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• Septic system books, references & septic design manuals listing and recommendations

This document lists key septic system design guidelines, codes, manuals, standards, and journals - information about and specifications for conventional and alternative septic systems - onsite wastewater disposal systems.

Most of these texts can be purchased online through our InspectAPedia Online Bookstore supported by Amazon.com.

The bookstore includes detailed septic book reviews and recommends specific texts. Citation of this article by reference to this website and brief quotation for the sole purpose of review are permitted. Use of this information at other websites, in books or pamphlets for sale is reserved to the author. Technical critique and content contributions are welcomed.

© Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

DESIGN MANUALS - Septic Design Books, Septic Standards & Codes, Onsite Wastewater Publications

Septic System Design Manuals & Septic or Onsite Wastewater Disposal System Building Codes

• British Columbia, Canada Sewerage System Regulations, Standard Practice Manual, Inspection Guidelines provided by the BC Ministry of Health and posted online by BCOSSA British Columbia Onsite Sewage Association, Victoria BC tel: 250-391-8442 email: info@bcossa.com
• Buyer's Guide Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems Inspection & Testing - What to Do, Step by Step.
• Design Basics for Septic Systems: Choosing Septic Tank Size, Absorption System Size - basic septic system volume and absorption system design guides.
• SEPTIC DESIGN ALTERNATIVES: Alternate Onsite Wastewater Disposal Designs for Septic Systems - design engineers, consultants, products, books for special problem situations, difficult soils, old system repairs
  Including: aerobic septic systems, chemical toilets, composting toilets, disinfection systems, evaporation/transpiration septics, greywater systems, holding tank septic systems, incinerator toilets, media filter septics, pressure dosing septic systems, raised bed septics, sand filter bed septics, wetland septic treatment systems.
• US EPA Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual
• Inspecting Septic Systems: Online Book, Inspection, Test, Diagnosis, Repair, & Maintenance: Our Online Septic Book: Septic Testing, Loading & Dye Tests, Septic Tank Pumping, Clearances, details of onsite waste disposal system inspection, testing, repair procedures.
• Soil Percolation Tests soil perc testing
• 75-A.0 New York State Regulation of & Design Specifications for Private Septic Systems includes septic system construction details:
  75-A.3 Sewage flows and design flow estimates
  75-A.4 Soil and site appraisal for Septic Systems
  75-A.5 House or building sewer line specifications
  75-A.6 Septic tank capacity requirements, installation, and placement (conventional septic tank and septic drainfield)
  75-A.7 Distribution lines, distribution boxes, gravity flow, pressure distribution, dosing, siphons
  75-A.8 Subsurface treatment of effluent, absorption field requirements, leach field design criteria (conventional septic tank and septic drainfield)
  75-A.9 Alternative Septic System Designs mound systems, raised bed septics, sand filter bed septics, evaporation/transpiration septic systems. others.
• International Private Sewage Disposal Code, 1995, sponsored by BOCA - 708-799-2300, ICBO - 310-699-0541, SBCCI - 205-591-1853.
• Onsite wastewater treatment systems, Bennette D. Burks & Mary Margaret Minnis. Textbook and reference manual on all aspects of onsite treatment. This is one of the best books we've reviewed on the subject, with an excellent balance of clear simple explanation and solid engineering. Topics: Soil & Site Selection, Hydraulics, System Selection & Design, Wastewater Biology, History & Mythology of Onsite Wastewater Treatment. $49.95, Hogarth House, Ltd, 800-993-2665 x327 to order *800 -993-2665 x327 (Univ. Wisc. Bookstore)
• The NSFC Products List has an excellent list of design manuals/modules available from their website or by telephone 800-624-8301
• Top Reference: US EPA's Design Manual for Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Disposal, 1980, available from the US EPA, the US GPO Superintendent of Documents (Pueblo CO), and from the National Small Flows Clearinghouse. This document is now also available online at http://www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/Pubs/625R00008/625R00008.htm
• US Public Health Service's Manual of Septic Tank Practice, 1959.
• "International Private Sewage Disposal Code," 1995, BOCA-708-799-2300, ICBO-310-699-0541, SBCCI 205-591-1853, available from those code associations.
• "Manual of Policy, Procedures, and Guidelines for Onsite Sewage Systems," Ontario Reg. 374/81, Part VII of the Environmental Protection Act (Canada), ISBN 0-7743-7303-2, Ministry of the Environment,135 St. Clair Ave. West, Toronto Ontario M4V 1P5 Canada $24. CDN.
• Submissions welcome. send us a suggested document link or request an exchange of website links

SEPTIC STANDARDS - Septic System Onsite Waste Disposal Standards

• Canada: British Columbia Sewerage System Regulations, Standard Practice Manual, Inspection Guidelines provided by the BC Ministry of Health and posted online by BCOSSA British Columbia Onsite Sewage Association, Victoria BC tel: 250-391-8442 email: info@bcossa.com
• United States: Pennsylvania: Three septic standards have been developed in "Standards Related to On-site Septic Systems," ISBN 0-8031-1836-8:
  D 5879-95 Standard Practice for Surface Site Characterization for On-site Septic Systems
  D 5921-96 Standard Practice for Sub-surface Site Characterization of Test Pits for On-site Septic Systems
  D 5925-96 Standard Practice for Preliminary Sizing and Delineation of Soil Absorption Field Areas for On-site Septic Systems.
  Inquiries to Staff Mgr Comm. D18 Soil and Rock, ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, voice: 610-832-9500, fax: 610-832-9555, email: service@astm.org
• The National Society of Consulting Soil Scientists soil science pointers. Emphasis on locating standards of practice, criteria (like Hydric Soils) and handbooks
• 75-A.0 New York State Regulation of Private Septic Systems
  75-A.1 Introduction to Septic Systems, Definitions of Septic System Terms
  75-A.2 Regulation of Sewage Treatment Systems by other agencies
  75-A.3 Sewage flows and design flow estimates
  75-A.4 Soil and site appraisal for Septic Systems
  75-A.5 House or building sewer line specifications
  75-A.6 Septic tank capacity requirements, installation, and placement
  75-A.7 Distribution lines, distribution boxes, gravity flow, pressure distribution, dosing, siphons
  75-A.8 Subsurface treatment of effluent, absorption field requirements, leach field design criteria
  75-A.9 Alternative Septic System Designs
  75-A.10 Other systems
  75-A.11 New product/system design interim approval

...

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SEPTIC BOOKS - Septic System Design, Repair, Service Guide Books

In addition to the septic system design, installation, repair, and alterative design books listed here, you can save time and money ordering these books on septic systems - click on the book-title link - or for detailed septic book reviews and recommendations check out the more detailed book descriptions at the Amazon.com supported InspectAPedia Bookstore

• Septic System Inspections, Diagnosis, Repair, & Maintenance: our online book, offered at no charge (comments, critique, feedback welcome) including Septic Testing, Loading & Dye Tests, Septic Tank Pumping, Clearances, Septic System details of inspection and testing procedures.
  
  Septic System Maintenance, Repair, Design Books

• Septic System Owner's Manual, Lloyd Kahn, Blair Allen, Julie Jones, Shelter Publications, 2000 $14.95 U.S. - easy to understand, well illustrated, one of the best practical references around on septic design basics including some advanced systems; a little short on safety and maintenance.

• Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, Bennette D. Burks, Mary Margaret Minnis, Hogarth House 1994 - one of the best septic system books around for serious professionals
• Advanced Onsite Wastewater Systems Technologies, Anish R. Jantrania, Mark A. Gross.
• Water Wells and Septic Systems Handbook, R. Dodge Woodson. This book is in the upper price range, but is worth the cost for serious septic installers and designers.
• Builder's Guide to Wells and Septic Systems, Woodson, R. Dodge: $ 24.95; MCGRAW HILL B; TP;
• Wells and Septic Systems, Alth, Max and Charlet, Rev. by S. Blackwell Duncan, $ 18.95; Tab Books 1992.
• Onsite Wastewater Disposal, R. J. Perkins;
• Design manual: Onsite wastewater treatment and disposal systems, Richard J Otis, published by the US EPA.
• Country Plumbing: Living with a Septic System, Hartigan, Gerry: $ 9.95; ALAN C HOOD & TP;
• Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank, Bombeck, Erma: $ 5.99; FAWCETT; MM;


• Builder's Guide to Wells and Septic Systems, Woodson, R. Dodge: $ 24.95; MCGRAW HILL B; TP; 01.97
• Country Plumbing: Living with a Septic System, Hartigan, Gerry: $ 9.95; ALAN C HOOD & TP; 01.86
• Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank, Bombeck, Erma: $ 5.99; FAWCETT; MM; 01.77
• Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, Bennette D. Burks, Mary Margaret Minnis, Hogarth House 1994 - one of the best books around, small font, weak index
• Rural Water Supply, New York State Department of Health, 1966, Revised 1995, includes septic distances and some basics. Thin reference.
• Septic System Owner's Manual, Lloyd Kahn, Blair Allen, Julie Jones, Shelter Publications, 2000 $14.95 U.S. - easy to understand, well illustrated, one of the best practical references around on septic design basics including some advanced systems; a little short on safety and maintenance. you can also buy this book here
• Wells and Septic Systems, Alth, Max and Charlet, Rev. by S. Blackwell Duncan, $ 18.95; Tab Books 1992


• Book Listing Submissions Invited Contact Information for D Friedman send us a suggested document link or request an exchange of website links. We also write and publish book reviews for texts within our field of expertise.


• BUY SEPTIC BOOKS ONLINE
• BUY GREYWATER BOOKS
• BUY COMPOSTING TOILET BOOKS

Greywater Systems and Rainwater or Water Conservation Systems

Greywater and Rainwater System Design Manuals and Books - methods for water recycling, water conservation, rainwater collection, and septic field load reduction.

In addition to the septic system design, installation, repair, and alterative design books listed here, you can save time and money ordering these books on septic systems - click on the book-title link - or for detailed septic book reviews and recommendations check out the more detailed book descriptions at the Amazon.com supported InspectAPedia Bookstore

• The New Create an Oasis With Greywater, Art Ludwig; Buy New: $14.25. Ludwig is one of the most thoughtful, prolific, and sometimes controversial writers on gray water systems
• Builder's Greywater Guide, Art Ludwig; Buy New: $10.17. Installation of Greywater Systems in New Construction & Remodeling; A Supplement to the Book "Create an Oasis With Greywater"
• Branched Drain Greywater Systems, [superseded by "The New Create an Oasis with Greywater"], Art Ludwig.
• Create an Oasis With Greywater: Your Complete Guide to Choosing, Building and Using Greywater Systems , Art Ludwig, [superseded by new edition] (Paperback) You may prefer the newer edition available and listed above.
• Rainwater Catchment Systems for Domestic Supply: Design, Construction and Implementation, Erik Nissen-Petersen, John Gould.
• Guidelines on rainwater catchment systems for Hawaii , (CTAHR resource management publication) Patricia S. H Macomber. This more technical document may be especially helpful for rainwater collection
• Design for Water: Rainwater Harvesting, Stormwater Catchment, and Alternate Water Reuse, Heather Kinkade-Levario.
• The Toilet Papers: Designs to Recycle Human Waste and Water : Dry Toilets, Greywater Systems and Urban Sewage Sim Van Der Ryn, Wendell Berry;
• Rainwater Reservoirs Above Ground Structures for Roof Catchment : Most Common Rainwater Tanks in Comparison and Construction Manual, Rolf Hasse.
• Quality issues in harvested rainwater in arid and semi-arid Loess Plateau of northern China, K. Zhu, L. Zhang, W. Hart, M. Liu, H. Chen (out of print, find by search and deferred order)
• City eying home water-recycling technology; uses bath and washer water for irrigation., (ReWater Systems' equipment for greywater irrigation):
  
• BUY SEPTIC BOOKS ONLINE
• BUY GREYWATER BOOKS
• BUY COMPOSTING TOILET BOOKS

Composting Toilets and Low Water or No-Water Toilets

Design Manuals and Books - for water conservation, composting toilets, waterless toilet systems, and septic field load reduction.

In addition to the septic system design, installation, repair, and alterative design books listed here, you can save time and money ordering these books on septic systems - click on the book-title link - or for detailed septic book reviews and recommendations check out the more detailed book descriptions at the Amazon.com supported InspectAPedia Bookstore

• Composting Toilet System Book: A Practical Guide to Choosing, Planning and Maintaining Composting Toilet Systems , David Del Porto, Carol Steinfeld
• The Humanure Handbook: A Guide to Composting Human Manure, 3rd Ed., Joseph C. Jenkins
• Thermal composting of faecal matter as treatment and possible disinfection method--laboratory-scale and pilot-scale studies, B. Vinneras, A. Bjorklund, H. Jonsson
• Experiences with a composting toilet article from: Countryside & Small Stock Journal, available as HTML download


• BUY SEPTIC BOOKS ONLINE
• BUY GREYWATER BOOKS
• BUY COMPOSTING TOILET BOOKS

SEPTIC MAGAZINES - Septic System and Onsite Wastewater Magazines or Electronic Publications

• A Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems
• Pumper Magazine magazine for septic servicing industry, equipment sources, classified ads, business articles
• Septic System Inspections, Diagnosis, Repair, & Maintenance: our online book, Septic Testing, Loading & Dye Tests, Septic Tank Pumping, Clearances, Septic System details of inspection and testing procedures.
• Swopnet Engineering Databank articles and information about septic systems.
• Pipeline wastewater topics for community officials and Small Flows technical information for engineers and regulators, are free newsletters available from National Small Flows Clearinghouse, 800-624-8301, 304-293-3161-FAX or Email to order NSFC publications
• Small Flows Journal ideas and methodologies for solving wastewater issues for small communities


• Submissions welcome. send us a suggested document link or request an exchange of website links

More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

• The Septic System Information Website home page for this topic
• Septic Systems Inspection, Testing, & Maintenance- online textbook. Detailed how to inspect, maintain, repair information
• The Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems
• Septic Tank Pumping Guide: When, Why, How to pump the septic tank
• Home & Outdoor Living Water Requirements
• Septic Tank Capacity vs Usage in Daily Gallons of Wastewater Flow, calculating required septic tank size, calculating septic tank volume from size measurements
• How Big Should the Leach Field Be? - table of soil percolation rate vs. field size
• Septic System Drainfield Absorption System Biomat Formation - what leads to drain field clogging and expensive drainfield repairs
• Table of Required Clearances: Distances Between Septic System & Wells, Streams, Trees, etc.

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