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Tennessee Septic Systems Installation Study
Guide Questions and Answers
Conventional Subsurface Sewage Disposal System
Ans: means a disposal system that pre-treats sewage by use of a septic
tank and applies effluent to the soil as described in Rule 0400-48-01-.0
Department
Ans: means the Department of Environment and Conservation.
Disposal Field
Ans: means the part of a subsurface sewage disposal system that
utilizes the soil for absorption and treatment of septic tank effluent.
Domestic Septage
Ans: means either liquid or solid material removed from a septic tank,
cesspool, portable toilet, Type III marine sanitation device, or similar
treatment works that receive only domestic sewage. Domestic septage
does not include liquid or solid material removed from a septic tank,
cesspool or similar treatment works that receives either commercial
wastewater or industrial wastewater and does not include grease
removed from a grease trap at a restaurant.
Dosing Chamber
Ans: means a watertight receptacle which houses a sewage effluent
pump or siphon and stores sewage effluent from a septic tank until it is
pumped or dosed to a disposal field.
Drip Emitters
Ans: means a flow control device that is typically attached to the inside
wall of drip line which allows the discharge of water at a predictable rate
for a given pressure.
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Drip Line
Ans: means polyethylene tubing that has been certified for wastewater
use that incorporates uniformly spaced drip emitters along its length.
Effluent Filter
Ans: means an effluent treatment device installed on the outlet of a
septic tank or dosing tank, which is designed to prevent the passage of
large suspended matter.
Filled Land
Ans: means areas to which more than two (2) feet of soil and/or debris
have been added.
Fragipan
Ans: means natural subsurface horizon with high bulk density and/or
high mechanical strength relative to the solum above, seemingly
cemented when dry, but when moist showing a moderate to weak
brittleness.
Graded Land
Ans: means areas from which soil has been removed and the remaining
soil cannot be classified in any soil series.
Grease
Ans: means animal fats or vegetable oils (resulting from food
preparation) which are discharged to a sewage disposal system or
accumulated in collection devices or traps that are associated with
sewage disposal systems, conduits, sewers, plumbing fixtures and
attachments. However, this definition shall exclude petroleum products,
lubricants, silicones and greases of mineral or synthetic origin.
Grease Trap
Ans: means a device designed to intercept and retain grease present in
sewage or other wastewater.
Gullied Land
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Ans: means areas where gullies occupy nearly all of the surface area.
Areas in which gullies occur within spatial intervals of less than one
hundred (100) feet shall be classified as a soil gullied land complex.
Gullies of more than one hundred (100) feet spatial intervals shall be
located on the soil maps with the designated symbols.
Gully
Ans: means a miniature valley (more than one (1) foot in depth) cut by
running water and through which water generally runs during and
shortly after rainfall.
Installer of Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems
Ans: means a person who contracts or otherwise installs, constructs,
alters, or extends a subsurface sewage disposal system.
Lot
Ans: means a part of a subdivision or a parcel of land intended for the
building of a single house, building or other development where a
subsurface sewage disposal system is to be used.
Maintenance Providers
Ans: means individuals who provide routine or periodic action to ensure
proper system performance for systems authorized by these rules.
Manufacturer
Ans: means the company or its authorized representative producing a
proprietary product.
Miscellaneous Land Types
Ans: means areas on the earth's surface that are non-soil (rocks, water
etc.) and soils that are difficult or impossible to classify in soil series
(filled land, graded land, gullied land, paved areas etc.).
Packaged Subsurface Drip Disposal (SDD)
© 2025 All rights reserved
Tennessee Septic Systems Installation Study
Guide Questions and Answers
Conventional Subsurface Sewage Disposal System
Ans: means a disposal system that pre-treats sewage by use of a septic
tank and applies effluent to the soil as described in Rule 0400-48-01-.0
Department
Ans: means the Department of Environment and Conservation.
Disposal Field
Ans: means the part of a subsurface sewage disposal system that
utilizes the soil for absorption and treatment of septic tank effluent.
Domestic Septage
Ans: means either liquid or solid material removed from a septic tank,
cesspool, portable toilet, Type III marine sanitation device, or similar
treatment works that receive only domestic sewage. Domestic septage
does not include liquid or solid material removed from a septic tank,
cesspool or similar treatment works that receives either commercial
wastewater or industrial wastewater and does not include grease
removed from a grease trap at a restaurant.
Dosing Chamber
Ans: means a watertight receptacle which houses a sewage effluent
pump or siphon and stores sewage effluent from a septic tank until it is
pumped or dosed to a disposal field.
Drip Emitters
Ans: means a flow control device that is typically attached to the inside
wall of drip line which allows the discharge of water at a predictable rate
for a given pressure.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Drip Line
Ans: means polyethylene tubing that has been certified for wastewater
use that incorporates uniformly spaced drip emitters along its length.
Effluent Filter
Ans: means an effluent treatment device installed on the outlet of a
septic tank or dosing tank, which is designed to prevent the passage of
large suspended matter.
Filled Land
Ans: means areas to which more than two (2) feet of soil and/or debris
have been added.
Fragipan
Ans: means natural subsurface horizon with high bulk density and/or
high mechanical strength relative to the solum above, seemingly
cemented when dry, but when moist showing a moderate to weak
brittleness.
Graded Land
Ans: means areas from which soil has been removed and the remaining
soil cannot be classified in any soil series.
Grease
Ans: means animal fats or vegetable oils (resulting from food
preparation) which are discharged to a sewage disposal system or
accumulated in collection devices or traps that are associated with
sewage disposal systems, conduits, sewers, plumbing fixtures and
attachments. However, this definition shall exclude petroleum products,
lubricants, silicones and greases of mineral or synthetic origin.
Grease Trap
Ans: means a device designed to intercept and retain grease present in
sewage or other wastewater.
Gullied Land
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Ans: means areas where gullies occupy nearly all of the surface area.
Areas in which gullies occur within spatial intervals of less than one
hundred (100) feet shall be classified as a soil gullied land complex.
Gullies of more than one hundred (100) feet spatial intervals shall be
located on the soil maps with the designated symbols.
Gully
Ans: means a miniature valley (more than one (1) foot in depth) cut by
running water and through which water generally runs during and
shortly after rainfall.
Installer of Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems
Ans: means a person who contracts or otherwise installs, constructs,
alters, or extends a subsurface sewage disposal system.
Lot
Ans: means a part of a subdivision or a parcel of land intended for the
building of a single house, building or other development where a
subsurface sewage disposal system is to be used.
Maintenance Providers
Ans: means individuals who provide routine or periodic action to ensure
proper system performance for systems authorized by these rules.
Manufacturer
Ans: means the company or its authorized representative producing a
proprietary product.
Miscellaneous Land Types
Ans: means areas on the earth's surface that are non-soil (rocks, water
etc.) and soils that are difficult or impossible to classify in soil series
(filled land, graded land, gullied land, paved areas etc.).
Packaged Subsurface Drip Disposal (SDD)
© 2025 All rights reserved
