Wet Weather Installation of Sewage Systems

Installing new or replacement sewage systems is never advisable in wet inclement weather.  A study by the Grey Bruce Health Unit of sewage system failures revealed that 89% of failed systems were installed during the wet seasons of the year.

Clay soils when wet tend to smear and do not allow for proper effluent absorption, while silty soils will tend to puddle with the same result.

Where raised sewage systems must be installed, wet weather can play havoc by saturating the fill material, thus preventing proper stabilization and causing ponding on the prepared underlying area.  This may permit tiles to go "off the proper slopes" as the material drains.  Backfill material can freeze making it unworkable.

Depending on the average temperatures at the time of installation, if the soil, either native or imported, is saturated, frost will tend to go down deeper into the disturbed material.  In worse cases, the tile bed will freeze up.

Lastly, there is always the human element to consider.  Working in wet, muddy, cold conditions is not ideal.  Clothing gets wet, hands get cold, faces freeze and there is a natural tendency to get things done as quickly as possible, at the expense of good workmanship.  Avoid having your sewage system installed during the wet season if at all possible, and that way you’ll avoid the headaches of a failed system.

For further information call Public Health Unit at 376-9420.