What is this?

[Launchbury]

We moved into our house a few months back (built in the 80's), I'm now trying to sort the garden out.

This morning I removed a small rockery and found this;

Untitled

• Launchbury
• 27 Sep 2014
• 1

It's got stuff in it, but couldn't begin to explain what. It's not soil, it was soft when I poked it with a spade, strangely there is no smell.

Can anyone tell me what is is please?

Many thanks.

 

[Mursal]

Would it be your septic tank, or are you on town/city sewerage?

Any pipes in or out?

 

[Launchbury]

We are on mains sewerage. If there're any pipes in, they are well below ground.

 

[Jackrae]

Whether or not you are on a main sewer, what you're poking is indeed a septic tank.

 

[Launchbury]

How come there is no smell when I lift the lid?

Could it be redundant?

 

[Burnerman]

Either a septic tank or a sump that has been dealing with rain water at some time.....it's probably just full of soil and mulch now.
It's unusual for properties to start with a septic tank and then switch to mains drains....at least it is up here!
John

 

[Jackrae]

You're not supposed to get smell at that location. See attached for details of a typical ball style tank. From the line drawing it should be evident why it must be liquid filled once on location (otherwise external ground water will simply "float" it out)

http://knollandsseptictanks.co.uk/septic-tank-factsheets/septictankdesign.html

 

[Launchbury]

Thanks for your help gentlemen.

 

[WalksWithTurkeys]

Almost all of the houses in my area moved from septic tanks to mains drainage 20 years ago. Hence I have some very large concrete tanks at the bottom of my garden. After 20 years there is no smell. Have a look at the deeds and other documents you got when you bought your house. The septic tank is on my deeds, and the main sewer is on another document. My tanks were mostly filled in with flints and stones.

 

[Jackrae]

A small child could get into that access hole so cementing a grill over it might be an option since filling with sand or gravel may displace the contents onto your garden - yuk