HomeMy WebLinkAboutPiney River Ranch - 194512400006Report and Asbuilt for Pine River Ranch as of: Fall 2011
I.Results of Discovery work done Summer/Fall 2011
II.Absorption area #1
a.We dug up the Distribution Box (location-A on attached print) and found that:
i.There was only about 4’ of (twisted apart) pipe still attached to the D-Box (otherwise the D-box
was fine); camera view showed D-Box still attached to the 5-Infiltrator runs and no signs of
effluent at this end.
ii.We dug back towards the lift station per the original print from the D-Box, expecting all the while
to find the other end of the pipe and just make a short repair. So we installed the new (2”-PVC)
pipe as we went.
iii.Due to dry-sandy soil, the walls of the trench were quickly caving in, so we backfilled as we went.
iv.We eventually found out that this pipe between the lift station and D-Box had long since been
accidently torn out of the ground. It was not until we got all the way to the lift station end
(Location “B” on attached print) of the septic tank, that we found a short stub of pipe.
v.The pipe from the lift station (Location-B) had been ripped out of the ground (likely by accident,
when power lines were buried) and never re-installed.
vi.This Absorption area has seen virtually no use from main (9800 gallon) system.
vii.The new pipe lies more or less in the same location as the original on the print.
b.Other information about Absorption area #1
i.There is an inspection port at the end of the first run of infiltrators (Location-D).
ii.There is a second (1500 gallon, 2 compartment) septic tank (with lift station pumps in secondary
chamber) that discharges into the SE corner (Location-C) of this drain field. This septic tank
serves the “Bath-House”.
iii.For years I had assumed that this septic tank (not shown on blue prints) just discharged into the
other (9800 gallon) septic tank, so I was not concerned about the secondary chamber, being
used as the lift station chamber.
c.Opinion/Recommendations for Absorption Area #1
i.The absorption area needs to be:
1.Protected from all vehicle traffic (install posts or boulders every 4’ or so along West side
where traffic has access). NO driving on field!
2.The stored wood needs to be removed from the field (without driving on the field).
ii.My main concern is discharge from the “Bath-House” lift station into the field.
1.I don’t think that this septic effluent waste is optimally treated, before it is discharged
into the drain field. Because it is not able to utilize the secondary chamber for settling
and there is no “outlet filter ”.
2.We prefer that the pumps be located (and that they be pumping out of a third) separate
“lift station” chamber, instead of from the secondary the chamber of the septic tank.
3.I would recommend that a small 400 gallon lift station vessel be installed behind the
existing septic tank and the pumps moved over into this vessel.
4.At the same time, I would install an outlet filter on the outlet of the secondary chamber
at the same time.
iii.The only other thing that I can see that is missing is: Inspection ports or vent at end of each
infiltrator run (I would install them at the far South end of each run).
iv.Otherwise, this field is in near original condition and should perform well in future years.
III.Absorption Area #2
Report and Asbuilt for Pine River Ranch as of: Fall 2011
a.In the final analysis. We found out that:
i.This absorption area’s failure to accept effluent (as fast as it was generated) is what caused the
High-Water-Alarm to sound in the lift station and prompt this whole investigation, service and
repairs in the first place.
ii.This absorption area had been doing ALL of the work (of absorption) for the past 20 years or so.
b.We located this drain field:
i.It ’s on the other side of the road, just west of new parking area, up on the side of the hill.
ii.I walked over this field area several times during our work up here and there (so far) has been no
sign of effluent surfacing out here in this absorption area.
iii.There are no inspection ports or vent pipes in this absorption area, so we could not observe any
field distribution or saturation.
iv.I think that the only reason there is no sign of surfacing, is that the pump does not generate
enough head (pressure) to (both) push effluent up to the field plus then push it up thru the
dense soil cover to the surface.
v.We did NOT do any excavation at or near this absorption field (instead we concentrated our
resources on Area #1).
c.Holding and hauling waste water
i.Because Area #2 was not accepting any water, we brought in pump trucks and roll-off containers
to be able to accumulate and then haul off the waste water, while we were working on Area #1.
ii.Area #2 sat idle for a couple of weeks with no effluent pumped to it, while we were working on
Area #1.
iii.Once we got Area #1 up and working we set the lift station pumps to run as designed:
1.The original design is for each of the two pumps to pump to their respective drain field.
The control panel automatically alternates from one pump to the other with each
pump-cycle.
2.We left the system alternating between the two fields, when we were done.
d.Opinion about Absorption Area #2
i.I think that this drain field has very little ability to absorb effluent and needs to be evaluated to
see if it can be successfully remediated or if it needs to be replaced.
ii.I think that if we dug down and inspected any of the infiltrator chambers in this field we would
find that they are (or will show evidence) that they were completely saturated.
iii.A saturated drain field has little or no ability to “treat” the effluent properly.
iv.It is my opinion that the chambers are likely full of sludge. My reasoning is: For previous
owners, every time we pumped this septic tank in the past 18 years, we found quite a bit of
sludge in the lift station. This indicated to us that a whole lot of sludge was being pumped out
to the field. Our suggestion for more frequent pumping or installation of outlet filter system
was not heeded.
IV.Summary of System-wide improvement suggestions
Report and Asbuilt for Pine River Ranch as of: Fall 2011
a.Install water meter(s) to measure all of the (well or hauled in) water that is used inside ALL of the
buildings. Keep track of this on a (weekly or monthly) chart. This will help you determine if you are likely
to exceed the septic system design capacity. Don’t measure irrigation or other water used outside.
b.Install water saving fixtures (dual-low flush toilets) (waterless urinals) etc.
c.Install “outlet-filter ” system at the outlet of the secondary chamber of 9800 gallon septic tank.
i.This involves installing another 24” access in the top of the septic tank. Install a sealed collar for
base of new riser stack, plus new access cover. Then installing a new drop-leg and outlet filter
assembly on outlet pipe.
d.Install a separate lift station vessel next to “Bath-House” septic tank, move pumps into this chamber,
install an outlet filter in secondary chamber of septic tank at the same time.
e.Evaluate Absorption area #2 and take corrective action to get it back in service.
f.Install Inspection/vent pipes (4”) in each of the infiltrator runs.
g.Install a separate lift station vessel next to the existing 1000 gallon lift station vessel (that serves the
main kitchen). Move pumps from the old vessel to the new one. Then convert the old lift station vessel
to a 1000 gallon grease interceptor. This would increase the capture of high-strength waste FOG (fat,
grease and oil) before it even reaches the septic system. It is extremely important to keep FOG out of
the absorption field, as grease immediately causes problems with clogging.
See attached copy of original print.
Feel free to call me or email me with questions.
Thanks,
Douglas Michener,
Clearwater Cleanup Co.
Office 970-453-8875, Cell 970-390-1816
Doug@clearwatercleanup.com
