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excuse my ignorance... septic/sewer question

ckhagen avatar
Beach Fanatic
5,752 views
Let me give a little history first.

We purchased our house approximately 5.5 years ago here in SRB. Of course, we live on a dirt road (never to be paved... :bang: ), and every house on our street at the time was on septic.

Apparently, sewer was put in place within a year of when we bought the house. We had NO idea they had done this until it was over and a neighbor brought it up. Supposedly, whatever agency/county/whomever was responsible for the decision to put it in, was supposed to offer us some sort of "deal" to rid ourselves of septic and hook up to the sewer lines at the time it was being put in, but they ran out of funds by the time they got to our street and didn't notify anyone of the option because they could no longer afford to offer the discounted rate (I've been told this by more than one person in the neighborhood).
Since then of course every newer house on the street has sewer.

I have two little kids (3 and 1). They can't play in the driveway because we don't have one (gravel, can't afford to replace it), they can't play in the street because, well.. they're 3 and 1! I would like to get them a playset, but it's highly advised that you do NOT put these on septic mounds from what I've been told. I would also like to plant a veggie garden, but... yeah not on the septic mound, which btw takes up the ENTIRE back yard.

So... what does it run these days to rip out a septic tank and hook up to existing sewer? Humor me. I'm sure it's some astronomical amount that I wouldn't be able to scrape together in 15 years (we're broke and I'm not ashamed to admit it). But really, just tell me so I can stop wishing and hoping... :idontno:

I would just move, but no one is going to buy this house for what we owe on it right now, even though we bought before the boom... the prices are just too low :cry:

Ok, sorry to be so long winded....

Replies

21
momof2kids avatar
Beach Fanatic
#2
Let me give a little history first.

We purchased our house approximately 5.5 years ago here in SRB. Of course, we live on a dirt road (never to be paved... :bang: ), and every house on our street at the time was on septic.

Apparently, sewer was put in place within a year of when we bought the house. We had NO idea they had done this until it was over and a neighbor brought it up. Supposedly, whatever agency/county/whomever was responsible for the decision to put it in, was supposed to offer us some sort of "deal" to rid ourselves of septic and hook up to the sewer lines at the time it was being put in, but they ran out of funds by the time they got to our street and didn't notify anyone of the option because they could no longer afford to offer the discounted rate (I've been told this by more than one person in the neighborhood).
Since then of course every newer house on the street has sewer.

I have two little kids (3 and 1). They can't play in the driveway because we don't have one (gravel, can't afford to replace it), they can't play in the street because, well.. they're 3 and 1! I would like to get them a playset, but it's highly advised that you do NOT put these on septic mounds from what I've been told. I would also like to plant a veggie garden, but... yeah not on the septic mound, which btw takes up the ENTIRE back yard.

So... what does it run these days to rip out a septic tank and hook up to existing sewer? Humor me. I'm sure it's some astronomical amount that I wouldn't be able to scrape together in 15 years (we're broke and I'm not ashamed to admit it). But really, just tell me so I can stop wishing and hoping... :idontno:

I would just move, but no one is going to buy this house for what we owe on it right now, even though we bought before the boom... the prices are just too low :cry:

Ok, sorry to be so long winded....

Septic companies do not rip out the tank; they pump it out, crush it with a backhoe and fill it up with dirt... I'm sure it will run $2000 or more for that to be done... That doesn't include your sewer hook up. Sewer hook up varies - call the sewer company (South Walton Utilities?, Regional?) and find out about tap fees & hook up. Utility companies are not obligated to offer any deals, more than likely the health dept was trying to get rid of septic systems at the same time the utility company was trying to get sewer in more areas and to make things easier on homeowners & to get things switched over deals were offered. However - it doesn't hurt to ask whatever utility company services your area if they offer anything. (don't always rely on what you hear on the street). Also - call septic companies, or plumbing companies - most will give you a ballpark quote over the phone. (mostly they need to know if they will be able to have easy access to the tank area to get the heavy equipment to it & maybe how far from the house to the street so they know how much pipe needs to be installed & hooked to the sewer line). Not sure if this helped at all... It can be frustrating, but most companies are so familiar with this in this area that they will answer questions.

(in my former life I worked at a septic & sewer company...:blush:)
NotDeadYet avatar
Beach Fanatic
#3
Do ask the utility company. When I switched from septic to sewer, Regional Utilities crushed and filled the septic as a part of the sewer installation. They might not still be doing that, but it wouldn't hurt to ask. Ask for a deal too, explain you were never notified when they brought the sewer down your street.
Be prepared for what I consider a shockingly high monthly bill for that sewer connection. :yikes:
And if you do hook up, be vigilant about water usage and leaks. (Which you should be anyway.) If you develop a leak that you miss it will run up your sewer bill through the proverbial roof. I would have liked to just stay on septic myself, but the water table is too high in my neighborhood, was always a problem, especially when it rained a lot.
jodiFL avatar
Beach Fanatic
#4
I am pretty sure that Regional will crush/fill the tank. If I remember correctly it has to be done to comply with some code or something. When we had it done it was our responsibility to run the lines from the house to the grinder station and to have power available to the pump/grinder station. Most plumbing companies around here have all the info you need once you go to Regional and pay tap fees etc.
elgordoboy avatar
Beach Fanatic
#5
The "deal" I think is financing the amount of the conversion to you over 30 years and maybe saving a grand or two. I believe mine was like 7400$ for everything. The finance rate was negligible iirc. Water and sewer- it was well worth it. I was a big fan of my well water in GA, this here where I am now really not so much.
Camellia avatar
Beach Fanatic
#6
I just called regional to install sewer. All of their prices are on the web site.
If you dont' need a grinder pump it runs around 4,000. If you do, add another 675 or so. To have an old septic system removed is around 1,000 I believe. Do check out their web site , google regional utilities of walton county.
JustaLocal avatar
Beach Fanatic
#7
There is a Florida Statute that requires you connect within a year, but I don't think it's enforced much. I heard rumblings about enforcing it in Freeport a year or so ago when building slowed down.



381.00655 Connection of existing onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems to central sewerage system; requirements.-- (1)(a) The owner of a properly functioning onsite sewage treatment and disposal system, excluding an approved onsite graywater system, must connect the system or the building's plumbing to an available publicly owned or investor-owned sewerage system within 365 days after written notification by the owner of the publicly owned or investor-owned sewerage system that the system is available for connection. The publicly owned or investor-owned sewerage system must notify the owner of the onsite sewage treatment and disposal system of the availability of the central sewerage system. No less than 1 year prior to the date the sewerage system will become available, the publicly owned or investor-owned sewerage system shall notify the affected owner of the onsite sewage treatment and disposal system of the anticipated availability of the sewerage system and shall also notify the owner that the owner will be required to connect to the sewerage system within 1 year of the actual availability. The owner shall have the option of prepaying the amortized value of required connection charges in equal monthly installments over a period not to exceed 2 years from the date of the initial notification of anticipated availability. Nothing in this section shall operate to impair contracts or other binding obligations relating to payment schedules in existence as of October 1, 1993. Nothing in this paragraph limits the power of a municipality or county to enforce other laws for the protection of the public health and safety.

If you had received notice the intention, it sounds like you could have made payments instead of being hit with the cost all at once.
John R avatar
needs to get out more
#8
you actually have a choice to go with the grinder? that's news to me. i thought it was a requirement. what a racket.
momof2kids avatar
Beach Fanatic
#9
you actually have a choice to go with the grinder? that's news to me. i thought it was a requirement. what a racket.


I think what determines to grind or not is the slope to the sewer pipes. You know what they say "***t doesn't flow uphill". :biggrin:

(sorry - sleep deprived today...)
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
#10
Here is the rate sheet for Regional Utilities. Note that prices will vary depending on your location. Also, ask about the payment plan, which I had at my last house. It was something like an extra $6 per bill for the life of the property, rather than lump sum up front. I'm told that they don't do that for new construction.
ckhagen avatar
Beach FanaticAuthor
#11
Thanks for the responses, this has been very helpful.

At least I know who to call now!

I remember when my grandparents in Seagrove went from septic to sewer during the installation they offered them a half-price deal for jumping on it and said it would be double later if they waited. They took out a personal or equity loan to do it IIRC because there was no point in paying double later.

So... it's possible this could cost me little more than a few extra bucks on my bill every month? If that's the case, outta my way!! :floor:
I have heard friends complaining about the price of water/sewer in comparison to the low low price of septic... anyone here with a family of four including two toddlers? How much are we talking about?
ckhagen avatar
Beach FanaticAuthor
#12
By the way...
On the enforcement. I almost had to laugh. If it meant coming up with $7k they'd have to put me in jail to enforce it. Seriously, that's not even in the realm of reality at this point.

But, if it's just a matter of getting it financed and tacked onto the bill, that's different.
Sand Angel avatar
Beach Lover
#13
Regional Utilities does crush and fill septic tanks when sewer is put in, but they do not remove the tank or drainfield material. It can legally be left in place, buried and not in use. If you have a mound system, I'm sure you would like to get the tank, drainfield, and some additional dirt removed if possible. In my consulting job, I work with septic contractors and the health department on a regular basis. I would highly recommend calling Buddy at Windham Septic to check on removal. He does good work, and his prices are reasonable. The office number is 835-3356. You will likely get an answering machine, but leave a detailed message. He will call you back. It is a small business, and he answers calls either late afternoon when he comes back in or the following morning. Good luck! I hope you can work out a deal you can live with.
Jdarg avatar
SoWal Expert
#14
Our water/sewer bill runs $65 to $80/month, which is what we paid quarterly in Louisville.
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
#15
ckhagen, the sewer is directly tied into your County water usage, they charge based on the amount of water you use, because all of that water has to be treated, once you connect to the sewer. It can get pricey. I think the minimum charge for the sewer is around $35 per month, that is based on the minimum usage of 10,000 gallons per month. I have never used more than the minimum, but if I had a family of four, I'm sure that minimum amount would grow rather quickly.

On a side note, this won't enable you to go free with your backyard, but I know a few people who intentionally kept their septic after installing the sewer, so that if something happens like the power goes out for extended period of time, they can still flush toilets, without filling the grinder pump container. They installed a switch valve to divert from one system to the other.
ckhagen avatar
Beach FanaticAuthor
#16
Hm, so I would need to get it totally removed in order to really be able to use it as "just a backyard"? The whole crush and fill wouldn't be enough. We can hardly even keep the grass looking decent on it... it doesn't grow on the sides (we've seeded it multiple times) and the top is just riddled with weeds. The whole backyard is just useless at this point.
seagrovegirl avatar
Beach Fanatic
#17
Hm, so I would need to get it totally removed in order to really be able to use it as "just a backyard"? The whole crush and fill wouldn't be enough. We can hardly even keep the grass looking decent on it... it doesn't grow on the sides (we've seeded it multiple times) and the top is just riddled with weeds. The whole backyard is just useless at this point.

The hump in your back yard is the drainfield...that is where the "slush" goes to settle after running thru the septic tank. When you have the septic crushed, they do not remove the drainfield unless you specify you want it gone....additional cost. Then you may need some fill dirt.
Just FYI..:D
ShallowsNole avatar
Beach Fanatic
#18
Grass always grows greener over the septic tank. The same holds true of other plants as well! I think you could still do your veggie garden there, except for those you have to pull up.
seagrovegirl avatar
Beach Fanatic
#19
NOOOOoo.......Tomatos, for instance, suck up water from the earth....earth meaning sludge. Anything edible gets it's nutrition from sludge, which contains an assortment of bacteria such a salminella.
Lisa Ruby avatar
Beach Fanatic
#20
And a word of caution if you remove the drain field. It's hard to know exact postion and those lines are wrapped in a mesh material holding little stuff similar to the the packing popcorn that scatters everywhere. It was real challenge to clean up, and I still wasn't happy with the appearance of the backyard. My final solution was building an enormous deck with raised areas for plants and an outdoor kitchen. Expensive, but worth it!
seagrovegirl avatar
Beach Fanatic
#21
And a word of caution if you remove the drain field. It's hard to know exact postion and those lines are wrapped in a mesh material holding little stuff similar to the the packing popcorn that scatters everywhere. It was real challenge to clean up, and I still wasn't happy with the appearance of the backyard. My final solution was building an enormous deck with raised areas for plants and an outdoor kitchen. Expensive, but worth it!

Grayt idea!!!
Beach Fanatic
#22
NOOOOoo.......Tomatos, for instance, suck up water from the earth....earth meaning sludge. Anything edible gets it's nutrition from sludge, which contains an assortment of bacteria such a salminella.


When farmers fertilize with cow and pig sh*t, to help grow their crops, how far afield ( no septic pun intended) is that, from using septic waste as nitrogen???????????????????????/

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