Know your Sewage System Classes: Class 1 - Privies

This is the first post in a series titled 'Know your Sewage System Classes' about the different classes of onsite sewage systems under the Ontario Building Code. This first post will summarize Class 1 septic systems.

(Source:  Grey Bruce Health Unit)

Class 1 septic systems are used exclusively to receive and dispose of human body wastes. The types of systems that are considered Class 1 are:

• Chemical toilets
• Recirculating toilets
• Incinerating toilets
• Self-contained portable toilet, and
• All forms of privy (pit, pail, composting toilet etc.,)

Under the Part 8 of the Ontario Building Code privies (including earth pit privies, vault or pail privies, and portable privies) are required to have an enclosed structure around them. The structure must be made of weatherproof material, have a solid floor, be easily sanitized, have a self-closing door, a covered seat that is supported by an enclosed bench or riser, one or more screened openings for ventilation, and a screened vent duct extending from the underside of the bench/riser to the roof above the structure. For earth pit privies, vault privies and pail privies, soil or leaching bed fill around the structure must be raised or mounded to a height of at least 150 mm above the ground. The bottom of the pit in a earth pit privy also must be at least 900 mm above the high water table, and the sides must be reinforced to prevent collapse.

(Source:   Grey Bruce Health Unit)

Additionally, there are minimum setbacks from wells, surface water and property lines for privies. Earth pit privies must be a minium of 15 m away from a well with a watertight casing that extends at least 6 m deep, 30 m from any other of type of well, 15 m from any surface water (such as a lake, pond or stream), and 3 m away from a property line.

The minimum setbacks for vault and pail privies are less than earth pit privies. These types of privies must be at least 10 m away from wells with a watertight casing extending at least 6 m deep, 15 m from any other type of well, 10 m from any surface water feature, and 3 m from a property line.

Next in our Know your Classes series: Class 2 - Grey water systems. 

HKCSI recognized as a "Success Story" by Canadian and American Great Lakes Researchers

The Township of Huron-Kinloss was recognized for exceptional performance and dedication to improving the Great Lakes at the 2011 State of the Lakes Ecosystem (SOLEC) Conference, held in Erie, Pennsylvania, October 26-28, 2011.

Mayor Mitch Towlan and Matt Pearson of B. M. Ross and Associates Limited (BMROSS) were present to receive a “Success Story” award for the Huron-Kinloss Community Septic Inspection (HK-CSI) Program from Marta Moszcsenska, Canadian Consul General and Kevin Johnson, U.S. Consul General.

The conference provides Canadian and US Great Lakes decision-makers and scientists with the opportunity to receive the most comprehensive, up-to-date information on the state of the Great Lakes. Since 1996, SOLEC has honoured various organizations who have exemplified a strong commitment to improving the environment within the Great Lakes basin.

The HK-CSI, which is a mandatory program administered by BMROSS, completed the 5th year of operation on October 31st. Since the program began in 2007, approximately 2,000 or 71% of properties have been inspected. Every property in the township of Huron- Kinloss with a septic system (including holding tanks, pit privies/outhouses) will be inspected on a rotating basis over a seven to eight year period. Each year different areas in the township are targeted for inspection.

L to R: Marta Moszczenska, Matt Pearson (BMROSS),
Mayor Mitch Twolan and Kevin Johnson 

Mayor Twolan stated “It was an honour to accept this award on behalf of Council and to be recognized for taking the initiative to preserve the natural environment and improve water quality through the Community Septic Inspection (HK-CSI) program.” Through education, the program encourages residents to act with the sustainability of the local ecosystem in mind, by performing regular septic system maintenance, conserving water, and minimizing the use of household chemicals. The program represents a long term commitment on the behalf of the Township to engage and encourage residents to work towards sustainability with the environment.

Wet wipes and your septic system

Just a decade ago the only wet wipes were for baby’s bums.  Now with society’s need for cleanliness and convenience there has been an explosion of wipes for virtually every household chore and every part of the body.  There are wipes for:

•     kitchen counters
•     cleaning floors
•     dusting
•     facial cleansing wipes
•     hand wipes
•     car interiors
•     pet paws
•     clean wounds
•     pain relief
•     deodorant
•     hot flashes

The main problem is that many wipes aren’t biodegradable.  While wipes are becoming popular, they might not be so popular in your septic system.

A recent Consumer Report put three wipes, along with toilet paper, through a disintegration test.  It simulates what may happen when flushing and gives consumers a look at how the product could affect their pipes.  Toilet paper tends to break down in about eight seconds.  In contrast, "flushable" wipes lasted well beyond 30 minutes.  These flushable wipes performed very poorly in their disintegration tests and may result in damage or back-up of your septic system. 

Even if the product packaging states “it is flushable” there have been reports of problems with septic systems where septic tank pumpers have found hundred of wipes matted together plugging baffles.  These products do not always break down quickly enough, especially if there are several people using the septic system.

You should be careful about what you flush down the toilet.  Feminine products should be wrapped and disposed of in the trash.  Facial wipes, baby wipes, tissues and paper towels should not be flushed down the toilet if you are on a septic system.

The best advise, to save on costly repairs is to only flush toilet paper down the toilet.

A wet-wipe filled septic system - courtesy of www.firstcallseptic.com

Why do concrete septic tanks break down?

It is a fact of chemistry and physics that hydrogen sulfide gas will be produced in all septic tanks as organic waste decomposes and breaks down. The big question is why this seems to affect the integrity of some concrete septic tanks and not others.

Hydrogen sulfide is heavier than air, so it generally affects the concrete just above the waterline. If the gas cannot escape the structure, the level will slowly rise and begin to affect the concrete higher above the waterline.

The waste from every residence and business will produce hydrogen sulfide at different rates, depending on the organic volume of the waste, the temperature, and the retention in the structure. Regardless of the rate of hydrogen sulfide production, if the gas can flow out of the structure along the waste stream, then the gas level in the tank should never build up to the point where it damages the concrete.

Hydrogen sulfide is heavier than air, so when it first begins to develop, it will lie right on the surface of the water in the tank. Being heavier than air, it will flow downhill, just as water does. So in a properly installed septic system, it will flow through the outlet pipe to the drainfield and be dispersed into the soil.

Many people believe this gas follows the plumbing system back towards the house and out the roof vents. This is true of other gases in the tank, especially methane gas which is lighter than air. But getting hydrogen sulfide to exit the tank via the roof vents would be like trying to get water to flow 10 to 20 feet uphill – it’s just not going to happen.

The reason hydrogen sulfide gas attacks some tanks and not others is that in the systems being attacked the gas is not able to flow freely to the leaching bed and disperse in the soil. The flow could be stopped by anything that hinders the gas from entering the soil, such as:

• a sag in the outflow pipe
• a pipe pitched in the wrong direction
• a pipe pitched too steeply and inserted too far into the tank
• an overloaded leaching bed
• roots in the outflow line
• overly saturated or compacted soils
• heavy biomat in the leaching bed soil

Source of Information: Onsite Wastewater Association Newsletter Summer 2011 – reprinted from Onsite Installer Magazine, May 2011, p22

Filter Friday

Do you have a filter in your septic tank? If you have a new system, you will have filter on the outflow baffle of your septic tank. Filters prevent solids from entering your leaching field; however, it is important that the filter is cleaned annually. Cleaning a filter is simple - just rinse it out with a garden house!

Here's a video that explains what a filter is and why they are an important part of a septic system.

The things people flush

One of the biggest myths about septic systems is that they need some sort of additive to function. In fact, we've already written a post about septic system additives. However, there are all sorts of things people put down their toilets to 'start the system' or 'keep it going'. Here's a list of a few common household additives that people flush:

• Chicken
• Liver
• Beef liver that has been left out on the deck in the sun until it has maggots
• Cabbage
• Yeast
• Buttermilk
• Beer

There is no scientific evidence to prove that adding any of these items is beneficial for your septic system. The best way to keep your system functioning is to keep harsh chemicals out of it and get it pumped every 3-5 years.

Got a septic system? Got Renters? We've got information!

If you rent your cottage or home and have a septic system we have produced a fact sheet that you can post in the washroom to educate your renters about the basics of a septic system and the Do's & Don'ts to protect your system.

The fact sheet has been laminated so it will stand up to wear & tear.  


To obtain a copy:

Email pscharfe@bmross.net 

Call 519-524-2641 Ext. 242.