I got tanked on Monday…twice. I remember most of it though so let me tell you about the adventure! You see, our property is raw. There are no amenities on the property…no water, no bathrooms, no air conditioned living rooms. Just grass and trees and chiggers! Oh my word are there chiggers. Anyhow, on Monday, we took the first step towards making the place a little more comfortable.
We called around and found a local guy who agreed to set us up with a licensed septic system and an in-ground cistern. His crew started early Monday morning clearing the space where we wanted the septic field and went to work.
Over the course of the day, they found rock here and there and had to adjust their plans several times. Despite that, they were excellent and friendly, even in 95 degree humid air. I know I drank over a gallon of water and I am certain that they each did too!
It’s hard to get excited about a septic system but there are a few things that just amazed me. The guys dug significant holes for the septic tank and the cistern tank. In each case, they adjusted and dug here and there and fussed, but both tanks laid in their holes were perfectly level. I couldn’t believe it! The installers checked it and so did the health inspector. It’s a requirement but dang if they didn’t get it first time!
Each tank came in in halves so the bottom half had to be placed and then a top half had to be fit just right into the sealant that was applied to the bottom. These tanks were huge but those guys hit it just perfectly on both tanks. It’s a requirement but dang if they didn’t get it first time! If I heard them right, the cistern weighed over 13,000 pounds when it was all done. It was no trivial thing to manipulate!
When it was all said and done, they graded the area very well and I think it actually looks better now than it did when they started. That’s rare I know but I now have perfect spots to set up lawn chairs and watch the leaves flutter in the breeze. That’s hard to beat! Getting tanked (twice) was a great thing and really made my Monday!
Congratulations! It’s exciting to see those beginning steps happening.
Looks good! You got lucky though! Where I live they made us install the type of septic that has a motor and quarterly inspections and yearly fees and tablets you have to put in a tube. Our old septic kept failing and we spent too much trying to fix it. They wouldn’t let us put in a new one of the old style that doesn’t require all of that other stuff.
Everyone needs a pot to pee in!
OK, you must explain to the West Coast girl…what the heck is a chigger? Kim
Kim – chiggers are little red bugs you can hardly see that bite/bore into your skin, usually around sock-lines and underwear lines. They leave red welts and itch like crazy for 4 or 5 days…miserable!
Angela – somehow we dodged that bullet. We may yet have to install one like yours if this one fails but the inspector seemed to think it would be ok…let’s hope!
I come from a land of septic systems, but what’s a cistern? It’s amazing (like you noted) that those guys did everything on the first try. I guess they’ve done it a time or two.
Ceecee – a cistern is a big underground(usually) water tank. I intend to catch rainwater off the roof and funnel it into the tank. The tank will have a pump that will allow me to pump water into the house for use
Glad you got so much work done-and made me laugh too : )
Rain? What’s rain? 🙂 Thanks for the cistern lesson. One more question: How many gallons does it hold?
That was quite an adventure, Warren–big tanks! Your septic should be fine. If there is one thing about this soil I know, it is that it drains–quickly. Plan on mulch and such for your gardens. They don’t call this sandy clay loam for nothing. It’s excellent for growing things once the organic content is built up. You should have no problem with that septic draining 🙂
As for rain–I’m with Ceecee. What that? Sure could use about a week’s worth.
Ceecee – ours holds 2000 gallons. They make them from a few hundred to 10,000+.