Montana septic systems...anyone? (Great Falls: sale, how much, home)

[Delaneyland]

Okay, I gotta know. My lovely wife and I are considering moving and are looking pretty hard at a place in rural N.E. MT. I was speaking to the owner last night and when it got to the subject of the septic system, he told me he's just got a perforated pipe embedded in rock with an outlet into the ditch. I asked if it was considered a legal system and he said he didn't know but couldn't see any reason why it wouldn't be. Living in MN, the gov't regulates EVERYTHING about construction and I just find it hard to believe it is legal. Anyone know??

[sdcowgirl]

I don't know but if you are looking in Valley County --- call 406-228-6264 and talk to the county sanitarian and he can tell you--- or give you info on other county sanitarian's telephone numbers. Hope that helps!

[YOU-CANT-EAT-SCENERY]

Sounds like just a leach line. I would think that it should have a tank, and then a perforated leach line coming out of the tank, for liquids. I'm not in construction, soI don't know exactly how those systems work.
We're spoiled here, being on public sewer system...of course we pay for that priveledge too.

[Delaneyland]

Thanks John, I have a real good idea how they work, I've just never heard of this type of system, then again, here in MN everything is pretty much illegal anyway. I'm just curious if anyone that lived there had an idea if it was a legal system or not. I considered calling the county (thanks cowgirl) where this place is, but it is pretty rural and I don't want to get the guy in trouble if the person I talk to puts two and two together. The fella selling it seemed to think it was a pretty common thing (his type of system) throughout the state and I was hoping to find someone with some working knowledge of system requirements. Again, the last thing I want to do is get the county involved and get the owner/seller in hot water.

[MHT]

When we built our last home in MT in 2003 we had to have a septic tank and the liquid ran out into a leach field (perforated pipe). At that time we had to have a permit and a "perc" test to determine how much leachfield we had to have. I do know that some older septic systems were grandfathered in when permits became mandatory but I don't think that "running into the ditch" would be legal anywhere.

If you like the property and do want to purchase it just factor in the cost of a septic system. We just paid about $3500 here in WY for one. Check with local excavators, etc. on the cost there.

[GiftShoppeGuy]

I wouldn't worry about it.

The state has gotten pretty strict about grey water over the recent years.
Inspections have to occur, and systems are supposed to be engineered these days, by state law.

Chances are good that the old boy has a simple tank and drainfield system...

North of Great Falls, all of the systems have to be mound systems because of all of the clay and poor drainage. Most other areas of the state perc well however, and simple tank and leach line is perfectly legal.

So, as I said.... I wouldn't worry about it.

>>> ...."Leach lines are trenches that are filled with washed rock/gravel to flow level. Perforated pipe lays on top of the rock at a level grade. More rock is added to cover the pipe, and paper or other approved filter material is used to keep soil from filtering down into the rock. The paper does deteriorate, but by the time it does the soil is compacted enough to prevent it from dropping into the rock. Perforated leach lines are usually the first choice for a standard individual sewage disposal system design. The pipes of an approved material and are pre-drilled to allow the effluent to trickle through the gravel for treatment. The lines are also shallow enough (12" to grade) for some aerobic bacteria breakdown and some evapo-transpiration.

The area of an individual sewage disposal system's disposal field is sized based on the proposed sewage flow and the soil's percolation rate.
Individual sewage disposal systems are designed to accommodate a sewage flow of 350 gallons per day plus 150 gallons for each additional bedroom. A standard leach line is considered to be three (3) feet wide and three (3) feet deep with a length as required. A non-standard leach line is wider, narrower, and/or deeper than three (3) feet with a length as required......" <<<

[rambrush]

A lot of places they get away with just burying a perforated 55 gal drum. Yes its not legal kosher etc.

We had the health septic gal come out of Anaconda deer lodge county. She drove the 8 + miles off the paved road to get to our place. She measured the distance from the creek and the wetlands and gave us the location where a septic could go and the depth.

Same goes with Electric inspector was only like 1 guy to inspect the state and he could not inspect every building. some went un checked because of it.

[Delaneyland]

Thanks for all the replies guys and girls...I'm not necessarily worried about it, I just don't want a potential deal getting "flushed" at the last minute. Here in MN, one must have a certificate of compliance issued by the county (unless the system is less than 5 years old) before a sale can close and I didn't know if MT had that type of regulatory system. Actually, I was hoping they didn't, all the Gov't regulation is a primary reason my wife and I are considering a move. All the comments are appreciated! Believe it or not, here in MN a guy has to get a permit to put in a driveway...that should give you some idea why I'm so inquisitive.

[YOU-CANT-EAT-SCENERY]

Originally Posted by Delaneyland

Believe it or not, here in MN a guy has to get a permit to put in a driveway...that should give you some idea why I'm so inquisitive.

Same here. I think "technically" any improvement that costs more than $500 requies a permit and inspection here. Of course I'm not doing that, since I am doing my own work

[Reziac]

It's probably a 55 gallon drum with a leech line. Those used to be pretty common for quick replacements to the venerable outhouse. Chances are it won't be a problem, but at worst you might wind up having to put in a new septic system -- not really a dealbreaker if the rest of the place is what you want.

I lived two places in MT that only had an outhouse, and our cabin just outside of Glacier Park still only has an outhouse. They were legal (might still be in places, I don't know for sure) when it was built, and at this late date is evidently grandfathered -- as when we juggled its ownership a few years ago, the state and county had nothing to say about it.

~REZ~