Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Onsite Sewage Disposal Survey MEMORANDUM TO: Bob Kindred FROM: Kevin Anderson DATE: January 3, 1990 RE: Onsite Sewage Disposal Survey This report is the result of a questionnaire that was mailed to twenty Ames property owners whose properties were believed to be served by onsite sewage disposal systems. These twenty properties are all located within 200 feet of a sanitary sewer (which classifies them as reasonably accessible to sewer) . The purpose of the questionnaire was to help city staff gain information as to the types of sewage disposal systems being utilized by Ames residents that are not serviced by municipal sanitary sewer. We also hoped to gain information concerning the maintenance and upkeep of these systems. Seventeen of the twenty questionnaires were returned (85%) . Four of those responding stated that they knew (or believed) they were serviced by city sewer. Of those four, Finance/Customer Service records show that only two are currently billed for sewer. 1. Name: 2. Address: 3. Were you the owner of property when the onsite sewage disposal system was installed? Yes 6 No 8 4. Was your onsite sewage disposal system installed under a regulatory authority permit procedure? Yes 3 No Don't Know 9 If yes, was a final inspection conducted on your system before it was placed into use? Yes 3 No 5. Do you know the location of your onsite sewage disposal system? Yes 10 No 2 If yes, is the system in an isolated area or an area with heavy traffic? see narrative 6. After a heavy rain or snow melt does water stand for a period of time over the area where your system is located? Yes No 12 Don't Know 1 7. Have you ever had your septic tank pumped? Yes 6 No 7 If yes, how many times - how long ago? see narrative 8. Have you ever experienced problems with your onsite sewage disposal system? Yes 3 No 9 If yes what type of problem? A. Odors B. Slow Drainage (ie difficulty with flushing) 1 C. Wet areas in the yard D. Other (explain) 2 - see narrative 9. Have you ever repaired, added to, or altered any part of your onsite sewage disposal system? Yes 2 No 10 Why? see narrative 10. Comments: see narrative Page 3 January 3, 1990 The remaining questions were answered as follows: 3. Were you the owner of property when the onsite sewage disposal system was installed? Yes 6 No 8 4. Was your onsite sewage disposal system installed under a regulatory authority permit procedure? 3 said yes, g said they did not know. The 3 that said yes all said their systems were inspected at the time they were installed, but did not indicate who the inspector was. 5. Do you know the location of your onsite sewage disposal system? Yes 10 No 2 If yes, is the system in an isolated area or an area with heavy traffic? 8 said in an isolated area; 2 said No (?) ; 1 said his system is under a parking lot. 6. After a heavy rain or snow melt does water stand for a period of time over the area where your system is located? Twelve (12) responding said NO. 1 said DON'T KNOW 7. Have you ever had your septic tank pumped? Yes 6 No 7 If yes, how many times - how long ago: 1) 7-10 years ago, 2) Twice in 15 years (last time - 6 month ago), 3) Once in 1973, 4) 2 weeks ago - 1/month, 5) 1 - November 1988, 6) Once - 10 or more years ago, *7) One property owner responding No - stated the previous owner pumped the tank 12 years ago. 8. Have you ever experienced problems with your onsite sewage disposal system? Yes 3 No 9 If yes what type of problem? A. Odors B. Slow drainage 1 (the respondent pumping his tank monthly) C. Wet areas in yard D. Other: (1) Septic tank outlet pipe replaced in 1973; (2) Tree root in outfall tile. Page 4 January 3, 1990 9. Have you ever repaired, added to, or altered any part of your onsite sewage disposal system? Yes 2 No 10 Why? (1) Improved leaching field with more perforated tile and porous backfill; (2) the tile doing the draining from the tank was broken. 10. Comments: were as follows: 1. "We trust and believe in our onsite disposal system." (Note: they never have experienced any problems nor pumped their septic tank. 2. "Double septic tank, one leach line system serving a single family dwelling occupied by two people." 3. "We have city water and sewer." 4. "No longer in use - Gibbs Plumbing installed disposal to city sewer." 5. "This does not apply to us. We have had city water and sewage disposal for about 10 years." 6. "We believe we are on the city. " 7. "Hope we get city sewer soon." 8. "We purchased in 1948 and later was annexed into city. We have no problems and would like to be left as is. *(Note: have pumped septic tank once, over ten years ago) ." 9. "We have been stubbed in for years for city sewer. We are not in favor of a cess pool situation because of creek. We haven't checked into city sewer for some time. Bob Bergeson is checking the possibilities for us. A brief summary of the results indicates what staff had imagined. The systems are placed into the ground and then forgotten. For an onsite system to properly work over a number of years, ongoing maintenance must occur'. The best example of minimal maintenance is to have septic tanks pumped every 2-3 years. As can be seen by the survey results, this is not being done. Enforcement of Chapter 69 will help emphasize this, but more importantly educate those property owners served by onsite sewage disposal systems that ongoing maintenance is a must.