Slow drains and backups at a restaurant and pub in Amenia, N.Y., attracted the attention of regulators. When frequent septic tank pump-outs failed to provide relief, the owner closed shop. The three-story building also had three apartments.
A system upgrade was the only solution. Officials suggested the owner contact Onsite Engineering in Syracuse, which specializes in complex designs. "The location would never meet today's construction standards," says owner Eric Murdock, P.E. "Because it had a 30-seat restaurant and 20-seat bar, we could grandfather it into the regulations."
The building used half the lot, leaving
