Household Septic System

[dmccarty]

Our two lidded tanks has two risers. One is concrete and I put a bit of dirt over the lid. There are some rocks I half buried around the lid as well as some flowering plants to help find the lid. The other rise is plastic and the top is about 6 inches above ground. Both of the rises have a lid and there is another lid that provided access to the tank. In other words, one has to removed two lids to access each chamber.

Here in NC, I think most of the conventional field septic tanks would have one or two chambers and lids.

Later,
Dan

 

[Dr_Zinj]

The top of my tank was between 2 and 3 feet down. The last time I had it pumped, I built a feildstone dry well down to one of the pump outs, and put a removable cover over it. However, due to the frost going down a couple feet each year, I really need to get either a large block of styrofoam to fit the hole, or a big garbage bag (or two) of fiberglass insulation to fill the hole with.

 

[jlgurr]

Mine has three lids. 1000 gal tank. Two about 18" dia at the inlet and outlet, plus a smaller (10" or so) in the outlet side. Both of the larger ones are on the tank centerline about 6" in from the outside edge of the tank. I have no idea why the small one is there.

- Jay

Found a 20" square lid(?) with not much more than a coat hanger wire in the center. The lid center is about 32" from the long edge of the tank and 6" from the short edge. I guess we can call the pumper now and hope for the best.

Thank you everyone for your help!

 

[Billrog]

There is a very good chance your tank is 10' long & in that case you may have another lid 56" from the one you've found. Since it's the lid closest to the house that's where the solids will be if it's a 2 compartment tank. It sure the devil looks like hard digging. If it's full to capacity with solids would be very good to pump both sides to avoid contaminating your field and creating more problems.

 

[plowking]

Found a 20" square lid(?) with not much more than a coat hanger wire in the center. The lid center is about 32" from the long edge of the tank and 6" from the short edge. I guess we can call the pumper now and hope for the best.

Thank you everyone for your help!

View attachment 419459View attachment 419460

You probably want to lightly tap the cover before you lift up on the hook, to make sure it is loose.I have had to install heavier hooks with a hammerdrill in covers the hook broke or was missing. Your sketch shows four lines leaving tank outlet with no dist. box, unless there is some type of manifold to connect four lines to one outlet from tank. I do my tank every year on my wife's birthday. I tell her it is her birthday present. plowking

 

[aczlan]

I would recommend you do not put a riser at ground level that is more than 6" in diameter. One that is larger, well, curious kids and accidents have left many young folks dead in a pit, septic tank, dry well, etc... Better to measure to the center of the lid from two corners of your house, document it, then bury it again. Its a rare occurrence, but it seems to happen every year or two around here.

Yep. We have a large rock on our cement risers, but I would much rather have them buried (the tank is only 12" down).
One thing my inlaws have a 12"x12" paver just below the surface over their covers. It is at the same level as the grass (so they get grass growing over it at the edges), so you know exactly where to dig to find the covers (they dont mind having a earth colored paver in the yard).

Aaron Z

 

[ddbackhoe]

One thing to really consider when modifying these things is the safety side. Not that the below is a safety thing but...

Parents charged after boy found dead in septic tank

 

[txdon]

One thing to really consider when modifying these things is the safety side. Not that the below is a safety thing but...

Parents charged after boy found dead in septic tank

They were also charged with child abuse on their other child - this might turn out to be a sad case of disposing of the body not an accident - pending autopsy.

 

[ddbackhoe]

They were also charged with child abuse on their other child - this might turn out to be a sad case of disposing of the body not an accident - pending autopsy.

Yes. When I first heard about it I thought, "oh **** someone had an old piece of plywood covering the hole". Nope, yesterday one of the investigators was telling me that it had a bolt on riser lid and all the bolts were in place. Some sick person did it on purpose. Always amazes me how people can do things like this.

 

[jlgurr]

Final Chapter - Thanks everyone. The tank is clean now and the lid is covered again with an inverted 5 gallon bucket and 4" dirt over that. It's location is well documented now so it should be much, much easier the next time.

For you guys who know septic systems, this tank had about 8-10" of thick, dry muck on the top, some water in the middle and about 2 feet of sediment on the bottom. The pumper said it may have never been pumped before and we would have had issues sooner rather than later. The sediment on the bottom was hard as bricks and had to be broken up then watered down to get it out. YUCK! Glad it's over and I am now a firm believer in getting them cleaned regularly. Thanks again! :cool2: