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Septic tank/field hebinwi 08-12-2006
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Posted by hebinwi on August 12, 2006, 10:17 am
I hope this question isn't too far off topic. If it is I would
appreciate suggestions of what other groups might be able to help.

I have a retirement cabin in Tennessee, which will be occupied full
time as soon as all the pension/ssa paperwork is complete. I'm trying
to precisely locate the septic tank and field - I know generally where
they are. I want to put a garden in, and some fencing for a dog run,
but don't want to interfere with the operation of this very important
system. Does anyone have any feelings about growing a garden in/over
the septic field? I don't think the tank has been pumped in the last
10 years. Any feelings on how often this should be done and how to
locate the tank access lid?

Thanks,
Harry


Posted by dpb on August 12, 2006, 2:31 pm

hebinwi wrote:
> I hope this question isn't too far off topic. If it is I would
> appreciate suggestions of what other groups might be able to help.
>
> I have a retirement cabin in Tennessee,...

> to precisely locate the septic tank and field - I know generally where
> they are. I want to put a garden in, and some fencing for a dog run,
> but don't want to interfere with the operation of this very important
> system. Does anyone have any feelings about growing a garden in/over
> the septic field? I don't think the tank has been pumped in the last
> 10 years. Any feelings on how often this should be done and how to
> locate the tank access lid?

When the weather gets dry, the location of the drain field should show
up quite nicely once you begin using it regularly. The tank location
probably will, too. :)

If the previous owner can't help, there _should_ be a drawing at the
local county health department office who did the inspection. (I know,
I lived in TN for nearly 30 years, it's quite possible it wasn't either
inspected or if it was they have no records, but it's worth a call.)

It would not be a bad idea to have a tank pumped after 10 yrs just on
general principles, but if the cabin was only occupied occasionally,
the equivalent usage may only be 2 or 3 yrs of full-time use.
Depending on the size of your family and the size of the tank, that's
may not be an excessive interval since it sounds as though this is low
occupancy by count.

I don't have a problem w/ the veggies over the septic tank. They don't
root deeply enough to begin to encroach on the drain field and as long
as you don't try to plow a foot deep or more, you're not going to
disturb it. Planting trees or shrubs that send out deep roots is
another matter, of course.


Posted by dpb on August 12, 2006, 2:34 pm

dpb wrote:
...
> I don't have a problem w/ the veggies over the septic tank. ...

That, of course, was intended to be "drain field"...


Posted by SteveF on August 12, 2006, 3:38 pm

>I hope this question isn't too far off topic. If it is I would
> appreciate suggestions of what other groups might be able to help.
>
> I have a retirement cabin in Tennessee, which will be occupied full
> time as soon as all the pension/ssa paperwork is complete. I'm trying
> to precisely locate the septic tank and field - I know generally where
> they are. I want to put a garden in, and some fencing for a dog run,
> but don't want to interfere with the operation of this very important
> system. Does anyone have any feelings about growing a garden in/over
> the septic field? I don't think the tank has been pumped in the last
> 10 years. Any feelings on how often this should be done and how to
> locate the tank access lid?
>
> Thanks,
> Harry
>

If the county doesn't have records you may be able to find the tank with a
metal detector since rebar is used.

Steve.



Posted by taz on August 12, 2006, 6:05 pm
You might also try to contact local septic tank companies and try and
locate the person who installed / maintained the system.
As well as the local building officials and they should have a permit
in records for it showing the size,location , etc. in relation to the
cabin.
As far as planting on top of the septic tank, that probably isn't wise
as you need to have access to the tank for maintenance.
Growing over the drain field is fine.
The tank could possibly be made out of a plastic as some of the new
ones are and as such would not be able to be located with a metal
detector.

Hope this helps,

Taz
hebinwi wrote:
> I hope this question isn't too far off topic. If it is I would
> appreciate suggestions of what other groups might be able to help.
>
> I have a retirement cabin in Tennessee, which will be occupied full
> time as soon as all the pension/ssa paperwork is complete. I'm trying
> to precisely locate the septic tank and field - I know generally where
> they are. I want to put a garden in, and some fencing for a dog run,
> but don't want to interfere with the operation of this very important
> system. Does anyone have any feelings about growing a garden in/over
> the septic field? I don't think the tank has been pumped in the last
> 10 years. Any feelings on how often this should be done and how to
> locate the tank access lid?
>
> Thanks,
> Harry


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