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Septic's in the road
We were hired by a local town to complete a septic repair for the fire station in which the current system is in failure. The parcel that the fire station sits on barely encompasses the building and is almost completely surrounded by a public way so when they installed the current system back in the 70’s they actually put the system under the way.
I would assume that since the town owns the fee in both the fire station, and the way, there would be no problem relocating the system to another spot under the way. Mass Title 5 says all new systems must either be on your property or in an easement. Doesnt mention placing systems in public ways, not suprisingly. Every option we have on placing the new leaching field, is in the way.
Opinions? Thanks in advance.
-V
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10 Replies
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Put it in the way, scarify the surface so the drain field can evaporate if it gets saturated and all will know it’s in the way. To stop people from driving over the drain field, put conc. barriers in the way. Call it traffic control plan “B”.
jud -
I don’t see a problem with it, as long as there is room. What other choice do you have? Maximum feasible compliance….
You will need a DEP variance for crossing the streetline per 310 CMR 15.211[5].
I have one just submitted for crossing the sidelines of a private road to get to property under the same ownership on the other side.Jeff
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In NH, we would call someone down in NH DES and ask them before we wasted time designing the system.
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Bad idea. A septic field not only filters water into the ground, but also through evaporation into the air. Being under a hard surface is part of the reason for the failure you are trying to fix. Do they allow holding tanks? They could go under.
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I can guarantee they wont allow holding tanks. We can possibly use a presby and vent to the surface. I was more concerned with the legality of having the septic in the public way.
I guess if there’s one already there, what’s another?
-V
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they just require vents for the septic leaching under impervious surface or more than 3′ of soil. i have a pair of vents in my yard for my system that is 4′ down. a system that lasted for 30-40 years is doing pretty well, they can’t last forever no matter how well vented, pumped, cleaned or maintained.
i cannot recall the names, but there are two methods of super-oxygenating the current effluent in an attempt to break down the biomat and revive a failed field. one is a pump they pop in the tank and the other is a dry chemical that just increases that o2 level. this is a band aid at best and the system will fail again, but it can buy some time.
i’ve seen a septic under a common driveway, a road is just a step up from that. there aren’t other utilities to contend with? I have to assume town water, if you have it. variances for setbacks (assuming you cannot meet the 10′ from the sidelines) and the variance for the connection across the street mentioned above and away you go. i’d review it with the local agent before i went up to DEP.
if future failure is a concern add an I/A component to allow for the reduction in the leach field, install the reserve area and cap the distribution lines in the d-box. or add a second d-box with a line sitting next to the septic tank ready to connect upon failure of the primary. again, the local agent will guide you, then DEP can send you in a different direction. (be sure to research that I/A, I just ticked off the HOOT folks by reading their approval letters and informing the local agent that the design we prepared was correct – the tankage in the standard design does not meet the code or their approval and a second tank is required, i guess i’m a real jerk)
what are your soils? you getting sewer anytime soon? any other town land nearby?
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Presby
Yes, the Enviroseptic System (Presby) can be installed under parking lots and other impervious surfaces as long as it is vented and has adequate cover.
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Treat it like the gov’t would if it was a private business/home structure instead of a public fire station. Tear it down and/or move it to a complying lot. 😛
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Too early to say. We havent scheduled the testing as of yet. I was just compiling some plans and quickly realized that the existing system is in the road, and so will the new one be.
My guess is we will design chambers with covers to grade. Anyway, we’ll see.
G’nite all.
-V
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Brian, ain’t that the truth!
> Treat it like the gov’t would if it was a private business/home structure instead of a public fire station. Tear it down and/or move it to a complying lot. 😛
It’s always funny working on a project for a municipality. They usually think they should be allowed to shortcut the rules (like wetlands crossings for example).
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