Problem: Rustic lakefront cottages on China Lake in Kennebec Valley, Maine, were being converted to seasonal condominiums. An additional drainfield was needed to supplement existing conventional systems to accommodate an increase in the number of cottages and daily design flow. While there were adequate soils on the site, there was limited space for a new drainfield and septic tank.

Solution: Kane Coffin, from E. S. Coffin Engineering & Surveying, designed a 1,990 gpd system to take effluent from 10 of the two-bedroom cottages. Kempton Tobey & Son Inc. installed the drainfield in a bed configuration consisting of six rows of 23 Eljen GSF modules placed on a base of ASTM C33 sand. The modules were spaced 1 foot apart, and overall dimensions of the bed was 23 by 93 feet. The effluent was moved to the drainfield from one of the existing pump stations on site, delivering 4 gallons per module per dose to the bed system.

Result: The system was installed with little overall site disruption and provided treatment and disposal in the same footprint. The quick installation ensured the condominiums were ready for the next year’s vacation season on the lake. 800/444-1359; www.eljen.com.