Rockwell AdvanTex Installations
As some of you may have noticed, Rockwell started their first AdvanTex install on the corner of Nordic and the Richardson Highway two weeks ago, on August 25th. The first install went very smoothly and they were able to button things up there by the end of the week. They will come back next spring to do the final grading and hydro-seeding. They moved on to two installs on adjacent properties and are putting the finishing touches on them now. Their schedule for next week looks like they will be moving up to some of the Richardson Highway located installations. They expect to get two done per week and hope to be finished before November.
King Bee Mound Installations
King Bee returned to the subdivision to insulate the remaining mound tanks. They finished up with the Blueberry Lake paving project and have been working on two adjacent mound systems over on Nordic (it was a busy road this last week!). They expect to finish up on Nordic and move back over to Aspen Way on September 14th. From there they will be moving to Snowflake and Wilderness Ct and hope to finish up by October 9th. They have buttoned up their first two installations that are operational and will return next spring to finalize topsoil / grading.
ADEC Effluent Testing
The City received copies of effluent testing the ADEC did on 15 of the AdvanTex systems. For the full report, click here. We were overall pleased with the results, the majority of the systems were clean and running with very high quality effluent. Two of the systems had very high counts of fecal coliforms and high amounts of grease in the filter fabric. The City will work with these homeowners to make sure that the system is being used appropriately. A third system had high BOD and we believe from talking to the homeowners this is because of the large amounts of detergents that go down the drain due to the home’s business. Anchorage Tank is working with them on that issue. Though we have written it before, please remember septic bugs (the organisms that break down the Septic influent) are living creatures that cannot survive in grease and die when too many harsh chemicals come their way. Look for detergent products in the store that say they are septic safe. Save the grease from frying pans and griddles in jars and store them in freezers for a rainy day or just allow grease to solidify in paper bowls and throw it out once they are full.
Phase II
A number of homeowners needed to withdraw from Phase II for a variety of personal reasons and a number of homeowners have had septics fail or were simply in the right place at the right time to be switched into Phase II. It appears that this jumble of sites is slowing down, but do not hesitate to contact the City if you feel your septic needs replacement now. We have ordered an extra AdvanTex tank for emergencies and will work with anybody who asks.
Minor details
AdvanTex systems require a phone line to call into Anchorage tank and report that they are healthy or that they have an alarm going off. Those people who do not have a phone line to their house and do not wish to have a phone line installed need to look at getting a mound system or a different type of package treatment plant under option 2.
AdvanTex systems have a $400 a year maintenance fee that includes spring and fall tune ups and unscheduled maintained visits in the event of a septic alarm. This is not an optional fee and must be paid in order to ensure the septic system is being monitored and maintained. Anchorage Tank does work with homeowners on this and allows bi-yearly or quarterly payments.
We are still working on a process for evaluating those sites that may already meet DEC requirements. When that process is finalized we will contact those homeowners who have asked to be evaluated to meet DEC standards and get something in writing that says their septic systems pass.
That's all for this morning folks but, like we always say, drop us a line on the blog or give us a call, we'd be happy to hear what you have to say :).
