landscaping question

ManglerYJ

ManglerYJ

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Lexington, NC
I know this is a 4x4 site, but I'm sure someone will know this. The area in my yard at the end of the septic tank line is always wet. It appears to be clear water and there is no smell of septic water, so I think it is just excess water from doing 3-4 loads of laundry per day and the bathing needs of 2 adults, two teenagers, a 3 year old and a baby.

My question is: Is there some kind of grass seed that I can spread in this area that might "soak up" some of this extra water?

So far, I had the septic tank pumped and the soil Terra-lifted { that was SO cool to watch} but there is still excess water.
 
Man sounds like you are :poop:out of luck. If water is coming out the end of your lines your drain field is probably shot. Hope you got a little extra money put back cause your looking at a couple thousand dollars for new drain lines.
 
lockedup5 said:
Man sounds like you are :poop:out of luck. If water is coming out the end of your lines your drain field is probably shot. Hope you got a little extra money put back cause your looking at a couple thousand dollars for new drain lines.
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That's what I was afraid of. I had heard that if it was clear water, then it at least meant the leach field was working to remove the solids and that the clear water from the bath/laundry water was blowing right past. I don't know the validity of that, though.
 
welcome to my yard from late Oct thru mid May, one line is over run with water, can't evaporate or leach.

The soil here is absolute shit, heavy clay, wondering who paid who to make the perc pass before they built this development.

I have looked repeatedly for a distribution box, but haven't found it yet. once I do find it, I'll check and reset as nessisary. THEN I'll bring in a few tons of sand and then top soil, at least then I may be able to have a yard the kid can play in year round.
 
you could try to make the problem a little better by digging a few trenches filling them with gravel and laying french drains.... just a thought... as far as grass seed no there isn't one that grows well in a swamp. but... if the water is really clean and not dangerous you could try the french drain thing and maybe you could get the soil dry enough for some grass to grow.
 
Willows do suck a lot of water, we planted one in a low spot in our yard. But, you really don't want to deal with their root tentacles growing into the septic lines because they will seek out any source of water. Might end up with a worse problem than you started with.
 
59Willys said:
Willows do suck a lot of water, we planted one in a low spot in our yard. But, you really don't want to deal with their root tentacles growing into the septic lines because they will seek out any source of water. Might end up with a worse problem than you started with.
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Planting a tree like a willow on top will fix the water issue for about a year. Then destroy the tank when the roots grow into it.
 
ManglerYJ said:
That's what I was afraid of. I had heard that if it was clear water, then it at least meant the leach field was working to remove the solids and that the clear water from the bath/laundry water was blowing right past. I don't know the validity of that, though.
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I'm not a septic tank specialist but I have about ten of them and have to service them periodically and have had the same problem. Actually your septic tank and the bacteria takes care of the solids and the leach field takes care of the water. If you haven't had your tank pumped regularly (every few yrs.) the solids can get into your lines I think. But it just sounds like your ground under your lines will not perk anymore. Sorry to be a downer. It may not stink now but wait till warm weather. It may not be a strong odor but it lingers.
 
lockedup5 said:
If you haven't had your tank pumped regularly (every few yrs.)
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My house was built in 79 and has never been pumped.
It is my understanding if a septic system is properly installed and maintained it never needs to be pumped.
 
SkyHiK5 said:
My house was built in 79 and has never been pumped.
It is my understanding if a septic system is properly installed and maintained it never needs to be pumped.
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what do you mean by maintained? The only maintenence I know of is to pump it. I guess I just tend to believe guys that install and pump them for a living. They are probably just full of shit.:lol:
 
The tank still needs to be pumped. Based on your usage, you could be looking at once every 2-4 years, depending on the size of the tank.

Check and see how deep the solids are inside the tank. That should give you some indication as to whether you're just fighting a full tank, or if there's a more serious problem with the leech field. The liquid that comes to the surface is still sewerage, and is still hazardous.

Also, consider reducing your water usage. Low-flow shower heads, shorter showers, low-flow toilets (yellow mellow, HA) will cut down on the problem to some degree.

http://www.soil.ncsu.edu/publications/Soilfacts/AG-439-13/
 
My parents house was built in 1981 and has never been pumped either.
 
jeepinmatt said:
My parents house was built in 1981 and has never been pumped either.
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My folks house was from 1976 and hasn't been touched since.
The well was replaced twice due to lightening, but the septic still works.
Dad's put those "helpful" chemicals down the tank twice, but he's lazy. And it has no issues.

The people I know who pump it every 3-5 years, are the ones I've seen having problems. (Of course it might be they have problems, so they pump it a lot. But I don't thik it's needed.)
 
lockedup5 said:
what do you mean by maintained? The only maintenence I know of is to pump it. I guess I just tend to believe guys that install and pump them for a living. They are probably just full of shit.:lol:
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My grandfather and uncle used to install septic systems and wells, they did it for 20 years and sold the company to a good friend of my grandads, so I guess I likewise believe the guys who have installed a few...

Properly maintained means watching what you flush or pour down the drain and properly setting up a chem field. Unless you run a ton of "white water" you should never need to use the chems. But for some people it may be necessary.

Anyone pumping in 3-5 years has SERIOUS installation issues...
 
Oh, also ever notice the only people who claim you need regular pumpings are the guys who do the pumping?
 
SkyHiK5 said:
Oh, also ever notice the only people who claim you need regular pumpings are the guys who do the pumping?
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Or the people like the new house near me, that have built somewhere that the only way to "make" the septic work, is with a fully computer monitored system, that is DESIGNED to be pumped, flushed, and drained every 2-4 years depending on usage. Plus it cost >30k to install.
Ugh.
 
SkyHiK5 said:
Oh, also ever notice the only people who claim you need regular pumpings are the guys who do the pumping?
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I wasn't looking to be a smart ass earlier. That is what I was getting at. But to never pump a tank is a stretch. The tanks I own are filled by tenants in my rental houses and they flush every thing. Yes I mean everything!!

Good story:
Last tank I pumped at one of my rental houses I opened it up and there was enough tied up rubbers(condoms) like small balloons on top to fill up two five gallon buckets. Remember this is the only house on that tank and it is just a man and his wife living there and he works and she doesn't. I also pumped the tank a few yrs. earlier just before they moved in. The next time I talked to the guy I asked him nicely if he would refrain from flushing his rubbers. His response was " Man what are you talking about I've been steril for years I don't use those things." My joking response was "then would you please ask your wife not to flush them?" The next month her name was removed from the lease and she moved out. I never asked any questions. Just thought this story pertained to this thread. :poop:
 
lockedup5 said:
Good story:
Last tank I pumped at one of my rental houses I opened it up and there was enough tied up rubbers(condoms) like small balloons on top to fill up two five gallon buckets. Remember this is the only house on that tank and it is just a man and his wife living there and he works and she doesn't. I also pumped the tank a few yrs. earlier just before they moved in. The next time I talked to the guy I asked him nicely if he would refrain from flushing his rubbers. His response was " Man what are you talking about I've been steril for years I don't use those things." My joking response was "then would you please ask your wife not to flush them?" The next month her name was removed from the lease and she moved out. I never asked any questions. Just thought this story pertained to this thread. :poop:
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Daaamn! looks like she got caught, :lol:
 
lockedup5 said:
I wasn't looking to be a smart ass earlier. That is what I was getting at. But to never pump a tank is a stretch. The tanks I own are filled by tenants in my rental houses and they flush every thing. Yes I mean everything!!
Good story:
Last tank I pumped at one of my rental houses I opened it up and there was enough tied up rubbers(condoms) like small balloons on top to fill up two five gallon buckets. Remember this is the only house on that tank and it is just a man and his wife living there and he works and she doesn't. I also pumped the tank a few yrs. earlier just before they moved in. The next time I talked to the guy I asked him nicely if he would refrain from flushing his rubbers. His response was " Man what are you talking about I've been steril for years I don't use those things." My joking response was "then would you please ask your wife not to flush them?" The next month her name was removed from the lease and she moved out. I never asked any questions. Just thought this story pertained to this thread. :poop:
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Proves the point of, no matter how clever you think you are, you will always get caught!!
 
SkyHiK5 said:
Oh, also ever notice the only people who claim you need regular pumpings are the guys who do the pumping?
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Actually, it's the municipal water quality guys and the DENR. Except maybe in SC... untreated sewerage running in the street is considered normal down there. :flipoff2:

It really comes down to a question of usage and the size/efficiency of the tank and leach field. If you have low usage, are careful about what you put down the drain, and have a well-functioning system overall, you can go a very long time without having the system serviced. But that doesn't mean you don't have a significant accumulation of solids in the tank.

If you've got six adults living in a house with a 900 gallon tank and a less-than-ideal leach system, you're going to have the tank pumped once a year.
 
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