LOSS Tank Modifications
Hello,
here on campus, the plumbing for the pumping chambers of each of the 4 Step Systems in the Large On-Site Septic System (L.O.S.S.) is configured in such a way that some of the periodic maintenance we are obligated to perform is not practical, or even possible.
The L.O.S.S. was overhauled in 2006. During this process, new septic tanks and pumping chambers were added to the system and some of the old tanks were reused and updated. New pump vaults were installed in the pumping chambers of each of the Step Systems. These pump vaults are designed to be easily pulled up out of the tank for maintenance purposes. The septic pumps themselves, the filter screens and other components should be accessible for removal. However the contractors ran the pump discharge plumbing directly over the top of the removable pump vaults so that neither the vaults themselves nor the individual components can be removed without cutting the piping. This has prevented us from performing some of the basic periodic maintenance that we are required to perform. The filters for each of the pump vaults in the system have never been cleaned.
Also there are some septic tanks which have one of the covers buried without having a riser installed. As a result, some of the tanks can only be opened and inspected on one end. We perform periodic inspections of the system, which must include assessing the condition of the plumbing and baffles where it enters and leaves each tank, and also measuring levels of sludge and scum to determine when a tank is required to be pumped. In many cases we can only inspect one side of the tank, usually the outlet/clean side of the tank where there would be the least amount of build up. The inlet/dirty side, which is the most likely to have excessive build-up or other problems, is not accessible for inspection.
all that said, here is what I was thinking:
1.) Install new, larger risers for the 4 system pumping chambers to allow more room for plumbing. Modify the pump discharge plumbing so that the pump vault can be removed for maintenance. The permanently installed hard plumbing, including the pump discharge isolation valves, should be as close to the riser wall as possible and skirt around the perimeter of the riser wall. The goal is to be able to close the pump isolation valve, disconnect the pump flexible discharge hose at a union just upstream of the isolation valve, electrically unplug the pump, and then have the physical space available to be able to physically remove and reinstall the vault as needed for maintenance.
2.) Excavate all of the septic tank covers that are currently buried underground and install risers so that they can be accessed for inspection and maintenance
Any suggestions, comments, anything would be helpful, thank you in advance.
here on campus, the plumbing for the pumping chambers of each of the 4 Step Systems in the Large On-Site Septic System (L.O.S.S.) is configured in such a way that some of the periodic maintenance we are obligated to perform is not practical, or even possible.
The L.O.S.S. was overhauled in 2006. During this process, new septic tanks and pumping chambers were added to the system and some of the old tanks were reused and updated. New pump vaults were installed in the pumping chambers of each of the Step Systems. These pump vaults are designed to be easily pulled up out of the tank for maintenance purposes. The septic pumps themselves, the filter screens and other components should be accessible for removal. However the contractors ran the pump discharge plumbing directly over the top of the removable pump vaults so that neither the vaults themselves nor the individual components can be removed without cutting the piping. This has prevented us from performing some of the basic periodic maintenance that we are required to perform. The filters for each of the pump vaults in the system have never been cleaned.
Also there are some septic tanks which have one of the covers buried without having a riser installed. As a result, some of the tanks can only be opened and inspected on one end. We perform periodic inspections of the system, which must include assessing the condition of the plumbing and baffles where it enters and leaves each tank, and also measuring levels of sludge and scum to determine when a tank is required to be pumped. In many cases we can only inspect one side of the tank, usually the outlet/clean side of the tank where there would be the least amount of build up. The inlet/dirty side, which is the most likely to have excessive build-up or other problems, is not accessible for inspection.
all that said, here is what I was thinking:
1.) Install new, larger risers for the 4 system pumping chambers to allow more room for plumbing. Modify the pump discharge plumbing so that the pump vault can be removed for maintenance. The permanently installed hard plumbing, including the pump discharge isolation valves, should be as close to the riser wall as possible and skirt around the perimeter of the riser wall. The goal is to be able to close the pump isolation valve, disconnect the pump flexible discharge hose at a union just upstream of the isolation valve, electrically unplug the pump, and then have the physical space available to be able to physically remove and reinstall the vault as needed for maintenance.
2.) Excavate all of the septic tank covers that are currently buried underground and install risers so that they can be accessed for inspection and maintenance
Any suggestions, comments, anything would be helpful, thank you in advance.
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