old concrete cistern removal
#1
06-12-08, 02:56 PM
old concrete cistern removal
I have an older house (1916) and on the side of the house is an old concrete cistern. It is no longer in use, and I am looking for some advice on removing it. It's about 7' x 5' by 5 feet deep. My first idea was to bash the top and about a foot of the side walls in with a sledge hammer and fill the hole in with dirt. However, I was unsure how it was attached to my foundation and don't want to damage that. There are some photos below (click for larger view):
Thanks!
Thanks!
#2
06-12-08, 05:21 PM
Member
Local county health departments have guidelines for sealing cisterns, including what material used for filling. Usually a certified individual, a licensed well contractor, is required to do the sealing. Some allow the owner to seal under the supervision of the certified individual. A permit is usually required. There are ordinances governing the sealing of abandoned wells and cisterns in all 50 states. Contact your local health department.
#3
06-12-08, 06:39 PM
not sure
What if this isn't a cistern? My next door neighbor, a concrete contractor, just told me it looks more like it was once used for sewage, as there is an old sawed off pipe that comes in at the bottom from the basement. In that case, could I just bash it in? (I asked my neighbor, but he wasn't sure).
#4
06-12-08, 07:08 PM
Member
If pipe comes in from basement, it is possible that it could be an old septic tank. Let's hope that they had all the effluent pumped out. If empty and not in need of pumping, the top can be crushed and the void filled with sand and compacted to at least the outlet level and then topped off with top soil and seed.
