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More recent Environmental quality questions and answers
Do you have information on the new vault technology as opposed to
the traditional drain rock type of absorption field for an on-site sewage system?
There
are several vault type systems and without more information I am not sure which
one you are wanting to investigate. The National
Small Flows Clearinghouse should
have information on the different systems. Some of the systems are
not approved for Missouri and to find out about a particular system you will
need to contact the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services for approval.
Bob Broz
Water Quality Specialist/Coordinator
As a private land owner can
I legally perform my own percolation test?
When
looking to install an on-site sewage system, you need to contact your local
county department of health to see what rules they may have that are more stringent
than the state regulations.
The next thing is how many acres you may own and whether there is a size minimum that would exempt you from having a professional do the testing. For example, some counties allow you to put in your own system if you have more than 3 acres, some more than 5 acres and others don't have an acreage exemption.
Even as a private land owner, unless you are certified to perform soil percolation testing through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, they will not classify your test as valid for installation of an on-site sewage system by a professional contractor. Many counties have developed on-site sewage standards that don't allow the land owner to perform anything more than general maintenance on their system. Everything else must be done by a licenses and/or certified installer.
Bob Broz
Water Quality Specialist/Coordinator
My single family dwelling lagoon is nearly 30 years old and has
worked
well. However, it seems to be filling with bio solids and sludge. Should
I be concerned about this and if so, who might be able to advise
me on any needed corrective action?
Given the age of the lagoon, it's not unusual that it has accumulated some sludge over the years.
If anything other than toilet paper (such as garbage disposer discharge, coffee grounds, tissue paper, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, etc.) was flushed down the toilets, these can increase the sludge level in the lagoon. Nearby trees that have grown to maturity and have had winds blow leaves into the lagoon can also add to the sludge.
If the water depth becomes less than 3 feet deep due to accumulated sludge, and odor levels seem to be increasing, it's a good idea to pump out the sludge. This can be done by the same companies that pump septic tanks, but will it require repeated suction and discharge from their vacuum tank to stir the lagoon contents into a slurry that can be pumped out. Volume of a lagoon for a modern 3-bedroom home will be about 17,600 gallons.
A backhoe can also be used to remove the sludge, but extra care must be taken to avoid damage to the inflow pipe or lagoon bottom seal.
In either case, the sludge may be hauled to a municipal treatment plant or it may be land-applied, as long as the application guidelines found in WQ422, Land Applications of Septage are followed.
Bob Schultheis
Natural Resource Engineering Specialist
I read WQ402, Residential Sewage Lagoon Systems: A Homeowner's Guide to Installation and Maintenance and have several questions.
I have a lagoon at my new weekend place. It has cattails and duckweed growing in it. Is that a problem? If so, how do I remove them?
The wall is washed out on the lower side to the spill way pipe. It holds quite a bit of water, so I assume the spillway pipe may be clogged but can be cleaned out. How do I rebuild the berm? Can I back fill and compact it?
It is best to remove the cattails and the duckweed. The cattails interfere with necessary airflow over the water surface, and the duckweed interferes with growth of the necessary algae.
The cattails can be treated chemically with an aquatic formulation of glyphosate herbicide (such as Rodeo, AquaMaster, Eagre or GlyphoMate41) in the spring as the plants begin to grow, or they can be manually pulled after they become more mature and the herbicide becomes less effective.
The duckweed can be treated chemically with a herbicide such as Weedtrine-D, Reward, Sonar, or Avast).
Regarding the washout of the spillway pipe, you'll need to lower the lagoon water level below the spillway pipe elevation. The liquid you remove should be spread on a grassy field that does not drain directly toward a property line.
Then remove all vegetation and organic matter from the soil surface on the lagoon berm and recompact soil with a high clay content back around the pipe. Add moist, sticky soil back in 6-inch lifts, compacting each lift with rubber-tired equipment, plate compactor or tamping bar. If the native soil is quite gravelly, you may need to mix in bentonite clay at the rate of 2 pounds per square foot in each 6-inch lift to achieve a good seal around the spillway pipe. The lagoon can then be allowed to refill.
Bob Schultheis
Natural Resource Engineering Specialist
I inherited a farm and found a lot of chemicals in an unheated machine shed. Some are not in their original containers. How can I get rid of them safely? Is there a recycling place?
At various times of the year, there may be recycling events sponsored by various civic or public agencies. Here in Columbia, the Public Works Department puts these on from time to time. Your area may do the same. Give your Public Works Department a call to check. If they don't, contact the Columbia Public Works at 573-874-6291.
Fred Fishel
Extension Assistant Professor
IPM/PAT Coordinator
Updated 11/14/06