Challenge: Failing Septic Tanks
Bloomingdale, Georgia, relied on septic tanks until 1984. When tests were performed, the city discovered that the septic tanks did not perc properly and "the city was just saturated," said Ernie Grizzard, Public Works Superintendent. A moratorium on building permits was issued until a central sewer system was installed.
Solution: Choosing a Central Sewer System
Both pressure sewer and gravity sewer were considered. Pressure sewer was chosen for several reasons, including burial depth for the sewer mains: because frost is not a concern in Bloomingdale, mains are located approximately 3 feet below the surface (pressure sewer mains are buried just below the frost line, which varies by location). Gravity sewer mains commonly require depths of 15 to 20 feet regardless of frost depth.
