Page 1 of 1
Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 6:35 pm
by SimonTown
Hi,
I have a 1930's property with a septic tank and soakaway, the soakaway hasn't been coping well, so having had the tank emptied I spent a pleasent morning digging out a thick layer of silt from the surface.
The system no longer appears to be backing up so I think the exercise helped, however I noticed some solids have worked through into the soakaway again, do I need to extend the pipe down deeper into the septic tank? How can I avoid this problem, as I don't won't to have to dig it out again any time soon.
Also my mother-in-law in France regularly adds bacteria to her system, is that really necessary, and might it help break down the solids?
Any advice would be appreciated!
Thanks
Simon ???
Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 7:36 pm
by flowjoe
Simon
You should have dip pipes or H pipes on the inlet and outlets to each chamber, these prevent solids from passing between tanks, they should extend down into the tank by at least a couple of foot below water level
If you have these and still have problems it could be due to volume of water passing through the tank, is the storm water connected ? and possibly the filter media on the filter tank is too fine.
You can buy enzime or bacteria for the tank, or you can do what the farmers used to do and throw a dead cat/chicken/building control officer in to get things moving. Another tip is don`t have the tank completely emptied, always leave a bit of the good stuff in there to kick start the enzyme.
Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:46 pm
by lutonlagerlout
throw a dead cat/chicken/building control officer in to get things moving
NOW your talking my language joe
why is it that building regs are supposed to be nationwide? yet wherever we go they tell us different things?
i know tony mc recommends putting rainwater into sewers but round here thats a hanging offence if the building control officer catches you doing it 
c'est la vie or bonnait de douche as they say in peckham
LLL
Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 10:14 pm
by SimonTown
Hi,
Thanks for tips, at the tank end there is a clay pipe that dips down into the tank, i'll need to check how far, but guess it would be easy to extend. What is a H-pipe? Sorry for ignorance!
The out let pipe flows straight into the soakaway with no unusual end fixings.
I've ordered some bacteria, bit short on dead cats around here I'm afraid.
Thanks again
Simon
Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 10:15 pm
by SimonTown
Sorry, forgot to add that the tank does not take storm water although with showers, dishwasher, washing machines etc plently of water goes down each day!
Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:35 pm
by flowjoe
Simon
because of a lack of building regs when most brick tanks were installed there are loads of variations`s on how they were built.
I have loads of drawings/design`s i have put together for client`s over the years so pm me with your e-mail and i will see if i have anything of any use to you.
If the filter media in the soakaway/filter tank is too fine and causes the tank to block, then this in itself could be the cause of solids passing through the tank.
Don`t buy any enzyme/bacteria i think LLL has a pair of boots that fit the bill.
Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 10:05 pm
by lutonlagerlout
boots got sold joe,look here
only problem was postage cost £8.99 and he wanted them,so charity lost out which was a shame
hehe
LLL 
Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 2:58 am
by Suggers
Blimey LLL, just checked out your boot buyer - he is seriously into footwear - did they smell good?
bit short on dead cats around here I'm afraid.
Have growing pile of dead rabbits - thankx to schnauzer mum and her new pup - seem to be catching one a day.... each.
Hey Flow(where you going with that gun in your hand?)Joe - doesn't all that fairy liquid, bog cleaner, dishwasher etc., kill all the enzyme activity ?
Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 7:49 am
by Dave_L
lutonlagerlout wrote:boots got sold joe,look here
only problem was postage cost £8.99 and he wanted them,so charity lost out which was a shame
hehe
LLL
Yeah I looked through that guys history - he's a bit of a fetishist of used footwear isn't he?
Oh well at least there's a bit of payback when my size 10's wear out, I'll ebay them!
Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 4:03 pm
by flowjoe
Suggers wrote:Hey Flow(where you going with that gun in your hand?)Joe - doesn't all that fairy liquid, bog cleaner, dishwasher etc., kill all the enzyme activity ?
Modern day detergents can have some affect on the tanks performance, but in 20+ years i think i may have recommended the use of enzyme once, though some of the small treatment plants we have installed recommend it.
You can buy tank friendly washing/cleaning products if you are the mother earth type and don`t mind the additional cost.
I would say most tank problems are due to clogged filter tanks or blocked/saturated soak-aways, and any tank is only as good as the ground it discharges into, a detail many developers and new build bod`s seem to overlook.
Edited By flowjoe on 1160838247