This house was built in 1979. So makes the mound 39 years old. It is pretty large mound. I was up on top of the mound and noticed 2 wet spots - maybe foot in diameter and definitely sewage smell. I dug a foot away from each wet spot and no sewage smell there. These wet spots are both at the top section and do not have any water pooling in any areas. I live in the Pacific Northwest so we get our share of heavy rainfall and the water table in this area has risen.

I am assuming this is an issue of possible failure? The 2 spots are approx 15 feet apart.The only thing that has changed this year is we had a few moles infiltrate the mound. Other than that it has been my Wife and I for the last 6 years so usage is not as much as when the whole family was here.

Thanks for any thoughts

 

Hard to say without being there to inspect it. When was the tank pumped last? Any vegetation other than grass growing on the mound? Is everything else working properly?

 

Tank is pumped every 3 years and requires a county operating permit. Was done 2 years ago. No vegetation other than grass. No back up issues. Someone was telling me there should be inspection ports in the mound?

Having someone come out Monday and look

 

The mound system I had in fla didn't have any inspection ports. It did have a distribution box. The issues I had with mine stemmed from faulty installation [not enough gravel over the drain pipes] that allowed roots to grow into the pipes. I had to dig up and clean the drain field pipes. I added to the drain field for good measure. That cured my issues.

 

Digging up the pipes sounded intensive and costly?

 

It's not as bad with a mound system as it is with a conventional drain field. The reason for a mound system where I lived in fla was the high water table. They'd bring in a truckload of sand, then gravel, install the pipes. cover with gravel and a weed barrier before covering it up with dirt and sod. This means the drain field pipes aren't as deep. I repaired my system myself with a shovel ..... but I was a lot younger/poorer back then.