Failed perk test implications
George Pagliarulo
first perk test and is being re-tested. This is her first house and I
don't want to see her to end up with water problems later on. If a lot
fails a perk test (I realize the water table is going to be higher in
the Spring), is it a good indicator that there could be basement water
problems later on? Should she insist that a french drain be installed
when the house is built?
George
Gary Slusser
"George Pagliarulo" <geor...@adelphia.net> wrote
Now that would make great sense to me for any building with a basement
even if there was no failure of a perk test but.... the perk has to do
with being allowed to use a standard septic rather than a more expensive
type, maybe a sand mound as an example, or, not being allowed to build
on the lot at all; a much more serious problem if she bought the lot
already....
Peter
<geor...@adelphia.net> wrote:
> Should she insist that a french drain be installed
>when the house is built?
>
Absolutely. It's a lot cheaper to do now than later.
TW
against the exterior of the basement wall, not an interior "French
drain".
Consider well where water collected in the either drain will go.
Particularly if the ground doesn't perk well, you'll have to get the
water to exit on the surface. Without a sloped site, this would require
a sump; which should have a battery back-up.
Engineering
talking about the same thing, is for the installation of a septic system. If
you fail a perc test on a lot that needs a septic system, around here, you
can't build a house on the lot. Sucks if you've already bought the land.
--
Jon Endres, P.E.
West Mountain Engineering Co.
w...@sover.net
George Pagliarulo <geor...@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:3AF21313...@adelphia.net...
Derek R. Larson
Engineering <w...@sover.net> wrote:
>It's my experience that the only reason for a percolation test, if we are
>talking about the same thing, is for the installation of a septic system. If
>you fail a perc test on a lot that needs a septic system, around here, you
>can't build a house on the lot. Sucks if you've already bought the land.
In Oregon it means you must install a sand-filter type septic system,
which run in the $10,000-15,000 range. My parents are facing exactly this
issue with their cabin, which has had an outhouse for 25 years. The state
doesn't like outhouses, but they won't allow a standard septic because the
perk test failed...one would think even a poorly-performing septic would
be better than an outhouse from the state's viewpoint.
-drl
--
________________________________________________________________________
Derek R. Larson Indiana University Dept. of History
"Let me go on record as stating that Mountain Dew, although a refreshing
and enjoyable beverage, is NOT A CONTRACEPTIVE." -Ann Landers
Tom Ruta
<geor...@adelphia.net> wrote:
Basement water will be the least of her problems if it is a failed
perc test for septic. I wouldn't go near that lot with out a
hydrologist/engineer.
Tom
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Tom Ruta
Larson) wrote:
>... My parents are facing exactly this
>issue with their cabin, which has had an outhouse for 25 years.
At least that is likely grandfathered - in some places they merely
issue a no occupancy order.
>The state
>doesn't like outhouses, but they won't allow a standard septic because the
>perk test failed...one would think even a poorly-performing septic would
>be better than an outhouse from the state's viewpoint.
Probably not actually given that a septic system gets lots of water
compared to an outhouse.
Chris Lewis
As others have mentioned, the perc test is actually testing the ground
for suitability for a septic bed. Generally speaking, they're just looking
for soil that will drain quickly enough to operate a septic bed.
As I understand it, a perc test is largely to determine how _big_ the bed
has to be. The slower the drainage, the larger the bed. Up to a point -
beyond a certain level they won't permit it (or you won't have enough money
or enough room). Or a very slow drainage may imply that you're right
in the water table, which they don't like that either.
Depending on the property, they'll just try a different likely spot and
see how well that does.
Depending on the locale, repeated failures may mean you can't build there,
or you have to build a different kind of septic. Eg: a raised sand bed.
Or even pump out (which is probably disallowed in many areas, and costs
a lot to operate).
Unless you're on a slope, where you can put in drainage tile that naturally
drains the house footings, I'd always advise a french drain, regardless of
what the soil is like.
--
Chris Lewis,
For more information on spam, see http://spam.abuse.net/spam
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.
Gary Slusser
"Chris Lewis" <cle...@nortelnetworks.com> wrote
To my knowledge the bed size is mostly based on the size of the tank but
I don't know much about that. There are three things that would make a
perk test fail and when he mentions "watertable higher in the spring"
they probably found the high water mark of the water table doesn't
give/allow them the required minimum 24" of "undistrubed earth" from
that mark up to the bottom of the excavation for the tank. Then that
talk about the 'high' watertable probably brought on the thought of
water in the basement. Very good thinking BTW. The other causes for a
failed perk would be the drainage rate (soil composition) being more or
less, actually faster or slower, than is required.
Gary
Quality Water
> Chris Lewis,
Christopher
is in no way related to the owner of the land. Get the lot tested a second
time by someone private that you have hired if this is not what you have
done already. This means that a normal septic can't be used. You might not
be able to use the property at all or maybe just a very expensive septic
system will have to be used.
Gary Slusser
"Christopher" <Christopher@no spam mercury.ll.net.> wrote
> If this lot has failed make sure the person testing it the second
time
> is in no way related to the owner of the land. Get the lot tested a
second
> time by someone private that you have hired if this is not what you
have
> done already.
I know you know why you're suggesting this but.... what are you saying?
I ask because the owner may be the niece, she's the one building the
house (well, wanting to). If she's not the owner, why not the owner
doing the testing if the owner wants to sell the lot for building
purposes! Frankly that's the only way I would have bought the lot t
obuild on; with a properly done and recorded perk test. I don't know the
private party part you allude to but, the person doing the testing has
to be *official* not just anybody with a shovel and couple of buckets.
jeff_cochran
A percolation test is done for septic drainage. If it fails, you need
to either provide a different drain field environment (sand fill,
etc.), move the field to a different area that doesn't fail or simply
not build. There are alternative septic options but some may not be
avauilable in your area.
Jeff