rv lot and septic

Here in Texas, due to abuse and polluted waterways, the state actually does have some regulations in place for septic systems.

My personal recommendations:

1: If you think you need a 500 gallon septic tank, install a 1000 gallon.
2: Have at two leach fields, and a valve to separate them. Every year, change the valve to go to the other field.
3: Pump the septic tank yearly, ideally before spring rains. It may not need to be pumped for far longer than that, but this is a measure of prevention, as the $250 for the stool bus visit is far cheaper than cleaning up a backflow in the house.

If you are thinking about this in Fl. check with the local agency, there is a fee and an inspection before the drain fields are covered, the unit must meet specs too in certain areas (flood plain) the septic has to be raised above ground and certified that it is at the proper elevation. They can order the tank removed if it does not meet specs.
I found out this info several years ago when I moved to Citra, fl and had to install a well (75 ft from septic) and septic to get my house built and we had to raise the septic tank above ground (found during the inspection).

myredracer wrote:
...snip... We had a neighbor up the street install a holding tank for an RV on the owner's property for an elderly parent. The local Health Authority soon found out and made them take the tank out - it was in plain sight when you drove down the road. The RV is gone too...

That may have had more to do with the density of the property. How many people/bathrooms/bedrooms can be on a certain sized lot.

It's such a simple thing to go to the county Health/Planning Department an ask what your options are. They are there to help you, not throw you in jail.

After all the algae blooms (some that killed thousands of fish/mammals/birds) that have occurred in FL, they are really taking a hard look at the "nutrients" being added to the waterways. IMO, hire a professional to install a proper, permitted septic system.

In my county in Michigan, we have a "T.O.S.T." (Time of Sale Or Transfer) rule - ALL septic systems have to be inspected before property can be sold. It's a good way to locate failing (or illegal) septic systems that could be fouling our water and I think this will catch on through the rest of the country.

Private onsite residential septic disposal system regulations and info. in Florida can be found here. I would not do anything without looking into the regs. and you don't want to just throw a drum in the ground with some pipe (that you won't even know what length is req'd.). Same with a holding tank. There's too much that can happen if someone files a complaint or the local AHJ finds out and could end up costing $$ and and a lot of lost time. We had a neighbor up the street install a holding tank for an RV on the owner's property for an elderly parent. The local Health Authority soon found out and made them take the tank out - it was in plain sight when you drove down the road. The RV is gone too.

I've designed a few septic systems and know what is involved in doing it correctly. Regulations have gotten much stricter and complex in recent years. First thing is that a septic system needs to be a min. distance from a well (including a neighbor). Then you need to dig some test holes and determine what the perc rate of the soil is. Sometimes you might find one area on a property doesn't perc well but you if test other areas the soil can be more suitable. If the soil has a good perc rate, a "conventional" system may be okay (depending on your applicable regs.) which is basically just a tank and perforated pipe. If the perc rate is low, you may be required to build a sand mound disposal field along with a pump chamber and sewage pump to pump liquid into the raised mound. Expect to pay $10-15K or more for this. If there is a high water table, a treatment plant will probably be needed. These are very expensive. Also, disposal fields (leach fields) need to be built when the soil is dry otherwise equipment will irreparably compact and damage it.

With all the very strict & complex septic system regulations we have here in BC, an outhouse is still permitted on rural properties (if designed in accordance with the regs.).

20 years with family of 4 and 1,200G tank using Roebic K-37 once a year. Never had tank pumped. Dad's system new 1967 never been pumped same routine. All his neighbors have been pumped many times or most have had complete new systems installed.

Some very good info here. As stated, septic systems are normally maintenance free. All I would add is to be cautious of the amount of laundry bleach that goes into the system. Bleach tends to kill off the working waste enzymes. Replacement enzymes (Rid-X or similar) need to be added with higher bleach use.

Our home at the lake has a 1000 gallon concrete tank. Two adults with occasional family overnight visitors add waste to the system. Normal pump out over the years has been every seven to ten years. Same type of usage to this system before we purchased it. About seventy years on the system to date. No relevant issues.

Lakeside

Roebic K-37

Perhaps I could just discharge my black tank over the back fence. My wonderful Amish neighbor made a stream of "stuff" all the way around the property lines. This photo was taken two days after the dumping and it was still juice. Funny how we think that this stuff is called nutrients and our stuff is a health hazard.

Regarding yeast: SEE HERE