I just had to have the septic guys out because water was backing up. Not
good. Caught it in time, though, and popped the cap, and let about ten
gallons run into the pasture and lower the water level.

Solids were about four inches thick. Good. But tank was flooded, so
there's something going on with the field. I think it has to do with
overwatering the grass, something SWMBO wants done JUST THIS WAY, GODDAMMIT!

This company is known as the best in the region, and if they say it, that's
pretty much what it is. I shall share some things:

Never use a garbage disposal on a septic system. The foods decompose
differently than sewage and give off H2S gas which eats concrete.

Never use any additive. If the system is working right, it is a waste of
money.

Use phosphate free detergents, and don't do several big loads in a row, but
space them out.

I'll watch the tank now to see what it does once it is full, and give the
leach field a chance to dry out and catch up. If it still floods, then it
is time for a new leach field. Oh, gee, I can't wait! The smell usually
only lasts a year.

Steve

--
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of
patriots and tyrants. - Thomas Jefferson -

So, how's that change and hope working for you?

on 9/29/2009 1:46 PM (ET) SteveB wrote the following:
I just had to have the septic guys out because water was backing up. Not
good. Caught it in time, though, and popped the cap, and let about ten
gallons run into the pasture and lower the water level.

Solids were about four inches thick. Good. But tank was flooded, so
there's something going on with the field. I think it has to do with
overwatering the grass, something SWMBO wants done JUST THIS WAY, GODDAMMIT!

This company is known as the best in the region, and if they say it, that's
pretty much what it is. I shall share some things:

Never use a garbage disposal on a septic system. The foods decompose
differently than sewage and give off H2S gas which eats concrete.


Garbage disposal in a septic system or a grey water disposal system is a
no-no. Scrape all leftover food into the garbage pail, or compost heap.
Garbage disposals systems should be illegal, even for municipal sewage
systems.
Never use any additive. If the system is working right, it is a waste of
money.


True.
Use phosphate free detergents, and don't do several big loads in a row, but
space them out.


Detergents containing phosphates have been illegal for decades.
Clothes washers, and sinks, and dishwashers, should have a grey water
system.
I'll watch the tank now to see what it does once it is full, and give the
leach field a chance to dry out and catch up. If it still floods, then it
is time for a new leach field. Oh, gee, I can't wait! The smell usually
only lasts a year.

Steve




--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

Detergents containing phosphates have been illegal for decades.
Clothes washers, and sinks, and dishwashers, should have a grey water
system.


Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY

That sounds like a good idea, but what does a gray water system look
like? Is it completely separate from the septic system? Does it also
involve a tank and leach field? And what about tubs/showers? --H

on 9/29/2009 3:09 PM (ET) Heathcliff wrote the following:
Detergents containing phosphates have been illegal for decades.
Clothes washers, and sinks, and dishwashers, should have a grey water
system.


Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY


That sounds like a good idea, but what does a gray water system look
like?

It is underground.

Is it completely separate from the septic system?

Yes.
Does it also
involve a tank and leach field? And what about tubs/showers? --H

Just a tank that is perforated set in a hole with gravel all around it.
All my grey water, which includes all sinks, showers, and baths empty
into it.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

On Sep 29, 3:15*pm, willshak wrote:
on 9/29/2009 3:09 PM (ET) Heathcliff wrote the following:

Detergents containing phosphates have been illegal for decades.
Clothes washers, and sinks, and dishwashers, should have a grey water
system.

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY

That sounds like a good idea, but what does a gray water system look
like? *

It is underground.

Is it completely separate from the septic system?

Yes. Does it also
involve a tank and leach field? *And what about tubs/showers? --H

Just a tank that is perforated set in a hole with gravel all around it.
All my grey water, which includes all sinks, showers, and baths empty
into it.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

I saw a gray water system attached to a septic tank acting as the
leech field. Is this OK? These were being set up on a mobile home on
a sand ridge. Septic tank in the back yard and another tank used for
gray water in the front.

Jimmie

on 9/29/2009 3:28 PM (ET) JIMMIE wrote the following:
On Sep 29, 3:15 pm, willshak wrote:

on 9/29/2009 3:09 PM (ET) Heathcliff wrote the following:


Detergents containing phosphates have been illegal for decades.
Clothes washers, and sinks, and dishwashers, should have a grey water
system.

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY

That sounds like a good idea, but what does a gray water system look
like?

It is underground.


Is it completely separate from the septic system?

Yes. Does it also

involve a tank and leach field? And what about tubs/showers? --H

Just a tank that is perforated set in a hole with gravel all around it.
All my grey water, which includes all sinks, showers, and baths empty
into it.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @


I saw a gray water system attached to a septic tank acting as the
leech field. Is this OK? These were being set up on a mobile home on
a sand ridge. Septic tank in the back yard and another tank used for
gray water in the front.

Jimmie

I don't know about it being attached to a brown water system (septic tank).
The only thing that goes into my septic tank is just toilets (#1 and #2)..
I suppose #1 going into a grey water tank would be OK, since it is only
water.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

"willshak" wrote in message
...

snip

Is it completely separate from the septic system?

Yes.
Does it also involve a tank and leach field? And what about
tubs/showers? --H

Just a tank that is perforated set in a hole with gravel all around it.
All my grey water, which includes all sinks, showers, and baths empty into
it.

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

Hey Bill, doesn't soap scum and other solids eventually fill the voids
between the stones?
TIA,
Chuck

"willshak" wrote in message
...
on 9/29/2009 3:09 PM (ET) Heathcliff wrote the following:
Detergents containing phosphates have been illegal for decades.
Clothes washers, and sinks, and dishwashers, should have a grey water
system.


Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY


That sounds like a good idea, but what does a gray water system look
like?

It is underground.

Is it completely separate from the septic system?

Yes.
Does it also
involve a tank and leach field? And what about tubs/showers? --H

Just a tank that is perforated set in a hole with gravel all around it.
All my grey water, which includes all sinks, showers, and baths empty into
it.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @


Grey water systems are illegal in some states including Maine....Check
before running out to put one in....

Heathcliff wrote:
Detergents containing phosphates have been illegal for decades.
Clothes washers, and sinks, and dishwashers, should have a grey water
system.


Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY

That sounds like a good idea, but what does a gray water system look
like? Is it completely separate from the septic system? Does it also
involve a tank and leach field? And what about tubs/showers? --H

Grey water is the over flow from the settlement tank. It actually looks
grey. It's what goes into the leach field. What's being called a grey
water system is otherwise disposal of water not full of bacteria. Still
not a good idea to just dump it.

Never heard of a backup unless pipe to field was clogged. Unless you
need to pump gray water to leach field, it is gravity fed, i.e. lower
than the tank.

We have a garbage disposal but seldom use it and put scraps of food in
garbage. My septic is in great shape.

"willshak" wrote in message
m...

Garbage disposals systems should be illegal, even for municipal sewage
systems.

Why?

on 9/29/2009 3:31 PM (ET) John L. Holliday wrote the following:
"willshak" wrote in message
m...

Garbage disposals systems should be illegal, even for municipal sewage
systems.


Why?

They make extra work for the municipal sewage systems. The less solids
in the municipal sewage system, like chicken bones. sanitary napkins,
and other solids, the less debris left over that has to be trucked away
before dumping the treated water into the waters.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

"willshak" wrote in message
...
on 9/29/2009 3:31 PM (ET) John L. Holliday wrote the following:
"willshak" wrote in message
m...

Garbage disposals systems should be illegal, even for municipal sewage
systems.


Why?

They make extra work for the municipal sewage systems. The less solids in
the municipal sewage system, like chicken bones. sanitary napkins, and
other solids, the less debris left over that has to be trucked away before
dumping the treated water into the waters.

--


I guess that's a defendable position-- in a sewer-centric world. The
landfill folks would argue the reverse;-)

John H. Holliday wrote:
"willshak" wrote in message
...
on 9/29/2009 3:31 PM (ET) John L. Holliday wrote the following:
"willshak" wrote in message
m...

Garbage disposals systems should be illegal, even for municipal
sewage systems.


Why?

They make extra work for the municipal sewage systems. The less
solids in the municipal sewage system, like chicken bones. sanitary
napkins, and other solids, the less debris left over that has to be
trucked away before dumping the treated water into the waters.

--


I guess that's a defendable position-- in a sewer-centric world. The
landfill folks would argue the reverse;-)

And the "clean green" composting people have another opinion.

"John H. Holliday" wrote in message

They make extra work for the municipal sewage systems. The less solids in
the municipal sewage system, like chicken bones. sanitary napkins, and
other solids, the less debris left over that has to be trucked away
before dumping the treated water into the waters.

--


I guess that's a defendable position-- in a sewer-centric world. The
landfill folks would argue the reverse;-)


Most of that stuff should be composted though. Difficult to do in the city,
common in the country.

"willshak" wrote in message
...
on 9/29/2009 3:31 PM (ET) John L. Holliday wrote the following:
"willshak" wrote in message
m...

Garbage disposals systems should be illegal, even for municipal sewage
systems.


Why?

They make extra work for the municipal sewage systems. The less solids in
the municipal sewage system, like chicken bones. sanitary napkins, and
other solids, the less debris left over that has to be trucked away before
dumping the treated water into the waters.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

Since you're arguing against garbage disposals, I have to ask: Who puts
chicken bones and sanitary napkins through their garbage disposal? Who's
even *heard* of doing that?????

"John L. Holliday" wrote in message
...
"willshak" wrote in message
m...

Garbage disposals systems should be illegal, even for municipal sewage
systems.

Why?

From willshank:
Never use a garbage disposal on a septic system. The foods decompose
differently than sewage and give off H2S gas which eats concrete.
Garbage disposal in a septic system or a grey water disposal system is a
no-no. Scrape all leftover food into the garbage pail, or compost heap.

On Sep 29, 1:08*pm, "C & E" wrote:
"John L. Holliday" wrote in ...

"willshak" wrote in message
om...

Garbage disposals systems should be illegal, even for municipal sewage
systems.

Why?

From willshank:
Never use a garbage disposal on a septic system. *The foods decompose
differently than sewage and give off H2S gas which eats concrete.

So with literally millions of garbage disposals installed on septic
systems, why aren't we having an epidemic of tank collapses from
concrete corrosion?

So with literally millions of garbage disposals installed on septic
systems, why aren't we having an epidemic of tank collapses from
concrete corrosion?

What about water softeners? Are they OK to use with a septic tank?
I've heard they are hard on the concrete from some and others say they
are OK.

willshak wrote:
on 9/29/2009 1:46 PM (ET) SteveB wrote the following:
I just had to have the septic guys out because water was backing up.
Not good. Caught it in time, though, and popped the cap, and let
about ten gallons run into the pasture and lower the water level.

Solids were about four inches thick. Good. But tank was flooded, so
there's something going on with the field. I think it has to do with
overwatering the grass, something SWMBO wants done JUST THIS WAY,
GODDAMMIT! This company is known as the best in the region, and if they say
it,
that's pretty much what it is. I shall share some things:

Never use a garbage disposal on a septic system. The foods decompose
differently than sewage and give off H2S gas which eats concrete.


Garbage disposal in a septic system or a grey water disposal system
is a no-no. Scrape all leftover food into the garbage pail, or
compost heap. Garbage disposals systems should be illegal, even for
municipal sewage systems.

My disposal has its own little corner sink. I've been very tempted to re-plumb
it to go to a buried collection bin, or even to pump it straight to the compost
pile.

My disposal has its own little corner sink. I've been very tempted to
re-plumb it to go to a buried collection bin, or even to pump it straight
to the compost pile.


Be careful of anaerobic digestion if in a pit. That will stink

On Sep 29, 10:46*am, "SteveB" wrote:
....
Never use a garbage disposal on a septic system. *The foods decompose
differently than sewage and give off H2S gas which eats concrete.


This paper indicates that sulfur ***in the water*** is the issue.

http://www.waterloo-biofilter.com/do...%20Article.pdf

"SteveB" wrote in message
I'll watch the tank now to see what it does once it is full, and give the
leach field a chance to dry out and catch up. If it still floods, then it
is time for a new leach field. Oh, gee, I can't wait! The smell usually
only lasts a year.


Good timing. On the first, my water and sewer bill will be coming and I
won't feel bad at all about the modest charges.