So a while ago I was asking about storage tanks vs septic systems for some land we were looking at. That thread and some other research made us drop that particular property. We've found another location that we really love, and are close to putting in an offer on. The new property is on quite a slope with woods. Being Northern Michigan the soil is very sandy. We were up there last weekend for a third walk around the property and spent time with a local talking things over. We're reaching out to a couple of builders, but wanting to be informed first so of course I'm coming here! I understand that there can be issues with slopes trying to stop the black water flowing straight out of the septic tank into the soak away. Anyone got any first hand info on issues and costs? Here's a pic stood on 'our' property looking up the hill towards the next door neighbors house to show what we would be working with. Our house would be at the top of the hill out of shot to the right, but at the same elevation as the house you can see.
As usual, thanks all.
Rule #1: E36 M3 flows downhill.
You'll have to have the leach field extend out across the slope rather than down or up it. You'll want to find out what the maximum height difference from the end of the pipes to the tank is before it starts to siphon out.
Also, trees (roots) and leach fields do not play well together
In reply to chaparral :
Cool, thanks. 'Our' property is approx 105 across the slope and 270 feet down hill. I assume 100' is enough to do a cross slope layout.
I'm assuming many trees will need to come out. That's not too big an issue as we're planning on removing some to give us a (winter) lake view.
Our septic system is on a pretty significant slope with sandy soil. From what I can tell, we only have one pipe running from the tank across the slope to act as a leach field. It's been completely trouble-free during our ownership.
No trees :)
Here's a shot up the hill looking over the leach field. The tank is under that pile of rocks you can see right about the middle of the house (took a bit of digging to get to it so we could check everything out). The pipe extends to the right of that point.
In reply to Keith Tanner :
Awesome, thanks Keith.
Make your offer contingent on septic approval. Then call your county health department and talk with them about it.
The slope will not be as much of an issue as the perc test, the location of the well, the location of everybody else's well, the available square footage, the number of bedrooms in your house, the set back requirements, etc.
These are all questions that your local county health department can answer.
What SVreX said.
Also, remember you don't want drain fields where you might put driveways, pools, future shops, etc.
Maybe knock on that neighbor's door and ask them how they solved the problem.
In reply to Purple Frog (Forum Supporter) :
Thx. Not a problem there. The access is from behind the properties, see the garage in the pic up thread facing the dirt road behind. From where the house / garage would go it's 280' downhill to the next road. We're not planning on anything down hill from the buildings except a fire place / sitting area about half way down in a natural clearing so you can look up at the night sky. We would absolutely have talked to the neighbor but they weren't there. The property is about four hours away and we'll be going up to talk with some contractors before finally putting an offer in.
You might want to talk with your potential neighbors the next time you're there as well. They've had to deal with the same issue and it'll give you an opportunity to see if living next to them is going to be a nightmare.
Purple Frog (Forum Supporter) said:
What SVreX said.
Also, remember you don't want drain fields where you might put driveways, pools, future shops, etc.
Maybe knock on that neighbor's door and ask them how they solved the problem.
I'm having fun picturing a pool on that slope.
Toyman01 (Moderately Supportive Dude) said:
Keith Tanner said:
Purple Frog (Forum Supporter) said:
What SVreX said.
Also, remember you don't want drain fields where you might put driveways, pools, future shops, etc.
Maybe knock on that neighbor's door and ask them how they solved the problem.
I'm having fun picturing a pool on that slope.
It could be awesome!
My imagination was coming up with things a weirder looking than that or pools that somehow had a water surface at a 30* angle, but now I'm thinking about it differently :)
Well we've just talked to a local builder who knows the area. After a perc test he is confident we can do a septic across the property as was suggested on here. We're going to head up again in a few weeks to look at some of his work and meet with him. As usual you guys came through. Thanks to the whole community. You all rock.
Purple Frog (Forum Supporter) said:
What SVreX said.
Also, remember you don't want drain fields where you might put driveways, pools, future shops, etc.
Maybe knock on that neighbor's door and ask them how they solved the problem.
First owner of my house put the detached garage on top of the drain field. That's something that didn't get mentioned when we bought the house.
I have a drain field built into a slope. It's a drop box system... Theres a box with perforated pipe extending from the two sides, and an output to the next box which is a bit farther and lower down the hill than it... And so on 5 or 6 times
Our septic failed a few months into our purchase . The new leech field went into another part of the yard that sloped. In my opinion it made the yard better and I think cost less to construct.
This has been awesome guys. We're now talking to the local municipality and a couple of builders. I expect an offer to go in at some point, I have high hopes for a future 'build thread'. Off to finish reading Metty's garage/shop/apartment build thread for inspiration now!
Well, offer is now in on the property contingent on Perc test. Fingers crossed.
Well after getting in a bit of a bidding was with another buyer this weekend, we've got a verbal from the realtor that our final offer (for asking price) was accepted and we'll get written conformation by CoB today. So, it's on to the Perc test as the final step, and we're not expecting any issues from that. Eventually there will be a build thread as we start talking about plans and building. But that's all for now folks.
Be very glad that you're in Michigan and not near Cincinnati... we had to get a plan approved for a replacement system on a rental house we owned. After two and a half years we sold the house without a plan courtesy of the Hamilton County Health Department. Our system designers submitted at least three plans... all rejected.
I designed and installed treatment systems for thirty years if you have unanswered questions.
Well bugger. The realtor just called. Despite having the property up for months, us getting into a bidding war with another buyer so we ended up offering the asking price, getting a verbal agreement to sell to us, they (three sisters who inherited it) have now decided to take it off the market, it's no longer for sale. Very pissed off. Not out a huge amount of money, but we made two trips up there (240 miles each), hotels, our time wasted, realtor and builders time wasted etc. Not happy.
