A Sanitation System Checklist - Consult Before Buying Somebody Else's Problem

Given that nearly half of all the homes in America are on septic systems, anyone buying a home outside major metropolitan areas has a one in two chance of ending up with a septic system. Few states require inspection of sanitation systems before allowing homeowners to sell. The assumption is that you, the potential buyer, will do your own inspection. The same would be true when buying commercial buildings. Here is a walk-through list of what to ask and what to do.

First
What type of sanitation is in place?
If the property has city hookup, what is the monthly fee?
If the property is new but permitted for city hookup, what will be the cost?

With city sewer hookup you need go no further with this checklist.

Second
What sanitation system is in place?
When was it first used?
What records are available showing problems, repairs and any alterations?

Without a trustworthy maintenance record you are about to buy a pig in a poke.

third If the sanitation system is a septic system, ask these questions:

When was it installed?
Have there been any problems?
Where is the maintenance documentation?
What is the cost of operating the system?
How often does it need routine monitoring and servicing?
How long is the system expected to last?

Fourth Ask to inspect the leech field.

The leech field is the area where perforated lines have been laid below the ground surface. Treated waste is dispersed through these lines and discharges into the ground. Look for pools of water and areas of mud on the surface of this area. These would be indicators that the treated waste matter is not percolating into the ground properly: a red flag.

Look for ruts and tire tracks. Driving a vehicle, tractor or heavy machinery over a leechfield can crack or compress the leech lines: a red flag.

Check for the access manhole cover where the septic system would be pumped. Also check for how the system's tanks or treatment chambers are accessed. In both cases be sure the access is secured against a small child accidentally falling or climbing into the system. Any access covers should be out of the traffic pattern of vehicles and machinery so as to ensure that the cover will not be accidentally be damaged or loosened. This is important in places where snow could cover them to the point that a driver would not know they are there.

Fifth If the property does not have city hookup or a septic system ask these questions about the alternative system:

What is the system?
When was it installed?
How long is it expected to last?
How does it work?
What does it cost to operate?
What are you supposed to do to keep the system operating well?
What problems have there been and when did the problems occur?
What was the solultion and how much did it cost?
Where are the service and maintenance records?

Then: ask for a demonstration.

Remember: aside from the toilet, most of a home's sanitation system is hidden from view. That makes it easy to take for granted that everything is in working order. The tendency is to ignore what is not visible. Sanitation is one of the hidden foundations on which any civilization rests. At the current time in our history that foundation could be in considerably better condition than is the case!

Losoncy is the president of clean Up America, Inc, a company that markets a new type of waterless toilet/sanitation system known as the Eloo. To learn more about Eloos go to http://www.eloo.us

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Mysteries of Muscle Memory

When you learned to write, you trained the muscles in your arm and hand to create letters. It took time and concentration to do this, but with repetition it became automatic. Your hand developed muscle memory; when you write your name, your muscles remember how to move without focusing on the process.

Dancing, yoga, gymnastics and weight training are examples of other activities that require enhanced muscle memory. We can make the learning process easier and help establish muscle memory by using a few simple techniques:

* Visual images
* Repetition
* Slow motion
* Micromovement

Imagery

Using a visual image is an effective way to train your body to perform a new dance step or exercise. The best visual images are those which are familiar and detailed.

In dance, visualizing a movement helps you perform the step. For example, if a dancer wants to make an S-curving motion with her body, she can visualize a fish swimming, a camel walking, or a snake crawling. Since the best visual images are familiar and detailed, visualizing the color, texture, shape and markings of the image make it more vivid and effective. Likewise, visualizing yourself correctly repeating a new dance step or exercise makes the learning process easier.

Many people find geometric shapes helpful. For example, you can imagine drawing a big circle to make learning a belly dance hip circle or circle step easier. A square is a useful image for learning a box step or hip square.

Repetition & slow motion

Repetition helps fix a new exercise or dance movement in your mind, so that the next time you perform it, you remember it more easily and perform it with less effort. Slow repetitions of a new exercise or dance step enable you to feel every nuance of the movement.

Rushing through a movement before youve completely mastered it skips over the important process of sensing every nuance of the movement; beginning dance students and exercisers often need to be reminded to slow down. Going slowly helps your muscles recognize precisely what the movement should feel like when performed correctly.

Micromovement

Micromovement means performing a movement in a very tiny way, using the least range of motion possible. For example, if you were writing the letter O ten inches high and then writing o in a script so tiny it could barely be seen, your O would require a much larger hand movement than tiny letter o, the micromovement. Using a tiny range of motion helps you sense subtle muscle movements which are occurring, but micromovements must be performed with awareness to get the full benefit. Going slowly helps.

Have fun with learning!

Select the movement or exercise you are working on, then answer the following:

Imagery: what animal, shape or object does it remind you of?
Repetition: what kind of music would help you when practicing this movement?
Slow motion: how many counts does it take you to complete one repetition?
Micromovement:what is the smallest range of motion you can use for the movement?

Ramona is the author of Dynamic Belly Dance, the Joyful journey of Dancemaking and Performing. See free belly dance videos, read book excerpts and order an autographed copy at http://www.DynamicBellyDance.com

Copyright 2007 - All rights reserved worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article, give author name credit and follow the EzineArticles terms of service for publishers. Thank you!

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