Pumping your own septic... what kind of pump?

[ultrarunner]

Brother lives in an area where everyone is on sewer... he is not and they won't connect because the pioneer homestead dates from the 1860's.

Because no one has septic... there are no pumpers in the area... he has called a few from the neighboring county and was told they don't cross county lines in his direction.

There are couple of porta potty guys with equipment... they will only pump the porta potties they furnish... not septics.

Anyone know what kind of pump would be needed to pump out a septic tank? Would any trash pump work or what about a sewer emaciator type pump some folks use for basement bathrooms?

He can pickup an old farmer's manure tank trailer on the cheap...

In Washington State there are plenty of pumpers and it is very competitive pricewise... so it came as a surprise to find none in the phone book in his part of California.

 

[turnkey4099]

Brother lives in an area where everyone is on sewer... he is not and they won't connect because the pioneer homestead dates from the 1860's.

Because no one has septic... there are no pumpers in the area... he has called a few from the neighboring county and was told they don't cross county lines in his direction.

There are couple of porta potty guys with equipment... they will only pump the porta potties they furnish... not septics.

Anyone know what kind of pump would be needed to pump out a septic tank? Would any trash pump work or what about a sewer emaciator type pump some folks use for basement bathrooms?

He can pickup an old farmer's manure tank trailer on the cheap...

In Washington State there are plenty of pumpers and it is very competitive pricewise... so it came as a surprise to find none in the phone book in his part of California.

The pumpers use a big vacuum jobber. It sucks it out rather than pumping. In your case I would expect one of those macerators would work well.

Harry K

 

[ultrarunner]

Did some online research and leaning that direction... seems about $300 and up... always can supplement with the garden hose to dilute if needed... most likely hasn't been pumped in decades.

 

[Teachu2]

What city in CA?

 

[MikeInEburg]

I think that do-it-yourself septic pumping is a very bad idea. Most commercial pumpers take the sludge to a treatment plant for processing. It is not safe/sanitary to spread it on the garden. You're better off to speak with the owner of a pumping company and see if he can be financially induced to cross the county line.

 

[Ed of all trades]

Exactly once you pump it out what do you do with it?

 

[Baby Grand]

Exactly once you pump it out what do you do with it?

I'm thinking his Deere 110 may get some more hours on it, soon.

 

[jaotguy]

manually pumping the septic needs a "grinder pump " ... has a set of teeth on the intake to chew up the solids and stop it from clogging the impeller ...

since everyone else is on water and sewers , he may be able to dig a big hole ( farthest away from his well ) and pump it in there , then cover again .....

but the best solution is to have a septic sucking service come out and deal with it ....

 

[MarkF48]

Brother lives in an area where everyone is on sewer... he is not and they won't connect because the pioneer homestead dates from the 1860's.

I assume "they" refers to the city or town where he lives. Perhaps a call to the board of health or similar to ask who would or could do pumping in that area since they are the ones who won't allow the connection. Might want to do this anonymously, not divulging name or address if possible, lest the town/city might come up with some undesirable ideas.

 

[boggen]

there can be a lot of rules / regulations / laws dealing with septic waste. both in handling it. and also transporting it, and then dumping it some place even more so. there is also more likely some sort of "nuisance air law" that deals with the stink.

i would imagine every state has some sort of law to deal with placing manure / septic on fields. and needing to till / inject it below surface or mix it into the ground.

porta potty folks. most likely do not have license to deal with anything but there own porta potties.

burying manure / septic waste = a big issue as well. in distance from varying things.

===========
i would say contact some local plumbers. they are the ones more likely to come out and fix broken septic lines, and like, and a larger outfit may have equipment, or know of a given company that deals with septic tanks and pumping them out.

i would imagine there is more of a state law that govenern things. vs county to county. or less ya live in a county that has a large city within it.