Sand lined trench system

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Pgoss8

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we are looking at buying a new house and we’re told we have to have the septic system inspected twice a year. (450/yr, and there is already a contract in place with the home sale from the builder) was told by the county that it is because of the type of system. Type IV-B. My main question is are there any downfalls to sand lined trenches vs rock? Anything else to know?
 
What state are you located in? Having your system inspected twice per year seems somewhat extensive seeing how you should be able to have it pumped for that price and you shouldn't have to do that but every few years anyhow. Really depending on the type of system, occupancy and soil type.
 
We are in Pender county, NC. We were told the lot had too much clay for the septic system so they dug it out and brought sand in. Hence the biannual inspection. After the first year the contract renews and we can use a different inspection company OR I was told I can get certified to do the inspections myself. Could this be true?
 
I'm a couple months late on seeing this, but I thought I'd post anyhow to add a little info for anyone else.

I have no personal experience with septic systems in North Carolina. I'm going based mostly on what little I've looked through the NC state septic rules (Chapter 18, Subchapter 18A, Section 1900, for reference), so feel free to correct me.

It appears that a Type IV system is:
a. Any system with LPP distribution
b. System with more than 1 pump or siphon

I then assume that a Type IV-B has 1+ pump. Either way it sounds like a pumped system. According to the table on pg.50 of the rules, the minimum inspection/maintenance frequency for that kind of system is twice a year. As to being able to inspect it yourself, I'm not sure about that.

Sand lined trenches sound like a form of soil-substitution, where existing soil is dug out more than you usually would for lateral lines and then some amount of better soil is put down inside the trenches or bed to provide better infiltration for the wastewater. It's basically transplanting good soil into an area with bad soil or bad drainage. As to how well this kind of system performs, I have no idea. Considering the high inspection frequency, it sounds like there's either a higher likelihood of malfunction or under-performance, or a higher concern that such a system will malfunction or under-perform.
 

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