Georgia Septic Installer Practice Test

What is required inside a dosing tank when there are more than 500 linear feet or less than 1000 linear feet of absorption lines?

1. A backup pump

2. A filter

3. A control panel

4. A level indicator

The correct answer is: A backup pump

In septic systems with more than 500 linear feet or less than 1000 linear feet of absorption lines, a backup pump is required inside the dosing tank to ensure reliable waste management. The reason this is necessary relates to the potential for failure in the primary pump due to the increased distance and complexity of the absorption lines. If the primary pump fails, the backup pump provides a fail-safe mechanism to continue the transport of effluent to the absorption area, preventing backups or system failure that could lead to environmental contamination or health hazards. The presence of a backup pump helps maintain the continuous operation of the septic system, ensuring that effluent can still be dosed appropriately, thereby enhancing system resilience and efficiency. This is especially critical in larger systems where the likelihood of issues may increase due to the extended set-up. Other components, while important in their contexts, do not serve the same immediate purpose of maintaining operation in the event of a pump failure. Thus, the requirement for a backup pump reflects a proactive approach to managing the potential risks associated with a larger system.