New Septic System Troubles

[jrdepew]

Just met with the Septic Company's guy. He brought a probe and started punching it down to see where the top of the gravel is. In most places the gravel is only about 6 inches deep. In a lot of the holes he punched air would rush out, and sometimes there was a gurgle of water.

He started talking about how I may need to get some pickup truck loads of dirt and a wheelbarrow and add some dirt to bring it up to 12". I didn't like where that was going, so I told him that I will be calling the builder about how we can make this right.

Does all this sound correct to you guys? It makes sense to me...the easiest path for water was to come up instead of percolate through the soil...

The house has a fence around it now...it didn't before. The gate is just shy of 5' wide, but I think that should allow them to get a skidsteer in there to move the dirt. It seems like this should be on the builder or septic company's dime, as there was never enough soil or they did nothing to prevent erosion and a bunch washed away. You can see that there was some old washout. At some point the builder planted rye which held the dirt in place. One of the first things I did was get seed and straw down to start getting grass going and prevent any erosion. About half the yard where the septic field is (the dryer part where the dirt is at or close to the proper depth), is covered in a nice stand of centipede grass...sucks that that will likely get ruined. Whatever equipment they need to bring in for grading will likely ruin some of the sod as well...

I am also afraid that they will bring in just enough dirt to build the questionable area up....and leave me with a steep grade going back into the woods behind the house. Right now there is a definite grade, but it is mowable and maintainable. I don't want to end up with a steep grade back there.

Questions for you all:

Who should be paying for this? The builder and/or septic company?

Will they replace any destroyed sod or re-seed my dirt? (I am not as worried about the re-seeding, but centipede seed is expensive stuff and I have a couple hundred dollars worth of seed/hay/fertilizer/etc back there that will likely get covered or ruined by machines)

What is a reasonable grade for them the leave the back of the property at if/when they bring in fill? I would like it to match what is currently there.

They cannot get a dump truck to the site, so the fill will have to be moved by people or machines...are they going to dump a large load of dirt on my sodded front lawn?

This is frustrating...

-Joe

 

[Leo Rabon]

I live in SC. Your problem may also be related to the amount of fall on the leach lines. If the soil "perks" normally you will have from 150 to 200 feet of leach lines in 40 to 50 foot links. If your installer did not shoot grades as he installed the leach lines to make sure that the water discharged from the septic tank was equally distributed to each of the leach lines individually with proper and "equal fall on each line" to the end of each line, you may have most of the discharge going to one line and therefore pressure pushing up the soil for that line. Proper installation of the leach lines is a make or break issue.

 

[tractorshopper]

No, my opinion only here, but why would there be any back pressure on your septic system. I have never experienced anything of the sort. Back pressure tells me that there is a blockage somewhere. Everything should flow easily. This is not a forced system. You flush, water goes to the tank, the tank releases clean spill to the perforated piping, the piping distributes the water to the leach field, it drains into the soil. No back pressure should exist.

I'm not an expert, but have pumped tanks and fixed some problems and anytime there is any type of back pressure at all, it has been a clog in my experience. Otherwise, things should be flowing very easily. I'd definitely get the builder involved. If you have any real problems with resolution, contact DHEC and let them help you get resolution.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

I didn't like where that was going,

You are right to not like that. He wants to put a coat of paint on a collapsed house.

Does all this sound correct to you guys? It makes sense to me...the easiest path for water was to come up instead of percolate through the soil...

No, that's NOT right AT ALL. It was done wrong, plain and simple. It needs major $urgery to fix it.

It's lawyer time.

Who should be paying for this? The builder and/or septic company?

You need to ask a lawyer, not a bunch of guys on a forum.

Will they replace any destroyed sod or re-seed my dirt?

You need to ask a lawyer, not a bunch of guys on a forum.

This is frustrating...

It's going to be a lot more than frustrating if you don't stop dinking around with this. You need to get the local authorities involved and lawyer up, or you are cutting your own throat.

No, my opinion only here, but why would there be any back pressure on your septic system. I have never experienced anything of the sort. Back pressure tells me that there is a blockage somewhere. Everything should flow easily. This is not a forced system. You flush, water goes to the tank, the tank releases clean spill to the perforated piping, the piping distributes the water to the leach field, it drains into the soil. No back pressure should exist.

I'm not an expert, but have pumped tanks and fixed some problems and anytime there is any type of back pressure at all, it has been a clog in my experience. Otherwise, things should be flowing very easily. I'd definitely get the builder involved. If you have any real problems with resolution, contact DHEC and let them help you get resolution.

What he said. :thumbsup:

 

[thatguy]

tag for outcome..

What if you contacted the health dept.. i would think they should not have 'approved' it.. BUT not sure if that would go against the homeowner or builder or installer...

good luck

 

[dadster4]

The plumber who installed the septic system is a subcontractor for the builder. Since you already have a occupancy permit and are moved in, the builder is most likely not financially responsible for your problems, but should help you resolve things to protect his reputation. The plumber should be licensed and bonded, which means he is required to have an insurance bond for just this type of situation, and will ultimately be the party responsible to repair the system. A meeting should be arranged with the plumber, builder, and village inspector at your home to come up with the proper solution. From what I know about septic systems, adding topsoil above the leach field is pointless, if the perforated pipe is not pitched correctly and the proper amount of gravel is not UNDER and AROUND the pipe. If this approach does not resolve your problems, then and only then, should lawyers get involved. My guess is that, since the site was "built up" for both your home and septic system, some settling occurred and altered the pitch of the drain field.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

You need to ask a lawyer, not a bunch of guys on a forum.

 

[jrdepew]

All,

Thanks for the help. I contacted the DHEC and engineer, and received this response from DHEC:

"It sounds like that after the system was installed that it has somehow sealed up and is not allowing air to move freely through the system. It could be caused by any number of things. The easiest fix may be to put some vents from the drain lines to the surface to allow air into the drainfield area. But there may be other issues as well. I would contact the engineer and discuss with him since he designed the system. Let me know if you have any other questions."

To me, it seems like the DHEC thinks there is an issue with the install as well.

I will get a hold of the engineer as well and relay his response.

I am not going to let anyone touch this thing until I get input from the engineer as well. I will try to arrange a meeting between the builder/septic/DHEC/Engineer at my place and see what happens.

I think that TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark is correct though...I am almost certainly going to need to contact a lawyer at this point ...there is no way I am letting them do some hack "fix" that will lead to a full tear-up in X years time well short of the life of a drain field.

Anyone have any input on how I go about finding a good lawyer?

Thanks,
Joe

 

[jrdepew]

All,

Another quick update...I talked to the engineer over the phone today. He says he can think of no reason why the system installed at my house would have a pressurized drain field, and that it is a definite issue. He says he is going to call the owner of the septic company and talk to him about the issue. He also said that they may want to come and take a soil sample to ensure the correct soil was used to build up the house site for the septic install.

In parallel I am thinking I will get the opinion of another septic company about what they think could be going on if one is willing to come out and take a look.

Trying to get all my ducks in a row and have as much information as I can before I contact a lawyer. The only way I see a lawyer not getting involved is if the septic installer comes and digs up the drainfield, finds and fixes the issue, and ensures that the tank/drainfield are installed as the system was designed.

I will keep you guys updated.

Thanks,
Joe

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Listen, I lived in SC for 25 years. NEVER assume your builder, or his subcontractor, know anything about what they do. I am not joking, I have never been in an area with such incompetence in the building trades. Get the engineer to figure it out, and get the builder to fix it. Otherwise, you will be fixing it when you go to sell the house, and it fails the septic certification.