I’ve never seen this before. It doesn’t seem right, but I cannot find anything that specifically disallows a septic tank in the home.
The house had been added onto and, therefore, the septic tank ended up in the added-on room. In the room, there is a cleanout sticking out of the slab about 6 to 8 inches. Just under the cap, there is a 2-inch vent pipe that comes out horizontally then turns up, goes up along the wall and out through the roof.
Can anyone tell me if there is anything in the code that specifically disallows this?
(My picture of this did not work out for some reason.)
I have to agree with Roy, there is no way that is allowed anywhere in the developed world.
Off the to of my head I believe the absolute minimum clearance between the structure and the tank is 5 feet, but most jurisdictions require 10 feet. (I know Massachusetts Title 5 calls for a minimum of 8ft.)
That home has to have been added to without the benefit of permiting or inspection.
On Site Sewage Facilities are controlled by the Texas Commission On Environmental Quality. The required separation distance from a structure is 5’. Also don’t forget the 10’ separation to water lines.
RULE §285.31 Selection Criteria for Treatment and Disposal Systems
(d) Separation requirements. OSSFs shall be separated from features, in the area where the OSSF is to be installed, that could be contaminated by the OSSF or could prevent the proper operation of the system. The separation requirements are in §285.91(10) of this title.
You’re also supposed to have clear access to leeching fields, drain tiles, tank, etc. I can’t put drive, patio, etc over one - do you think a house gets special consideration for being over the tank.
Russel, actually, at least around here, you MUST crush up the old one so it could NEVER be reused. I realize there are some STUPID people in the world, and since we don’t have building codes in most of the areas I cover, I understand some of the stupid things people have and will do, but I really think this wins as the stupidest S$it (:)) I have seen.
My closest competition to this was the newly enclosed patio which enclosed the former exterior of the chimney with the former exterior ash cleanout which now was right there in the middle of the newly enclosed patio, and a nice pile of ashes all over the newly installed carpet. Dumb, dumb, dumb.
Wow, that is so cool you know that! I lived in Galax for four years! It is really very beautiful, even if it was VERY backasswards back then. We got our eggs from a little lady living in the side of a hill, had to hike through the woods and over hill and dale to get to her. I loved it!
