Problem: When a client with a failing septic system on a lake near Traverse City, Michigan, approached SludgeHammer Group, she was in a predicament. The old leachfield could not be rehabilitated, being too close to the lake, her tank needed to be replaced, and the small lot didn’t seem to provide any space. SludgeHammer representatives realized if they could get her effluent to a highly polished state, subsurface drip might be an option. But they faced the skeptical eyes of local regulators.

Solution: The Traverse Bay Health Department and engineer Harry Luzius had enough experience with SludgeHammer systems over the years to be confident they could fix the problem, but it would take some creativity. The lot was tiny, so the homeowner and the engineer sorted out new parking arrangements to create enough space for a small field. Subsurface drip was chosen to elevate the discharge point to create extra separation from groundwater, but also to get closer to a large tree that would interfere with conventional leach systems. A 1,200-gallon tank was installed with an S-46 Aerobic Bacterial Generator to improve the effluent quality to move safely through drip emitters.

Result: With the last sample at 6 mg/L BOD, TSS at 8 mg/L and TIN at 14 mg/L the drip system is well protected. So is the lake. 231-348-5866; www.sludgehammer.net