On-Site Sewage
NCDHD conducts inspections for both new and existing systems in Henry, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble counties. Inspections ensure compliance with regulations, promoting public safety and environmental protection.
Why maintain on-site sewage
Existing septic systems may need to be inspected due to sale of the home, building addition, or rebuild of home after a natural disaster. If you are selling or purchasing a home, you can request an inspection of the existing septic system from your local Health Department. Local building code offices require the Health Department to inspect an existing septic system prior to issuance of a building or remodeling permit.
Fee Schedule
Site Evaluation – $250
Re-Site (2yr+, same owner) – $125
Follow-Up Site – $125
On-Site Permit – $250
Repair Permit – $100
Repair Evaluation – $100
Existing System Evaluation – $200
System Types
Rock System
The rock system is the most common type of septic system
available (septic installers are very familiar with this system). The rock and pipe system operates very easily; the effluent leaves the home to the septic tank where it receives pre-treatment and
moves to the first distribution box (if non-pumped system). If the
system is an equal flow distribution type then the effluent will go
to all the lines at one time spreading the effluent over the entire
field allowing for faster absorption. If the system is a hillside
distribution type, then the effluent will go to the first box and then
the first line. Once the first line fills to the maximum level the
effluent will move to the next box and the next line. This will
continue until the end of the lines or the effluent is absorbed.
Leaching Chamber
The leaching chamber is the modern answer to the question, “I have limited space, what do I do now!” The chamber system allows for a nice reduction on the lateral lines from the standard system of rock. The leaching chambers range in size allowing for different design choices; the chambers come in sizes of 1′ 2′ and 3′ wide. The chamber system can be place like the rock system allowing for equal flow and hillside distribution and long lateral lines. The chambers can be place side by side creating a chamber bed system that gives a greater reduction to the septic size. Although the chamber beds allow for the reduction in lateral size it can only be used on lots with less than a 5% slope for the system area. The chamber system only requires 6 ^ prime prime of cover soil over the chambers and no barrier material (straw, hay, cloth lining) so it help reduce the cost of the system as well.
Lagoon
Most people do not like this option when it is given to them as they fear the smell and thought of open water. Pros of the lagoon are there is no smell if the work is done correctly. The way the lagoon is designed the effluent leaves the home to the septic tank where it gets pre-treated, then passes through a filter to the bottom of the lagoon. The reason this pipe exits on the bottom of the lagoon is the gases that you would smell get trapped in the water of the lagoon keeping the system from smelling. If the water does reach the overflow point it leads to overflow chambers (most of the time) to keep the system underground. If your ground has high clay soils or massive clay, the lagoon is perfect for those types of soil. If you have a large lot the lagoon can be hidden from site and will not need much maintenance (out of site out of mind). Most commonly the lagoon is one of the most inexpensive types
Wetland Cell
Constructed wetland cells are a newer system that allows some unusable lots to be used. The wetland cell is primarily a lined box with plants and overflow lateral fields that consume the rest of the effluent. The system generally consists of a primary tank with a large filter, control box (maintain water level), wetland box and the overflow lateral field. The effluent leaves the home to the septic tank for pre-treatment. The filter keeps most of the solids in the tank, the effluent moves to the wetland cell where plants and evaporation remove most of the bacteria and effluent. If the box does have excess effluent it moves to the control box and then the overflow lateral field where the rest of the effluent is treated.
Accessories
A curtain drain is a drain used to intercept water moving though the soil. The term “perimeter drain” describes a curtain drain that surrounds an area, making a complete circuit. Perimeter drains are sometimes installed around septic systems in order to remove outside water influences from the septic area to prevent a septic system from failing. The determination to use a curtain drain stems from the mottling in the soil found at the time of the site evaluation. Mottling is a term describing a change in the soil; spots or blotches of different color or shades of color interspersed with the dominant color of soil. This means little gray color mixed into the darker color soil and shows that water stays in the soil.
