I have a sump pit which water from around the foundation flows into. Before we moved into the house a new septic system and field were installed. They also installed a new pipe from the sump pump through the basement wall which continues outside underground about 10' from the house and then turns downward. We had a very heavy rain for an extended period a while back and the sump pump ran continuously. I noticed that water was bubbling up from the ground where the pipe runs. Then recently a sink hole started to form in the yard where the pump turns downward. We have very sandy soil so I tried to dig down further to see where the pipe ends but I got to 4' plus and the pipe still continues downward. I do not know how to continue with this dilemma as I am afraid that if I fill the hole it will appear again.
Is this a normal system for a sump pump exhaust with no city sewer?
Can someone tell me how this system is supposed to work?
I am at a wall as to what to do or how to continue. I thought about digging a little deeper and then filling the whole thing with stone.?.
Any help would be greatly appreciated as how to continue or how this thing is supposed to work.
Thanks in advance.

Are you on septic ?

Chances are that your sump-pump is connected into either dry well or leach field. It may be that your ground is saturated with rain water and cannot accept any more water from sump pump. Same applies to dry wall: if it is full, it won't take any more water.

It would be good to contact previous owner or the plumber who installed the system. It may save you lots of digging and damage to your property. There is really no "blue print" for this type of installation. Every plumber designs his/her own.

Milo, He's already stated he's on a septic system that was new when he bought the house. What he could do is to cut into the pipe as it turns down and extend it out and into a dry well. The fact that he has a sink hole started, (I live in Flordia where we are very familiar with sink holes)tells me the soil's saturated and won't percolate any more water away. What I wouldn't do is connect the sump to the septic system as it could over load the system in a hard and prolonged rain. I would dig vin a dry well and if that wouldn't handle it I would add a drain field. Good luck and thank you for rating my reply. Tom

Are you on septic ?

Chances are that your sump-pump is connected into either dry well or leach field. It may be that your ground is saturated with rain water and cannot accept any more water from sump pump. Same applies to dry wall: if it is full, it won't take any more water.

It would be good to contact previous owner or the plumber who installed the system. It may save you lots of digging and damage to your property. There is really no "blue print" for this type of installation. Every plumber designs his/her own.


I am not sure if I am doing this right as I am new to this forum stuff.
I want to thank both of you (Milo and Speedball1) for responding so quickly to my problem.
A few questions though:
Knowing that the pipe turns directly downward in the yard how would you best guess that the dry well would have been designed?
Do you think that I could did a little deeper and then fill it with stone to help with the water dispersion?
I hope that this is the proper way to respond to your responses.
Also, how do I rate your replies for you?
Thanks for the help you already offered!

I am not sure if I am doing this right as I am new to this forum stuff. I hope that this is the proper way to respond to your responses.
Also, how do I rate your replies for you? You're doing just fine. If you wish to rate our answers you can do so by clicking on the scales in the upper banner.

Knowing that the pipe turns directly downward in the yard how would you best guess that the dry well would have been designed?
Do you think that I could did a little deeper and then fill it with stone to help with the water dispersion? I'm going to give you some options.
1) You can build your own dry well,(see image) for instructions click on;Drywells for Landscape Drainage, how to install, drain time information (http://www.easydigging.com/Drainage/drywell_soakaway.html)
2) You can purchase a manufactured dry well. (see image) for more click on; Easy to install drywell kit solves roof runoff problems by taking gutter water away from your leaky basement. Save energy too! (http://www.thenaturalhome.com/drywellinstallation.htm)
Good luck and thank you for rating my reply, Tom