502-633-1243
The North Central District Health Department provides inspections for new and existing systems in Henry, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble Counties in Kentucky.
If properly designed, constructed and maintained, a septic system can provide long-term, effective treatment of wastewater for homes/businesses without access to city sewage. If a septic system isn’t maintained, it might need to be replaced, costing thousands of dollars.
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.
Site Evaluation – $250
RE-SITE (2YR+) – $125
FOLLOW-UP SITE – $125
ON-SITE PERMIT – $250
REPAIR PERMIT – $100
REPAIR EVALUATION – $100
EXISTING SYSTEM INSPECTION – $200
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.
Advantages
Disadvantages
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″ 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.
Advantages
Disadvantages
The dreaded lagoon, most people do not like this option when it is given to them. Most people feel that the lagoon will smell and the thought of open water is unattractive feature. The lagoon can be a person’s best friend or the worst enemy to some. The positive points 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 of systems (cheaper the better). Now the bad part of the lagoon, if you have a small lot it will be very close to the home. It requires a 6′ fence around the lagoon to keep animals and kids from getting in the water, (very steep slope on sidewalls) if they get in they may not get out. Also the lagoon may be difficult to put in on rocky lots, due to the depth required to place the lagoon.
Advantages
Disadvantages
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.
Advantages
Disadvantages
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.
Filters
A septic tank filter is designed to protect secondary treatment systems from being plugged up with solids discharging from the septic tank. We carry a full line of effluent filters for both gravity flow systems and also for pressurized systems. Gravity Effluent Filters are designed for use on septic tanks that gravity discharge to a leach field. Pressure Filters are designed for use on systems with a submersible pump. We offer fast and free same day shipping on all of our septic tank filters
Sewage Ejector Pumps
A sewage ejector pump is plumbing equipment that removes wastewater from below-grade areas. In most homes, this applies to basements where laundry or bathrooms can be found.
Why is this important? Let’s first think about the above-ground portion of your home. In most cases, wastewater that goes down the drain is directed through plumbing into the sewer line pipe. Gravity is used to keep the wastewater flowing in the correct direction – away from your home. Now, back into the basement – the drain system can’t rely on gravity. That’s why a sewage ejector pump is needed to force that wastewater up and to either the municipal sewer main or your septic tank.