Septic Systems
Regulation and Policies
Inspecting Your Septic System
See the information sheet pertinent to your septic system in the second part of the manual for more information. The frequency of inspections depends on the type of septic system you have on your property.
System |
Suggested Frequency |
---|---|
Gravity System | Every 4-6 years |
Pressure Distribution System | Every year |
Sand-Filter System | Every year |
Mound System | Every year |
Subsurface Drip System | Every 6 months |
Aerobic Treatment Unit System | Every 6 months |
*Iowa requires that all septic systems are inspected by a certified time of transfer inspector before properties with septic systems can be sold. This is a separate inspection from annual maintence inspections.
Pumping Your Tank
Solids that are not decomposed remain in the septic tank. It is important to remove solids from the tanks periodically by pumping them out. If they are not removed, they will continue to accumulate until they overflow into the drainfield. This eventually leads to drainfield plugging and failure. The first signs may be slow draining fixtures, however the system may fail by discharging sewage effluent to the ground or backing up into the house.
The speed at which solids accumulate in the septic tank is impacted by the number of people using the septic system, the type of water use, and any other household characteristics. The only way to really know when your septic tank needs to be pumped is to measure how many solids are in the tank. A mantainer will do this as part of their routine inspection.
The tank should be pumped when:
- There are less than 4 inches between the bottom of the floating solids (scum) and the bottom of the outlet baffle.
- There are less than 16 inches between the top of the settled solids (sludge) and the bottom of the outlet baffle.
Resources
- Iowa Code Chapter 69
- Iowa DNR 542-0062
- Procedures for Septic Tank Pumping
- BOH Policy Chatper 1: Private Septic Systems
- Septic System Manual
South Panorama Sanitary District & Lake Panorama On-Site Wastewater Management District
Lake Panorama Septic Inspections
As part of the South Panorama Sanitary District Maintenance program all septic systems except for those systems that are mechanical and under yearly outside maintenance contracts are fully inspected on 4 year cycles. These inspection are not time of sale (transfer) inspections.
Each year an annual fee of $20 is billed to homeowners for each septic system.
Request Copy of Septic Information Pay the Annual Maintenance Fee
Policies
- SPSD Ordinance
- Lake Panorama OWWM District Ordinance
- Lake Panorama OWWM District Rules and Regulations