Septic Tank Trouble!!

lanod2407

.......... alternatively titled "In Deep ****e"!!!

Did a self-build a few years back and installed a septic tank. Appeared to be the right idea at the time, but tbh the land is low and wet and the percolation test must have passed on a really good day.

Anyway, the tank feeds into a percolation area and out into the surrounding area from there - bog-standard stuff .......... mmmmmmmmm - unfortunate phrasing!:(

Over the past 2 years the tank works ok, with the water running off into the perc area. Within a year of the previous "incident" solids start flowing into the perc area, the flow stops and the whole lot backs up ....... requiring a company to come in and empty the tank and blow the perc area clear.

I've 3 teenagers whose personal cleanliness makes Howard Hughes look like a vagrant, and a washing machine that throws out 2 loads of wasking a day - all the output from the house hits the septic tank, except for the rainwater down-pipes.

All showers, washing machines, etc. are again banned this morning as I await the arrival of "the septic tank man" .......... with toilet activities strongly discouraged!!! :eek:

It's now obvious that I need to tackle the issue and change something within the system (on the basis that I'm stuck with the teenagers for the next several years) - has anyone got any ideas / proposals that may work?

A new/additional percolation area may be needed. was the original system sized correctly?

Poor Uncle Tom

Your Grey Waters (baths, showers, kitchen sink, washing machine) are going straight into your septic tank instead of bypassing it and going to the percolation area. The result is that the grey waters flood the ST and flush solids into your percolation area, blocking it.

If it is possible to seperate the grey waters and pipe them seperately to the percolation area, this should help no end. However this will not help unblock the percolation area now. That is another job.

davidoco

There really should be no solids in your percolation area. You need to empty the tank on a more regular basis if that is the case. You can also fit a outlet filter/baffle http://njseptic.net/new/filter.asp . It could be a case that you need a bigger tank.

You also need to check that your outlet pipe is fitted correctly with a T sideways which dips under the scum.

You could also fit a fine steel mesh in your distribution box as a short term solution although I think your percolation is messed up now without a proper blowout and cleaning of the percolation pipes.

Probably make more sense to have a separate percolation area for the grey water if you plan to go down that route.

An alternative would be to go for a bigger tank with a pumped output (this will regulate the flow to the percolation area) that can absorb a larger variation in input flow & be less likely to fill up and backup.

BadCharlie

Did self build my self. All i have to say is your Toliet's should go to your septic tank & only them. All other waters should have their own area and not needed to go into tank. Going to have this problem all the time i think until you sort out that extra amount of water heading to tank.

All our washing stuff we use is eco stuff ect which goes into our garden and around our house..... i hope yours were the same if all waste was going to your tank. It can kill all your bacteria in your tank which breaks down the solids.

muffler

You may or may not need a new tank. You may or may not need a new percolation area. These matters are site specific so I would suggest that you get some tests done as this will be an ongoing problem if it is not rectified properly.

Builderfromhell

Strongly recommend you get a list of 'Site Assesors' from your local County Council. You need to get professional advice specific to your site.

Schooby

Deleted User wrote: »

Probably make more sense to have a separate percolation area for the grey water if you plan to go down that route.

An alternative would be to go for a bigger tank with a pumped output (this will regulate the flow to the percolation area) that can absorb a larger variation in input flow & be less likely to fill up and backup.

If you want to be in compliance with EPA 2000 the main guidance document and building regulations and want to be sure you are not damaging ground or surface water all waste water grey brown yellow or any other colour must go to the tank, especially important if your water source is a well

If as you suspect that the ground conditions are the problem and backing up causing all the problem you need to look at that end of things, increase the size adn specification of the percoaltion area, it is entirely possible that if designed to SR6 the older (and useless) standard that that in the design of the perc area loading was not considered.

if the gardens are mature and you don't want to go ripping the whole place apart and if the capactiy of the tank is ok you could potentaily pump the effluent from the tank to a sand polishing filter, a bit more expensive but if you got out of it with out replaceing anything else it may make sense.

Have a look at the EPA 2000 manual from EPA website also look at the 2007 consultation draft, some better explainations and consideration of options. but as previously said get someone who knows what they are talking about, check out county councils panels of approved assessors in your or adajcent counties.

jwt

Would a retro fit of a puraflow bordnamona system work in this situation?


JWT

muffler

jwt wrote: »

Would a retro fit of a puraflow bordnamona system work in this situation?


JWT

Possibly but as stated the OP should have a site assessment carried out and the results of that will dictate the system to be used.

Schooby

Schooby wrote: »

If you want to be in compliance with EPA 2000 the main guidance document and building regulations and want to be sure you are not damaging ground or surface water all waste water grey brown yellow or any other colour must go to the tank, especially important if your water source is a well

If as you suspect that the ground conditions are the problem and backing up causing all the problem you need to look at that end of things, increase the size adn specification of the percoaltion area, it is entirely possible that if designed to SR6 the older (and useless) standard that that in the design of the perc area loading was not considered.

if the gardens are mature and you don't want to go ripping the whole place apart and if the capactiy of the tank is ok you could potentaily pump the effluent from the tank to a sand polishing filter, a bit more expensive but if you got out of it with out replaceing anything else it may make sense.

Have a look at the EPA 2000 manual from EPA website also look at the 2007 consultation draft, some better explainations and consideration of options. but as previously said get someone who knows what they are talking about, check out county councils panels of approved assessors in your or adajcent counties.

True, I should have said "Probably make more sense to have a separate tank & percolation area for the grey water "

edit: as said above, a new site assesment is needed before any decisions can be made!