Problems with Septic Tank and Soakaway

[hayleysmum]

Hi

I am in desperate need of some advice - I am having sleepless nights worrying about my septic tank!

We moved into house in August last year. Never had a septic tank before, but everyone we spoke to said 'don't worry about it, its fine'. Hey ho!

The area around manhole cover had always been a bit "boggy" but assumed this was just because it was winter months. Also, I thought the garden seemed to dip to one side of the manhole as well.

Anyway, the said area had become fairly water logged so we had the tank emptied (10 months since last empty). When this was done, the water logged hole cleared, but showed that there were a couple of bricks missing from the side of the tank - about 3 bricks down. On inspection we think previous owners maybe had a problem with overflowing (inside of manhole lid rather rusty - maybe because of overflowing?) and had a couple of bricks removed to let the water flow into garden (ahhhh). This may be why there is also a dip in the garden - it is failling into the pit!

The dip next to the pit (same side as bricks missing) is even more of a dip now, and constantly water logged. I assume is dirty water coming from tank via holes in the side. And yes, my husband says I am paranoid, but there does seem to be a pong - more of stagnant water than anything, but it puts me off even going into the garden (which is not big and manhole smack bang in the middle!).

I have spoken to people over the phone who have said 'just fill in the whole - any hole in a garden will be water logged', or others who have said soakaway is probably shot and needs replacing (estimates £1,000!).

We live in a very rural area where the water table is very high (apparently).

The proposed installation of mains sewage is between 12-18 months away (Water Board confirmed yesterday that they will receive large fines if not completed by September 09) and public meetings will be held this year/planning/laterals already drawn up).

Any advice on what I should do now? If soakaway is knackered, will I be able to hold on til mains installation?

Many thanks.

 

[^woody^]

A septic tank recieves and stores waste from the property and should be emptied regularly - as required.

Fill in the hole in the tank, and empty when required.

Then make up the ground which has sunk. Sorted

 

[noseall]

£1000 to replace a soakaway! get real!

 

[bisto36]

I would hold on until you have mains sewage you say it is only a year away.

You say you have your tank in the back garden ? You are going to have enough expense routing your drains to the front of your property to join up with the mains ?

Even if you have to have your tank emptied every few months , what is it to empty? £45 a time , so spend £120-£150 doing that for a year , and when the mains arrive your problems will be solved.

 

[Krimper]

I know it's a year later and I'm not sure if this 100% relevant but I've just re-dug my soakaway as we had to pump the water from the front where the tank was to a newish soakaway at the back. I moved into the property about 4 months ago.
Everybody in the village said 'high water table'. Even the local plumber who 'specialised' in drainage. I even asked him for a quote which thankfully he didn't supply as I know now he wouldn't have done the job properly.
I hired a mini JCB, determined to do the job myself. Luckily the neighbour opposite saw this and showed my his foundations that he had been digging. He said there was mostly clay and there was a real thick layer of clay at about 8ft down which the water sat on. The clay was more like terracota it was that dense. But underneath I could see sand.

I started digging but at about 5ft deep we hit water (from the existing soakaway). If it hadn't been for the neighbour I would have assumed it was the water table and got upset. I carried on digging 'underwater' and soon realised the JCB could only dig to about 8ft in depth.
I got a septic tank emptying company in called HFS who sucked this water away. Luckily the machine they had was a monster (far bigger than your run of the mill lorries that do the job) and it was able to suck the clay up as well. Apparantly it sucks at 4000psi.
Anyway we then had a great view of a dry hole going into the sand.
We quickly filled it with crushed stone. Job done.
So far, no problems.
Hope this helps.

 

[wastetech]

I am afraid that all new soakaways must be constructed in accordance with BS 6297 2007 and Section H2 of the Building Regulations. These clearly state how a soakaway must be constructed - and it is not a 'pit' filled with stones.
The soakaway must be created in the aerobic soil layer, which is within the top metre only from ground level. They must be designed according to the percolation test results and be in a series of parrallel trenches in a closed loop design.
The problem arises when a house is sold and the vendor has to sign that he/she has not done anything to the property which does not have Building Regulations approval. The Vendor can be sued by the purchaser if this is signed incorrectly, but if the vendor tells the truth, it can make the property unsaleable - tricky!
Click below for a link to the Building Regulations http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_ADH_2002.pdf
Start at Page 30

 

[Krimper]

My 'pit' works great. But thanks for the 'advice'.