Too wet to pump septic and the rain won't stop!

[mikester]

What do you do to your septic that it needs pumping? I've got 36 years on mine? Just every 6 months I add a pound of copper sulfate to the distribution box to keep the roots out.

Do you drink well water? Does it taste good? Copper sulphate is nasty stuff for people too. The stuff you put in doesnt just disappear magically, you and your neighbors are going to be drinking it.

 

[Oaktree]

What do you do to your septic that it needs pumping? I've got 36 years on mine? Just every 6 months I add a pound of copper sulfate to the distribution box to keep the roots out.

Ewwww!! I'd imagine that your leachfield was trashed decades ago. Maybe with the sandy soil in Fla. it doesn't give any indications? We have ours done every other year (we only have a 500 gal tank), longest I've ever gone is 7 or 8 when I lived alone.
The solids don't ever completely break down, so eventually the tank will fill up. I've always considered tank additives to be snake oil.

I don't know if your septic tank guy has 250' of hose, but mine requires about 75', otherwise he'd have to drive across my leachfield.
You'd think that whoever put in these tanks would take into account that it needs periodic pumping and locate it where it's accessible from a road or driveway.

 

[ruffdog]

You'd think that whoever put in these tanks would take into account that it needs periodic pumping and locate it where it's accessible from a road or driveway.

Yes, that would be nice if the builders would take that into consideration. Many times the mechanics of a home are an afterthought.

 

[hawkeye08]

Septic pump truck parks in my driveway, runs 4" hose across yard to septic tank, about 90'. He has no problem pumping it out..

edit: forgot to add, they charge more when they use more hose, but it doesn't say that on bill..

 

[4570Man]

Yes, that would be nice if the builders would take that into consideration. Many times the mechanics of a home are an afterthought.

There’s more involved than that. Where the drain comes out of the house, where you got approved to put the leach field, gravity feed for the whole thing, and if you put it in the front yard you’ve got the eyesore of where the leech fields make green strips in the yard and the grass dies over the tank.

 

[ruffdog]

What a good racket for the plumbers, lived in two areas NY and FL and we leave them alone except for maybe some biocide and copper sulfate, most times it roots in the field.

RoyKing....I noticed you are from Florida. I just saw this article about the rising sea water and how it is affecting some septic systems down there. When the drinking water gets contaminated, lots of people will be gagging and screaming.

Climate change is going to make septic systems a problem - CNN

 

[RalphVa]

Send some of that moisture down to Virginia. We need it. Been trying to get a little water pump going to bring water up to my rain tanks and barrels. Finally got it going but I think there may be a leak or two in the 1/8 of a mile of pipe down there that hasn't been used in 3 or 4 years (or more).

Ralph

 

[ruffdog]

Send some of that moisture down to Virginia. We need it. Been trying to get a little water pump going to bring water up to my rain tanks and barrels. Finally got it going but I think there may be a leak or two in the 1/8 of a mile of pipe down there that hasn't been used in 3 or 4 years (or more).

Ralph

I would love to send the rain we are getting right now! The fields of soy beans and corn are turning brown so we need the dry Fall weather...not rain.

 

[Diggin It]

I don't know if those trucks can suck from 150' away where the drive is.

They can't get to mine due to driveway, garage, fence, etc. I talked to them before hand and explained all of that. They brought extra suction hose that they don't normally carry. Think it was 200' or so. Worked out fine.

It's been 20 years, so I really need to get it done again, but it'll be another few months now.

 

[Diggin It]

Have you pulled your cover lately to see how solid your holding tank is?

Mine is under about 2' of red rock gravel, so I try not to do it unless absolutely necessary.

Did it by hand with a long handle shovel last time. Hope to use the powered shovel this time for most of it.