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ANA's Sewage System Services
Mr. Tomislav Novosel is a certified Sewage Enforcement Officer with the State of Pennsylvania. As an SEO,
Mr. Novosel's services will provide you with all applicable sewage system investigation, analysis and design.
Before you purchase a property, please contact us for your Soil Investigation Analysis !
Before you give-up on your property, please contact us for Other Alternatives !
Contact us for all of your Sewage System Designs !
Background
Thousands of communities within the State of Pennsylvania currently use an Individual Onlot Sewage System. The number of sewage
systems in each community ranges from one to over 1,500. Household sewage systems are relied upon to properly treat and dispose
of wastewater in areas that are not accessible to a public sanitary sewer. Many of these existing systems have been in use for
decades and may not be capable of properly treating sewage prior to discharging an effluent to the environment.
How great thou problem of inadequate sewage treatment? You may read it here
SWIMMING IN SEWAGE
REF: NRDC/EIP Report: Swimming in Sewage: Frequently Asked Questions
Contact: NRDC: Nancy Stoner, 202-289-2394
Environmental Integrity Project: Michele Merkel, 202-263-4452"
It is our responsibility to correct existing, implement new and educate our neighbors to protect our environment and future
generations. Most of the responsibilities are burdened on your local Sewage Enforcement Officer, SEO. The SEO permits the
installation of new sewage systems, inspects existing systems and conducts lot reviews of undeveloped property - all under
the Pennsylvania Code, Title 25, Environmental Protection, Ch. 71 - 73 code.
Pennsylvania Code, Title 25, Environmental Protection, Ch. 71 - 73
This current law provides a comprehensive sewage planning mechanism to identify and resolve existing sewage disposal problems,
to avoid potential sewage problems resulting from new land development and to provide for the future sewage disposal needs of
a municipality. Specifically, it establishes the requirements:
- for revising sewage facilities plans,
- for evaluating alternatives for sewage facilities,
- for establishing sewage management programs,
- for the review fees of new land development sewage facilities planning modules,
- for permitting the installation of individual and community onlot sewage systems,
- to provide reliable sewage disposal facilities that will protect the public health and prevent pollution,
- for administration of permitting functions by local agencies and sewage enforcement officers,
- for certification of Sewage Enforcement Officers,
- to sewage enforcement officers administering the act, as well as to persons installing individual onlot sewage systems
The bottom line: "A person planning or designing a facility or intending to utilize individual or community sewage systems
is advised of the importance of good water conservation practices and the potential value of water conservation, recycle
or reuse systems as a means of prolonging the life of the sewage system, as well as ensuring the availability of adequate
water supplies in the future."
Sewage System Design - essential part of Land Development
Before investing in a property for a home or business, the purchaser needs to be sure that the site can qualify for an onlot
sewage system. When evaluating a site for an onlot sewage system, the SEO will consider three factors:.
- Slope of the sewage absorption area
- Isolation Distances from potential contamination
- Soil Suitabilty for absorption, dispersion and renovation of sewage effluent
- Sewage Flows of dwelling type and size
- Percolation rates that sewage effluent moves through the soil
There are other numerous factors that contribute to a sewage system design, system components, distribution methods,
construction types, etc.; but for the most part, they can be described as follows:
FILTER BED SYSTEMS
Household sewage systems utilizing a subsurface filter bed have been installed for decades.
For many
years, these systems utilized gravel as the media through which the sewage would be filtered.
Unfortunately, these older
systems did not function well and did not have the ability to properly filter sewage prior to discharging an effluent to
the environment. Modern filter bed systems now utilize state-approved filter sand as the filtration media. The sand has
a filtration capability which is far superior to that of gravel.
Likewise, most modern filter bed systems installed in the last twenty years utilize two individual beds separated by an
earthen barrier. These systems use a "splitter box", also known as a flow diversion box.
This box contains a diversion
device which directs the flow of wastewater to one side of the filter bed or the other.
This allows one part of the bed
to rest, while the other is in use. This may help extend the life expectancy of your filter bed system.
The flow diverter
should be switched to alternate flow once a year. If you do not know where your flow diversion box is located, contact
your sewage system pumper, installer, or the SEO.
AEROBIC SYSTEMS
If you utilize an aerobic system, special care and maintenance is necessary.
The motor that provides aeration to the
system must operate continuously. If it does not, the oxygen level required by the microorganisms which thrive in the
aeration unit will not be sufficient and they will begin to die. These "sewage bugs" help to break down the organic
matter in the wastewater and biologically convert it to stable substances in the form of liquids and gases.
The aeration
and mixing of the wastewater insures that it comes in contact with the microorganisms so thorough treatment can occur.
Loss
of suitable aeration will result in little or no sewage treatment taking place within the aeration unit.
Several aerobic system designs also incorporate the use of filters to provide necessary treatment.
They need to be checked and cleaned
regularly. Aerobic systems also have mechanical components that will need to be checked and serviced regularly.
Since
some of the additional care and maintenance required with these systems is beyond the expertise of the average homeowner,
various companies have been certified by the original manufacturers to offer extended service contracts.
These normally
cover motors and other components which require maintenance.
LEACHING TILE FIELDS
The typical household sewage system installed throughout the country for decades has utilized a septic tank and a leaching
tile field. By design, the sewage flows from the tank to the leaching area where it drains from clay tile or perforated
pipes laid in gravel trenches. The wastewater then enters the soil where it must be properly filtered, distributed, and
absorbed so that it does not pose a contamination threat to groundwater.
Leaching systems can function well in areas with well drained soils.
Unfortunately, much of Western Pennsylvania consists of
poorly drained shale soils. These soils were often compacted after coal extraction and have very little absorption
/ renovation capacity. The soil rock with open joints consists of
insufficient soil to fill the voids between the fragments - promotes
mottling and no renovation. Likewise, poorly drained soils are typically
saturated with water during wet weather and stay wet for long periods of time after a heavy rain.
Since much of the space
between the soil particles is already filled with water, the effluent leaving the sewage system is forced to rise and collect
on the surface of the ground causing foul-smelling and swampy conditions.
Leaching fields installed in these soils can only
function properly during periods of dry weather. Some local areas are also effected by very shallow bedrock.
The thin layer
of soil which covers the bedrock is insufficient in depth to support a leaching system.
E-T (evapo-transpiration) FIELDS
Leaching systems may need to be installed at a shallower depth due to shallow bedrock or elevated groundwater conditions.
These systems are designed with wider trenches which utilize evaporation to the air and transpiration to grasses and
plants to help dispose of the wastewater. These systems are often called E-T (evapo-transpiration) systems.
Just like
conventional leaching systems, they incorporate a distribution system of perforated pipes which disperse wastewater
throughout a series of gravel trenches. A series of distribution boxes assist in evenly spreading the flow throughout
all of the trenches in the system. These boxes have access lids to grade so that the proper distribution of wastewater
can be regularly checked.
MOUND SYSTEMS
Another relatively modern sewage system which is currently being installed is a mound system.
This design utilizes a soil
absorption system constructed above grade. Sand fill is used to enhance treatment of the wastewater prior to entering the
natural soil at the site. Sites that may be unsuitable for a conventional leaching system may be suitable for a mound
system.
The mound system was originally developed in the early 1970's in the State of Wisconsin.
The system has been widely
accepted across the United States, especially in areas with slowly permeable soils, shallow bedrock, or high seasonal
water tables.
DRIP DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
Drip Distribution Systems are installed very shallow in the soil, at the surface of the ground or on top of a bed of sand,
depending on the specific limiting conditions on the property. The systems are pressurized to ensure the even distribution
of wastewater into the soil. They utilize small diameter tubing with pressure compensating emitters to apply wastewater
uniformly over an infiltration surface. Drip distribution works on the principle of timed micro-dosing to maintain
aerobic conditions in the soil.
Timed micro-dosing applies effluent to the soil at uniform intervals throughout a 24-hour period, which allows for improved
wastewater treatment. This pattern of application requires sufficient system storage to allow for occasional peak flows when
water usage is heavy in the home. When properly sited, designed, installed and operated, drip systems can help overcome the
typical problems associated with uneven wastewater distribution which often result in the surfacing of wastewater in the
area over the distribution field, sewage odors and other nuisance conditions.
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