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RhodoView Dunes STEP (Septic Tank Effluent Pump) System
The sanitary sewer system within RhodView Dunes is very different from the typical sanitary sewer system within the City. Due to the uniqueness of the system, the City feels that it is important that residents of RhodoView understand how the system operates and what the responsibilities are of the homeowner and the City.
What is a STEP (Septic Tank Effluent Pump) System?
Within the RhodoView Dunes development, each home or property has a STEP system. The STEP system is very much like a standard septic tank waste disposal system except it employs a pump, which only pumps the liquid (water) effluent from the septic tank. It does not pump solids or undissolved paper products. Just like a standard septic tank system, the solids collect in the tank and have to be removed by vacuum truck once every seven to eight years. The STEP system consists of three floats. One float triggers the pump to start ("on float"); a second float ("off float") signals the pump to stop and the third float ("alarm float") is a high level alarm. Inside of the tank is a basket that houses the pump. The actual high level alarm is located inside the home and is plugged into an electrical outlet. Power for the pump is supplied from the residential power panel.
How the STEP System Works
When water and waste material is flushed or drains into the home plumbing, it travels by gravity to a holding tank. The basket and screen inside the tank are there to keep the waste solids away from the pump and allow the pump to convey the effluent (water only) to the main sewer system. When the water level in the tank reaches the point where it trips the "on float," it sends a signal to the pump to run until the water level is reduces to where the "off float" is triggered. This process repeats itself as the water level rises and falls. If, for some reason, the "on float" does not send a signal to the pump to run, or the pump has an issue, the water level will continue to rise until it reaches and trips the "alarm float." The "alarm float" is set slightly higher than the "on float" and, when activated, indicates a high water level in the tank. The "alarm float" will not start the pump. It only indicates that the water level in the tank is high and as usage continues, the tank can either overflow onto the ground, or, if the plumbing inside the home is lower in elevation that the top of the tank, wastewater can back-up into the home. Once the "alarm float" is tripped, a signal is sent to the alarm box inside the home and the alarm unit will emit a loud warning sound and there will be a red indicator light. The alarm will continue to sound until the alarm silence button is depressed. Once the alarm is silenced, the alarm light will remain on as long as the water level is high in the tank. If the alarm is activated, please notify the City as soon as possible.
To remove the solids that build up in the tank over the years, a City crew with a combination sewer cleaner truck will pump the liquid and of all the solids out of the tank. They will also clean the tank using the truck. Under normal conditions, the tank should be pumped out every seven to eight years.
City Responsibility
The City is responsible for the tank and the system inside the tank (pump basket, pump, floats, and pump discharge line to the sewer main in the street). This includes the electrical wiring in the junction box at the tank (and excludes electrical wiring to or from the home.) The City is also responsible for pumping out and cleaning the tank.
Homeowner's Responsibility
The homeowner is responsible for notifying the city if and when the alarm system in the home goes into alarm or was in alarm at some time. If the alarm is triggered, please call Public Works at 541-997-4106 Monday through Friday from 8AM-5PM, except on holidays. If the alarm is triggered before 8AM or after 5PM, on a weekend, or on a holiday, please call police dispatch at 541-997-3515 and they will notify the appropriate personnel to respond. Just like a typical sewer system, the homeowner is responsible for the sewer lateral (service) from the tank to the home. In addition, the homeowner is responsible for the electrical system from the junction box inside the tank to the home.
