country living - a homeowner's guide
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C O U N T R Y L I V I N G :
College of Agricultural Sciences
Cooperative Extension
A H o m e o w n e r s
G u i d e
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With peace and quiet comes
responsibility
*If you need a new water or septic system,
either because you are building a new house
or your old system n eeds replacement , you
should contact Pennsylvanias Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) or th e Penn
State Cooperative Extension office in your
county for information on the various systems
and which are best suited to your area or plot
of land.
hances are that you have chosen to
live in the country because you cherish
the peace and quiet, the wide open
spaces, and the beauty of nature. How-
ever, with this enjoyment and indepen-dence often comes responsibility. Most
drinking water supply and sewage
disposal in rural areas of Pennsylvania is
done on-lot. As the property owner, you
are responsible for maintaining your
drinking water and septic systems.
Understanding how they work and how
to keep them operating efficient ly is good
for your familys health and for your
household budget; replacing these
systems can be expensive.
C This publication covers the basics of
private drinking water supply, on-lot
wastewater disposal, and the authorities
and workings of township government . It
was written with the assumption thatyour house already has a working
drinking water supply system and a septic
system, or that you will soon purchase a
house with these systems already in
place.* The publication also discusses the
changing face of Pennsylvanias country-
side and farmer-nonfarmer relations, and
provides further sources of information
for each of these topics. Being informed
and having realistic expectations about
country living will increase the chances
that your life in the country will be
pleasant.
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To safeguard the quality of your well
water, there are a number of precautions
that should have been taken during
construction. If you find that your well
does not have the safety features de-
scribed below, you should talk to aprofessional about revamping the well,
especially if you have had quant ity or
quality problems.
You should have records of the yield of
the well, ideally from tests done in wet
and dry seasons. You should also have
information about the well specifications
its diameter, depth, length of grouting,
etc., as shown in Figure 2. Carefulrecords of quant ity and quality measures
provide a baseline against which to
compare future changes. Note any
unusual noise or vibration while the
pump or motor is running or upon
starting or stopping. This could indicate
that well maintenance is required, as
could a sudden decrease in water pres-
sure. Routine maintenance is necessary
on any piece of equipment. Performing
this maintenance will help protect your
investment by prolonging the life of your
well. Having records of well maintenance
will help allay concerns about the water
system should you decide to sell your
home.
Spring Water
A similar set of potential contamination
and maintenance issues accompanies
water obtained from a spring, a place
where groundwater discharges to the land
surface. Be sure that t he spring to be used
for drinking water is present all year long
not just in the wettest seasons. If thestream is intermittent, it may be possible
to store water in a holding tank during
periods of high flow for use in drier
months. It is common to need disinfec-
tion equipment for spring water because
it is often subject to surface contamina-
tion. Make certain there are no contami-
nation sources uphill of your spring. You
should landscape the area so that all
surface water is diverted from the spring.
If you not ice that your spring water
becomes muddy after a rain storm, th is is
a sign that surface water is supplying asubstantial part of the flow; it is probably
best not to drink this water. Such a
spring is also quite likely to dry up in the
summer months.
The place where the spring emerges from
the ground should be covered with a
concrete spring box, an overflow pipe,
and a method of accessing, emptying,
and cleaning out the spring box (Figure
3). Springs should also be shock chlori-
nated upon completion of construction.
Drinking Water Systems
One of the most important responsibili-
ties rural residents face is ensuring that
they and their families have safe water to
drink. Groundwater from private
individual wells is the chief source of
drinking water for most rural Pennsylva-
nia residents. Groundwater is contained
in pore spaces between rock and soil
particles below ground.
Well Water
Most groundwater delivery systems are
composed of a well, a submersible pump,
a pressure tank, and plumbing. The pump
is most often located near the bottom of
the well. Most pumps and pressure tankscan be expected to last about 10 years.
Wells drilled in unconsolidated bedrock,
such as sand and gravel, often produce
large quantit ies of high quality water. In
consolidated bedrock a well drilled at the
intersection of two fractures in the rock
will produce the largest amount of
potable water. If water quantity is a
severe problem for you, you might
consult a well driller experienced in your
area or a qualified hydrogeologist. In
Pennsylvania it is not usually necessaryto drill deeper than 200 feet to tap a
supply of safe groundwater.
Soils have varying abilities to filter out
contaminants as surface water flows
down to the water table. Clays and fine
sands have better filtration capabilities
than coarse materials such as sands and
gravels. Normally, the more soil water
passes through, the cleaner it becomes.
Bacterial contamination is one of the
most common problems with well waterand is most often due to poor location of
the well or inadequate construction.
Wells should be located up slope from
potential sources of contamination. DEP
recommends that wells be at least 50 feet
from a septic tank and at least 100 feet
from an underground wastewater seepage
field.
Protecting Well Water Quality
through Proper Construction
A well should be lined with a steel
or plastic casing all the way down to
the water intake screen (Figure 1).
The casing should extend at least 8
inches above the ground, higher ifyour land is prone to flooding, so
that surface water can never
contaminate your well through the
top hole. To avoid contamination of
the water as it passes from the well
into the house, a pitless adapter or
above-ground discharge adapter
should be used to connect the
water service line from the home to
the well casing below the frost line
in the soil. Cement grouting should
be pored around the outside of the
well, usually for the entire length of
the casing. Grouting and casingtechniques differ for wells drilled in
consolidated and unconsolidated
rock.
In the final stages of construction,
your well should have been shock
chlorinated with the appropriate
amount of household bleach as
determined by the depth of water in
the well and the well diameter
(Table 1). In order to sterilize the
equipment in the well there must be
a concentration of at least 100 parts
per million of chlorine in the water inthe well. For further information on
any of the above topics, obtain
Penn State Cooperative Extension
Circular 345: Safeguarding Wells
and Springs from Bacterial Con-
tamination. Ordering information
appears at the end of this publica-
tion.
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Water Quality: Testing for Bacterial
ContaminationAs a private drinking water system
operator, your health and that of your
family could depend on the initiative you
take to get the water analyzed. An
annual test for total coliform bacteria is
the absolute minimum recommended
testing; a test every six months is
preferred. Water-borne bacteria can
cause gastrointestinal illnesses such as
giardiasis. While most coliform bacteria
will not cause illness, they suggest the
presence of other potentially pathogenic
organisms such as fecal coliform andGiardia because these may all be present
in human or animal waste. Saturated soil
with large pore spaces, such as coarse
sand, may not adequately filter pathogens
out of surface water.
The Federal Safe Drinking Water Act of
1972 and subsequent amendments
established a process for the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) to develop water quality standards
for public water supply facilities. The
primary standards are set for healthreasons and the secondary standards
pertain to aesthetic issues. Although
water quality of private systems is not
regulated, these standards can serve as a
reference to check the relative quality of
your water. Check the yellow pages for
certified water quality testing laborato-
ries; more than 100 laboratories in
Pennsylvania perform bacteria t esting for
about $15. DEP will also test your water
for bacteria for about $10. You can get
Source: Adapted from Manual of Individual Water Supply Systems, EPA-430/9-74-007, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
Plug
Sanitary well cover (vented)
Lift-out device
Submersible power cable
Conduit
Frost line
Discharge fitting
Flexible connectionDischarge line to basement
Pitless adapter
Casing
Locking device
Check valve
Snifter valve or air charger
Cement grout formation seal
Submersible pump
Packer
Screen
Table 1. Amount of bleach required to
disinfect well water.
Water Well diameter (inches)
depth
(feet) 6 8 10 24 32 36
10 1 c 1 c 2 c 3 qt 4 qt 6 qt
20 1 c 2 c 4 c 5 qt 8 qt 10 qt
30 2 c 4 c 3 pt
40 1 pt 2 pt 4 pt
60 2 pt 3 pt 6 pt
80 2 pt 4 pt 7 pt
100 3 pt 5 pt 4 qt
50 5 pt 4 qt 6 qt
Note: The table shows the quantity of
household laundry bleach (5.25 percent
chlorine, approved for water disinfection)
required to develop a concentration of 100 ppm
of chlorine in clear water standing in the well. If
you cannot determine the depth of the water in
your well, use the following guidelines:
For wells up to 8 inches in diameter
holding less than 80 feet of water, mix a
minimum of 1/2 gallon of chlorine bleachwith
about 10 gallons of water.
For wells with more than 80 feet of water,
use 1 gallon of bleach. In any case, it isbetter to use too much chlorine than too
little.
Source: Adapted from How to Disinfect a
Water System, Agricultural Engineering Fact
Sheet SW4.
Figure 1. Pitless adapter with submersible pump installation for basement storage.
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information about laboratories and
interpreting your water quality analysis
report from several Penn State Coopera-
tive Extension fact sheets listed at the
end of this publication.
If you notice sudden changes in the
color, taste, or smell of your water,
contact the cooperative extension office
in your county or DEP to discuss the
possible causes and to develop a plan forwater testing. This consultation can save
you money by helping you ident ify the
tests that will provide the most informa-
tion for the least cost. Accurate records
of system specifications, maintenance,
testing, and repair can also help pinpoint
problems.
If you suspect that land use changes
around your house have affected the
quality of water from your well, you
should consult DEP or the Penn State
Cooperative Extension office in your
county to determine the appropriate
water tests that may be necessary. For
example, if pesticides are used or stored
in your neighborhood, it is a good idea to
conduct periodic screenings for these
pollutants. If pollutants are found, yourlocal cooperative extension agent can
help you decide how to correct the
problem and develop a schedule for more
frequent testing until the problem is
solved.
Check the water supply location,
construction, and patterns of surface
water flow if a water sample comes back
positive for bacterial contamination.
Correct any obvious problems, divert all
surface water from the area around the
water outlet, shock chlorinate the
system, and retest the water after two
weeks. If the problem has not been
solved, you should set up a cont inuous
disinfection system.
Extensive water quality testing can be
expensive. Tests for specific organic
chemicals and/or pesticides, for example,
are not standard and thus are more
costly. A scan that detects the presence
of any pesticide but does not specify
which one is significantly less expensive
than a test to determine the exact
pesticide in the water. Any pesticide in
your water is a problem requiring
attention.
Figure 2. Well completion report.
WELL OWNER (REQUIRED)
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Sand
Gravel
Stone
Collecting wall
Lead-in pipe
Fence
Alternate collecting system
Figure 3. Spring development in creviced rock.
Source: Adapted from Spring Development, Plan 800-166, Department of Agricultural Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University.
Overflow
Diversion ditch
Creviced rock
Gravel
Collecting wall
Lead-in pipe
Spring box
To storage
Drain
10' minimum
Drain
Cross-section
Gravel covered with plastic sheet and 1-2' of soil
Collecting wall 4-6" concrete
4" Lead-in pipe
Spring box
Overflow
To storage
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Disinfection
If bacterial contamination is the only
problem with the water supply, it
probably makes sense to disinfect the
present system using chlorination ,
iodination, or ultraviolet light. If yourwater test shows high suspended solids
concentrations or if the water is occa-
sionally muddy, it should be filtered
before disinfection.
Many water treatment companies sell
disinfection equipment that will ad-
equately treat bacterial contamination.
This equipment may not, however, kill
some viruses and Giardia cyststhese
pathogens may require additional
specialized disinfection t reatment. For
more information on disinfection ofthese pathogens, contact a water equip-
ment dealer or DEP or obtain a copy of
Penn State Cooperative Extension fact
sheet F-134,Removing Giardia Cysts from
Drinking Water. See the end of this
publication for ordering information.
As with any major purchase, you should
do some investigating and be sure to
have a basic understanding of the
potential solutions to your water quality
problem before you call a water t reat-ment vendor so that you can tell if a
salesperson is trying to sell you more
equipment than you need. Having an
understanding of the system will also
help you maintain the equipment and get
the most value for your money.
Chlorination. The injection of chlorine
into water in the form of sodium hy-
pochlorite (5-15% available chlorine) or
calcium hypochlorite (about 70%
available chlorine) is a common method
of disinfection. Any product you useshould state on the label that it is safe for
drinking water disinfection. To ensure
disinfection, you must provide ample
contact t ime for the chlorine to interact
with the water. Often a pipe coil or
holding tank is installed for th is purpose.
Normally, at least 0.4 mg/l of free residual
chlorine should be in contact with the
water for at least 30 minutes. Chlorina-
tion leaves a small residual concentration
of chlorine in the water so recontamina-
tion will not occur after disinfection.
Iodination. Another substance used for
disinfection is iodine, although its use is
not recommended for long periods
because iodine can influence the
workings of the thyroid gland. Iodination
with a contact time of 30 minutes issuitable for places where no one will
drink the water for extended periods of
time, such as a vacation home or hunting
camp. However, it can be difficult to
achieve disinfection while not giving the
water an adverse taste. Like chlorine,
iodine disinfection provides continual
protection of the water.
Ultraviolet light. Disinfection can also
be accomplished with an ultraviolet light
sealed in a quartz sleeve inside a stainless
steel cylinder. Since this method of
disinfection does not leave a residual
disinfectant in the water, it is possible for
recontamination to occur after initial
disinfection and before consumption.
Therefore, the light should be installed at
the end of all underground pipes. Bulbs
must be replaced about once a year.
More About Water Quality Testing
At least every th ree years, you should
have your water supply tested for pH,
nitrate, total dissolved solids, andturbidity. Water with a pH less than 7.0
or with total dissolved solids exceeding
500 mg/l may be corrosive to metallic
pipes. If analysis of your water reveals
these characteristics and your pipes are
copper, you should collect a sample after
allowing water to sit in the pipes over-
night and have it tested for lead and
copper. If your pipes are made of galva-
nized iron, test for zinc and cadmium.
Call your regional DEP office or the
Penn State Cooperative Extension office
in your county if you need help interpret-ing your water analysis report.
Pollution Prevention
As the guardian of your drinking water,
you should do your part in protecting the
quality of your well water and the water
from wells around you by performing
routine maintenance on your well; byusing pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides
sparingly; and by safely and responsibly
disposing of hazardous and toxic wastes.
Never dump used motor oil on the
ground or in a stream. Bring it to an
authorized collection or recycling site.
Avoid dumping extra paint or household
chemicals down the toilet or disposing of
them with your regular household waste.
Some communities have an annual
household hazardous waste day when
residents can bring these items to a
centralized location and a local govern-ment agency or other organization takes
care of disposing of them safely. Find out
if your community holds one. If not, you
might offer to help organize the first
annual collection. If this is not possible,
call DEP, your county extension agent, or
a solid waste disposal company to find
out how you can safely dispose of the
waste.
An Alternative Drinking Water Supply
System
If potable water cannot be obtained from
a well or spring on your property, there is
another optionthe rainwater cistern.
Roof-catchment cisterns collect rainwa-
ter falling on the roof of your house
and/or barn. The water is then stored in a
holding tank for use as needed. The
system includes a mechanism by which
rain falling in the first few minutes of a
storm is not collected, allowing the roof
to be cleansed of particulate matter
before collection begins. Water collected
in a rainwater cistern usually requirestreatment before it is suitable for use. For
more information on this type of drink-
ing water system, obtain Special Circular
277,Rainwater Cisterns: Design, Construc
tion, and Water Treatment. See the end of
this publication for ordering information
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Septic Systems
Perhaps where you lived in the past, your
house was connected to a sewer and you
didnt have to worry where the water
went after you flushed your toilet. In the
country your responsibility may not end
with the flush. If your house is one of
many not hooked to a sewer, the water
your family uses flows literally into your
own backyard. Septic system problems
can cause sewage to seep up to the
ground surface in your yard or produce
sewage odors in your house. A poorly
maintained system could contaminate a
neighbors drinking water supply or your
own.
On-lot wastewater treatment regulations
for the state are set forth in the Sewage
Facilities Act (#537) and its 1994
amendment, Act 149. Four basic on-lot
systems are permitted for residential use:
in-ground trench, in-ground seepage bed,
subsurface sand filter, and elevated sand
mound. Your local sewage enforcement
officer (SEO) ,a certified official who is
responsible for permitting the installa-
tion of on-lot sewage disposal systems in
one or several townships, can be a
valuable source of information aboutsystem designs.
Wastewater treatment systems generally
have three components: a septic tank, a
distribution system, and a seepage bed.
The septic tank is the initial repository of
wastewater from the house. It is a
watertight chamber made of concrete,
fiberglass, or other approved material
that is resistant to decay. Its function is
to keep solids from entering and clogging
the seepage bed (Figure 4). For adequate
settling of solids to occur, liquid mustremain in the tank for at least 24 hours.
Bacteria slowly break down the solids to
about 50 percent of original volume.
Clarified liquid is discharged to the
distribution box, and then to the seepage
bed, a system of piping through which
clarified sewage is absorbed into the
surrounding soil for further purification.
Wastewater disposal systems are sized
based on the number of bedrooms in a
house. Pennsylvanias Sewage Facilities
Act requires at least a 900-gallon tank for
a house with three or fewer bedrooms
(Table 2). The capacity of the tankshould be increased by 100 gallons for
each additional bedroom. If you have
recently moved into a new house and do
not know the size of your tank, arrange to
have the tank pumped and inspected and
ask the technician to assess its size, age,
and condition.
Effluent Distribution and Absorption
The seepage bed accomplishes the actual
cleansing of the effluent , or clarified
water, discharged from the septic tank.
State regulations require that at least four
feet of soil lie below the distribution
pipes and above the water table or
confining bedrock layer. State law also
requires that the percolation rate, a
measure of soil drainage capacity, be
between six and ninety minutes per inch
to allow the installation of a conven-
tional system. A properly maintained and
operating seepage bed will not produce
any soggy ground areas.
Septic Tank Pumping
Because solids accumulate in the tank, it
must be pumped by a licensed operator
every two to five years at a cost of $75 to
$100. The distribution box should be
checked and cleaned at the same time.The condition of the tank and the baffles
that keep solids and scum from entering
the distribution lines should also be
checked at each pumping and replaced if
worn. If solids are allowed to build up for
too long, they may eventually overflow
into the seepage bed and clog the system.
The frequency of pumping depends on
the size of the tank, the volume of
wastewater produced, and the amount of
solids in the water. Use of a garbage
disposal will decrease the amount of time
that can lapse between pumpings. The
use of additives that claim to eliminate
the need for tank pumping is not
recommended.
Waste-
water level
Influent from
residence
Scum
Baffle
Effluent to
drainage
field
Inspection ports
Manhole
Inspection ports
Solids
(sludge)
Source: Agricultural and Biological Engineering Fact Sheet F-161, Septic Tank Pumpingby Paul
Robillard and Kelli Martin.
Figure 4. Cross section of septic tank.
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When the seepage bed lies down slope
from the septic tank and the soilspercolation rate is between six and sixty
minutes per inch, the distribution system
generally works by gravity. An
unperforated pipe carries effluent from
the t ank to the distribution box, from
which effluent is spread evenly around
the absorption field through perforated
pipes. Distribution is usually accom-
plished by a pump tank when the seepage
bed is uphill from the septic tank or in
soils with percolation rates greater than
sixty minutes per inch. A pressure
distribution or dosing pump located
between the septic tank and the distribu-
tion line delivers the wastewater evenly
at set intervals to the seepage bed.
Intermittent delivery allows the absorp-
tion field to drain between doses.
Effluent also can be spread through the
seepage bed by a trench systemanetwork of perforated pipes placed in
trenches that follow the contours of the
lot. Another option is a bed system in
which distribution lines lie in a single
excavation hole at least 10 feet wide.
The trench system is more often used in
areas with steep slopes. The bed system is
suitable for flatter, more compact areas
and is usually less expensive to install.
Sand Mound Systems
Because of the soil drainage capacity, the
elevation and slope of the land, and t he
depth to bedrock or the water table,
certain areas of Pennsylvania are not
suited for conventional wastewater
treatment systems. If the capacity of your
land to support a septic system was
previously evaluated and it was deemed
less than ideal, a sand mound system may
have been installed. The elevated sand
mound is a constructed embankment of
sandy fill material placed on the natural
soil surface. Mound beds are usable on
land with a slope less than 8 percent,
while mound trenches can be used on
slopes up to 12 percent. A limiting layer
must lie 20 to 60 inches from the surface
and the percolation rate must be between
3 and 120 minutes per inch for thesesystems to be feasible. They are not
permitted on flood plains and must be at
least 100 feet downhill of a well or
spring, at least 50 feet from streams, and
at least 5 feet from property lines.
Use of elevated sand mounds on slopes of
8 to 12 percent is increasingly common,
and DEP has made moves to list this
technology as another type of conven-
tional system, rather than as an alternate
system requiring more permits and
paperwork. Recent changes in Pennsyl-
vania septic system regulations have
made the use of elevated sand mounds on
slopes of 12 to 15 percent a viable
alternative; t hese systems were previously
only experimental. Contact DEP for a
copy ofGuidelines for Experimental
Elevated Sand Mound Bed Systems on
Slopes Between 12 and 15 Percentor get
more information from your SEO.
Mound systems all require pressure
dosingthey use a pump to deliverwastewater to the absorption field at
intervals. The pump lies between the
tank and the distribution line and usually
discharges water once per day, allowing
the mound to dry between applications
and prevent clogging. The pump tank
should be large enough to hold at least
one days sewage flow from the house in
case of system failure. The tank must be
pumped every three to five years. For
more information on mound systems, see
the list of fact sheets at the end of this
publication.
Spray Irrigation
A recent development at DEP is the
permitting by local sewage enforcement
officers of individual residential spray
irrigation systems (IRSIS) as alternate
year-round wastewater disposal systems.
This technology enables a homeowner to
spray pretreated household effluent on
forest land, grass, or agricultural land.
Each IRSIS must include an initial
Table 2. Estimated septic tank pumping frequencies in years (for year-round
residences).
Household size (number of people)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Tank size(gal) Years between pumping
500* 5.8 2.6 1.5 1.0 0.7 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1
750* 9.1 4.2 2.6 1.8 1.3 1.0 0.7 0.6 0.4 0.3
900 11.0 5.2 3.3 2.3 1.7 1.3 1.0 0.8 0.7 0.5
1000 12.4 5.9 3.7 2.6 2.0 1.5 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.7
1250 15.6 7.5 4.8 3.4 2.6 2.0 1.7 1.4 1.2 1.0
1500 18.9 9.1 5.9 4.2 3.3 2.6 2.1 1.8 1.5 1.3
1750 22.1 10.7 6.9 5.0 3.9 3.1 2.6 2.2 1.9 1.6
2000 25.4 12.4 8.0 5.9 4.5 3.7 3.1 2.6 2.2 2.0
2250 28.6 14.0 9.1 6.7 5.2 4.2 3.5 3.0 2.6 2.3
2500 31.9 15.6 10.2 7.5 5.9 4.8 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.6
*Below the minimum size allowed in Pennsylvania.
Note: More frequent pumping needed if a garbage disposal is used. Generally, the indicated
frequency will vary with the volume of solids (+20% for high volume, -20% for low volume).
Source: Agricultural and Biological Engineering Fact Sheet F-161, Septic Tank Pumping, by Paul
Robillard and Kelli Martin.
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treatment unit, an intermittent sand
filter, a chlorine disinfection unit, and a
spray field. The initial treatment unit
may consist of (1) a conventional septic
tank that allows anaerobic degradation
and settling of solids before dischargingthe effluent to the sand filter, or (2) an
aerobic treatment t ank in which air is
introduced to facilitate the bacterial
degradation of solids. The intermittent
sand filter uses filtration and biochemical
treatment to send a high quality effluent
to the disinfection unit , which kills
harmful bacteria. At this point the
system should also cont ain an effluent-
holding tank for use when the ground is
very wet or frozen.
IRSIS can be used on slopes of less than
25 percent in woodlands, less than 12
percent on grass, and less than 4 percent
on agricultural land. Lot size must be at
least two acres. At least the top 10 inches
of soil must be free of water and mottling,
a sign of continual moisture in the soil,
and at least 16 inches of soil must lie
above bedrock. Designs should be based
on a flow of 400 gallons per day for a
three-bedroom house.
IRSIS is expected to cost about 20percent more than an elevated sand
mound system. This system should
provide a usable alternative for wastewa-
ter disposal in about 32 percent of the
area in Pennsylvania that is not suitable
for convent ional systems including sand
mounds. For more information contact
your sewage enforcement officer or
obtain DEPsManual for Individual
Residential Spray Irrigation Systems.
System Failure
Your on-lot wastewater disposal system isinadequate or failing if sewage backs up
into the household plumbing or if
untreated sewage emerges at the land
surface or leaches into groundwater.
Hydraulic overload is the most common
cause of system failure and occurs when
more wastewater is delivered to the soil
absorption system than can be adequately
disposed of in a given time. This can
result, for example, if the seepage bed was
designed too small, if overland flow is
allowed to occur over the seepage area,
or if the seasonal high groundwater table
was not accurately located. Failure can
also be caused by an undersized septic
tank or a tank that is past due for
pumping. In the latter case solids areallowed to pass into the seepage bed and
clog the soil pores. Additional people
living in the house and new water-using
appliances can also stress a septic system
beyond its limits.
Specially designed dyes or chemical
tracers can be used to con firm a sus-
pected system failure. The dye is added to
the system and the place where it
reappears is noted. This test should be
done only by a qualified technician
check the yellow pages for a wastewater
disposal company or an environmental
consulting firm.
Solutions for System Failure
Two possible solutions exist for system
failure: the use of water conservation
devices on all fixtures and absorption
area resting. Water conservation devices
reduce the amount of water pouring into
the system, allowing the seepage bed to
adequately cleanse the remaining water.
Absorption area resting involves con-
structing an alternate trench system for
distribution of wastewater ( Figure 5).The two seepage beds are used in
alternate periods to allow the resting bed
time to dry out and thoroughly drain of
wastewater. For more information, refer
to the list of cooperative extension
materials at the end of this publication.
The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Invest-
ment Authority (PENNVEST), the
Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
(PHFA), and DEP sponsor the On-Lot
Funding Program, a loan program for
homeowners needing money to rehabili-
tate, improve, repair, or replace existing
septic systems. The loans carry a yearly
interest rate of only one percent and are
available to homeowners in areas where asewer system is not available and will not
be constructed in the next five years.
There is an upper income and loan limit
and borrowers must have demonstrated
ability to repay the loan. For more
information, contact PENNVEST at
(717) 787-8137 or PHFA at (800) 822-
1174.
Avoiding System Failure
Routine maintenance on your septic
system will pay off in the long run. As
with your car, it is much less expensive to
maintain a system in working order than
to install a new system or perform major
renovations on an inadequate system.
You can prolong the life of your septic
system by using water conservatively and
by installing water conservation devices
on your faucets, toilets, and showers
before problems with the system arise.
Your septic tank should be inspected and
pumped every two to five years. Avoid
using chemicals to clean your tankbecause of the potential for groundwater
contamination. Harsh chemicals can also
kill the essential bacteria working in the
tank to decompose solid material.
Without these bacteria, your tank will
need to be pumped twice as often.
Substances such as bleach, pesticides,
heavily sudsing laundry detergent , oil,
grease, antifreeze, and paint s should not
be poured down the drain or into t he
toilet for the same reason. Avoid disposal
of bulky solids in the drain or toilet . Even
using a garbage disposal can shorten thelapse between pumpings of the system
because of the increased load of solids to
be broken down in the t ank.
Landscaping your yard to divert water
from the area above the seepage bed will
cut down on the amount of water that
must be filtered through this soil. The
ability of water to flow through the soil
in t he seepage bed will be reduced by
heavy equipment use and livestock
Free Counseling from DEP
DEP contracts with an environmen-
tal consulting firm to provide free
advice to homeowners with septic
system problems. The toll free
numbers are (800) 282-9254 and
(800) 291-2659.
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Backfill
Sand 4"
Stone 6"
Building paper
Backfill
Figure 5. The alternate trench system.
Source:Restoration of Failing On-Lot Sewage Disposal Areas, Environmental Resources Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University,
University Park, Pennsylvania.
Building sewer
Existing septic tank
Manhole (clean-out)
Pumping support
Dose pump
Union
Manhole extension
Dose tank
High water level
Low water level
Gate valves
Cap
Existingsystem
2'
5'
80'
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grazing on the area. Trees and shrubs
should not be planted over or near the
distribution system because roots can
grow into pipes and clog the system.
Keeping your wastewater disposal system
in good working order will help ensurehigh quality drinking water because of
reduced chances of inadequately treated
wastewater mixing with groundwater. As
with your well, you should keep accurate
records of your systems location, con-
struction, specifications, maintenance,
repairs, and pumping.
How will you know when your septic
tank is full or when the system needs
repairs? Some th ings to watch for are
sewage odors in the house and/or
drinking water, sponginess of the ground
above any part of the system, raw sewage
at the land surface, a constantly running
dosing pump, failure of the dosing pump
to run at all, and backup of wastewater
into washing machines and plumbing. It
is obviously cheapest, simplest, and safest
to keep track of tank pumping and
maintenance and t o call the pumper
before these problems arise.
On-Lot Wastewater Disposal Regulations
The Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (#537) requires local governments to
administer a permitting system for the installation of on-lot sewage disposal
systems. A certified sewage enforcement officer (SEO) is responsible for evaluat-ing permits in one or several townships on the basis of lot slope and soil character-
istics. The SEO may offer advice on which type of system would work best based
on a sites conditions. This person must inspect the completed system before it is
covered with soil. Repairing or replacing a septic system requires a permit from the
local SEO. Routine maintenance such as tank pumping and distribution pipe
flushing can be done without a permit.
Many municipalities have recently joined with their neighbors to form multi-
municipal local agencies, making the enforcement of Act 537 more cost effective.
Each agency employs one or more SEOs to evaluate, permit, and inspect on-lot
wastewater disposal systems within their borders. The creation of multi-municipal
local agencies allows other municipal staff more time to tend to other duties and
enables the wastewater treatment specialists to concentrate on their area of
expertise.
Some townships have created septic system maintenance regulations that require
all residents to have their septic tanks pumped every three years, for example.
These regulations are designed to protect local groundwater from being contami-
nated by a poorly maintained septic system. Remember that your poorly main-
tained system may not just affect your well, but your neighbors wells too.
DEP is a good place to get more information on all aspects of septic systems. Your
local sewage enforcement officer or the Penn State Cooperative Extension agents
in your county will also be able to give you valuable advice.
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Township Government
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has
a decentralized system of government
involving townships, boroughs, cities,
and counties. Most rural areas of Penn-
sylvania are located in townships of the
second class. The township is governed
by a board of supervisors, usually three
elected officials. Other officials are
elected or appointed by the board of
supervisors. Some townships have one or
more authorities. An authority can
buy, build, improve, maintain, and
operate facilities that provide a specific
service, such as sewage treatment plants,
waterworks, highways, and airports. An
authority is also authorized to borrowmoney and issue bonds to finance the
special project.
At the local level, public schools are run
by elected members of the school board
who are authorized to hire personnel,
operate school buildings, buy supplies,
and levy taxes and issue bonds for school-
related expenses.
Land Use
Townships govern land use th rough a
system of permits, zoning laws, subdivi-sion regulations, and other local ordi-
nances. Most townships require building
permits for new homes and structures.
Township supervisors are aided in land
use decisions by an appointed planning
commission and/or zoning board. The
planning commission develops recom-
mendations for the arrangement of
certain land uses within the t ownship
that allow for the maximum health and
safety of residents while still achieving
the objectives of the community.
Planning helps to ensure orderly develop-ment of facilities and safe traffic patt erns.
The zoning board establishes building
requirements for present and future land
use in the township. The members may
set such requirements as minimum lot
size, maximum building height, and use
of certain districts for residences,
industry, or commercial purposes.
Different requirements may exist for
different districts. The zoning board
hears appeals of the prescribed regula-
tions. Some townships have only a
planning commission, which is respon-
sible for each of the above activities.
Local Ordinances
Local ordinances may exist to regulatethe following issues. Check with your
township office on local regulations
governing these issues.
Road maintenance. Your township
government is responsible for maintain-
ing and plowing township roads.
Burning garbage and other waste. Some
townships allow burning of household
refuse and/or yard waste any time, while
others permit it on specific days and still
others may not allow it at all.
Lawn maintenance. Some local govern-
ments have policies concerning lawn
maintenance. These regulations may
require you to cut your grass if it exceeds
a predetermined height or if it looks
unkempt.
Animal control. The township may have
regulations requiring that dogs be leashed
at all times or other related rules.
Nuisances. Township governments have
the authority to prohibit nuisances
including dumping, storage of abandoned
automobiles, and offensive manufactur-
ing or business. Under the nuisance
power, the board of supervisors may
remove any structure considered danger-
ous, whether on public or private land. In
addition to the previously mentioned
powers, the supervisors are authorized to
cont rol fireworks, parks, parking, septic
systems and sewers, fire prevention, street
names, sanitation, public safety, andjunkyards.
Garbage Collection
In most rural areas of the state, there is
no garbage pickup by the township. Each
household is responsible for contracting
with a private trash hauler. You should
expect to spend about $150-$200 per
year on these services. Contact your
township office for names of reputable,
licensed haulers in your area or look in
the yellow pages under rubbish.
Emergency Services
Police services in rural Pennsylvania are
provided by municipal departments in
more populated areas and by state police
in areas where the population is so
dispersed and small that a township forceis not feasible. Some rural areas are not
yet equipped with 911 emergency service
notification. As soon as you move in, call
your local government office to find out
how to reach emergency personnel.
Dont wait until you need the services to
realize that you dont know the correct
number.
Fire protection is provided in most rural
areas by volunteer fire companies. You
can expect to receive periodic solicita-
tions from these groups. Remember thatthey will be there when you need them
only if you help to support their activi-
ties, and t hat voluntary contributions of
time and/or money play a vital role in
their operation.
Manure Disposal
Pennsylvanias Nutrient Management
Act of 1993 was passed to protect the
quality of the states surface- and
groundwaters and the Chesapeake Bay.
Excess nutrien ts in manure washing off
farm fields into streams and rivers can
deplete the water of oxygen, cause
excessive algae growth, and ruin valuable
fish habitats. The legislation was de-
signed to ensure that large loads of
manure are safely disposed of. The act
states that if the animal density exceeds a
certain number of pounds per acre on an
annual basis, the landowner is required to
file with the local conservation district
and implement an approved nutrient
management plan for the disposal of
manure. This legislation supersedes anypreviously established local regulation of
nutrient management. Contact your
local conservation district office or the
State Conservation Commission for
more information on t he implementation
of this act. See also Penn State Coopera-
tive Extension fact sheet 40,N utrient
Management Legislation in Pennsylvania,
listed at the end of this publication.
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Be aware that septage, the liquid and
solid material pumped from individual
homes septic tanks, is sometimes
disposed of by surface application or
subsurface injection on agricultural fields.
The septage is often treated beforeapplication to reduce odors and the
number of disease-causing organisms.
DEP requires haulers and landowners to
have permits for in-land application of
septage. This practice produces minimal
threat to human health when done on a
suitable site with carefully analyzed
septage and incorporation of the applica-
tion into the farming operation. There
are strict regulations excluding some
crops from septage application.
You should also keep in mind that the
country landscape is constantly chang-
ing. Agriculture has become more
industrialized, and methods of operation
have changed. Market pressures have
caused farms to specialize in production
of one or two products. Many farms have
become larger in order to remain
economically viable. Be prepared for
change and attempt to understand it.
Not only may new houses go up around
you, new manufacturing or a new farm
could locate near your house. Try tobecome familiar with t rends in your
community. Respect the new occupants
rights just as you expect your right s to be
respected.
Safety
You may be th inking of buying a t ractor
to take care of your large yard, or you
may already own such equipment . Be
sure to obtain and follow operating and
safety instructions when using this
equipment because it can be dangerous.
Children are especially at risk around
tractors. Never allow a child to ride with
you on a lawn mower or tractor while it
is in use. Always wear safety belts and be
sure to purchase a model with roll bars,
especially if your land is on a hill where
tractors can more easily tip over. When
operating these machines give the task at
hand your full attent ion.
Remember that the nearest hospital or
emergency services provider may be quite
far away. Even if your county has 911
emergency service, emergency personnel
may have a difficult time finding your
house if you live in an especially remote
area. It is a good idea to tape directions
to your house next to the phonethat
way, in an emergency even someone such
as a visiting relative can give accurate
directions to emergency personnel.
Your Farming Neighbors
Farms account for almost 20 percent of
Pennsylvanias land use. Much of this
agricultural land is located where housing
development pressure from urban areas isstrong. Farming regions are attractive for
development because of the scenic
beauty of open fields and grazing animals.
Farms are businesses, however, and they
sometimes do not live up to the images
many people have of agriculture. Those
picturesque fields are open because the
farmer plants or mows them every year as
part of the production cycle. Those
grazing animals sometimes get out of
fences, and they all produce manure that
has odors or can degrade water supplies.
The best way to live peacefully with your
farming neighbors is to make friends with
them. Get to know the workings of their
farm and why they do what they do.
Some activities, such as plowing, can be
noisy, but can only be done within a
limited t ime frame or the entire years
crop may suffer. Remember that the
farmer is not there to annoy you
everything done on the farm has a
specific purpose.
You can also help maintain neighborly
relations with the farmers around you by
respecting their land and teaching your
children and animals to do the same.
Respect no trespassing signs. Although
farmland may look like a park, it is
private property and you should not be
on it unless specifically given the right to
use the land by the owner. Respect
farmers property right s as much as you
expect them to respect your rights.
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For More Information
Your county cooperative extension office
is an excellent place to go for more
information on the topics covered in t his
publication. County extension offices
have a large collection of literature
dealing with almost any problem
residents may have, and the staff can
steer you in the right direction to get
more information.
Other agencies that may provide helpful
information include: your local soil
conservation district, the Natural
Resources Conservation Service of the
U.S. Department of Agriculture, or your
county planning commission.
Below is a list of publications available
through Penn States College of Agricul-
tural Sciences. These will give you more
details about many of the topics discussed
here. Single copies are available for free
unless otherwise noted. These publica-
tions can be obtained by contacting:
Publications Distribution Cent er
112 Agricultural Administration
Building
University Park, PA 16802Telephone: (814) 865-6713
Fax: (814) 863-5560
Extension Circular 345, Safeguarding
Wells and Springs from Bacterial Contami-
nation
NRAES-48,Home Water Treatment
($15.00)
Special Circular 277,Rainwater Cisterns:
Design, Construction, and Water Treatment
Extension Circular 302, Two Remedies for
Failing Septic Systems
Agronomy Fact Sheet 40,N utrient
Management Legislation in Pennsylvania
Single copies of the publications below
can be obtained for free by contacting:
Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Department
246 Agricultural Engineering BuildingUniversity Park, PA 16802
Telephone: (814) 865-7685
Fax: (814) 863-1031
Drinking Water
F-103,How to Interpret a Water Analysis
Report
F-104, Water Testing
F-105, Where to Have Your Water Tested
F-134,Removing Giardia Cysts from
Drinking Water
F-141, Water Softening
Septic Systems
F-161, Septic Tank Pumping
F-162, Preventing Septic System Failures
F-163, The Soil Media and the Percolation
Test
F-164,Mound Systems for Wastewater
Treatment
F-165, Septic Tank-Soil Absorption Systems
F-167, Use of Dyes and Tracers to Confirm
Septic System Failure
Material printed in this publication was
drawn from the following:
Extension Circular 345, Safeguarding
Wells and Springs from Bacterial Contami-
nation, by Joe Makuch and William E.Sharpe.
Extension Circular 302, Two Remedies for
Failing Septic Systems, by Joe Makuch and
William E. Sharpe.
Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Fact Sheet F-164,Mound Systems for
Wastewater Treatment, by Paul D.
Robillard and Kelli S. Martin.
Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Fact Sheet F-165, Septic Tank-Soil
A bsorption Systems, by Paul D. Robillard
and Kelli S. Martin.
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Prepared by Joy R. Drohan, project
assistant/writer, Charles W. Abdalla,
associate professor of agricultural
economics, and Timothy W. Kelsey,
associate professor of agriculturaleconomics
Penn State C ollege of Agricultural Sciences research,
extension, and resident education programs are funded
in part by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
This publication is available from the Publications
Distribution Center, The Pennsylvania State
University, 112 Agricultural Administration Building,
University Park, PA 16802. For information telephone
(814) 865-6713.
Where trade names appear, no discrimination is
intended, and no endorsement by the Penn State
College of Agricultural Sciences is implied.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work,
Acts of Con gress May 8 and June 30, 1914, in
cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture
and t he Pennsylvania Legislature. T. R. Alter, Interim
Director of Cooperative Extension, The Pennsylvania
State University.
This publication is available in alternativemedia on request.
The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the
policy that all persons shall h ave equal access to
programs, facilities, admission, and employment
without regard to personal characteristics not related to
ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by
University policy or by state or federal authorit ies.
The Pennsylvania State University does not
discriminate against any person because of age,
ancestry, color, disability or handicap, nat ional origin,
race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientat ion, or veteran
status. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimi-
nation policy to the Affirmative Action Director, The
Pennsylvania State University, 201 Willard Building,
University Park, PA 16802-2801; Tel. (814) 865-4700/
V; (814) 863-1150/TTY.
The Pennsylvania State University 1998
Rv5M1098ps21255
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