grey water help

[jerry67]

I'm from the city and just bought a house in the country and need some help, I recently found a broken pipe and after investigating i found its a vent for a grey water pit, I notice this pit seems to always be filled with water and even overflows into the yard,
Is this normal?
Should I just fix the vent pipe and cover this back up?
Would this water freezing in the winter cause problems?

 

[Showkey]

Varies with location and jurisdiction........but..........most Areas and approved septics require all the water ( gray and black) to enter the septic system. Conventional septic the water then leaves the septic via the leach field. Solids, paper Etc Stay in the tank to pumped every so often.

For years Especially with a failing septic system the “cure”........divert gray water from the septic.

Overflows are particularly bad.........surface gray water making it back to the well is what the inspections and Septic requirements are trying to avoid. Surface black water even worse.

Then any surface water a shallow well are a particularly bad combination. Often the well is required to be several (100’) feet away from all drain fields.


Was the home ( property) inspected ???.......most real estate transactions require a state or county well and septic inspection to pass the title. The sale Likely requires a functioning water system. Also true with a mortgage.........banks and lien holders don’t like uninhabitable homes due to well and septic failures $$$$$.

 

[jerry67]

I didn't have an inspector, the house was previously owned by my wife's parents who are now deceased, as far as we know this dry well, soak pit or whatever they refer to it as, has always been here, the grey water goes to this pit and the toilets go to the septic system. Although there is a well its far away from this pit and not being used since there is public water here now. there's no public sewer as of now

 

[LOW1]

I would try to drain the gray water to your septic tank if feasible. You will probably need to know the size of your septic tank in addition to the location and slope of the lines, tank, etc. to determine this. Will it cause problems if you don't? If it has not caused problems in the past you may not have them now but that does not make it a good or perhaps even legal situation.

 

[jerry67]

Septic tank is uphill of this pit, I had a plumber here a few months ago while remolding the bathroom and he asked me if i wanted the grey water to go to the septic tank and I said to just run it like it was, he seemed fine with that and even seemed to recommend it as it would be better for the septic system to leave it as is. I believe these pits are to allow the water to percolate into the ground but its always full

 

[firebirdparts]

To answer your questions, I would say it's pretty normal, and you would have more experience than I would about whether it freezes in the winter time. If it does, I guess you'll find out. I would guess the permitting authority there doesn't do that anymore, but you be the judge.

What you really need to know is what are the neighbors doing.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I know the questions I would look into.
Where is the grey water coming from? Kitchen sink, bath tub, washing machine, basement floor drains?
How difficult is it to reroute some or all of it?

I wouldn't worry about some of it. The metal/dirt/weeds and rubble would bother me.

 

[jerry67]

This was my wife's family cabin back in the 70's it was built in 1952 her dad added a couple additions around 1980 and made it their primary home, after his death other family members took over for about 10 years and just let the place go (no money). As far as I know this is as exactly as the house was built. There really is only one neighbor close by, this water that over flows the pit doesn't go far till it absorbs into the ground

 

[jerry67]

The water that goes to this pit is shower, sinks, and laundry room. I believe the metal is for safety to cover the hole and the rubble (stones) to keep the walls from collapsing, the dirt is from my son riding his dirt bike though it, he doesn't listen

 

[sreeb]

The risk of sending it to the septic is that it may not be able to handle that much water. In which case, doing the "right" thing might get very expensive.

It looks like it is on a slope. What is below you?

How many acres are you sitting on?

 

[jack stand]

I wonder if it's just old and saturated with today's gel soaps, greasy build up etc. and just needs a new pit a few feet away or possibly re digging the existing pit and filling it with new gravel.

 

[lieutenant]

The pit looks like it has collapsed. I would redo it and make it larger so it can handle the increased load. There are plenty of examples on Youtube.

 

[jerry67]

There's 3.5 acres, the front yard where this is, is about 1 of those acres with the street below that, the water that does seep out on the top of the ground doesn't go far just makes the ground muddy. it doesn't appear to have collapsed, it is loose laid block with stone inside
I guess I should post garage pics, The roof was shot I just put all new plywood and shingles on it

 

[manwithtools]

I like your ingenuity on the walk plank, looks like something I would do in my younger days. Everyone will tell us how dangerous it is, but really if you are in control of all vehicles it can be fine. Just don't give the wife keys to the truck or tractor. Good job!

 

[nadogail]

In my younger days I cut a few corners and took a few risks, but I am aware that I won't heal as fast as I thought I would 50 years ago.

Avoid "ought to be good enough" scaffolds. What we got away with in our youth will not fly today.

 

[theoldwizard1]

My brother-in-law owns a small 3 season cabin in "upstate" NH. Probably built before WW-II. It has 2 small septic "pits" (for lack of a better word). 10' deep hole in the ground about 6' round. Steel barrel with some rock in it. Lots of holes starting about 1/2 way up on the side of the barrel. One is for black water, the other for gray. He said many cabins in that area were built that way and only a few have been changed to a regular septic.

I'm sure there were no codes when it was built. Not sure if this is "grandfathered" or not. Might be an issue today if the place gets sold.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Different brother-in-law. Had 10 acres of land "up north" MI. If a building is built on skids it is NOT a permanent structure and most building codes do not apply. Hauling black water from his camper was not "fun", so he decided he wanted an outhouse. The wife is totally against the idea and the county says "traditional" out houses are no longer allowed.

A sealed "tank" (a septic tank with no outlet) is used as a holding tank. When it get "full" it must be pumped. He convinced the building inspector that a plastic 55 gallon barrel was an adequate "holding tank" because there were no permanent building and no permanent residents (camper and weekends only). The hole was about 8' deep with the barrel in the bottom. The "outhouse" was a small shed (like from HD), with a flush toilet. Completely finished inside with battery lighting and clean water for washing.

Mysteriously that barrel developed a leak and never required pumping !

Water was rain runoff from the roof to another plastic tank mounted above the toilet tank. Yes, it took a couple of minutes to "charge" the tank between flushes, but unless you are having a party serving lots of beans, it is not an issue. Ladies had to "share" flushes !