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

boggen · Jul 26, 2015

to note it. a farmer may not want someone septic crud going on there field. from condoms to tampons, to other crud that folks flush down their toilets... = a lot of crud that would make a farmers field into a junk field....

ultrarunner · Jul 26, 2015

It's county and on 120 acres...

Thought he had it worked out with a porta potty company... they have pumper trucks and service/rent porta potties... the owner of the company said they are not set up for it and would not do it and said good luck finding anyone...

Not sure how big the tank is... it is small and concrete and serves a two toilets, two sinks and a shower....

A couple of month ago the line stopped draining.... he called a plumber he uses all the time for work and was told they don't touch septics... called others in the yellow pages and learned no one wanted to touch a septic... so I loaded up my Spartan 300 cable machine and cleared the line... it worked well for a few weeks and then it didn't...

He was able to reach the widow who is 85 and she said in 1959 or 1960 the old redwood tank was replaced with concrete and gave a general idea where it could be found... it was under 18" of packed dirt... pulled off the large lid and the sludge was solid... looked like it could be walked on.

Anyway... made a depression where the inflow is and it worked instantly for about a week...

So the sludge needs to be removed...

The widow lived there alone for a number of years.... so could explain why she had no problem.

Tank is not really in an accessible place... at least not for a big truck... sure... with maybe 80 to 100 feet of hose.

My thought was to dilute/liquify so it could be transported and drained into a regular 4" cleanout or RV hookup...

A new system is an option... that would be very involved on many levels...

Sewer permits are used to control development... no sewer, no development. Ironic because the sewer district line runs through the land...

boggen · Jul 26, 2015

you can get "submersible trash pumps" some "sump pumps" might be labeled as a "trash pump" if you read the fine detail. it might state it can handle solids up to 1" to 2" to 3" in size without clogging.

the solid handling pumps ((trash pumps)) can be setup in basements were say city sewer connection is coming in higher. and someone needs a toilet or like in basement. a trash pump can help pump the crud up to the sewer connection. solid handling pumps ((been to many years)) i want to say has some additional grinders in it. to help break up clumps of poo. so when pumping the piping / hose does not get plugged up.

pumping anything normally means getting correct solid to liquid ratio correct anyhow. to many solids at one time = clogged up line. and the need for liquid as in water. to keep things flowing. to much liquid = just wasting water, but keeps you going.

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i would say make some additional phone calls. and have paper / pen ready to jot down a quick phone number / name.

ya need to remember there is a lot of city folks compared to country folks. and more likely more companies geared for city doing. it takes time calling around. just because someone said "good luck finding one" *shrugs* just a handful. call around more.

boggen · Jul 26, 2015

i typed into google (without quotes) "septic pump CA"
https://www.google.com/search?q=septic+pump+CA&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
then clicking on map....
https://www.google.com/maps/search/septic+pump+CA/@34.089945,-117.4101646,8z

MacLawn · Jul 26, 2015

Well, I've seen it done by hand using buckets. No jestin'. Then dumped in the woods. It'd be good to dig a deep hole and dump into hole, that'd be sanitary. Boys, this ain't a job for the faint of nostrils nor stomach.

ultrarunner · Jul 26, 2015

Good thinking on the map... the company he originally spoke with is listed... it's 74 miles away and the closest...

Looks like a region with 9 million people... few are on septic or septic in need of pumping in the SF Bay Area.

He is still looking at options...

I have my home in Washington rented and pump 1200 gallons every 2 to 3 years... with some tenants it is as clean as could be... the last family was there 2 years and the tank was a garbage pit... all manor of plastic, toys, diapers and even flushable mops!

Maybe a big wet dry vacuum??? just kidding.

Deere Dude · Jul 26, 2015

It would take a bit but why not get or make long handled scoop and do it manually, then dig a hole and dump it in and cover it? Pump the liquid with a basement sump pump if real liquidy, or get a trash pump used for basement sump pits and pump it down the lawn. I needed to pump my tank because I had stones in the mound system pump and I used a regular sump pump.

ultrarunner · Jul 26, 2015

Digging a pit away from the house would be easy... water is spring fed quite a ways from the home... so no issues there.

Not knowing how big the tank actually is... I would be surprised if it is bigger than 500 gallons... it is round with a full size concrete cover that is a bear to move...

Almost looks like it could be one of those larger diameter concrete pipes standing on end.

With a fresh start... it would be easier to evaluate the leach field... as in functional or not.

I can always count on TBN for good ideas... thanks guys!

Not that is matters... the main sewer line is 3" cast iron... 4" is the standard even going back to the 1920's

The only building with a permit is the modern hay barn... everything else really predates the process... of course the buildings and barns are on the Assessor Record...

SPIKER · Jul 26, 2015

You can do as suggested by someone, (use a dip to get the floating solids off) then use bigger electric drill and a prop to mix up the rest with the liquids then pump (grinder style sump pump or trash pump) it into couple 55 gallon drums. Haul into woods where a big pit waits to dump it into. Continue the trips until the (both tanks) tank is empty & flush with a bunch of water to re-fill. Once all is clean in tank take & toss in a couple bags or buckets of ag lime on the remains in hole and bury it back over & plant a sapling on top...

Boss of mine years ago used a big metal tank to do this, we welded up some 1/2" rebar TREE to mix up the tank and break up solids into slurry and pumped with trash pump. the BIG metal tank had 2" ball valve which he hooked trash pump back up on and made a spray bar sprayed it out on his hay field (that hay was newly cut & gone) & the HAY that grew back was 2x as green & grew 2x faster... His only issue was some old condoms clogged up the pump once or twice.

What was said about having strong stomach is ALSO very true! :x