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    Ralphhighwater's Avatar
    Ralphhighwater Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Apr 1, 2013, 07:34 AM
    High water septic
    Dear expert:
    I’m afraid I need a new septic system but I have questions about what the best for my location.
    I live on a little over a ½ acre country lot. We have a high water table and also a flood plain. I live on a road with about 20 houses on it but I’m the only one with this problem. All the lots are about the same except for half being elevated as the road goes uphill. I have a French drain with a pit where the water gets pumped out of so I’m able to tell what the water level is. Right now it’s at 10”. Everything works fine now. The problem is when it rains heavy and we get a little standing water in the yard we cannot flush the toilet but the tub and drains will drain fine. We don’t use the washer so I can’t tell you if that drains. A couple of my neighbors can have water standing over their drain fields and have no problem. I’ve lived here for 6 years and I cannot tell you how old the system is but Knowing what I’ve seen from the previous owner it probably the original system 25+ years. Instead of confusing you let me do it this way.
    *Water table at 10” or even a little higher everything works fine.
    *Heavy rain and standing water.
    a. While having the tank pumped one time we found that ground water is back flowing into the septic tank. Does this mean the septic tank is to low or the drain field is too high?
    b. Toilet does not flush “BUT” tub and sinks do
    c. Ground water drains to where just a small spot of standing water and toilet flushes again
    d. I read that it’s not good for water softeners to drain into the septic system which I think is where mine drains and sometime puts a salty taste while taking a shower or drinking water.

    I’ve heard and seen mound systems but I don’t think that’s an option. Someone said to raise the
    Plumbing in the house and installing a new septic system that would raise the drain field and the tank.
    Like so many other people this is money I don’t have to take a gamble on.
    Milo Dolezal's Avatar
    Milo Dolezal Posts: 7,192, Reputation: 523
    Plumbing Expert
     
    #2

    Apr 1, 2013, 01:07 PM
    You have to call local Septic expert who will advise you as to how to solve your on-going sewer disposal problem. Also, you should have a percolation test done to see what's the soil liquid absorption in your area.

    But speaking in general terms : each Septic is sized by the size of the house + percolation of the soil where it disposes liquids. If the size of your house changed since the original construction and more bathroom have been added than that may be a part of the problem. Also, if there are more adults living in the house than fro what was your septic originally designed for - than that can contribute to your problem as well. Moreover, most problem with overflowing septic happen in rainy season. Rains saturate ground and there is no more room to absorb septic discharge. It is not unusual to have septic pumped during rainy season. Lastly, ground water should not enter septic well. If it does, it makes septic obsolete. Have it checked and if broken, have it sealed.

    Hope that helps a bit / Let us know what happened / Back to you / Milo

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