Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Nov 21, 2010 5:34 pm Hey all. Any input appreciated - we have to have a septic and have a choice between two waste disposal methods after the treatment. Either sub soil irrigation OR evaporation trenches. Has anyone had any experience with either of these and what effect does it have on what you realistically use you yard for? Do you drive over the dispersal area? (not that we would often) Do you have lawn or garden beds? How do they go? Thanks Re: Effect of septic disposal on yard use? 2Nov 22, 2010 12:03 pm Hi Ian,I have old septic system, 2 trenches 40m deep.Have tank pumped out about every 3 years.I am in Vic about 45 minutes north of Melbourne,had a very wet winter soil wasnt soggy.New septic treatment system have more running cost.I am hoping to build on our back block,our Council allows old or new systems I think they both are good.PS yes we have driven over trenches. Re: Effect of septic disposal on yard use? 3Nov 22, 2010 6:47 pm Thanks pattycakes, It's just good to hear what other people have experienced and can do with these trenches and irrigation systems in your back yard. I think our dispersal area will have to be much bigger, 500m2 of irrigation or 6 25m trenches. I am worried about moving in just to find that most of my lawn is unusable because it's too damp. Your trenches are stable enough to drive over? Our plumber said that we shouldn't drive anything but the lawn mower over them and it could compact the trenches? No problems with yours? Thanks heaps for the reply Re: Effect of septic disposal on yard use? 4Nov 22, 2010 7:01 pm In my old place we had 2 trenches 25m long and I once drove a tractor over it with no problems but I wouldn't reccomend it too often. The subsoil type has alot to do with the drainage an will decide what you can do with you yard, my new system feeds 3 rows of fruit trees or a paddock if it becomes really wet Re: Effect of septic disposal on yard use? 5Nov 22, 2010 7:24 pm Thanks tazmav Have you had many problems with your subsoil system getting too wet? Our block is sloped and fairly long and narrow, so we have to run the lines accross the narrow part of the block. We would still like to have some lawn and can't completely plant it out with trees Re: Effect of septic disposal on yard use? 6Nov 22, 2010 7:49 pm Hi Ian,like Tazmav said you can drive over trenches [not to often].We have had a few trucks over them with no problems our soil is M class.I think new plants have more surface irrigation Re: Effect of septic disposal on yard use? 8Nov 22, 2010 9:33 pm We're still in the designing stage of our build, but I've been through a heap of drama with the HSTP system. We have a 1000 sqm block, the house will be 4 bedrooms, so we require a bigger system to cope with the number of people that can live in our place. Our soil type is E - so the worst kind. Now the plans that were designed for us to use with a standard HSTP (old septic isn't allowed here) would require the disposal area to be over 400sqm - which was all of our back and side yard (excluding the setback of 2m from the house/fence). Most of the Advanced systems required the same for us as well. We were informed you can't drive over the disposal area, you can't build anything over it (which is common sense) but it meant we couldn't even have a garden shed in our backyard, let alone the pool we would like. You can turf over the area, it doesn't have to be garden - but still, it wasn't what we wanted. A month later after a lot of phone calls and googling, I found a more suitable system for us ... it actually allows for the water to be dispersed above ground via a sprinkler and purple hose you move it around the yard yourself. There is no dedicated disposal area. The water is even allowed to be disposed near waterways etc - so very clean. Which is another bonus as we are close to the ocean. You mentioned running costs being higher ... not necessarily, the Advanced HSTP system seem to be very economical (from the research I've done), there is one that works completely on gravity for those on sloping blocks (we're on a dead flat one so no good for us), some have quarterly servicing requirements, others have annual. There is so much choice out there now with HSTP systems, THIS is a great document which has information on all the different types of systems available. I can honestly say I spoke to every single supplier of Advanced systems ~ trying to build our dream home by the sea ~ Re: Effect of septic disposal on yard use? 9Nov 23, 2010 6:16 am we seem to have looked at all the same things. Our council will not allow any above ground irrigation, they used to and a council not too far away does but ours...not luck. We are planning to have a 4 bedroom house and a granny flat, that's why our area is so big. Even though we have 6750m2 our block is only 50m wide and we have a creek at the bottom so with set backs etc the dispersal area as ended up in th middle of what is the main back yard Hence all te questions! Thanks for the info...I'm trying to gather as much practical info about what it's like living with these systems so we don't end up with an unusable yard Re: Effect of septic disposal on yard use? 10Nov 23, 2010 7:00 am I really understand with the usable yard, it seems so frustrating when you've got all this yard but can't 'use' it ... iykwim. This is the thing I don't understand with Councils ... how can they not allow something that passes all necessary government regulations ... sigh. I'm sure we're going to have a fight on our hands to get this through ours as there has never been one installed in our council area, but the suppliers are speaking with Council to make sure they cross all the t's and dot all the i's to try and reduce the chance of rejection. When (being positive here ) we get ours through it will open the way for the poor people on the newly divided 600-700 sqm blocks that aren't on town sewage ... now that's the brains trust really in action. Good luck ... I hope you find a solution that suits so you can use your yard as well. ~ trying to build our dream home by the sea ~ Re: Effect of septic disposal on yard use? 11Nov 23, 2010 2:13 pm Hi Ian,have a look at this site. Biolyix Re: Effect of septic disposal on yard use? 12Nov 23, 2010 7:11 pm Thanks for the info guys. Pattycakes we first looked into biolytix because i really liked the idea of a worm based system with low opperating costs and no chemicals but then a week later the company organising it said that they could no longer resell for biolytix and the whole biolytix company was restructuring. Have since talked with biolytix (a lady in Sydney 900km away ) and they are doing all the selling and organising installation with a local plumber themselves. It all seemed a little worrying and the 15yr wananty isn't worth anything if the company is no longer around and you have to call Sydney very time you need anything done. We are still getting the quote to see but we are wary. Re: Effect of septic disposal on yard use? 15Nov 30, 2010 5:47 pm We have to deside soon as plans need to go to council before christmas can anyone help with..... Running costs they have experienced? (Plumbers and installers will tell us how great but I want more realistic an idea) What things grow well/ or not ontop of subsurface irrigation or micro trenches? Please any pros and cons you have experienced? Thankyou for taking the time to help us and share your experiences. can someone with more experience give me their insight? land is pretty much flat its pretty much at the top of a hill. left and right neighbours are flat in line with my… 0 7470 2 4388 there should be ss cable so you can pull up bore pump for service 1 3168 |