Hi all.
I have recently hooked into our city’s sanitary sewer but I have a questions about my old septic system.
It is an old 2-tank concrete tank system with a baffle in between the two. Very small tanks. Probably holds 100 gallons each side for a total of 200 gallons which was verified by the pumping company.
Strange thing (besides the size) is that the tanks were placed within a few feet of the block basement wall.
Since hooking into sewer system, I have not had these tanks pumped and not filled them with sand.
I am wondering if the tanks themselves should be pulled out of the ground completely.
My concern is the close proximity of the tanks to the house and the fact that my basement walls are bowing in. NOTE: the bowing of the walls is probably not related to the tanks.
Anyone have any advice, seen tanks of this size and seen them installed so close to a house?
Replies
Greetings J,
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again.
Perhaps it will catch someones attention that can help you with advice.
Cheers
Probably pumping the tank and filling it with sand would be at least as good as pulling it entirely. As is the tank is like a big rock, helping to stabilize the soil.The only exception would be if your basement wall bowing is due to frost heave or expansive soil, in which case the tank provides something for the soil to "push" on. But likely removing the soil next to the house and replacing it with tiled sand would be a better bang for the buck than pulling the tank.PS: If the tank is pumped and filled with sand, make sure they knock holes in the bottom first.
Edited 8/14/2005 12:56 pm ET by DanH
Either sand fill or removal is OK here. Filling with sand is normally preferable as cheaper and doesn't run into disposal DEP costs.
The reason for not allowing one within ten feet of the foundation, as I understand it, is that if a leak should develope, you don't want to find methane gas from the septic building up in your cellar. methane is explosive in the right circumstances.
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