Filling septic tank with stone????

[Henro]

Hi... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Sewers went in last year. Been waiting to tie in. Actually put my line in as fast as I could last fall, fearing they might tell me to do it in the winter...

Anyway just got the letter today saying to pay up and tap in. But they also say there is a state law that septic tanks must be "drained and filled with sand or stone" but that "neither the county or towhships monitors this."

So I wonder if I should do it or not. I kind of think I should. My tank is only about 6" below the surface. While it is not the correct thing to do, I could use my backhoe to dip out what is in there, and dump in into a ditch, that carries road run off, and be done with it that way.

I could fill the hole with crushed limestone, and cover with soil.

Or I could just forget about it...

I am up in the air about this...

Anyone have any thoughts on the matter? I would appreciate anything as I either want to do something this spring, or probably just forget about it...

Thanks... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[db2]

Henro: You are asking for trouble. If someone finds out you release raw sewage you may regret that action.

Want to sleep at night? Spend the coin. Get a truck in and suck out the tank and fill it as per the local requirements.

Raw sewage with all it's pathogens (virus' ecoli etc) should not be free to roam.

Just my two cents

Regards

 

[Henro]

DB2,

I appreciate the input.

I guess it is a matter of degree...I doubt anyone would find out...one good rain and it is history...heck, the city sewage plant dumps raw sewage into the river after a heavy rain. It is not like it doesn't happen on a large scale.

But let's assume then that I get it pumped out, and it is dumped on a farmer's field by the pumper truck...or even lets assume I just get it pumped and don't worry about where it goes.

I suppose I confused the issue by saying I would dump it in a ditch... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

My real question though, was should I do something with the septic tank, or do nothing? I don't know if I expressed myself well in that first post. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I don't think I have to worry about the tractor breaking through the top in the future and falling in...so I just wonder what would be prudent...I am pretty sure most around here will do the easy thing and just forget about it...

 

[db2]

Henro

Regardless what you do with the stuff in the tank I would fill it with stone or sand. If not with time fluid will find it's way in and will eventually become a mess that has to be delt with. Barring that, the tank will deteriorate collapse and you will have to fill the hole.

Fill it in and be done with it. My suggestion anyway.

I had a shallow well that wasn't being used. Stagnant water in that well polluted a well 60 feet away. I had to pump out both wells clean both and fill the unused well with sand. Problem was solved

 

[rockinmywaypa]

I don't think you solved the problem but created a new one. You now have a porous conduit going down into your aqufier. The proper method of sealing your old well would have been to fill it completly with bentonite clay so that it is really sealed off and then no matter what spills around the surface or flooding nothing can soak down the column and jeoperdise the source. Around these parts farmers have been taking environmental farm plans that teaches us all the different hazards that possibly can happen and how to take due dillegence to avoid them and associated lawsuits.

 

[BigAl]

Henro , I think I would have a "sewer pump truck" come in and pump it out properly and dispose of it . You will have a reciept showing it was properly disposed of . This just might save your butt in the future should a question arise over what "Good Old Henro " did with all that sewer waste from his place .If you ever sell your place and did not disclose this you won't believe how fast and how much this will end up costing you, if the new owners find out . Even if it made no difference at all ,I can guarantee you that every ache and pain ,cough, cold sore, rash , pimples,or car trouble they ever had would be blamed on this and you would pay dearly . Besides turn the table around and look at it from the other side . I would be "hot" /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif if my nieghbor dumped his sewer out on the ground . I am not a sue person , but I can guarantee you someone would be cleaning it all up while I sat on my butt and watched .People are "Sue Happy" and this case would be easy money in there pocket !!!
As far as filling the tank up ,I would use "river sand " and fill it to the top .
Big Al

 

[db2]

My place is located on a drumlin. Forty feet of sand and gravel on top of the shield. The stuff I put in the old well is essentially the same as the surrounding material. I just filled a cavity to prevent stagnation.

I had a Cat 235 high hoe dig the second good well.

Everything is fine and has been for 15 years.

 

[cag]

Henro sooner or latter the pumping of your old septic tank will come up, maybe this will happen if you ever decide to sell your house you might have to produce the bill proving that you had it pump.. A guy I know drain is septic in a similar fashion your talking about, he contaminated is neighbor well the environment got involved and it cost a **** of lot more then what it would have cost to get it pump in the first place...cag

 

[BigAl]

Cag,
Thank you for reinforcing my point exactly !!!
Big Al

 

[shoppintractors]

How about going to your freindly neighborhood rental and renting a trash pump with the appropriate length of hose, then pump the contents of the tank, into the new sewer, that you're now connected to?

Don