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I looked at a house in CT over the wkd, and was told by the listing agent, that any property that is sold that has a septic tank must be converted over to the city's sewer system.
I called the town to confirm this, and then asked why. The response I got was, the city's sewer system is safer and more sanitary in the long term. How?
Because it doesn't discharge human waste products into the ground?
This is a no-brainer.
RM
Quote:
Originally Posted by North Beach Person
Or into local waterways.
Yes it does both of these things. It just treats it with chemicals and discharges all of it in one place, which to me is not necessarily better. It definitely depends.
OP - Many cities do this to encourage hookup to the sewer because they can control it. Lots of times you can keep your septic but they won't allow replacement if something fails. People should contact the governing health dept and find out the actual rules. Then talk to a septic pump/repair company, because they may tell a different story.
Among other things, because a thousand houses on 1/5 acre lots each with a septic tank would be a massive cholera breeding ground.
Yes, at some point on small city lots, there just isn't room for septics any more. Out here in the country, that's not an issue. Big part of what depends.
OP, if the municipality requires hookup, then it is not optional. Where I live, all homes new and old require hookup to municipal water and sewer. Here, there is an option for using wells, for irrigation only, if they currently exist on a lot but permits are not allowed for new wells in the city limits for residential lots.
Because it doesn't discharge human waste products into the ground?
This is a no-brainer.
RM
Quote:
Originally Posted by North Beach Person
Or into local waterways.
A properly designed and functioning system doesn't have an adverse impact on the environment. However, they need adequate room to function and aren't suitable for small lots if everyone has one.
I suspect the bigger driver of the requirement to hook up is to increase revenue into the city water/waste water system.
I was not aware this could be a hazard. Cholera - really?
The lot of this particular house is just over an acre.
My first thought is that someone from the local govt is in bed with a company or two who do the work. I hate thinking that way, but there is so much damn corruption, it's hard not to.
I am not buying the house, but I was curious anyway. Always good to learn something. Apparently, the cost to do this is around 20k. Yikes. It was supposedly built into the asking price, so the buyer will not ultimately be responsible for the cost. I have my doubts if that will really work out for whoever buys the house; as I am not a potential buyer, I have not done any comps, but based on the little bit that I have been keeping my eye on certain areas, the asking price seems inline with FMV.
Yes it does both of these things. It just treats it with chemicals and discharges all of it in one place, which to me is not necessarily better. It definitely depends.
In a properly functioning septic system chemicals are not used. It's strictly reliant on the bacterial breakdown of the effluent entering from the house.
Solids drop to the bottom, grease and oils on the top, and liquid and broken down effluent flow out to the drain field, where the liquid can percolate into the ground, which removes all the nasty stuff, like coliform and other such things that are bad for us.
Think of a septic tank as a giant bacteria farm. There are such things known as "advanced septic" systems that involve a more complex setup with multiple tanks and things like aerobic digesters.
Please don't put chemicals into a septic system. You can wreak some serious havoc by doing so.
RM
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