Septic tank problem!!?? (install, outside, best, pressure)

[Cosmic]

Difficult to make any sense out of what you describe or show in the pics.

The main drain line into the tank is typically 4" and is buried to make the connection in the side of the septic tank. What that small line coming in top is anybody's guess. Maybe something added at some time. Sure not a standard lash up.

I would suspect there might not be a leach field. Operation like this might have skipped that requirement. Systems do work like that, plenty of them around in SE Ohio. That pipe you are calling the over flow might just be the septic tank discharge. Certainly don't want to do it where there are streams or wells close by.

Sounds very shaky. You might get somebody who knows what they are doing to check it out. You can pull off the vegatation from the tank cover, pull the cover. Use a hose and flush some water in the tank and see if it comes right out the big pipe. I suspect it probably does, septic tank discharges to what is basically ground level and soaks in. Or if there is a leach field that may be plugged. The heavy use on one tank is not going to be good from so many angles.

That entire thing about multiple dwelling users on one tank, I doubt that was ever legal. Especially if the tank was sized for only one mobile. Tank may be overloaded and plugged with solids. When was the last time it was pumped?

Could be your basic problem at this time is the septic tank needs to be pumped. Multiple users could mean it might require it ever few years, depending on the tanks size. Got to wonder how well it is functioning in that type of demanding type service. Your pumping interval is very dependent on the number of users (expressed in number of persons) and their habits. 7-10 years in very light service, 2-3 in very heavy service and that is for a more normal system. Yours sounds like more the extreme, rather than heavy.

Not good, but maybe you can just have one of the septic pumping services look at it and see what they say. Usually the boss man can come out and take a peek. Pretend you think it might need to be pumped. Again one would assume the manager would be responsible for such needs / costs.

If I was a betting fellow, the tank is full. If it was not, excess would just flow thru.

Maybe get you out of a fight at this time. Sounds like you lose if you stand up for your rights. If it needs pumped and gets it, maybe you can limp along for a bit more. Direct discharge on the tank on the ground and its possible contamination of ground water is another issue that you may still have to face. The discharge / septic should be down hill from any well, if it can back flow over the surface you got problems. Get somebody else to do the reporting. Use some tact.

Got to know more about the local politics of the situation. Some areas of the country they get away with murder, especially if they are the big fish in a small pond. Local health folks can care less. Good doctor and lawyer on your side can get their attention, especially when it can result in a very nice judgement. Some small towns / rural areas can be very tough no matter, they may have the legal system pretty well sewed up too.

[Driller1]

In Michigan our local health departments are great! If you go not get an answer at your county level, contact your state office.

[jdoxakis]

The tank was pumped 7 or 8 mths ago, a few mths before my prior neighbor moved out. I don't blame the rental manger for this, she does what she is told, the owner lives in California while we are in GA. We have seen him once out here for 2 yrs. Much of nothing gets done out here, Im waiting for the septic to arrive as we speak. I wonder if they would tell me on the dl that is not standard by any long shot. That pipe coming out of the top of the tank is going away from my house, not coming from my house. There is a pipe coming from the side of the tank because there is a 4 in pipe going thru the creek bed not 15 feet from the tank, so dont know what the purpose of the top pipe is. Like I said my neighbors always had prblems with it, they did everything else short of replacing the tank/building another one. Its like someone trying to hold a stitch of clothing with a bandaid instead of thread.

[sgresident]

i don't know where you live, but I would definitely be calling the regulating agency..whether it is a municipality, a township, a county or whatever. this needs to be fixed. it is definitely a health hazard. In our area, septic systems are regulated by the county health dept.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by sgresident

i don't know where you live, but I would definitely be calling the regulating agency..whether it is a municipality, a township, a county or whatever. this needs to be fixed. it is definitely a health hazard. In our area, septic systems are regulated by the county health dept.

YES!!! You need to call, now.

[Boomerang]

Do you also have a building code office(r) in your town - I'd call them as well.
The owners probably aren't required to upgrade to code as long as the septic is working ---- once it's not working, all bets are off.

[Cosmic]

That eliminates one potential problem.

From the information then it starts to point toward something is plugged somewhere. You seem to say the neighbor's drains sort of work, your's do not.

I would continue the low profile path for a bit longer.

Try to understand what is happening. Maybe you got roots in the drain pipes.

That calling the Federalities sounds like good advice but it is going to be horrible if they decide to be heavy handed and "Close them Down". No victory if you wind up on the street or get a big rent increase. Some of them local authorities can be very strange when they have to enforce the laws and Cousin Billy Joe Bob is involved. Plus they have heard it all before. Lots of places do not work like in the movies.

Might try some discussion with the manager type. Probably not the only problem if this is like a trailer park.

I would be tending to think Roto-Rooter. Some way of proving my water is capable of making it out of the house to the tank. Food coloring dye type test.

Longer term you can work on the problem of attempting to get a modern septic system. Lots of luck, they ain't cheap. Will definitely cause a increase in the parking rent.

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by Cosmic

That entire thing about multiple dwelling users on one tank, I doubt that was ever legal. Especially if the tank was sized for only one mobile. Tank may be overloaded and plugged with solids. When was the last time it was pumped?

It's actually common in mobile home parks to have two mobile homes on one tank. Back in the 70's most mobile homes had only one bathroom, but now most of them have two. The code has probably changed for new parks, but I know there are plenty of older ones around with this set-up.

[jdoxakis]

The septic people came, I was out there with them while they did the work. Where the pipe was wasnt the tank itself but the box that distributes the water to the drain field. He walked right over to whre the pipe was and pulled up on the pipe and it came right up with the round lid and all. So, I asked if it was supposed that accesible, he never answered me but I had been wondering about the small pieces of siding placed along the perimeter of the lid, it was put there intentionally. So i asked him again, are you telling me any kid can come over here and lift this up? no, answer. The problem was the front trap was completely clogged with grease, the same problem it had before, only it was blocking access to the tank instead of blocking one septic line. Where the water was pooled he took a shovel to pick the mud up and tank was right on the surface, you can stand on the metal top of it. I asked if he knew what the thing sticking up from the ground was, he replied it was the pump (I knew that but was checking) I asked if he knew that my neighbors was supplying the power for the pump, he said i didnt know what I was talking about. my neighbors were out there with me and picked up the cord that plugs into the pump and followed it back to where it was plugged in into their house. this guy was really trying to play stupid, when he saw we knew, he then said it wasnt a pump, so my neighbors asked well then what would they be supplying to that was located where the tank was coming out the ground. He left quickly, then we both got calls from the manager trying to explain the power situation, she said that the receptacle did not come from their power, yet the outlet is located on the side of the trailer. All the homes out here has an outside outlet for us to use, not be used to power a pump for three homes. Even the electric company said that they are paying the bill to power the pump, not their responsibility. Of course they cant unplug it or else the pump doesnt work, so they feel trapped. They have already started making calls to get someone out here.

[Cosmic]

Ok, what it sounds like is your typical incompetence. They pumped the tank a bit back but did not service the grease trap, hence your more recent experience. Hard to get good help these dazes.

All the rest of it is your typical backsides covering by everybody involved. If I was the septic guy probably would have done the same thing. Your loyality is to your pay check.

Your real future is fully understanding all the facts. Why is there a pump??? What does it do???? How was this system designed. (If that is the proper word. ). Knowledge is power.

Might start thinking about my medical history??? Is the drinking water really unsafe??? How to gather more real facts.

Yes, many mobile parks were designed to have two units share one tank. Probably still done in some locations but you assume they are competent designs, nothing wrong with that if the tanks / systems were sized / designed for it initially and it was approved in that manner. If there is owner power required somewhere, then it would have its own meter. Very common in places like apartment buildings. The owner supplies power for common areas and is billed directly for it. In your case if there is no separate meter, somebody is paying for that power, they have a meter. Probably is your neighbor, when in doubt, lie, use a song and dance routine.

Hopefully this gets you back to something liveable for a while. Would still pursue getting a safe environment. Would do the homework first. Don't count too much on the government. If you can put together a good actionable legal case that is a different story. Might start with some water testing.