J & H Soil Testing & Septic Systems

In response to your letter dated 4/4/regarding Jerry [redacted] 's new mound system:I was contacted by Jerry later last summer that he had a problem with the mound systemI stopped over to the residence and observed that he did have a problemMy observation was that the mound was very saturatedI contacted Jerry and told him he must have a leak to the mound system, such as a toilet or faucetJerry told me he would check all of the options I suggested and contacted me back stating that there was no leakI spoke to him and asked him how many people were living in the home and he told me nine people, I was in shock because the new mound system was only sized for eight people full time and four bedroomsI then told him he should start pumping his tank to relieve the mound of all the water and told him to keep his kids and everyone away from that area.Jerry then provided me with some information from his water softener that he was using between and gallons of water a per dayThis four-bedroom mound system is designed for gallons per day but the estimated flow for the mound system should be around gallons per day as per the Wisconsin State CodeWhich he is using double the amount of water that the mound system can handleI was still in shock at how a single-family home could use that much waterI tried going over where all this water was coming from and I was told he did three loads of laundry a day, ran the dishwasher twice a day and then we got to the showers he told me on average that six people in the house take twenty minute showers or more a day So now we know where most of the water is coming from (shower use)As we spoke again I told Jerry that he needed to conserve on water and his exact words to me were "that is not an option"I then expressed again that he needed to start pumping the tank to relieve the mound of this waterIn the meantime, I was in contact with several State & County Sanitarian's to get their opinion on which is the best way to resolve this problem, generally when we have this type of problem we establish the main water source, then we can figure out a resolution and the septic system will rehab itselfThis being a unique situation due to Jerry telling me that it was not an option I wanted to get other opinions, as this is why I contacted several State & County Sanitarians.Also upon inspection of the site the yard was graded so all the water would run over to the mound system, his sump pump discharge and downspouts for the gutters all were running right at the mound and he told me he recently pumped out his pool and all the water ran that way as well.Once I received some information from all of the Sanitarian's I told Jerry that it would be best to install another mound system on the property and that we could alternate between the mounds, when the pump kicks on it puts the water to one mound and the next time it runsit goes to the other mound.Jerry sent me over his original soil test on September 28th after are conversationWith mound system's the soil has to be dry and not frozen down eight inches to install, which makes these systems very seasonalWith it being this late in the year I told Jerry that there was not a chance that we would be able to install another mound system due to the soil conditions and permitting process which we would have needed to conduct another soil test, then design the new mound, send the design to the State for approval and then get County approvalI told him we would have to install a new mound in the spring and I told him he would need to pump his tank to let the existing mound dry out throughout the winterIt is my understanding that the tank was never pumped to get rid of the health hazard as well as give the existing mound a break so when the new mound is installed all the water would not be going to the new system.We size septic systems on bedroom's, the State figures two people per bedroom and requires us to size these septic systems with a design rate of gallons per bedroom per day (not a flow rate) and an estimated flow rate of gallons per bedroom per dayI have been in contact with the County and they sent me over a copy of the zoning permit which has nothing to do with the mound system it is about the houseIt clearly states on two pages that the house was a fourbedroom residenceThe County also told me Jerry himself was the one who filled out, signed, dated and obtained the zoning permitThe County told me that when Jerry spoke to them earlier this year about the sizing of the house he told them that it had seven bedroomsAs far as sizing the mound system I don't need to look at a set of prints to determine the sizing, the homeowner knows how many bedrooms will be in the house that they are buildingIn my opinion a 7-bedroom mound system would have done the same thing as the 4-bedroom did, due to the heavy volumes of water this system received.I have also attached a copy of the Zoning Permit signed and dated by Jerry and a copy of the final inspection report for the mound system from the County stating it was up to code and inspected.Please contact me with any further information needed