How to Build a Septic Tank
A septic tank contains the human waste in individual houses. Building one requires permission and constant supervision from the local health department. You need to contact them to find out the particular requirements for your area.
Site evaluation
A septic tank is a transfer point for waste coming from your house. The tank distributes waste to a drainage field so that it can decompose properly. Consider carefully where you will place the septic tank system with regard to the house. The building codes in your area may have rules as to where it can be placed. You need to submit a scale map of your property to the local health department. The map should indicate the location of all structures inside the house, such as the quantity and number of bedrooms, poles, plants, fences, utility lines, lot boundaries, drainage ways, slopes, and surrounding land uses. The health department gives the preliminary approval for digging the test pits.
Test pits
Most health departments require the excavation of two pits. These pits are often at least 5 feet deep but they can go deeper. Soil experts can then walk down and take soil tests from the side walls. You may need to hire a backhoe for digging the pits, unless you can convince a potential builder to do it for you. The inspection won’t take more than 20 minutes, but if your soil does not meet the code, you will have to dig more holes.
Drainfield layout
When your site has been approved, you need to make sketches of your drainfield layout. Two trenches of equal size must be created as drainage for the septic tank. A distribution box, or D-box, is installed to split the flow. Make sure you have followed all the rules, such as the depth of the trenches and other construction details. Submit your design to the health department and wait for their approval.
Construction
Once your design is approved, you can start construction on the septic tank system. You should transfer the design to the ground with sand, stone, and pipes. Dig the septic tank with a backhoe. Lay and install the tank as designed and connect it to your house with piping. Then, go back to your health department for inspection.
Backfill
Don’t backfill your pipes and trenches until all the needed signatures and papers have been secured. The health department must approve all the aspects of the septic tank system, including the fill you use. If you miss even one signature, the health department will require you to dig up again for further inspection.