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Alternating Valve - PVC plastic valve device, having one inlet and two outlets, designed to be placed as a part of a conventional septic system. The valve divides the total field line footage into two equal parts. The valve is to be switched every 4 to 6 months to allow for one part of the field lines to rest while the other is used. Alternative Septic System - Describes the types of septic systems other than the conventional septic system. The LPP system and the Mound system are examples. Black Corrugated Pipe - Used in conventional septic system construction. It is also commonly used for outside drainage work. Three types of black corrugated pipe are used in a conventional septic system—solid pipe (used for crossovers); perforated pipe with half-inch holes drilled in the bottom of the pipe (used in the field lines); and perforated pipe with rectangular holes around the entire circumference of the pipe (used in curtain drains). Black Water - Refers to toilet water that carries away human waste. Certificate of Completion - Form or paperwork that certifies that a septic system has been property installed, inspected and approved by the Health Department. Clay - Scientific term used to describe the size of soil particles. It is more commonly used to describe soils that are composed of these tiny particles. Because the soil particles are so small and tightly packed against each other, there is little space for water to move through these types of soils. Clay soils do not perk well, and they typically cannot be used for septic system installations. Clay Soil - Soil type primarily composed of clay-sized particles. (See Clay.) Crossover - Solid soil pipe made of PVC or black corrugated plastic used to connect a field line trench to the next successive field line trench in a serial distribution conventional septic system. A crushed crossover pipe is one of the most common causes of septic system failure. Curtain Drain - Trench excavated around a septic field, having a positive outlet, which collects and diverts ground water and surface water away from a disposal field. The drain is necessary where a designated septic area is subject to an excessive influx of water that may interfere with the functioning of the disposal field. If the disposal field trenches fill with ground water, and the effluent cannot perk into the soil, a failure may occur. Cut Soils - Soils that have been mechanically altered by man. The upper portion of the natural soil has been removed, typically with a bulldozer, from the site. Cut soils are generally not suitable for septic system use, because the best part of the soil has been removed and the lower portions of the soil that are now exposed to the ground surface is clay, which does not perk. Disposal Field - Constructed in the soil, where sewage effluent is dispersed through a series of excavated trenches (see Disposal Field Trenches), so that it will soak or perk into the soil for disposal. Disposal Field Trenches - Trenches excavated in a predetermined and approved septic area that comprise the disposal field. The trenches are constructed in a specific manner so as to conform to Health Department regulations. Distribution Box - Component of a conventional septic system used to equally divide and distribute effluent to the individual disposal field trenches. It is important that a distribution box not be disturbed or moved after it is in place. Any disturbance of the box may alter its ability to function properly (i.e. to equally distribute the incoming effluent) and cause a system to fail. Effluent - Abbreviated term for Sewage Effluent. Effluent Brake - Component of a conventional septic system used to intercept the effluent pumped to a disposal field and reduce the energy level of the pumped sewage water before it enters an alternating valve or the first disposal field trench. Engineered System - Describes Alternative Septic Systems. Experimental System - Type of septic system or method of sewage disposal that has not been approved for general use. This term may also refer to a property or site where a septic system (usually a Mound system) was constructed as a repair to a failing system, but the soil conditions present did not meet the minimum requirements of the regulations. Failing Septic System - Describes the conditions that occur when a septic system is no longer functioning properly, and the sewage water from the septic tank begins to pond on the ground surface over one or more components of the system. Some factors that may cause a septic system to fail include: the age of the septic system (25 years old or older); excessive water use; damage to the disposal field area; broken pump; crushed crossover pipe; and broken tight line. Failure - Term for Failing Septic System. Field Lines - Term for Disposal Field Trenches. Fill - Term for Fill Material. Fill Material - Describes the materials—rock, soil, asphalt, concrete, construction debris, etc.—natural or man-made, deposited during filling. Float Switch - Used to control (turn on and off) a sewage effluent pump. The switch is housed within a plastic bulb that is connected to the pump by a wire. The bulb floats at the surface of the sewage water within the pump tank, and when the water level rises to a predetermined level, the switch mechanism within the plastic bulb activates the pump. Once the water has been lowered to a predetermined level by the pump, the switch mechanism automatically turns the pump off. Gravel - Crushed rock material used in the construction of conventional septic system field lines or LPP lateral lines. The grade or size of gravel used depends on which type of system is installed. Gravity Flow System - Describes a conventional septic system that, due to the elevations and topography of a site, can be installed so that the force of gravity provides the power needed to move the waste water throughout the course of the system. Gray Water - Water used in the household plumbing fixtures—sinks, bathtubs, showers, clothes and dish washing machines, etc.—other than a toilet. A common misconception is that gray water is benign and can simply be discharged onto the ground or in a creek without harm. In fact, gray water contains bacteria that is washed from our bodies and the clothes we wear, and also food wastes (i.e. kitchen sinks). Thus, gray water can create a health hazard if it is not properly disposed, either into a sewer system or a properly constructed septic system. Installer - Person holding a current and valid license from the county to engage in the business of constructing septic systems. Lateral Lines - Disposal field trenches of a LPP septic system. Minutes Per Inch - Standardized unit of measurement that describes the perk rate of a soil or soil area. This term indicates that it will take “X” number of minutes for the water in a perk test hole to drop one (1) inch from an established reference point. MPI - Abbreviation for Minutes Per Inch. On-site Sewage Disposal - Disposing of sewage water via a septic system on the lot or land parcel on which a house or building is located. The law requires that a septic system must be on the same parcel of land that the structure occupies. Perk - Abbreviation for Percolation. Perk refers to a soil's inherent ability to absorb water. All soil types have some degree of ability to absorb water, but not all soils absorb water at a rate that allows for the soil type to be utilized for the installation of a septic system. Perk Area - Designated or delineated area of soil that has been subjected to a perk test. Perk Hole - Hole dug in the ground, used to conduct a perk test. Within a perk test area, there are typically six (6) or more holes used in the performance of a perk test. Perk Rate - Rate at which soil absorbs water. The perk rate is measured in a standardized unit of Minutes Per Inch (see Minutes Per Inch). Perk rates less than 15 MPI and greater than 105 MPI are too fast and too high, respectively, to permit the installation of a septic system. A high soil perk rate indicates that the sewage water is not sufficiently filtered by the soil and may subsequently contaminate the groundwater under such soil areas. A low soil perk rate indicates that a septic field installed in such a soil may not be able to absorb the sewage water and a failure may result. Perk Test - Act of conducting a perk test by an authorized inspector. Perk Test Area - Site that has been assessed and approved for a perk test. The area is generally shown on the perk test report sheet, a separate sheet of paper attached to the perk test report sheet, or on a plat prepared by a surveyor. The area's dimensions are shown as well as distances from prominent landmark features (i.e. creeks, fence lines, property lines, trees near the area, etc.) in order to identify the exact area location. Preliminary Soil Investigation - Process of having a soil scientist look at a property in a cursory manner in order to provide ideas as to the potential for that property with regard to its support of an installation of a septic system. The preliminary type of site investigation is commonly used by people interested in purchasing a parcel of land, generally for some type of development purposes, so they may have some knowledge as to whether or not the land has any potential to be approved for septic system installations. Public Sewerage - System built and operated by a city or municipality to collect, treat and dispose of sewage in an environmentally safe manner. Pump - Term for Sewage Effluent Pump. Pump System - Describes conventional septic systems that require the use of a pump and pump tank in their construction. When the disposal field area for a conventional system is located at a higher topographic elevation than the plumbing stub out elevation, a pump arrangement (i.e. a pump tank containing a sewage effluent pump) must be added to the system setup to pump the sewage water to the disposal field. Pump Tank - Tank that contains the sewage effluent pump. The pump tank generally sits in tandem to or adjacent to the septic tank. It receives the clarified sewage effluent from the septic tank, and when the effluent fills to a predetermined capacity within the pump tank, the pump is activated by a float switch and begins pumping the effluent to the disposal field. PVC Pipe - Solid, rigid white plastic pipe commonly used for household plumbing. The pipe is manufactured in different thicknesses. PVC stands for Polyvinyl Chloride. Raw Sewage - Newly created sewage that enters the septic tank. Repair - Act of correcting a failing septic system, enlarging a septic system to accommodate a proposed addition to a house, or the relocation of a system to allow for a house addition or property improvement (i.e. the installation of swimming pool). When a septic system is failing, the repair may be as simple as having an installer replace a crushed or blocked crossover pipe, or it may involve the complete construction of a new septic system. In the case of a proposed house addition or property improvement, the repair may simply involve enlarging the size of the existing system, or it may require the construction of a new septic system on another portion of the property. Repair Permit - Required of a property owner in order to have a septic system repaired, enlarged, or relocated. The requirements outlined on this type of permit are determined as the result of a Repair Investigation. Reserve Area - Area of a property specifically designated, either on a septic permit or on a plat, for a future septic system installation. Septic Field - Term for Disposal Field. Septic Permit - Term for Septic System Permit. Septic System Failure - Term for Failing Septic System. Septic System Permit - Permit to construct a septic system, which is issued by the Health Department. Septic Tank - Water-tight, pre-cast concrete receptacle that receives and holds the sewage generated through the use of water in a structure. The purpose of the septic tank is to: 1) receive the incoming sewage from the structure; 2) allow for the solid organic material portions of the sewage to settle to the bottom of the tank; and 3) allow the lighter than water material portions of the sewage (i.e. domestic oils and grease) to float to the upper surface of the water level in the tank. The process of the separation of the sewage components is called clarification. An internal arrangement of baffles in the tank allows only the clarified sewage, or sewage effluent, to flow out of the tank. The effluent then flows through a tight line either to a pump tank or directly to the disposal field. Septic Tank Pumper - Person specifically licensed to remove and properly dispose of the contents of a domestic septic tank. The term pumper assumingly comes from the manner which is used to remove the septic tank contents. The pumping contractor has a large truck with a large, 1000 to 2000-gallon capacity, steel tank mounted on the vehicle. A powerful vacuum pump is connected to the steel tank. When the pump is activated, a sufficient suction force is generated so that the sewage contents of the septic tank can be drawn through a large diameter flexible pipe into the steel tank on the truck and thus removed for disposal. Sewer - Term for Public Sewerage. Sewage – Water-carried wastes discharged from a plumbing collection system from residences, buildings and commercial and industrial establishments. Since all water-carried waste is considered to be sewage, there is no distinction between gray water and black water. Thus, in a dwelling or structure served by a septic system, all wastewater must be directed to the septic tank for disposal through the septic field. Sewage Effluent - Sewage, having been clarified by the septic tank, that flows from the outlet of the septic tank. Sewage Effluent Pump - Electrically powered pump specifically designed by a pump manufacturer to not only pump sewage effluent, but also to endure the extremely harsh conditions that result from being submerged in the effluent. These pumps should not be confused with sump pumps, grinder pumps, or any other type of pump. Sump pumps are light duty pumps that are made to pump clear water, not sewage effluent. Grinder pumps are special purpose pumps designed to grind up and pump raw sewage from a small holding tank to a public sewer line. Sewage Water - Term for Sewage Effluent. Soil - Natural body of decomposed mineral and organic material, layered upon the earth's surface, which is capable of supporting plant life. Natural, undisturbed soil, having acceptable percolation capabilities, drainage properties and depth-to-bedrock or water table characteristics, must be present in order for it used for the installation of any type of septic system. Splash Box - Device used prior to the conception of the Effluent Brake. The splash box served the same purpose as the Effluent Brake. The box is constructed of concrete and is generally about 18 inches in length, width and depth, depending on the manufacturer. The square concrete top is usually exposed at the ground surface. See Effluent Brake. Surveyor - Person licensed to practice the profession of surveying. The services of a surveyor are required to stake lot lines and lot corners, set soil mapping grids, stake platted septic areas, and stake easements. Switch Valve - Term for Alternating Valve. Switch Box - Term for Alternating Valve. Tight Line - Solid PVC pipe used to carry the sewage effluent from either a septic tank (in a gravity flow system) or a pump tank (in a pump system) to the disposal field. Tract - Large parcels of land (i.e. parcels being 5 acres or larger). The term is commonly used in the phrase large acreage tract. Well - Hole drilled into the earth for the purpose of accessing and retrieving a natural resource (e.g. water, oil, gas, etc.). The most common purpose for drilling a well is to create a source of drinking water for domestic use. When a well is drilled into the ground, the conduit created to tap into the groundwater resources of an area can also provide a direct access for the passage of surface contaminates to the groundwater resources in that area. Zoning Certificate - Written verification that shows that the proposed use of the property is approved. The zoning certificate must be obtained before an individual applies for a septic permit.
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