Update.
We went months without any issues after I started this thread...until it started raining again. The system seems to keep up fine when the weather is relatively dry, but as soon as we get a big rain storm the system is full.
I went back and forth between the builder, septic company, DHEC, and the engineering firm countless times to get this sorted out.
The short version of all this is that the engineering firm sent their soil classifier back to my house to re-classify the soil. The classifier found a layer of clay, and wrote a report for the engineering firm. The engineer called me and said that the original soil classification was wrong. The engineer concluded that the layer of clay and organics beneath the clean sand fill they brought in is making the drain field act like a large bath tub instead of operating correctly.
The proposed fix is to add a 3rd drain line (there are currently 2), next to the 2nd drain line. This drain line is to be dug to a depth that bypasses all clay and organics. The septic installers will also add what is basically a cistern at each existing drain line that punches below the clay/organics layer to improve their performance.
We only live on .4 acres, so adding a 3rd drain line is not ideal...half the back yard will be drain field at that point.
There is also poor access to the drain field, as there is a tight squeeze between our AC compressor and a large tree, as well as a 5' wide fence gate. The septic installers are saying that part of the fence will need to be removed and reinstalled because their equipment needs 80" of clearance.
Through all of this, I have been extremely patient...probably too patient. The septic company has had to pump our system out twice as we could not flush the toilets. Thankfully we had that area in the drain field that water was gushing out of...or we could have had a backup into the house.
I have called the local bar association to get a referral to an attorney. I tried calling a few in the area using a "find a lawyer" website and came up empty. None of them deal with this kind of issue (construction defects). I am tired of the lip service and think I reached my breaking point this morning.
I will post again as I get more info. I didn't want to leave this thread hanging.
What I have learned through all this is that inspections are kind of a joke...maybe it is just here. Also, my faith in contractors continues to dwindle...which is why I do nearly everything myself.
I nearly have a shed that I built complete, and a screened in porch is next. Then a bathroom re-do. I will likely hire someone to tile a shower for us...and I am already sweating as find a trustworthy, competent contractor is hard :confused2:
A picture of the shed (some good to go with the bad)
-Joe
