Septic and cesspool engineering

[mailes]

A cesspool is easy; Set it and Forget it!

[Amock]

Thanks, I have lived with septics for years, sometimes they are a pain.

[YurtGirl]

Atlas Engineering are our choice every time! They get our vote, all the way. Timely, professional, and nice too!

Melissa Fletcher
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"Make yurts, not war" Bill Coperthwaite, 1973

[unknownjulie]

This is the way I understand it. You can have someone come in with a dozer and cut in a driveway and dig an "unpermitted at the time" cesspool. The important thing that I was told was "get an engineered lid" ($650) and it will not have a problem being permitted later when you submit the house plans. I do not know if this is absolutely accurate.

[YurtGirl]

What the heck is an engineered lid?? Julie, we were talking about the value in what people like me do in another thread. Here is a prime example. You can ask ten people who think they know something about building, permitting, etc. and then waste time going down ten different paths. Or you can ask someone who does it for a living and save the time and money in avoiding the misinformation.

The cesspool engineering is typically $400 - $600 depending on where you are and your conditions. In Kona it is more, or if you have to line it because you are in dirt instead of rock. Orchidland it should be around $400. For engineering the whole thing. I have never heard of just an engineered lid... Don't see the sense in that whatsoever and it sounds like you got info from someone who doesn't have a clue.

Melissa Fletcher
___________________________
"Make yurts, not war" Bill Coperthwaite, 1973

[YurtGirl]

Ps, a dozer can't dig a cesspool. You need a machine with a hammer and a long arm. When you use a dozer to do drive and site prep, you still have to pay to get a whole other machine in there for the cesspool, and you end up paying more. A dozer can clear and level a bit faster, but you pay on average twice as much more per hour for a dozer over an excavator, so there's no savings unless you are ripping (read:clear cutting) the majority of the lot.

Melissa Fletcher
___________________________
"Make yurts, not war" Bill Coperthwaite, 1973

[unknownjulie]

An engineered lid, is a preformed lid that is brought to the lot and put in place- as opposed to an "onsite poured lid". The guy I was speaking with actually digs cesspools, so I would think that he would know....

[unknownjulie]

When I see a big machine, I call it a "dozer". Sorry for any confusion. I dont really care what it's called as long as it is big and can carve out a driveway and dig a cesspool.

[YurtGirl]

Excavator . That's the one that can do both. Dozers have the big blades and tracks. most don't have a lot of ability to add attachments.

I haven't heard of that kind of lid, which doesn't mean it isn't an option, but I don't really see the benefit in paying more for it... You still need to have an engineer sign off on the whole system for your permits, which entails their inspections and designing for the substrate/ground. Be sure you don't make the common mistake of thinking that just because they say they dig cesspools, they know what they are talking about. Unless they are licensed, there are tons of yahoos around here with a machine who say they can dig your hole and you get stuck with an expensive mess. I've seen it happen an incredible amount in Puna.

Melissa Fletcher
___________________________
"Make yurts, not war" Bill Coperthwaite, 1973

[unknownjulie]

I have a D9 looking at the lot tomorrow to give me an estimate just for the driveway and housepad. If the price is right and he's good, then I'll post his info when he's done. Ihave a 10 foot tall rise in the center of my lot that is quite formidable. Yes, would definately call the building dept to verify about cesspools, prior to having one dugout or capped.