Tennessee Septic Systems Installation Study
Guide UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Conventional Subsurface Sewage Disposal System - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - means the Department of Environment and
Conservation.
Disposal Field - CORRECT ANSWER - means the part of a subsurface sewage disposal
system that utilizes the soil for absorption and treatment of septic tank effluent.
Domestic Septage - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - 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.
Drip Line - CORRECT ANSWER - means polyethylene tubing that has been certified for
wastewater use that incorporates uniformly spaced drip emitters along its length.
,Effluent Filter - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - means areas to which more than two (2) feet of soil
and/or debris have been added.
Fragipan - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - means areas from which soil has been removed
and the remaining soil cannot be classified in any soil series.
Grease - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - means a device designed to intercept and retain
grease present in sewage or other wastewater.
Gullied Land - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - means a
person who contracts or otherwise installs, constructs, alters, or extends a subsurface sewage
disposal system.
Lot - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - means individuals who provide routine
or periodic action to ensure proper system performance for systems authorized by these rules.
Manufacturer - CORRECT ANSWER - means the company or its authorized
representative producing a proprietary product.
Miscellaneous Land Types - CORRECT ANSWER - 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) - CORRECT ANSWER - means a pre-
engineered SDD system or ATS/SDD system that has been approved by this Department for a
definite set of site criteria.
Percolation Rate - CORRECT ANSWER - means the rate at which water moves into the
soil as determined by a percolation test.
Percolation Test - CORRECT ANSWER - means a method of determining the usability of
an area for subsurface sewage disposal by testing for the rate at which the undisturbed soil in a
series of test holes of standard size will absorb water per unit of surface area.
Person - CORRECT ANSWER - means any and all persons, including individuals, firms,
partnerships, associations, public or private institutions, municipalities, or political subdivisions
or officers thereof, departments, agencies, or instrumentalities, or public or private corporation or
officers thereof, organized or existing under the laws of this or any other state or country.
Guide UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Conventional Subsurface Sewage Disposal System - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - means the Department of Environment and
Conservation.
Disposal Field - CORRECT ANSWER - means the part of a subsurface sewage disposal
system that utilizes the soil for absorption and treatment of septic tank effluent.
Domestic Septage - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - 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.
Drip Line - CORRECT ANSWER - means polyethylene tubing that has been certified for
wastewater use that incorporates uniformly spaced drip emitters along its length.
,Effluent Filter - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - means areas to which more than two (2) feet of soil
and/or debris have been added.
Fragipan - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - means areas from which soil has been removed
and the remaining soil cannot be classified in any soil series.
Grease - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - means a device designed to intercept and retain
grease present in sewage or other wastewater.
Gullied Land - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - means a
person who contracts or otherwise installs, constructs, alters, or extends a subsurface sewage
disposal system.
Lot - CORRECT ANSWER - 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 - CORRECT ANSWER - means individuals who provide routine
or periodic action to ensure proper system performance for systems authorized by these rules.
Manufacturer - CORRECT ANSWER - means the company or its authorized
representative producing a proprietary product.
Miscellaneous Land Types - CORRECT ANSWER - 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) - CORRECT ANSWER - means a pre-
engineered SDD system or ATS/SDD system that has been approved by this Department for a
definite set of site criteria.
Percolation Rate - CORRECT ANSWER - means the rate at which water moves into the
soil as determined by a percolation test.
Percolation Test - CORRECT ANSWER - means a method of determining the usability of
an area for subsurface sewage disposal by testing for the rate at which the undisturbed soil in a
series of test holes of standard size will absorb water per unit of surface area.
Person - CORRECT ANSWER - means any and all persons, including individuals, firms,
partnerships, associations, public or private institutions, municipalities, or political subdivisions
or officers thereof, departments, agencies, or instrumentalities, or public or private corporation or
officers thereof, organized or existing under the laws of this or any other state or country.
