TENNESSEE SEPTIC SYSTEMS
INSTALLATION EXAM QUESTIONS AND
DETAILED ANSWERS. EXPERT
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS.
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.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,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.
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 - 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
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, 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) - ANS 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 - ANS means the rate at which water moves into the soil as determined by a
percolation test.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
INSTALLATION EXAM QUESTIONS AND
DETAILED ANSWERS. EXPERT
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS.
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.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
,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.
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 - 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
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, 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) - ANS 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 - ANS means the rate at which water moves into the soil as determined by a
percolation test.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
