Serious Problems with Old System in Country

[JustDave45]

Ok this will be long winded I am sure... I don't even really know where to start, well I will start with this. I need to sell my house in the next 2-5 years and can not do it with the septic system the way it is. Ok my house was built in the early 70's in a tiny county where I am sure no one cared about much of anything, my septic tank (or whats left of it) is actually located on my not so friendly neighbors property, just across my property line.

The tank is just in ruins, the top is long since been gone the sides are caved in on themselves, I have to go and clear out the inlet to the 'tank' (open air) with a long tamping bar about once a month just to keep the house flowing.

I dont think that the tank is repairable where it sits and I really have no idea if there even is a field line in the other side of the tank and if there is where the heck it would go as there is no room on my property (big hill, no land).

Guess my question is this, can anyone please help me ? I will be happy to post all the info/pics/whatever I have to get some answers about what I can do. I know the system I am gonna require will for sure be un-conventional and can find no local help on anything out of the ordinary. I am also very reluctant to involve too many locally for fear of my house becoming worthless over night !

Please help

[joed]

You are going to have to involve the local health dept or whichever dept oversees septics in your county. They are the ones who approve this type work and you are most certainly going to need a permit for the work.

If they are allowed in your area a holding tank might be you only option. When it gets full you call for a pump out.
There are also small lot systems that might be approved in you county. One that comes to mind is the Waterloo boifilter.

[JustDave45]

Well there is a small store across the road from me who got in trouble several years ago for leaking in to the lake and so they allowed him a tank to be pumped when its full so I know that should be an option but I feel like it would hurt the value of the property if I had to go this route.

I am scared to contact any official just yet for fear of what might happen to my property if things went crazy.

I have space in my yard now for a new tank but its the field lines I question. I have a big hillside, uphill from the house but can you pump from the tank to a field area ? would a grinder/pump reduce any amount field lines ?

[suemarkp]

All that goes to the field is water, so a grinder doesn't help. That water, however, is not sanitary and needs soil contact to work on it and make it pure. The soil also acts as a sponge soaking up the water. Not enough field, it floods and runs off, and it sounds like it could hit a lake which isn't good.

But yes, you can pump uphill. The important things is soil type and how fast it perks.

Find a septic repair contractor. He'll give you your options and should know what the county requires. Many times, you can do a "repair" off record, especially if your system is old and implemented before they have drawings on file. You may be able to repair, then repair a different part, then repair yet a different and viola you have a 95% new system.

Sounds like no matter what you do, it will be better than what you've got now.