The design process surrounding residential septic systems is typically driven by the Health Department in the jurisdiction that the property is located, which will have specific design criteria. The components of the design criteria include the number of bedrooms or bathrooms in the home, the type of soil conditions and the location of the drain field.
The septic load imposed on drain field is determined either by the number of bedrooms or bathrooms, depending upon the jurisdiction. The bedroom or bathroom count is used to determine the maximum amount of people living in the home at any given time. Many jurisdictions are finding that the bedroom count is a more accurate predictor of the number of people living in the home and the resulting septic load on the system.
The type of soil found on the property is also a critical design factor. A septic system works by the fluids flowing into the drain field where they are absorbed. Soils such as clay do not absorb liquids as well as a sandy soil. As a result, often drain fields located in clay soils will need to be bigger in order to adequately absorb the fluids.
The location of the drain field is also a critical design factor that must be considered. Each jurisdiction has required setbacks from the property line, house, driveway, trees and water wells. Often all of these factors may not only influence the location of the drain field, but also the shape, size and location of the home on the property!
Posted on behalf of Mike Smith, A-Flo Free Septic
