Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Mar 23, 2000 04:17pm | #1

   *
   Hi-
   I haven't used the system yet but I received Goeflow's workbook and have consulted two septic engineers and the local health dept. engineer regarding the use of rootproof drip to dispose of treated effluent. There was unanimity: everybody likes the idea and has had positive feedback from colleagues who have used it. One concern- freezing, has not been found to be a problem, in zone 5 anyway. Seemingly, much would depend on the quality of the installation ie. setting proper pitch and allowing for back-drainage of the laterals. The fact that they (the laterals) can be installed with a plough rig in prepared soil is appealing, although in practice this might be difficult. One thing you may have aready realized is that Geoflow tubing can be used downstream of any of several secondary treatment options. If done properly, effluent safe enough to use for surface irrigation can be the result. We're looking into a 3 tank setup. Tank one handles the floaters, tank 2 treats the rest to a healthy dose of aerobics. Tank three is the dosing tank that houses the dosing pump. From there the water is ozonated or chlorinated and filtered before entering the drip tubing. The specified safety factor of 10 or 12 based on the soil's ability to absorb at saturation, leaves the system under-loaded most of the time and should allow the system to function at or near soil saturation. Since the effluent is not a health hazard, occasional puddling should it occur, would not be a problem. The excavation required for the 3 tanks can be a trench less than 6 ft. deep as long as required. Everything from there down is shallow. The disposal field is overplanted with lawn etc. that may require supplementary water during droughts. Heavy equipment must be kept off field once installed. One thing to realize, this is not a bury it and forget it setup like many septics where the cleanout lid location is not even marked. This is a sewage treatment plant and complex drip irrigation system in one having the maintenance requirements native to both, ie. solenoid valves, timers, filters, pumps, pressure reducers etc. What this means, is that in the real world, installing one of these systems will do at least two things: one, as sure as the morning flush, your lawn will get watered; two, you'll get to have an ongoing relationship with the byproducts of this and every Sunday night's special meal, until you move. Or, as a commercial installer, it guarantees a maintenance contract.