Septic Tanks, COVID-19 Antibodies & The August Effect
“En raison de congés nous serons fermés du 5 Août au 27 Août inclus ”
(Due to vacation we will be closed from 5th August to 27th August)
Crap…..the August effect.
It’s been 9 weeks, 4 days and 5 hours since our septic tank broke (not that anyone is counting or anything like that), and after several official visits and over 40 pages of submitted documentation, we were finally, blissfully at the last stage of the approval process to get it replaced. All we needed was a signature from the Mairie, and sign-off from the SMDEA. But alas, I’d made a terrible mistake. I’d managed to forget one of the most important tenements of French life, the fact that everything comes to a complete screeching halt in the month of August.
Double crap….so to speak.
This is life in La France in August. It’s vacation time, the annual shut-down where everyone flees to beach & lands afar, a sacred period that’s so ingrained it’s practically part of the French Constitution. It’s the one month of the year you never want to plan anything important at all.
Your local baker might decide to take off, or your optician, likely your banker, your insurance agent and your doctor too. Even our psychologist is gone for the month, which does probe some deep and philosophical questions for the state of our local mental constitution. But perhaps depression is on vacation too?
Either way, in Août our village becomes a quasi-ghost-town with endless doors closed and signs of “congé annuel” stuck on the windows of shops. Should you require anything urgent during this time you’ll likely be met with a generic Gallic shrug, and the all-encompassing explanation of “Mais, on est en Août” (but, we’re in August…).
Surely it can wait….
So, We Have A New Septic Tank Now (Just Not In the Ground)
Admittedly our proposed schedule was probably a little rushed. We’d only planned two months for our septic tank replacement, thinking that would cover all the basics, and we thought we were well ahead of the game too.
As you might recall our old septic consisted of two basic concrete tanks where all the “waters” from the house collected, filtered through a bucket of lava stones, which then magically seeped away into our drain field. Pretty simple and perfect while it worked, but also deeply flawed. Our clay soil here is not nearly porous enough to allow proper drainage (filtration rates are simply way too slow), so even though the system appeared to work while my dad lived here on his own, it quickly started to overload and show it’s flaws when we turned up and added to the total.
Our new septic will fix all that and more. It is going to be spectacular, as far as septic things go, and will handle the errmm required load with the ease of a spring breeze.
It will be the state of the art in poo management, the very pinnacle of human output processing. We’re going to have the equivalent of a mini-aquarium that’s both compact, simple, and elegant. All our household stuff will flow into a large tank where a series of 3 compartments will treat it, first through anaerobic breakdown, then through an aeration chamber with a specially designed honeycomb bacteria bed (sustained by a low-power air compressor), and finally through a settlement chamber. The resulting output will essentially be clean water that can be ejected directly into our garden or any regular water outlet.
It’s going to be a big one too…
The way septic tanks are sized in France is very specific, as all French things are. It all relates to how many pièce principales (rooms) your house has, which in turn determines how many people could potentially live in your house. So, for example if your house has 5 rooms (kitchen & bathrooms excluded) then it’s considered a 5 Équivalent-Habitant (5 equivalent-person) home. It doesn’t matter what the rooms are currently used for. They could be living rooms, bedrooms, offices, gyms you-name-it. What’s important is that your house has 5 rooms that could potentially be used to house 5 people. So, your septic tank needs to be sized for that too.
Yes, that’s the law….
In our house we have 9 pièces principales, so despite the fact that there’s only 3 of us living here, our new septic tank will be sized for 9 people using it full-time, 365 days/year. That’s a lot of potential you-know-what. Or if you want to be specific it’s exactly 4,731 litres of “stuff” that requires a tank around 3.10m long and 1m64 high. A beast of a system!
The unit we went for is from a Irish company, Tricel that’s well-known and well-used in our area, backed by a 20-year guarantee (the more the better, as far as poo is concerned IMO). The only “active” part of the tank is the above-ground compressor which uses the electrical equivalent of a 60W light bulb, and the only required maintenance is pumping out the sludge that eventually accumulates at the bottom of the primary compartment once every 4-7 years. Easy peasy.
Our tank was delivered by a large crane last week, and is now sitting prettily on our lawn for our viewing and admiration pleasure until such time as the paperwork gets finalized….which might well have to wait after the end of the month.
On est en Août, tu sais? (we’re in August, ya know)
In The Meantime, Dad & I Got Tested For COVID-19 Antibodies
In the meantime life goes on and COVID-19 (the curse of 2020) is ever on our minds, especially as cases are starting to rise again all over the Europe. So, over the past few weeks I’ve become increasingly interested in SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) antibodies, or rather the potential of them.
I’m not the only one.
Scientists all the over the world have been studying this intensely. You see antibodies are molecules that are produced by the immune system to fight infection, and if we can get the body to trigger the right ones and enough of them, we can effectively neutralize the virus all by ourselves. Basically your body just fights it off all. Amazing, and fabulous….
But of course it isn’t that simple. Folks who’ve had the virus will naturally produce antibodies in their blood, but what we don’t know is what quantities they produce, why some people produce more than others, and more importantly, how long the antibodies last? The latter is critical, not only for the general population (we can only gain “herd immunity” if antibodies, or the memory B cell of them are lasting), but also for the effectiveness of any eventual vaccine.
Which is why, as soon as I read you could get an antibody test in France, I called up my local pharmacy to ask…
“Est-ce que vous avez des tests d’anticorps pour le COVID?” (Do you have any COVID-19 antibody tests)?
I could tell the question took them a bit by surprise. There was a pause and then some furious discussion ensued in the background, in which they tried to figure out if they did indeed have the tests and then whether or not I needed an appointment to get tested (French process and all that). Apparently I was the first person who had asked (I’m a bit of a pioneer in that respect, in our little rural hamlet), but eventually they did come back and confirm. Yes, they had them and I could just drop on by.
So the next day, dad (who was also rather curious) and I went down for the test.
And yes it was very simple, just a finger prick and a drop of blood, and ~10 minutes later we had the result. The little test measures both IgM and IgG, so you get an indication of whether you’ve had the virus recently, or longer ago. The test can give false negatives & positives of course, but it’s pretty sensitive, and more accurate the further back you go.
We both tested negative.
We didn’t think we’d had the virus, but we had been in contact with someone who thought they did back in Feb/March, before everything blew up. Plus it was interesting to chat to the pharmacist who confirmed that they too had seen a lot of strange symptoms in that same time-frame (they too, tested negative). So, is it because antibodies disappear after a few months*? Or because no-one has had the virus in our area? The search goes on…and for only €15 (~$18), we’ve contributed our data.
*Note/ The prevalent thinking is that SARS-CoV-2 antibodies may only last 3-4 months, which is obviously not great. But there’s also mounting evidence that T-cells are heavily involved in battling the virus too, which may make the whole waning thing less of an issue. Plus, the “memory” of the infection may be enough. Either way it’s all very interesting from a science point of view.
And The Heat Goes On
The other August effect we’re enduring is the heat, that ever-there, ever-unrelenting summer chaleur.
And it’s official now.
This week they announced a “canicule” which is described as “un épisode de températures élevées pendant plusieurs jours consécutifs, de jour comme de nuit”, which basically means it’s hot as a Carolina Reaper both day and night, for multiple days in a row. So, we’ve been living inside our house-caves, watching the plants broil, and basically just trying to hold out until cooler temps prevail.
Perhaps it’s a good thing France shuts down in August, as it’s literally too hot to do anything at all. And our septic situation? I figure all our overflow “stuff” is just naturally combusting out there at the moment, which may actually be quite eco-friendly. It’s all as it was meant to be. “On est en Août, après tout” (we’re in August, after all).
So, my dear readers, how’s your August going? DO tell and share in the comments. I’m always interested 🙂
You’re funny as hell! Can you post everyday??? I need some cheer in my life . . . . so THAT’s what a Carolina Reaper is, eh? Good analogy 🙂 Curious about how much y’all invested in that beautiful new huge sewer system, including the plumber and excavator and equipment, converted into USA currency. I’m kinda sorta in the same situation of bureaucratic shindigs you guys are in, trying to get a land-disturbing permit from city hall to remove a grove of unhealthy scraggly saplings/trees so I can build a house there next year. My required written plan and map for erosion control was rejected, they said it was “shocking” (because it wasn’t done by a $1,200 engineer with auto-CAD). So keep your stories coming OK? Misery loves company 🙂
Oh I FEEL your pain on that land-permit!! Ugh! As for the cost of our new septic, it’s going to come to around EUR 9,000 in total (tank, excavation, labor, everything), which translates to around $10,600. It’s not too bad I think, and it’s about the going rate in the area. Hopefully we should only have to do this once, and we should be good for the next 20 years or so….
Nina
I had forgotten about the August vacation! I was stationed in Germany for 5 years, the Germans also have a month vacation and it seems most of them take it in August. (Maybe that is why we always had long field problems in August, I had never equated the two.)
Septic systems can definitely be a pain at times. The first time we had to have ours emptied we couldn’t find the top outlet! Somewhere between the system being placed and us moving into the just built house about 2 feet of dirt was put on top! Well of course that cost extra. Joys of home ownership in the country.
We had the same problem when Paul’s mom sold her house in Miami several years back. We couldn’t find the darn septic cover!!!! We had to get a specialist in to trace the pipes who finally found it, half-covered by the house. In the end we were able to empty it without moving any walls, but it was touch and go for a while LOL.
Nina
Always the true engineer. Enjoyed your post very much!! Stay cool.
Yeah, I can’t help myself LOL…I’m such a geek 🙂
Nina
We had a somewhat cooler week last week, and it even rained furiously on Monday, so that meant the following four days were spent installing fence posts. I had to give it a rest on Friday however, as my arms were pretty much like jello. Painful jello.
And today (well, it’s Sunday, so digging in the yard is somewhat less than ideal) it’s started to heat up again, and should be hot and humid for a few more days. But apparently, climate change is a myth.
Enjoy your quiet time in August.
Oh and, btw, we went to Paris once in August, knowing full well that many places would be closed. But then again, the place wasn’t teaming with tourists either. Knowing is always better I find.
I feel ya on those jello arms. I had those a few months ago when we were pulling weeds almost daily. It’s about the only thing I like in this heat….even the weeds are drying up. Hope you get some weather relief soon. I think we’re ALL ready for fall at this point.
Nina
Cut that septic tank in half and have one oooh la la smoker. Oui? MISS YOU!
We are hiding in the jungle. Luckier than most with easy access to a nice beach. Entertaining ourselves with imaginary travel plans for fall 2021. Stay well you guys.
Funny you should mention it, but we really miss our smoker here. We used to carry one in the RV in the USA, but we sold it several years back. We’ll have to get another one.
MISS you guys too!!! And here’s hoping 2021 will be a travel year for all of us.
Nina
I enjoyed your post. We are in Southwest Colorado, it’s been in the 90s. We haven’t gotten the monsoons yet, it’s so dry. I hope your septic tank project gets done soon.
Ah yes, the monsoons. Everyone awaits them anxiously this time of year. I remember them in Arizona too. Hope you get some relief soon.
Nina
You might want to read more about T cell immunity. Antibodies test is not the most accurate one. You can test negative but still have immunity with T cells.
Yes, that’s why I mentioned, and linked to the latest T-cell research in the blog (see the Note at the bottom of the Antibody section). As I said there is mounting evidence of their importance. All very interesting stuff.
Nina
From the Cowboy who installed septic systems pre-retirement–“that’s one heck of a system!” The system at our Montana house utilizes something similar to your first two chambers but we don’t have the third chamber nor the air compressor. Hope installation happens soon. Love that last photo!
Well, now that I have the Cowboy’s approval I feel even better about the system. That’s some serious endorsement 🙂
Nina
Now that is some fancy poo-distilling unit sitting in your yard! What a great system! I wonder if we have those in the US? And also, treated water at the end. Drinkable? That sort of freaks me out a bit. haha Do you have to test it to make sure? We are having a slightly milder summer in terms of heat. But, as you know, living in an RV makes temperature extremes quite challenging. The AC unit does a great job but is very loud. I follow the sun with my open windows, close windows (and curtains). Fans everywhere. But the sunflower forest our out front door is delightful, tons of goldfinches and red-winged blackbirds visit us throughout the day. And happy hour in the shade (our door faces east) is wonderful. I’m actually fostering a baby goldfinch who was flapping its way onto the busy street. No way to get it to the nest, so I brought it home and have been feeding it, well, for a week today. It’s doing quite well, flying like crazy. But I need it to feed itself and drink water before I release it in the sunflowers when there is a flock of goldfinches in. Soon, maybe this week! Our local Red Cross was offering COVID antibody testing along with any donation there for about a month. I didn’t make it in. Curious though. Stay safe and cool!
So the treated water is not drinkable (it’s not THAT good a system!), but it is clean enough that you can use it in the garden, or divert it into any regular water output. In our case we’ll just be diverting it into the public ditch that runs alongside the road.
Have to admit I don’t miss the noisy RV aircon in summer. We never ran it much out West, but once we moved East we needed it almost constantly throughout summer. And how LOVELY that you’re fostering a goldfinch. Very cool.
Nina
Perhaps you’ve come across this in your reading. Dr. Fauci is warning that the vaccine for Covid-19 will be 50-60% effective, “like the flu vaccine.” Why is that? Covid is not a flu, so why will the Covid vaccine behave like a flu vaccine? I would really like the vaccine to behave like a measles vaccine! Have you seen any explanation of this?
We’re looking at four days of 110 degrees this week. Monsoon was a total bust this year. A high pressure system parked itself in the gulf east of us and pulled all the moisture into New Mexico. They got a lot of rain.
The challenge with a universal SARS-CoV-2 vaccine is mutations (which is the challenge with the flu vaccine every year). That’s why we can’t just get a single, takes-care-of-it-all vaccine. But IMO it should still be better than the flu, for the following reason:
Scientists have identified 6 strains of SARS-CoV-2 so far:
From Sciencedaily.com:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200803105246.htm
“The original one is the L strain, that appeared in Wuhan in December 2019. Its first mutation — the S strain — appeared at the beginning of 2020, while, since mid-January 2020, we have had strains V and G. To date strain G is the most widespread: it mutated into strains GR and GH at the end of February 2020.”
However, the mutations that are happening are not as radical as what we commonly see in the flu. From that same research article:
“the coronavirus presents little variability, approximately seven mutations per sample. Common influenza has a variability rate that is more than double.”
So, that’s the challenge….mutations & keeping up with them. I don’t think it will be as difficult as the flu because the mutations are apparently (at least so far) not as dramatic, but it does mean a vaccine will not be a “one-size-fits-all, 100%” deal.
Nina
Small world our Nephew and Niece are looking at buying a cabin in the Mountains here in California. Long Barn up 108 above Sonora. Anyhow the hold up is the Septic lech field. Just found out about 10 minutes all is OK and it can be repaired. Yahoo on with the sale.
Nina Bless you and you writings. I have been following since before you 2 did the camp host job on the island in Washington State….
Lee and Shelia
Speaking of the weather, it’s 59 degrees and sunny this morning on the Olympic Peninsula! Stay healthy and safe.
Loved your bit about August in France. Even after living here for several years we get caught out, either by a shop we have travelled miles to visit or as happened a few years back when we needed a part for our broken-down car and the factory had gone on holiday. (apparently, they don’t hold any in stock). Yes, we had to wait 3 weeks for the replacement part. Every year the local tourist office works hard to promote the delights of the area, then just as the holiday-makers start to arrive, everywhere shuts for a month. No restaurants, bars, shops or leisure activities open. Unbelievable! We thought this year might be different, what with the enforced closures of businesses during the COVID lockdown. Everyone would be desperate to make up some of their lost business, right? Wrong! Oh well, that’s partly why I love France. They have a good work-life balance and value their time, family and friends over money.
Pretty amazing. I learned more about COVID from you than what I’ve seen elsewhere.
Good luck on the septic system install. Looks like you are primed and ready to go.
My only experience with one is when we upgraded our RV parking spot at my brother in laws. After a couple of years boondocking at their place, we found a good electrician and installed a 50 amp pedestal. We also ran 35 feet of PVC pipe over to the space and connected to the water supply so we had water & electric. On another trip we hunted for and found a removable 15” round cover so I could empty my MH tanks with 2 or 3 trips (30 yards away and downhill) with my blue boy.
Life is different now in Norfolk but pretty great as we remember our FTing days. July/Aug has been 90 degree heat and 90% humidity. The a/c quite working (that’s another story for another time) but is now fixed.
Love your posts. We’re big fans!
Randy
Serious-looking septic tank! Hope it gets in the ground and works well. Hopefully you will never have to learn about how it is working…
We are on the Oregon coast, and in our first 2 weeks here it has only exceeded 70°F on one day. Better yet, the county has had only 93 total covid-19 cases and no deaths, in the whole pandemic. Our “winter home” county in Southern Cal has had 45,622 cases and 881 deaths. Feels like a “Great Escape” in both ways.