This fact sheet is designed for homeowners or tenants who have septic systems buried in their yards. For assistance, please contact the Department of Natural Resources at 573-751-3443 or by email at dnrwebcontact@dnr.mo.gov. Figure 4.1 Union, Missouri 63084. A typical residential sewage lagoon is pictured in Figure 1. Where soils are too permeable for even these sealing amendments, a synthetic liner may be used. 0000000928 00000 n COVID-19 Resources. Depending on the manufacturer, seams in the liner may be hot-fused or overlapped, and the ends of the liner material may be anchored in a trench dug in the top of the berms around the perimeter of the lagoon. Important Requirements A local wastewater treatment system permit is Missouri regulations do not permit surface discharge of wastewater effluent. Septic Services, Regulations and Consumer Resources by State Although septic systems are more popular in some states than others, they are owned by residents of every state. Saturated soil is less effective at treating wastewater. Permits may be obtained from the Christian County Health Department located 301 E. Brick St. near the Historic Courthouse square in Ozark. University of Missouri Extension is an equal opportunity/access/affirmative action/pro-disabled and veteran employer. A 12-inch total thickness of compacted clayey soil on the bottom and up the inside slopes of the lagoon will generally provide an adequate seal. No starter bacteria or other additives are necessary to put a new lagoon into use. The tank needs to be pumped if (Figure 4.5): Figure 4.5Three conditions under which a septic tank needs to be pumped. Roughen or scratch any smeared areas of the hole sides and bottoms to provide a natural soil surface for water to penetrate. First, the DNR approves the method of The sum of the solid layers (sludge plus scum) takes up more than half of the tank capacity, The top of the sludge layer is less than 12 inches below the outlet baffle or tee, or. Keep in mind, the friend of the family or the cheapest bid may not always be the best choice. See Figure 6 for placement of the various lagoon components. Up and Down arrows will open main level menus and toggle through sub tier links. For more information, ask at the front desk or call (636) 528-6117. Construction and Operation of Wastewater Irrigation System 4. Contrary to popular belief, robust residential building codes do exist in large portions of unincorporated Lincoln County. A watertight, 4-inch diameter Schedule 40 PVC pipe should connect the septic tank to the plumbing drains of the home. Curtain drains are dug 12 to 24 inches wide and cut a minimum of 6 inches deep into the top of the restrictive subsurface soil layer at a distance of at least 10 feet upslope of the lagoon. Address: 1101 Riverside Drive PO Box 176 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176 . When wastes are broken down, some of the material is given off as gases in the air and small amounts of solids settle to the bottom of the lagoon. At 30-minute intervals, read the drop in water level to the nearest 1/8-inch increment (1/16-inch increments are recommended). However, it is important that an appropriate type of . Hog or cattle panels may also be used. Effluent can be fed into the pipes by gravity or by a pump. Related Information: Lawrence . Septic tanks come in rectangular, oval or round shapes. Departments. 1 0 obj The biological breakdown of wastes in a septic tank's anaerobic (oxygen-deprived) conditions is relatively slow. A green covering of algae on the lagoon is normal. When completing the application form, you'll be required to detail the land that will <>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> See the Lincoln County Code: Chapter 2.4: Subsurface Sewage Disposal. No matter where you live, there are people in agencies such as MU Extension and your county health departments who can help. Figure 4.3Cross section of a septic system showing the septic tank and distribution system. NoteWatch the hole for the first 10 minutes. Effluent filters on the outlet capture small particles and prevent them from clogging the drainfield; it is important to periodically clean the filter. Freeboard, or the distance from the three-foot operating level to the top of the berms, should be 24 inches (18 inches minimum) to keep surface runoff from entering the lagoon. This was done under the authority of Section 193.300, RSMo 1986. The septic tank should be large enough to hold two days' worth of wastewater. Without the blackwater (water carrying human waste) from toilets, greywater (wastewater other than sewage) from sinks, tubs and washing machines can be treated in a household wastewater system sized to handle about half the volume of a standard wastewater system. The monolithic cast tank is factory-formed as one unit, making it more watertight but more expensive than the other two types of concrete tanks. Subsurface water flows that may damage the lagoon can be diverted by use of a curtain drain ("Interceptor 'curtain' drains" section). To ensure compliance with local codes and to reduce their environmental liability, homeowners should consult with their county health department sanitarian or building regulations department prior to construction or repair of any onsite sewage system. Septic System Construction. Lincoln County operates under the provisions of Missouri Law for counties of the second classification. 4 0 obj We work to dispose discarded, ruined, wrecked, or dismantled motor vehicles along County roadways. Find your tank size (in gallons) along the left side of the table. Once the method is Some of the publications available from NSFC are: Contact your county health department, MU Extension staff, or private testing laboratories. The Health Department regulates and reviews storm-water drainage, wastewater treatment and solid waste treatment. Pumping as needed based on the results of periodic inspections will minimize your maintenance costs and maximize the system's longevity. Lincoln County was founded December 18, 1818 and is comprised of a total area of 640 square miles located in eastern Missouri along the Mississippi River. Other types of waterless toilets include incinerating toilets recirculating oil-flush toilets, and chemical disinfecting toilets. Aerobic units are more expensive and require significantly more maintenance than conventional septic tanks. In a conventional, gravity-fed distribution system, the distribution pipes are often laid out in a fork-shaped pattern joined by a distribution box (Figure 4.3). Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items. Then the lagoon should be resealed and refilled with fresh water. Do keep your septic tank and distribution box accessible for pumping and adjustment. Average household water usage is shown in figure 4.6. endobj The tank must retain at least two days (48 hours) of sewage flow from the house; size is based on the number of bedrooms in the dwelling. If you assume that every person in the house uses 25 to 75 gallons of water a day, four people can fill a 1,500-gallon tank in five to fifteen days. Where the row and column intersect, you'll find the estimated number of years between pumpings. Phone: (636) 528-4087. A four-bedroom home would have a minimum tank size of 1,250 gallons, and a five-bedroom home a minimum of 1,500 gallons. Don't allow anyone to drive or park over any part of the system. The inner and outer embankment slopes of the berms should not be steeper than 3:1 (three feet horizontal to one foot vertical) nor flatter than 4:1, to make mowing of the berms easier and to prevent water and soil erosion of the berms. The appropriate regulatory agency shall approve the method of effluent disposal. j@7_=%*3M][z9* )Gy\4{XQQwI`_ Therefore, before beginning a septic system project, contact the relevant JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Figure 7bA curtain drain diverts water around a sewage lagoon. Do take leftover hazardous chemicals to an approved hazardous waste collection center for disposal. If 8 inches of water seeps away in less than 10 minutes, use a shorter interval. The tank may contain up to three compartments, and it must be watertight to prevent leakage of untreated sewage from the tank that might pollute groundwater and to prevent leakage of groundwater into the tank that could overload the lagoon. Sewer Systems. The Care and Feeding of Your Septic Tank System, WWBRPE18. Installing low-flow toilets and water-saving faucets may reduce the size of the system needed. The Lincoln County Health Department serves all patients regardless of ability to pay. Consider composting food waste and even some paper wastes as an alternative. Discounts for essential services are offered based on family size and income. (See "Determining soil suitability" section below.) The tank must be watertight to keep sewage from leaking out and groundwater from seeping in. The Lincoln County Commission establishes policies and ordinances as well as supervising the activities of county departments including the Lincoln County Highway Department, Facilities and Grounds Maintenance Department, Economic Development Department, Emergency Management Agency, and Floodplain Administration. Bentonite clay is often effective in sandy and gravelly soils that are lacking enough clay particles and in soils with bright red clays. Install a gate large enough (36 to 48 inches wide) to allow access for maintenance and mowing equipment. After primary treatment in the septic tank, liquid effluent flows to the lagoon through a watertight pipe and discharges near the center of the lagoon bottom. The addition of a bathroom, bedroom or water-using appliance (such as a hot tub, garbage disposal, dishwasher or water softener) to your home may require expanding your system. Do divert other sources of water, such as roof drains, house footing drains, sump pump outlets, and driveway and hillside runoff away from the lagoon system. Best Septic Services in Lincoln County, MO - Creason Contracting, B & J Septic, Heggemann, Mick Mehler & Sons, M. Turpin Services, O'Fallon Sewer & Plumbing Repair Service, Hartley Septic Inspections, Hillside Septic Service, B & J Septic Pumping, Haynes Septic Tank Cleaning Type 2 or more characters into the input search below for suggested results, use up and down arrow keys to navigate through suggest box. However, even if wastewater is not treated on your home site, there are still ways you can reduce the impact your wastewater has on your community and the environment (Part 3 of this fact sheet). This document describes how a septic tank system works and how to keep it functioning properly. Six-inch diameter inspection pipes should be located above the baffles or tees and extend to the top of the ground surface. Lincoln County. The cost of pumping a septic tank ($100 to $250) is far less than the expense of replacing a drainfield clogged by escaping solids ($2,000 to $8,000 depending on site conditions and the size of the home). The Missouri Department of Health has jurisdiction over individual wastewater systems that have a designed or actual flow of 3,000 gallons per day or less. Permitting Authority in: Andrew. A county Soil Survey, available through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service office serving your county, can also be useful in identifying restrictive layers. Anaerobic conditions occur when soils are poorly drained, groundwater levels are high, surface runoff saturates the drainfield, or excessive amounts of water are used in your household. This brochure describes efficient water use and its role in preventing pollution. To construct or maintain a sewer system in Missouri, a The baffles or tees ensure that floating scum from the tank doesn't plug the inlet pipe or flow into the lagoon. Website: Onsite Authority: Local Ordinance. (If you do not know where your system is located, see Part 2 of this fact sheet.). These materials do not break down easily and they will cause your septic tank or the settling tanks in a municipal treatment plant to fill up faster. To allow for future development in the area, carefully select the location of the lagoon overflow so that it will be of the least nuisance to both the owner and to neighbors or nearby public properties. Beware that certain detergents, bleach and salts may damage the health of plants and soils. Larger tanks allow longer intervals between tank clean-out operations. In flood hazard areas, backflow valves should be installed on the main distribution line to prevent wastewater and solids from flowing back into the tank and your home. The system must be designed for the maximum occupancy of your home. Vertical separation from the lagoon bottom to creviced bedrock must be at least 3 feet, or a compacted clay liner or synthetic liner must be used. In severe cases, the contents of the lagoon may need to be pumped or dredged out. Many soils in Missouri have a high clay content, making them ideal construction materials for a lagoon. Due to space limitations, lagoons are not generally suitable for lot sizes of less than three acres. Wet, spongy ground or lush plant growth may appear near a leaky septic tank or failing drainfield. With suitable climate and soil conditions, other alternative systems such as evapotranspiration systems, constructed wetlands, spray irrigation, lagoons or mechanically aerated systems for household wastewater treatment are approved in some localities. Don't make or allow repairs to your lagoon system without obtaining the necessary permits. Water-saving shower heads and faucets also help. Furthermore, these solvents may contaminate your drinking water supply. Missouri Department of Natural Resources Water Protection Program P.O. (These types of systems are discussed further below.). A gas baffle near the outlet deflects the bubbles and the disturbed sludge away from the outlet. xMk@^R5ClMiK =SA,V"m..Kjg$`3h-XO[?&a!Lg4U Many newer systems have a removable filter at the outlet to prevent solids from entering the disposal field. The frequency of pumping the septic tank depends on the tank size, number of people in the household, habits of water use as well as the amount of solids accumulated in the tank. The commission is also responsible for approving and adopting the annual budget for all county operations. Properly built lagoon systems experience few problems. You can estimate how frequently your tank needs to be pumped using the table below. The administrative authority shall be the Lincoln County Office of Environmental Sanitation. Don't go down into a septic tank for any reason. If you are having accessibility or usability issues with our website, please fill out an Accessibility Issue form. Lincoln County Information Partners, Resources, & Initiatives Privacy & Confidentiality Meeting Rooms Employment & Volunteer Opportunities Employee Portal Partner Portal GovDeals Grassroots, 5 Health Department Drive, Troy, Missouri 63379 -- United States -- Phone: (636) 528-6117 -- Fax: (636) 528-8629. Use Esc key to go back to input search field. Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items. Wastewater treatment systems help protect your health and the environment. Gas bubbles are produced by anaerobic bacteria as they slowly digest wastes in the tank. As long as the distances are correct, the map doesn't have to be drawn to scale. These chemicals can contaminate sludge in the septic tank, kill the beneficial bacteria that digest wastes, and travel into groundwater. Soil morphology evaluations are done by digging one or more 4- to 6-foot deep soil pits using a backhoe. There are many good publications and other resources to help you decide. 0000004368 00000 n The soil filters out larger particles and pathogens, which eventually die off in the inhospitable soil environment. The effluent from an aerobic unit can be discharged into a soil absorption system. At the time in 1993, our county had many failing septic systems because the majority of . For information on certified laboratory testing, contact your local MU Extension center or county health department, or look under "laboratories" or "water" in the yellow pages. 3 0 obj contact| This brochure describes a conventional septic system and how it should be cared for to achieve optimal results. Good wastewater treatment depends on good dispersal of wastewater over the drainfield. So Now You Own a Septic Tank, WWBRPE20. Sites with more than 5 to 7 percent slope (5 to 7 feet of elevation drop per 100 feet of horizontal distance) should generally be avoided for lagoon construction. Septic Permitting Our goal at the Lincoln County Health Department is to protect human health and the environment through proper treatment and disposal practices in Lincoln County. A serial distribution system is designed so that the trenches are used in sequence; when the first trench is overloaded, the wastewater overflows into the next trench down. Keep in mind, the friend of the family or the cheapest bid may not always be the best choice. The soil must be of a suitable type and must be deep enough to treat wastewater before it reaches groundwater. This saturates the voids between soil particles with water.
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