Waste"grey" water running into sump pump pit !! Why?
#1
01-18-15, 07:44 AM
Waste"grey" water running into sump pump pit !! Why?
Have a problem with my septic system obvouisly.... When the bathtub is drained or shower is run for several minutes (say 15 min.), water runs into my sump pump pit. My drain lines from house to septic tank are not leaking and no drain lines are broken from house to septic tank....where is this water coming from??? Has anyone had similiar problem?? If so, what is the problem and how did you correct the problem? Would really appreciate some advice/help here. Thank-you.
#2
01-18-15, 07:54 AM
Group Moderator
You might want to provide a diagram of your plumbing and venting. Its pretty hard for anyone to make suggestions otherwise.
Since your sump pump surely does not drain into your septic system, the only thing they would have in common is a vent line. So that would be the first thing I would suspect... a wet vent, along with an inadequate or backed up septic drain field. How long since the tank was pumped?
In some places, it's legal for grey water to be excluded from a septic system, and run to a surface drain instead. If that drain is frozen or plugged, it will back up. If the sump pump drain and a grey water drain were connected to the same outlet, the same thing could happen.
Since your sump pump surely does not drain into your septic system, the only thing they would have in common is a vent line. So that would be the first thing I would suspect... a wet vent, along with an inadequate or backed up septic drain field. How long since the tank was pumped?
In some places, it's legal for grey water to be excluded from a septic system, and run to a surface drain instead. If that drain is frozen or plugged, it will back up. If the sump pump drain and a grey water drain were connected to the same outlet, the same thing could happen.
#3
01-18-15, 07:57 AM
Welcome to the forums! Was it possible whoever set the gray water system in place planned on it going from sump to atmosphere, or pit? Can you trace the drain of the tub/shower to see where it goes? Although not up to code, I had all my washing machine drain go into a hay field drainage system. It was dirty water with non phosphate detergent, so running 20 gallons per cycle of it into a septic tank was untenable.
#6
01-18-15, 02:02 PM
Why was your Septic Tank pumped in December ?
I'm just going out on a limb and speculating that your Leach Field has become sluggish and is unable to absorb all of the effluent that is created when two appliances are used simultaneously, so the system surcharges and backs up into the area of least resistance . . . . the Sump.
I'm just going out on a limb and speculating that your Leach Field has become sluggish and is unable to absorb all of the effluent that is created when two appliances are used simultaneously, so the system surcharges and backs up into the area of least resistance . . . . the Sump.
#7
01-21-15, 07:55 AM
Group Moderator
That's a distinct possibility. That and the sump should only be connected to the septic system if it is a sewage sump station. No sump that collects possible ground water be connected to a septic system.
#8
01-21-15, 08:01 AM
"My drain lines from house to septic tank are not leaking and no drain lines are broken from house to septic tank.."
How do you know? Can you view all the pipes with a 360 degree view?
How do you know? Can you view all the pipes with a 360 degree view?
#9
01-21-15, 08:41 AM
Thx guys for your input....I had the septic tank pumped in December because it had been about 3 yrs. Apon inspecting the tank (which was only about half full) and two separate drains lines from the house with a camera, we learned that both drain lines were broken in some places. So we replaced all lines from house to septic tank thinking that the broken lines were causing the problem. Not so. After all new lines to tank, water (thinking that it's the grey water) still running in sump pump pit about 15,minutes after draining bath tub or running shower at other end of house. My sump pump discharge line runs directly into ditch. Does that help explain anything??
#10
01-21-15, 08:45 AM
It's not a sewage pump. I did not build the house but I'm pretty sure my sump pump is just for discharging ground water from along basement walls from 5" big "O" perforated pipe.
#11
01-21-15, 08:48 AM
Replaced drain lines from house to septic tank thinking that was the problem since there were broken lines. Still getting water in sump pump pit after draining bath tub and/or running shower at the other end of the house.
#13
01-21-15, 11:07 AM
Long shot.
"I had the septic tank pumped in December because it had been about 3 yrs. Apon inspecting the tank (which was only about half full)"
If you haven't done anything to the septic tank for awhile it should rest at about 85% full or up to say 9 inches below the underside of the hatch cover. Much less than that means the tank is cracked and the contents is leaking out into the surrounding soil. Then some of the contents may be seeping back towards your foundation and into your sump pump pit.
A cracked septic tank technically and theoretically and legally needs to be repaired or replaced. A "septic tank" whose contents keeps leaking out quickly is for all intents and purposes a cesspool.
After being pumped, the septic tank will take several days to a few weeks to fill back up to 85% and during this time nothing comes out the outlet pipe bound for the leach field.
The entire basement perimeter drain system, sump pump pit, and sump pump outlet pipe are a system that is supposed to be completely separate from the sanitary fixture drains and septic system. If liquid from either one gets into the other then there is a fixable problem.
"I had the septic tank pumped in December because it had been about 3 yrs. Apon inspecting the tank (which was only about half full)"
If you haven't done anything to the septic tank for awhile it should rest at about 85% full or up to say 9 inches below the underside of the hatch cover. Much less than that means the tank is cracked and the contents is leaking out into the surrounding soil. Then some of the contents may be seeping back towards your foundation and into your sump pump pit.
A cracked septic tank technically and theoretically and legally needs to be repaired or replaced. A "septic tank" whose contents keeps leaking out quickly is for all intents and purposes a cesspool.
After being pumped, the septic tank will take several days to a few weeks to fill back up to 85% and during this time nothing comes out the outlet pipe bound for the leach field.
The entire basement perimeter drain system, sump pump pit, and sump pump outlet pipe are a system that is supposed to be completely separate from the sanitary fixture drains and septic system. If liquid from either one gets into the other then there is a fixable problem.
