Septic Tanks

[Ricki]

I had a new septic system put in 6 years ago.  I upgraded to a larger concrete tank with concrete lids.  The lids are concrete with two bent pieces of re-bar for handles.  I had the tank pumped for the first time today and the worker broke both concrete lids when he pryed them out.  Of course, the company then offered to sell me new lids.  Mind you my tank is newer, only 6 years old, it was not overflowing or full to the top.  The lids don't look like they had any reinforcing put in them, just the two rebar handles stuck in the concrete.  The pumping company says it is common.  I would like to hear from you all out there if you have had the same experience.  Does this happen to everyone?

[Wrightwood]

Ricki I noticed that you didn't get any response to your posting and wonder what happened.

Did they charge you for a new lid? How much?

[AntiFltLndrs]

AWC PLUMBING ALSO SELLS LIDS.  I ONLY USE AWC THEY ARE FAIR, HONEST, AND POLITE.  HEY! THEY EVEN CALL IF THEY ARE RUNNING LATE.

[rpanic]

I hope someone one here knows more than me. I'm moving into a house in WW next month. They Installed a new septic tank because the old one failed its certification. When they installed the new leach field they cut across the driveway because someone got the measurements wrong from the water company and didn't just put them where the old ones were. Now there are two large 2 -3 feet wide openings going across the concrete driveway where the leach line go through now. I've read everywhere that you are not suppose to put the leach lines where a car is going to drive over and you can't put concrete over it. Are the lines going to eventually get crushed from car compacting the dirt and rocks  that they covered it with? I have never had to deal with a septic tank system.

[KW]

I don't know the answer to your question, but I wouldn't close on that house until you have the results you want with the leach line and the driveway.

[KWBoy]

We have always driven over ours even had a dump truck with 25 tons of rock, and a semi with a shipping container drive over ours and it hasn't collapsed. The septic lines are only under 2' of dirt. But like kw said don't close till you get everything the way you want it. Once you close your out of luck... We found out the hard way.

[budnett]

You ARE NOT suppose to ever drive over leach lines - OK to put dirt over them. 

Maybe you can call and question one of the local septic companies.  If you need a phone number pm me.

If you are using a local WW realtor...they know better!

Note of warning....beware of our local realtors it's amazing how they get stuff passed through escrow and then you have to deal with future problems.

[rpanic]

Realtor said she would look into it. I am going to tell them that I want the driveway to look the way it did before they trashed it. What gets me is they even admitted to screwing up with having to go across driveway. There is no reason I should have to deal with what they did.  I don't even think the current own should pay for it, should be the installer. I hope I don't have to argue about to much with them.

[3PinkRoses]

We put in a new Tank and Leach Lines on an old house 4 years ago. We had to pull permits for the entire process. All the work done had to be approved before any actual digging was done. We wanted it done legally due to resale at some point. I took one set of plans down to San Bernardino, dropped them off and they were approved by someone a week later. I then took that approved set to Victorville to another Dept. and they were approved there too.
 In Wrightwood, the leach lines have to be longer due to our rocky soil that does not absorb waste water as well as the soil down in Phelan area. Having longer leach lines costs more-it's a lot of hard work to dig leach lines in WW, therefore the costs are absorbed by you. You can't put a new leach field on an old one, must create a whole new path. It sounds like you may not have a lot of room in your yard? Or they had no other place to lay the lines? Is your front yard small? No matter the case, they are required to plan it and dig it according to the plans and requirements set forth in this County for WW.
 Once all our work was done by the contractor, the leach lines, tank and distribution box were left uncovered. This whole system had to be approved, or written off, by the County Inspector. He comes up here about 3 times a week to check off all the projects going on in WW. It took him more than 3 visits to approve the system. Our contactor was required to fix everything before signing off. Once that was done, he covered it all up. We wanted to pour a concrete driveway and NO WAY could it be poured over the tank, lines or dist. box!! Everthing works peachy now!!
  I'm thinking that no permits were pulled for your system. I think you should ask to see all the paperwork and the nitty gritty of how it got signed off.  You are entitled to the driveway you thought you were purchasing.
 I have a friend who experienced almost your same exact problem down in the Lake L. A. area. When it was all said and done, the seller and the realtor split the costs of the repair. They created this, not you.
 It comes down to dishonesty and greed and you have a few in your story not  playing by the rules and that is causing Chaos- which all stems from the broken promises you got going there.
 Hang in there and this will all be behind you in a few months!!

[Wrightwood]

I heard from CFord Plumbing on this topic and he wanted me to pass along his comments.

There is no reason a leach field cannot be driven over as the minimun required depth is at least 3 feet.

San Bernardino County requires a permit and inspection on septic tanks and leech fields.

Request a copy of the permit and if you have questions contact the county inspector.

[budnett]

Glad, I was corrected about driving over leach lines...I didn't know....guess I was thinking about the tank/lids?  What about plants/trees planted near them....?  Does that cause any problems?

Correction on my previous post statement about Wrightwood Realtors.....be aware of SOME of the realtors...NOT ALL! lol's

P.S. Does that make you feel better my friend!   

[bigpines]

we got a new tank (plastic) and leach lines about 6 years ago.  The old leach lines failed (we were told it was because they were under the garage).  The county told us where to put everything.  We ran new lines (long and deep).  We had no choice where they were put, it was up to the county.  I have seen many smaller lots in town with the tank and leach lines under the driveways.  It must be OK. 

[CA5th]

Take out the cottonwood trees!

[Chesslike]

My understanding of having leach lines under concrete or asphalt, is that it is acceptable, but you must increase the total length of the leach lines to make up for the decreased percolation efficiency of the lines being under a non-porous ground covering. It is also fine to have your septic tank under concrete or asphalt as long as you create an access to the tank covers.

[rpanic]

Part of my problem is that they got the wrong measurements of were the water pipes were and thats why they cut across the driveway, I guess they figured they already cut across the driveway so they might as well put them there. I am still concerned about them failing from being compacted by cars and also the run off that will come down the driveway and go over these openings when it rains. There is also the fact that the driveway looks ugly now. I see no difference in this and if they had to work on pipes in the house and then lift holes in the walls. It comes down to not being acceptable and the lot is large they could have done it without damaging the driveway. If it wasn't for the screw up there would be no problem.

[Wrightwood]

Driving over the leech lines is not a problem if they are at the minimum depth or more.

I would venture to say that a very large percentage of places in this community fall into that category.

After all backhoes weigh at least 18,000 pounds. They drive all over each leech field job to compact the soil while back filling the trenches. You're vehicles only weigh 1/3 of that.

If it was my purchase I would contact the county inspector who signed off the job and get permission to cover over the driveway area. Then I would make sure that escrow did not close without the driveway being repaired at the expense of whoever was responsible for the septic system replacement.

[RennMan]

This is actually an interesting topic.  Our home also has the leach lines run under the driveway.  As far as I can tell, it was originally built/installed that way 20 years ago, when the house was constructed.

Now the concrete driveway surface is deteriorating, like all concrete does in Wrightwood.  Eventually it will have to be resurfaced or replaced.  When it comes time to do that, I was thinking about installing concrete pavers, rather than concrete slab.  This would be both for aesthetics and to get some more moisture down through the leach field.  The problem would be the slope of the driveway,  I don't know if pavers can be installed on a slope...

[rpanic]

Well first let me say thanks to everyones replies.

The realtor put me contact with the installer and everything is cool now. they put a solid pipe 5' down  that goes across most of the driveway so no worries about pipe getting crushed or anything. And we are going to work out everything else with the owner. I can't wait tell my family moves up there this will be our first house, so a lot of this is new to me.

[Wrightwood]

RennMan I can talk to you about that sometime.
Concrete pavers are the best approach in Wrightwood. Yes they are expensive and time consuming but they will last as long as a Roman Road. They can also be picked up and put back down again - they breath as you mentioned and they are flexible. Anyone can do a 1st class job of installing them if they follow some simple principals.

author=RennMan
Now the concrete driveway surface is deteriorating, like all concrete does in Wrightwood.  Eventually it will have to be resurfaced or replaced.  When it comes time to do that, I was thinking about installing concrete pavers, rather than concrete slab.  This would be both for aesthetics and to get some more moisture down through the leach field.  The problem would be the slope of the driveway,  I don't know if pavers can be installed on a slope...

[Surfer_Dude]

I got a phone call form a septic aerator company tonight...  Seems like a heavy duty air pump, odds and ends and some down home ingenuity and you could build a system. Anyone have an aerator to share you experience or does anyone know their effectiveness?