backyard sewage problem

[Dutch445]

We are getting some sewage odor in the back yard, and now that it is
still wet, I have noticed a few areas where i have standing water, (up in elevation from my own septic area), that are getting that oily greasy look
on top of the water.. making me think somehow I am getting some sewage weeping into my groundwater. The back half of my lot is elevated, and wet, and the previous owner had put in a small (12'x8') pond which is nice for a few frogs. The area around this pond is also wet, and with the recent rains, still quite mucky, as I know there are some springs in this area. I am seeing this discolored water near and in the pond, as well as a small
trench at the back edge of the property that the previous owner dug to try
to divert some of this water off the property.
My question is who do I call to find out where this stuff is coming from?
is it possible that it is runoff from farms up the hill from me? (not within 1/4 mile or so)
Every once in a while, it just smells like good ol sewage, as if somebodys' septic isn't functioning properly.

 

[RonMar]

When was your own septic system last maintained? Does it have access covers or is it completely buried? Where is this saturated ground in relation to your own drain field? I had a bunch of company this spring and we ran a unch of water thru my septic tank and it stirred up enough particulate matter that it cloged up the screen filter on the tank outlet to the drainfield. Thought my tank might need to be pumped but it isn't realy even 1/4 full of solid material.

 

[woodlot]

Step one: Find out if your septic system is/has contaminated your groundwater. Have a water test done on your potable water. Make sure the test includes coliform bacteria and nitrates.

Steps 2-?: All depends on step 1. Gitter' Done!

 

[Dutch445]

I'll try to explain the layout in words.
Directly behind my house is relatively flat, where the tank and leachfield is.
to the West, my property drops down into some wet swampy areas.
Further behind the house, (south) the yard raises quite a bit to an area where the little pond is. to the east, is the highest of the property. hard to walk up some parts of it. out behind the pond, is another flat area, which is tough to walk thru because of the springs , it's mucky. (last summer i could drive my
garden tractor all over because it was much dryer). I have not noticed any of this condition down in the lower areas of the property, immediately below where my septic and leach areas are. the problem is in the areas that are 5-6 feet in elevation higher than where my septic is. I would guess the depth of the property behind the house is approx 150'.
there is a house to my East, up on the hill, with a large family. The lot between the houses is wooded, and i have never walked up into their yard.
Bordering my back lot is another house, (actually their backyard) with 25' of wooded area seperating our back yards. You can see thru the trees sometimes, but never enough to watch anyone i particular.

I bought this house last summer, about this time. We had all the necessary water tests then, but I have not tested our water since, other than for hardness when the water softener guy put in a new softener 6 weeks ago.
My well is in the front yard, probably 100' from the septic, on the other side of the house,, and somewhat to the uphill side of the property.

 

[dmccarty]

Dutch,

If I drew this out correctly it looks like what you suspect is a sewage leak is UPHILL from your septic system. I would be surprised if that is your sewage. Does the stuff stink? Is it even waste water?

If it is sewage I would be wondering about the house to your south which is uphill from your field and pond. And maybe the house to the ease that is also uphill. Can you find out where their septic fields are located? That should be public information at the county.

Later,
Dan

 

[CTyler]

Thats what I got out of it as well, possible drain field problem uphill on adjacent property.

 

[JimR]

It sounds like from your description. That one of your neighbors has a failed system. Actually, I can't say failed system here because this year has been an extremely wet year. This will cause many systems to flow bad water. The ground is so saturated that it cannot absord all the present water being dumped into it. I tried to mow my lower field yesterday and buried my little 18 horse lawntractor in muck twice. It just sunk in the grass while I was trying to mow. I usually mow this with my 2800 pound tractor with a mid mower. This tells me that we have way too much water this year. I also know that the neighbors system use to do this same thing each spring when the rains and spring thaw came. The black and brown stuff use to pour onto the edge of their driveway.

 

[Dutch445]

those were my thoughts as well,, about possible neighbors systems failing.
but, with the amount of water around, it may be compounding even a minor problem. in April, it was dry enough for me to walk and mow up there with my 445, but not since.
So, the question is, who do I call? or do I wait
till some dryer weather comes and see if I still see/smell evidence of it?
yes,, it stinks, faintly, but I guess I am more sensative than some
people.
should I start with a local codes guy? or call the local DEC officer?
I hate to piss off new neighbors, but, would also hate to have my
well water get contaminated also.

 

[Highbeam]

Anytime you get standing water and organics you will have anaerobic bacteria eating the organcs and releasing the stinky methane and septic type odors. The stench isn't necessarily poo at all but just nasty stagnant water and organics. We've all seen the ditches on the side of the road that stay wet and the water actully turns black and stinky even though there is no septic around.

Be very careful about calling the government guys. A failed septic system with surfacing sewage will get the house red tagged and the residents will need to leave. This may be a problem if the gov't guy thinks it is your system that has failed. I wouldn't want to be the guy inviting the gov't to the party.

Who do you call? A septic designer or installer. He will be on your team and very unlikely to report a problem to the gov't. He can also check the condition of your tank.

 

[scott_vt]

Hi Dutch,
As Woodlot suggested, test your water soon, thats something you need to do to protect yourself !!! At that point you can investigate where this bad smelling water is coming from !

 

[Dutch445]

ok,
then a water test it is, and i won't call any anybody till I see
how things go if we get some dryer weather. the problems isn't
terrible, just noticible, mostly by me.

i understand about standing water getting cruddy, but there seems
to be a lot of springs here, which are feeding this area,, and i only
get this slick in a few spots, not the whole pond. I'll keep an eye on things
and see how it goes.

thanks for the advice

 

[JimR]

I have to add one more thing. It was already mentioned on page one by highbeam about standing water and smelling from organic action. I just mowed out in my woods between the trees where it is usually wet in the spring. It is so wet right now that there are spots that are starting to slime over and they stink. This is 300 feet away from my septic and uphill by at least 20 feet in elevation. There are no septic systems in the area that could possible be causing this to happen. I would guess that the well water test would be my first choice of action. If it is determined to be septic discharge then you will have to take a further step to eliviate the problem. You should also have that smelly water tested to see if it is septic system discharge.

 

[citytransplant]

...this year has been an extremely wet year ... The ground is so saturated that it cannot absorb all the present water being dumped into it.

This is what I am finding here on my property in Central NY.

Last month I threw some of those septic dye tablets in my septic vent as I too smelled effluent. In my case, a few days and many inches of rain later, fluorescent green liquid began to appear in low areas of my drain field.

I am hoping that the breakout is atypical due to the excessively wet weather. I have no reference however this being my first year in the home.

Fortunately our water tested negative when we bought the home in December. It may be a good idea for us to get it tested again.

 

[Highbeam]

That's great. I had never heard of dye testing a septic tank. I have used the dye to detect toilets being hooked up to storm lines though with great success.

So it now looks like 1000 gallons of antifreeze has been poured into your yard? Due to the dilution nature of the septic system, the effluent will slowly become less and less green. One of those always half way there deals.

Good to know that this works since any surfacing effluent from a standard septic system is a system failure that will condemn your home if the wrong people caght wind of it.

 

[ByronBob]

Where is your well in relation by distance to all this? I know my dad growing up had issues when it was really wet. A good working system can still have these issues when it's really wet like you mention.

Code in NY I'm pretty sure is 100 ft minimum from a water source to a leachfield. Your water I'd think is safe. How deep is it?

 

[citytransplant]

Where is your well in relation by distance to all this?
Code in NY I'm pretty sure is 100 ft minimum from a water source to a leachfield. Your water I'd think is safe. How deep is it?

Wellhead is 50' from the septic vent, located at/above the septic tank inlet. Leachfield begins about 75' from wellhead and continues 100' or more. The well is dug 200+ feet.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that the breakout is a direct result of this unusually wet weather. I am new to the home, so I don't know what things look like under normal circumstances.

 

[JimR]

I would be willing to bet it is from the excessive amount of rain that we have had this spring. I mowed my back yard the other day and my 18 horse MTD mower just sunk to the axle. I have never had it this wet in 30 years of living here. Once it dries out I'll be doing some filling in to slant the backyard a little. This will help run the water off into the woods behind my house. Today my ruts are filled right to the top with water and level with the ground.