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 Mobile ViewSEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR ADDITIVES / TREATMENTS for SEPTIC SYSTEMS AEROBIC SEPTIC SYSTEMS ALTERNATING BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS BACKUP PREVENTION, SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION, SEWER LINE BACKWATER VALVES, SEWER LINE BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS BOOKS, RECOMMENDED SEPTIC BOOKSTORE, SEPTIC SYSTEMS CESSPOOLS CESSPOOL SAFETY WARNINGS CHECK VALVES, WATER SUPPLY CHEMICALS & TREATMENTS for SEPTICS CHLORAMINE / CHLORINE Tests CHLORINE IN DRINKING WATER CHLORINE IN SEPTIC WASTEWATER CISTERNS CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR D BOX TROUBLESHOOTING DEFINITIONS OF SEPTIC SYSTEM TERMS DIFFICULT SEPTIC SITES DISTRIBUTION-BOX INSPECTION, SEPTIC DRAINFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS DRIVING or PARKING OVER SEPTIC DRYWELL DESIGN & USES EFFLUENT RETENTION TIME FILTERS SEPTIC & GREYWATER FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOODED SEPTIC SYSTEMS, REPAIR GARBAGE DISPOSAL vs SEPTICS GRAVELLESS SEPTIC SYSTEMS GRAVITY/SIPHON DOSING SYSTEMS GREYWATER SYSTEMS HOME BUYERS GUIDE to SEPTIC SYSTEMS HOME SELLERS GUIDE TO SEPTIC INSPECT LAGOON SEPTIC SYSTEMS LEACHFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS MEDIA FILTER SEPTIC SYSTEMS MOUND SEPTIC SYSTEMS NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST ODORLESS CHEMICALS / GASES: CHECK FOR? ODORS, PLUMBING SYSTEM ODORS, SEPTIC or SEWER ODORS, SULPHUR SMELL SOURCES OUTHOUSES & LATRINES PLANTS & TREES OVER SEPTIC SYSTEMS PRESSURE DOSING SEPTIC SYSTEMS RAISED BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS SAND BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS SEEPAGE PITS SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEPTIC SYSTEM ARTICLES SEPTIC AUTHORITIES, DESIGN REGS SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION SEPTIC BACKUP REPAIR SEPTIC BOOK, FREE ONLINE SEPTIC BOOKSTORE SEPTIC BIOMATS SEPTIC CARE INSTRUCTIONS SEPTIC CLEARANCE DISTANCES SEPTIC CODES & REFERENCES SEPTIC CONSULTANTS SEPTIC DRAINFIELD FAILURE DIAGNOSIS SEPTIC DRAINFIELD INSPECTION & TEST SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LIFE SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LOCATION SEPTIC DRAINFIELD RESTORERS? SEPTIC DRAINFIELD SIZE SEPTIC DRAINFIELD SHAPE SEPTIC DRAWINGS SEPTIC DYE TEST PROCEDURE SEPTIC FAILURE LAWSUIT SEPTIC FAILURE SIGNS SEPTIC FIELD INSPECTION SEPTIC FILTERS SEPTIC FLOOD RESPONSE SEPTIC HOLDING TANKS SEPTIC INSPECTION & TEST GUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION CLASS SEPTIC LIFE EXPECTANCY SEPTIC LIFE MAXIMIZING STEPS SEPTIC METHANE GAS SEPTIC ODORS SEPTIC PUMPS SEPTIC PUMPING REPAIR SEPTIC REFERENCES SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEPTIC SUPPLIES & PARTS SEPTIC SYSTEM DEFINITIONS SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN ALTERNATIVES Master List of Septic System Types ALTERNATIVE SEPTIC DESIGNERS ALTERNATIVE SEPTIC PRODUCTS AEROBIC SEPTIC SYSTEMS ALTERNATING BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS BIOGAS PRODUCTION & USE CESSPOOLS DISINFECTION SYSTEMS, SEPTIC EFFLUENT DRYWELL DESIGN & USES EFFLUENT RETENTION TIME FILTERS SEPTIC & GREYWATER FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOODED SEPTIC SYSTEMS, REPAIR GARBAGE DISPOSAL vs SEPTICS GRAVELLESS SEPTIC SYSTEMS GRAVITY/SIPHON DOSING SYSTEMS GREYWATER SYSTEMS DRYWELLS for GRAYWATER DRYWELLS as SEEPAGE PITS DRYWELL SAFETY CONCERNS ARE DRYWELLS DRY? PIT SITE REQUIREMENTS PIT AREA & SIZE PIT CONSTRUCTION DETAILS PIT COLLAPSE or FAILURE EVAPORATION-TRANSPIRATION SEPTIC SYSTEMS FILTERS SEPTIC & GREYWATER FIXED-FILM PROCESS SEPTIC SYSTEMS GRAVELLESS SEPTIC SYSTEMS GRAVITY/SIPHON DOSING SYSTEMS GREYWATER SYSTEMS HOLDING TANK SEPTIC SYSTEMS LAGOON SEPTIC SYSTEMS MEDIA FILTER SEPTIC SYSTEMS MOUND SEPTIC SYSTEMS OUTHOUSES & LATRINES PEAT FILTER SEPTICS PRESSURE DOSING SEPTIC SYSTEMS RAISED BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS SAND BED SEPTIC SYSTEMS SEEPAGE PITS SEPTIC SYSTEM PUMPS SEQUENCING BATCH SEPTIC SYSTEMS SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEMS STEEP SLOPE SEPTIC DESIGNS TOILETS, INSPECT, INSTALL, REPAIR TOILET ALTERNATIVES TOILET TYPES Toilet Types, Flush Methods TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST TRAPS on PLUMBING FIXTURES VEGETATED SUBMERGED SEPTIC BEDS Wastewater Treatment Levels Wastewater Dispersal Methods WETLAND SEPTIC SYSTEMS SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN BASICS DRYWELL DESIGN & USES FILTERS SEPTIC & GREYWATER SEEPAGE PITS SEPTIC CLEARANCES SEPTIC SOIL & PERC TESTS SEPTIC TANK SIZE SEPTIC TANK DEPTH SEPTIC TANK TEES SEPTIC DRAINFIELD LOCATION SEPTIC DRAINFIELD SIZE SEPTIC DRAINFIELD SHAPE SEPTIC TANK PUMPING FREQUENCY SEPTIC TANK PUMPING PROCEDURE SEPTIC SYSTEM PUMPS SEPTIC TREATMENTS & CHEMICALS STEEP SLOPE SEPTIC DESIGNS SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGN MANUAL - Online SEPTIC SYSTEM, HOME BUYERS GUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION & TEST GUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION CLASS SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTION LEVELS SEPTIC SYSTEM ODORS SEPTIC SYSTEM, HOME BUYERS GUIDE SEPTIC SYSTEM SAFETY WARNINGS SEPTIC TANKS SEPTIC TANK BAFFLES SEPTIC TANK COVERS SEPTIC TANK, HOW TO FIND SEPTIC TANK GRASS or SNOWMELT SEPTIC TANK, HOME BUYERS GUIDE SEPTIC TANK INSPECTION PROCEDURE SEPTIC TANK PUMPING PROCEDURE SEPTIC TANK PUMPING REASONS SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE SEPTIC TESTS: DYE & LOADING TESTS SEPTIC TREATMENTS & CHEMICALS SEPTIC BOOKS REFERENCES CODES SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEWAGE & SEPTIC CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE BACKUP, WHAT TO DO SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP SEWAGE BACKUP PREVENTION SEWAGE CONTAMINATION in buildings SEWAGE CONTAMINANTS in FRUIT / VEGETABLES SEWAGE EJECTOR / GRINDER PUMPS SEWAGE LEVELS in SEPTIC TANKS SEWAGE NITROGEN CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE PATHOGENS in SEPTIC SLUDGE SEWAGE PUMPS SEWAGE PUMP CLOG DAMAGE SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION SEWER GAS ODORS SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT SINKHOLES, WARNING SIGNS SMELL PATCH TEST to Track Down Odors SOAKAWAY BED FAILURE DIAGNOSIS SULPHUR & SEWER GAS SMELL SOURCES SUMP PUMPS TOILETS, INSPECT, INSTALL, REPAIR TOILET ALTERNATIVES TOILET FLUSHOMETER VALVES TOILET INSTALLATION PROCEDURE TOILET OVERFLOW EMERGENCY TOILET PLUGS, SEWER BACKUP TOILET REPAIR GUIDE TOILET TYPES Toilet Types, Flush Methods TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST TRAPS on PLUMBING FIXTURES TREATMENTS & CHEMICALS, SEPTIC VIDEO GUIDES: Septic Videos WASHING MACHINES & SEPTIC SYSTEMS WASTEWATER TREATMENT BASICS WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING WATER TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES WATER, WELLS, WATER TANKS: TESTING GUIDE WETLAND SEPTIC SYSTEMS WINTERIZE A BUILDING More Information |
This document explains why drywells or seepage pits in many areas simply do not work, or do not work reliably all year round due to seasonal high water tables and flooding. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.We include suggestions on protecting seepage pits and drywells from ground water and flooding in order to extend their life. This material is a chapter of our Septic Systems Online Book: This document explains septic system inspection procedures, defects in onsite waste disposal systems, septic tank problems, septic drainfield problems, checklists of system components and things to ask. Septic system maintenance and pumping schedules. Also see DRYWELL DESIGN & USES and Questions & Answers about Drywells. Readers trying to diagnose and deal with sudden soil subsidence or yard collapses should see CESSPOOL SAFETY WARNINGS as those hazards can also apply to drywells and septic tanks, and also see SINKHOLES, WARNING SIGNS. Additional septic system safety warnings are at SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY. Citation of this article by reference to this website and brief quotation for the sole purpose of review are permitted. Use of this information in electronic form, in books or pamphlets for sale is reserved to the author. Some technical review by industry experts has been completed-reviewers are listed at References. Further review comments and content suggestions are welcome. Home buyers who want less technical advice should see the Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems. Also see The Septic Systems Home Page. © Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Are "Drywells" really "Dry"? - Flooding Seepage Pits Stop WorkingDRYWELL or SEEPAGE PIT DESIGN & USES in many areas are a misnomer since during wet weather as water tables rise, the "pit" is not very dry and in fact may fill up with water and simply stop working. In wet areas of the Northeastern U.S., for example, we disagree with the practice of "solving" a roof drainage disposal problem at a flat site by building a "drywell" since in our experience these fail rather soon and in some cases even fill up and work backwards, sending water back to a building footing drain or roof drainage system where water then leaks into the building! Worse, if the "drywell" was buried close to the building foundation wall it may actually serve as a conduit, sending water against the building foundation and actually into the building. If soil and site conditions are adequate for absorption trenches, seepage pits shall not be used. A minimum three foot vertical separation must exist between the bottom of any pit and the high groundwater level, bedrock, or other impervious layer. Below we suggest keeping surface runoff and subsurface groundwater away from your seepage pit or drywell to keep it working. More Reading:
Tips for Extending a Drywell or Seepage Pit Life & Protecting them from FloodingDirect surface runoff away from the seepage pit or drywell, including both on-surface water that can be controlled by a swale or intercept drain, and also ground-water that may require a deeper intercept drain conducting surrounding groundwater to a safe destination at least 20' away from the pit. Also see Clearances for Septic Components Required - Well distance to Septic, Septic clearance from well, trees, lakes, streams, property boundary, etc. Some experts recommend installing a filter on water entering the drywell. Particularly for a drywell used to receive water from a clothes washing machine, installing a lint filter between the washing machine and the drywell can extend the life of the drywell by reducing the moment of soil-clogging particles of lint and debris into the system. Intermittent dosing systems such as are used for some alternative septic system designs, can also be adapted to graywater systems. In simple terms, this means that multiple drywells are used, and graywater is routed intermittently among them, giving the unused drywell time to recover. A simple valve system on the graywater drain line can serve to route greywater (graywater) to alternating drywells. See Cesspools for more in-depth information about those systems. Questions & Answers regarding this articleQuestions & answers about flooded drywells and seepage pits or cesspools Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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