the likely problem is and can bring the appropriate equipment or replacement parts. Follow the Maintenance Provider s instructions Example Rd., Islandtown, BC Wastewater Treatment System Use & Care 8

20 Emergency Contact: Contact our office or your Maintenance Provider for any other concerns including leaks, effluent observed on the ground or in ditches etc., or regarding anything you see that could cause a health hazard. Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Your name Company name Contact information Emergency after hours contact information Tank cleaning services will be able to remove wastewater during an emergency. You can check the yellow pages for names. Otherwise, here are several to choose from in an emergency: Your City Septic Tank Service: Vacuums R Us: ACME Sewage Disposal: Example Rd., Islandtown, BC Wastewater Treatment System Use & Care 9