Check out some similar questions!

jiffynut · Sep 16, 2007, 08:07 AM

Hello,

I had my house built last year and the septic system is a sand mound system with 3 holding tanks between my house and the sand mound. The holding tanks are concrete and each have an access (manhole) that sticks about 1' out of the ground. I have read on other sites about access being buried under the ground, so I was confused about why mine is sticking so far out of the ground.

I am interested in 1 of 2 things. Either digging down and cutting the cement access manholes to a height that will allow them to just be at ground-level. Or, to completely dig out the manhole accesses and replace with corrugated pipe that is the right height to be at ground level. The reason I want to do this is, the manhole accesses are ugly and are a pain to mow around (they are in my fenced-in back yard).

Does anyone have any advise about which way would be best to take care of these manholes, or possibly some insight as to what I can do?

Thanks for your help!

doug238 · Sep 17, 2007, 10:20 PM

Leave it alone and be glad you got them. Other access covers are not accessible, they are concrete covers cemented to the tank lid. Put a potted plant on the covers.

jiffynut · Sep 18, 2007, 03:24 AM

Originally Posted by doug238

leave it alone and be glad ya got them. other access covers are not accessable, they are concrete covers cemented to the tank lid. put a potted pland on the covers.

Ok. Leave them alone because it would cause a problem, or leave them alone just because you wouldn't do anything to them?

If it was not clear, these are concrete "tubes" that are about 2' or so in diameter, and they go down directly to the holding tanks under ground. They stick out of the ground about 1 - 2'. I would like to make them ground level or lower, especially because this is my back yard and I plan to have kids playing back there in the near future.

I am not sure if your comment was simply because you think it's difficult when people bury them (I don't necessarily want them under ground). I have a blade for my circular saw which would be able to cut the concrete, so one idea (if it would make sense to anyone), would be to cut them to ground level height...

I appreciate your comment :o - especially if you are pointing out that it would cause problems if I were to make them shorter or replace them...

Thanks!

doug238 · Sep 18, 2007, 09:26 PM

I may have misunderstood. I was thinking they were up slightly. Usually a septic tank has concrete covers that are cemented in and buried. To have manhole covers is a big plus. If you can lower them without falling in [yucky] or without breaking the lid, go for it