Septic Installation Services
The Staff at High Performance Earthworks are trained to provide you with high quality and efficient Septic Installation services in Boulder County, Jefferson County, and the surrounding areas. This time-lapse video demonstrates the manner in which your septic system may be installed.
Securing a Bid
Review Project Requirements for Septic Installation Services in Boulder County and Jefferson County.
Visit the job site to assess:
Suggested locations for the septic tank and leach field, how accessible are they in Boulder and Jefferson County?
Where will the excavated septic installation dirt be stockpiled during construction?
Approximate yardage of septic material to be excavated.
Will any septic installation dirt need to be hauled away from the jobsite or moved more than once to complete the project?
Assessment of the soil conditions for septic installation: Does it look rocky or like there is possible groundwater below the surface?
Where can the dump truck drop the delivered sand and gravel in Boulder or Jefferson County if called for in the engineer's plans?
If the engineer's plans call for a poly or concrete septic tank, can the boom truck (concrete tank) access the tank hole? How easily can the excavator set a poly tank in the suggested tank location? These are critical questions during septic installation in Boulder and Jefferson County.
Secure Materials Quotes for Septic Installation services.
Submit Bid for septic installation services.
Bid Awarded.
Sign work authorization agreement to initiate septic installation.
Collect non-refundable $500 scheduling fee.
Schedule the septic installation start-date.
Initializing Work at Job Site
2 weeks prior to first scheduled day of septic installation work: Material deliveries for arrival on the day of the first day of septic installation. (if concrete septic tanks need to be set they need to be scheduled for the arrival only after the septic tank holes are complete and to exact specifications.
1 wk prior to scheduled start date request Utility Locates
Review Engineer Plans for septic installation.
Confirm that all supplies have been appropriately delivered to initiate septic installation.
Locate and mark with spray paint all excavation locations.
Deliver Excavator.
Take pictures of the jobsite before septic installation begins.
Initial Work
Dig septic tank hole/s to spec.
Dig leach field holes/s to spec.
Dig trench from tanks to leach field to spec with a level bedding free of debris and rocks.
Set Septic Tanks with boom truck (concrete tanks) or excavation equipment (poly tanks).
OPEN-HOLE Inspection Checklist
Is the septic leachfield hole the proper dimensions at the bottom of the hole?
Is the septic leachfield hole level at the bottom?
Does the septic leachfield hole have a manway for inspection?
Is the septic leachfield hole safe with benches stepping back to stabilize the soil appropriately for the soil conditions?
If yes, Call for open septic leachfield hole inspection.
Inspection Complete
Set all septic pipes according to engineer’s spec.
Build septic leachfield according engineer’s spec.
FINAL INSPECTION PRIOR TO BACKFILL
Are all septic components hooked up properly.
Is the septic leachfield level?
Backfill
Minimize vehicular traffic over septic leachfield as much as possible.
Backfill the septic leachfield, trench, and septic tanks.
Ensure complete compaction beneath the pipe entering and exiting the septic tank or provide for a settling shell over that section of pipe that doesn’t have a properly compacted bedding.
Ensure surface runoff won’t puddle over leachfields or around septic tanks.
Create a swale or berm around the upper edge of leachfields to direct surface runoff around the outside of the septic leachfield.
Apply topsoil to the leachfield and septic work site if necessary according to the customer’s request.
Rake out the entire jobsite and spread native grass and wildflower seed and cover with straw to minimize erosion.
Final Job Completion Checklist
Walk-through with the customer.
Explain septic filter maintenance.
Offer Tim Petz service contract in Boulder County, Jefferson County, and surrounding areas.
Notify back office to submit final bill.
History of Septic Systems in Boulder County and Beyond
A Boulder County septic system is a type of treatment system for wastewater that is located underground. It is a self-contained and highly efficient system. Compared to centralized sewer systems, Boulder septic systems tend to be the more economical choice for residential homes, specifically in rural areas where there is often more distance between residences and property lots are larger. Learning more about Boulder County septic systems, how they originated, and what needs to be done to ensure proper maintenance and care is important - especially for those who have a septic system on their property. Better understanding Boulder County septic system regulations will make sure that you are compliant with them.
Overview of Septic Systems in Boulder County and Beyond
Septic systems in Boulder County are a type of water-tight container. They are usually constructed of fiberglass, concrete or polyethylene. The tank part of the system holds the septic wastewater, allowing grease and oil to rise and solids to fall to the bottom of the septic system.
A Boulder County septic system receives and collects all of the home’s wastewater. After essentially separating the solids from the clarified wastewater, it sends this water to the drainfield associated with the system. This is where the last treatment and disposal occurs. The following are the primary components of a septic system in Boulder County:
Septic Pipe that connects the home and the Boulder County septic tank together so that waste can get directly into the septic system.
The septic tank itself that is buried underground where the waste collects. This is essentially a very large container that is watertight and it holds the wastewater long enough for it to allow for partial solid waste decomposition and to allow for the settling out of solids.
The associated septic drainfield or leachfield that the septic tank wastewater drains into.
The soil that works to aid in effective wastewater treatment.
Timeline of the Septic System
To learn more about the evolution of the septic system, you want to see how it has changed over the years:
The first septic system prototype was made of concrete in 1860. The pipes were made of clay and this was created by John Mouras.
Around the year 1870, Mouras took the system apart and found that there was very little solid waste. In fact, mostly liquid effluent was present.
The patent for Mouras’ tank design was granted in 1881.
Throughout the United States, the septic system was being introduced in many areas in 1883.
During the economic boom that happened in the United States in the 1940s following the war, the septic system was the more cost-effective waste removal alternative.
In the 1960s, cities could not keep up with sewage treatment plant construction and the older septic systems that people had were starting to fail.
By the time the 1970s came around, more regulations were coming down the pike to ensure that both septic and sewer systems were both installed, designed and maintained properly.
In 1993, the guidelines and standards to ensure healthy and modern systems were established by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Emptying
To empty a septic tank in Boulder County, a special truck with a vacuum is used. On average, a residential tank should be emptied every three to five years. The truck will use a large hose and connect to the tank to pull out the accumulated sludge. If a Boulder County septic tank is not emptied when it needs to be, this can result in problems, such as clogs, which can result in very costly and time-consuming repairs for the septic system.
Septic System Maintenance in Boulder Colorado
Maintaining your septic system is critical to ensuring that it works properly and that you can reduce the need for expensive repairs. All homeowners should create a maintenance schedule to make sure that all work is done as needed. The general maintenance tips and strategies for your system should include:
Pumping and inspecting your septic system on a regular basis to ensure that it does not fill up or continue to function with issues in need of repair
Make sure that you are using water as efficiently as possible to prevent prematurely filling your septic system
When you dispose of waste, it has to be done properly to reduce the risk of clogs and other septic system damage
Ensure that your drainfield is well-maintained so that it continues to function as it needs to for your Boulder County septic system
User’s Actions
There are several things that users can do to help preserve the integrity of their Boulder County system:
Avoid disposing of grease and oils
Do not flush items that are not biodegradable in Boulder
Do not dispose of food waste in the toilet
Be mindful of the chemicals that get into the septic system
Avoid flushing salted water
Other Factors
There are some other things to be aware of to help keep your Boulder County septic system in good condition:
Remove plants from around the area of the septic tank, specifically those with deeper roots
Be mindful of precipitation since when there is significant precipitation this could result in backflow into your septic tank
Keep small buildings and structures away from your septic system
Keep an eye on biofilms which could cause a blockage in your system
Septic Tank Additives
There are a number of additives that are sometimes recommended as something that could benefit your Boulder County septic system. However, not all additives are as helpful as they are made out to be. In many cases, they do not do what they are purported to do and can be very costly. There is little research to support the benefits of these additives, so you are best off skipping them.
Septic Systems & Environmental Concerns
Compared to a general sewer system, your septic system is not going to be more hazardous to the environment as long as you maintain it properly. However, there are a few things to be aware of so that should they occur, you can quickly get them taken care of in Boulder, Colorado.
Septic System's Odor and Gas Emissions
In wastewater, certain things could result in toxic or pungent gas. For example, when the right anaerobic conditions are present, sulfates can be reduced to hydrogen sulfide. Ammonia might result from organic nitrogen compounds or nitrates. As the result of certain fermentation processes, there is also the risk of methane gas or carbon dioxide.
Nutrients in the Septic Effluent
Algae blooms can result from nitrogen compounds, but Boulder County septic tanks cannot just remove these compounds on their own. There are technologies that work specifically to help reduce nitrogen. Certain systems will be designed to ensure that effluent cannot get into any nearby bodies of water to prevent this. To help prevent algae blooms and other potentially toxic growth, such as cyanobacteria, it is critical that the system is properly constructed and that the right precautions are taken. Another concern is eutrophication that can result from phosphates if they are allowed to saturate the soil. This is generally seen when the soil is either especially coarse or sandy.
Septic Groundwater Pollution
Groundwater pollution is another concern for septic tank owners in Boulder Colorado. This problem is most common in parts of the country where the population is highly dense. There are cases where imposing subdivision of property limits and moratoriums can be helpful for this issue. It is also important that people ensure proper septic system maintenance to aid with this.
Surface Water Pollution
When a septic system is not properly maintained, there is a chance that it could pollute nearby bodies of water, such as small ponds, lakes, and streams in Boulder Colorado. If there are sea species in the water that people catch and utilize for food, this could result in the fish or shellfish being contaminated. Once the pollution levels are detected and determined to be too high, these bodies of water might have to be shut down to human harvesting, resulting in people not having access to a potentially viable food source.
International Septic Use
Septic tanks are quite common throughout the world. In fact, in the United States alone, it is estimated that approximately 25 percent of households have a septic system instead of a centralized sewer system. They are most common in rural areas, but are also found in small towns and suburbs. Certain neighborhoods in Indianapolis, Indiana, a large American city, also use septic tanks for wastewater disposal.
Regulations
There are certain regulations in different parts of the world that those with septic systems should be aware of to ensure that they are in compliance - Particularly in Boulder Colorado. These also help to ensure that the systems are properly maintained which is beneficial to the area and the person who has such a system on their property.
European Union
The standards for septic systems in the European Union are set in the EN 12566. More specifically, in parts one and four of this set of standards related to septic systems and the testing they must pass to be used.
Australia
Throughout Australia, the various State Governments are responsible for creating their own regulation requirements for septic systems. These are generally done through the Environmental Protection Agencies and the Departments of Health in the respective states.
United States
In the United States and Boulder Colorado, homeowners are responsible for ensuring that their septic system is up to code and properly maintained. This standard is set forth by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
The below photo demonstrates that Boulder County septic installation requires a deep dig. This is completed with an Excavator.
The below photo demonstrates that Bolder County Septic Installation is designed to be seemlessly integrated into the natural environment.
