septic system questions

[Clik]

I spent 40 years in the business, most of it as an owner working with residential, commercial and industrial sewerage. Installed septic, built treatment sytems, serviced treatment plants, etc.

THERE'S ALOT OF MISINFORMATION BEING POSTED ON THIS THREAD.

Happy to answer specific questions but so far I'd have to write a book to respond to all the BS being posted here.

 

[Diesel Dan]

Happy to answer specific questions

However your answers may not always be used due to local regs.
That is why I mentioned the OP contact their local health department. Unless you are from the Trumbull co. Ohio area most of your septic experience can not be implemented. Trumbull is under a EPA mandate to clean up the water and the H.D. got its wrist slapped and have been taking it out on the residents. It was real bad around 2002 but has been getting a LITTLE easier to work with. Even the state officials can't help us.

 

[Vethead]

I spent 40 years in the business, most of it as an owner working with residential, commercial and industrial sewerage. Installed septic, built treatment sytems, serviced treatment plants, etc.

THERE'S ALOT OF MISINFORMATION BEING POSTED ON THIS THREAD.

Happy to answer specific questions but so far I'd have to write a book to respond to all the BS being posted here.

As a city guy now with septic, I am always wondering if there is something I should be doing or things I should quit doing that will help my septic. I know I need to get a life, and I don't always worry about it, but my septic system backing up or failing creeps into my head more that it probably should. On that note, I would really be interested to hear some of the most glaring items of misinformation you have seen on this thread so far. It will probably help others as well.

 

[Danver]

Around here, the health dept will not allow a septic system to be used after one year of inactivity, unless it has been completely gone thru, tank opened and pumped, and inspected. You really need to keep some water flowing thru the tank, and better yet, some more bacterial laden "stuff".

Charles

Before I moved in the place was vacant for about two years. I didn't have any problems with the system in the two years I lived there. Now, since having the mobile home removed, I don't have power to the well to even run water. Next spring I do plan on running the pipe over to the garage and set up the pressure tank outside so I at least have a place to hook up a hose to for the summer months. Once I do that I could occasionally run water into the system. I did run the inlet pipe to the tank up to ground level and capped it there when the trailer was removed.

Most likely this lot will sit as it is for many years anyway with nothing hooked to the septic unless I decide to sell it for some reason. But it would be nice if I could preserve it in working condition if that does happen down the road.

I'm sure the neighborhood is happy to see the old mobile home gone. I wonder how they would feel if I mounted a toilet to the inlet pipe and built an outhouse over it?

 

[Diesel Dan]

Most likely this lot will sit as it is for many years anyway with nothing hooked to the septic unless I decide to sell it for some reason. But it would be nice if I could preserve it in working condition if that does happen down the road.

Some places we've lived in over the years would not allow a septic and well to remain with out a dwelling. Looked into property a few times and couldn't put in a well until the house was there.

 

[Clik]

Of course local regs may apply even when they don't fit your circumstance and when the regulators don't know their *** from the hole in the ground literally.

Most septic regulations have little to do with actual health and more to do with politics and rabid misguided environmentalism.

In all my years of exposure to raw sewage and after having had hundreds of employees likewise exposed I only know of two people that got sick. Both with liver problems but one was an I.V. drug user and the other a ********* drinker that actually bought a bankrupt liquor store's stock for personal consumption, so you tell me.

CDC said treatment plant workers were at no more risk than the average person.

Anything you can catch from a failing septic you can catch off a bathroom door knob. I flush with my foot and open bathroom doors with a paper towell.

Some of the coomon failures I encountered:

1. Many builders cheated the perk test, paid off inspectors, etc and built where the water table was too high. I've seen leachfields so saturated with rain water that instead of the tank draining into the field, the field drained into the tank.

2. Scum layer got too thick and overflowed into the tank's outlet tee causing a blockage.

3. Crushed drainfield lines. Most perforated pipe is thin walled. Seldom schedule forty like most PVC.

4. Roots. Not as common as all the above.

5. Heavy soap and grease use has clogged drainfield. Sometimes these can be saved by letting them rest and get air. I have saved some by keeping the tank pumped down and letting no water get to the field for a couple of weeks.

There are two types of bacteria: Aerobic and Anerobic (with air and without air). Letting air get to a formerly saturated drainfield lets aerobic bacteria digest the slime clogging the system. That blows holes inthe theory that a system must have water. What did the soil do before there was a system? Duh! So new systems don't work because no one was running water before there was a system? Sounds like an excuse for government to make busy work to justify their existence.

 

[jerseywild]

When I bought my house a septic inspection was required. The person I bought from had the house less than two years and the tank was pumped when she bought it.

The tank did not require pumping which was checked by measuring the sludge and scum layers.

We are very careful of what we put down the drain. No mop water or grease from cooking. Only use bleach when it is needed. I never thought of the toilet paper test but I like it. Thanks

One other item about the drain field. If you have a slow draining field due to a bio mat you can rest that field for about 6 months the mat wil dry up. I don't have two fields like my neighbor does so that is not an option.

Here an inspection is required every three years but you can thke a class and perform the inspection yourself.

 

[Just Primer]

Don't know if it's been said or not, but take your laundry water off the septic. Let it drain in your lawn, using one and a half PVC pipe.

 

[Diesel Dan]

Most septic regulations have little to do with actual health and more to do with politics and rabid misguided environmentalism.

Isn't that the truth!

Don't know if it's been said or not, but take your laundry water off the septic. Let it drain in your lawn, using one and a half PVC pipe.

That is a health code violation every place I have lived.

 

[Clik]

Many times a drain field trench is ruined before the pipe goes in the ground. If an excavator smears the walls with his backhoe bucket. Some installers weld teeth to the side of the bucket to prevent that. Guys who don't install as a specialty seldom do.

If I had a low lying yard or high water table I would get the washer off the system. I wouldn't dump it on the ground but I wouldn't get the govt involved either. A roll of perforated black corrugated poly downspout pipe could be piped in clandestinely. "Oh hi neighbor. I'm just running my downspout over to this mulched planting bed so that it gets water".

 

[denis4x4]

The baffle in the septic tank crumbled and waste got into the leach field, plugging the pipes. Had the pipes "jetted" to no avail and installed a new field with a two way valve. By the time I finished having a new field installed the old field started functioning! So, now i have two leach fields and my very own valve to switch from one to the other. Expensive proposition, but I look at it as a selling point somewhere down the line.

 

[Diesel Dan]

The baffle in the septic tank crumbled and waste got into the leach field, plugging the pipes. Had the pipes "jetted" to no avail and installed a new field with a two way valve. By the time I finished having a new field installed the old field started functioning! So, now i have two leach fields and my very own valve to switch from one to the other. Expensive proposition, but I look at it as a selling point somewhere down the line.

In our area that is standard. You have to have a splitter box with an elbow that you move every 6 months to let one field rest.

 

[cnttxmdc]

Many times a drain field trench is ruined before the pipe goes in the ground. If an excavator smears the walls with his backhoe bucket. Some installers weld teeth to the side of the bucket to prevent that. Guys who don't install as a specialty seldom do.

So what you're trying to say is they do a crappy job?

 

[Diesel Dan]

so what you're trying to say is they do a crappy job?

bazzinga!

 

[kendogg]

Around here, the health dept will not allow a septic system to be used after one year of inactivity, unless it has been completely gone thru, tank opened and pumped, and inspected. You really need to keep some water flowing thru the tank, and better yet, some more bacterial laden "stuff".

Charles

Odd, I just just north of Atlanta and this is all news to me. I bought a HUD foreclosure, and the house had been vacant for over a year. No issues, no inspections, etc. I might investigate finding the cover next year.


On that note - how strong are the tanks? I happen to drive my truck into my back yard ocassionally, and am curious what my chances are of breaking something. I'm going to guess minimal, but I'm curious.

 

[EOC_Jason]

On that note - how strong are the tanks? I happen to drive my truck into my back yard ocassionally, and am curious what my chances are of breaking something. I'm going to guess minimal, but I'm curious.

Yeah I wouldn't drive more than a riding mower over the tanks... Or the septic field for that matter... you can crush the leech field pipes real easy...

 

[KenC]

Yeah I wouldn't drive more than a riding mower over the tanks... Or the septic field for that matter... you can crush the leech field pipes real easy...

Tanks are amazingly strong! Years ago, I had a guy with a D7 Cat pushing stumps out of my yard. He drove over my tank before asking where it was! No damage. I've had to drive my pickup over my current tank several times. No problems.

In my observations, the leach field isn't really all that prone to damageafter it is fairly dry and has aged/settled a while. But when new and still has loose backfill it will collapse from just a little overload. As it will when the ground is saturated from rain, or worse, melting snow.

 

[Jimi]

I moved into my home a year ago. Knew nothing about the septic system's last empty or anything. After reading only the first dozen posts or so of this thread, I decided now is the time to call. I'm glad I did. Guy came this morning and said it was pretty full. Thanks again GJ! What an excellent group on here!

 

[icsamerica]

pump often dont gamble.

Every system is different. make sure you find out what you have...for example driving a truck over a concrete tank...no problem....driving a truck over a rusty steel tank could be a serious problem...it all depends on what you have. As for those who say to pump infrequently you may be on borrowed time. It's better to pump often than to gamble on contaminating your drainage system. Its' better to pump often. If you don't and the drainage system fails you will have regret. When you're faced with huge repair bills, you'll wonder, inside, if you should have had it pumped more. It's a simply risk versus reward calculation. By pumping every 5 years instead of 1, you could save perhaps $2000 over 20 years but you risk a $10,000 or more repair bill if the drainage system fails at some point. Spending 125$ a year for the opportunity to save 10,000 or more is an obvious calculation many people get wrong.

Those who pump infrequently are likely to have a marginal or failed drainage systems that wont pass a standardized test even though they may work on a day to day basis. Many home buyers are advised to do the septic system test and some banks require it. This test failure could result in a delayed sale or diminished value when it comes time to sell and any money you saved by infrequent pumping will be lost anyway.

 

[Clik]

I've never heard a pumper say a tank didn't need pumping after he pumped it. It's not necessarily that they are trying to screw anyone but it's like when your wife asks "Do I look fat"? No homeowner wants to hear that they just wasted their money.

I moved into my home a year ago. Knew nothing about the septic system's last empty or anything. After reading only the first dozen posts or so of this thread, I decided now is the time to call. I'm glad I did. Guy came this morning and said it was pretty full. Thanks again GJ! What an excellent group on here!

 

[Clik]

I have come accross concrete tanks that looked fine but demonstrated for homeowner that I could push a screw driver right through the wall. Decaying waste creates hydrogen sulphide gas and when it condenses on the wall, above the water line, it turns into sulphuric acid which can soften the concrete. Some tanks are coated to help protect the concrete. I prefer plastic tanks. They resist chemicals, can be hauled in a pick-up, truck saving delivery costs, and can be pushed into the excavated area by hand saving installation costs. They are also more easily adjusted to proper grade. I would not suggest driving over anytank although I've gotten away with it many times.

Tanks are amazingly strong! Years ago, I had a guy with a D7 Cat pushing stumps out of my yard. He drove over my tank before asking where it was! No damage. I've had to drive my pickup over my current tank several times. No problems.

In my observations, the leach field isn't really all that prone to damageafter it is fairly dry and has aged/settled a while. But when new and still has loose backfill it will collapse from just a little overload. As it will when the ground is saturated from rain, or worse, melting snow.

 

[blazentrout]

I've never heard a pumper say a tank didn't need pumping after he pumped it. It's not necessarily that they are trying to screw anyone but it's like when your wife asks "Do I look fat"? No homeowner wants to hear that they just wasted their money.

I have twice on mine. First time was after i owned the place for 5 yrs and the 2nd was last winter/spring when i need the main input line replaced, it had been about 4yrs since i had had it pumped. both times i got a discount. on a side note both of them told me my main tank is older than hell.

 

[danfromsyr]

OK here's a question that I'm hoping to correct inthe spring.
I have moles/voles/some rodent that loves to burrow along the outside walls around my concrete septic tank.
I can see the dug out and erroded burrow entrances like a mini mole condominium complex. it appears they like the warmth and stability.

I plan to dig the earth out at an wedge angle all around. probably about 12~18in down and then back fill to the tank with stone dust or some other impervious to rodents material.

I'll probably get it pumped then as it hasn't been done in our 16yrs ownership. and I was actually considering laying brick pavers over it to form a small 'garden' patio for asthetics (and to keep the dang voles away.

anyone seen burrow warrens like this? and can they do any damage to the tank or it's operation.. for which I do plan to address them in the spring anyways.

thanks.

Dan in Syracuse

 

[Kevin54]

I moved into my home a year ago. Knew nothing about the septic system's last empty or anything. After reading only the first dozen posts or so of this thread, I decided now is the time to call. I'm glad I did. Guy came this morning and said it was pretty full. Thanks again GJ! What an excellent group on here!

Normally around here, it is up to the sellers to have the tank pumped and any problems disclosed before the signing of the deed. Most typical tanks have a concrete septic tank, with usually a baffle between to separate the tank into two holding areas, then you will have normally four fingers off of older tanks and on newer tank you have a lever two switch between fingers so as to not overload one area, plus a perimeter drain. With the older tanks too, if it is a concrete tank, there is a baffle concrete baffle on the outlet of the tank. On the majority of the tanks this baffle will break off and will need repaired with a PVC "T" put in. The tank needs to be pumped to do this. If a seller does not pump a tank, then you don't know what you are getting into with buying a house. Around my area, we have two different styles of septic systems. We have the inground systems and then we have the mound systems. Depending on perk test and the amount of acreage, you cannot reuse an existing system that goes bad, so if you don't have room for a new inground septic, they may replace it with a mound system. Cost is as different as day and night. It's around $5-$6000 for a new inground system. For the new mound system it runs around $20,000.

So anyone buying a house in the future, and if it has a septic system, make sure that the owners of the house you are buying has the tank pumped, or a disclosure in there that if you have it pumped and it is found bad, that they will be held liable for the repair or replacement of the system. And to have one pumped is not all that expensive. The last time we had ours done, it was $180 I believe.

 

[Kevin54]

OK here's a question that I'm hoping to correct inthe spring.
I have moles/voles/some rodent that loves to burrow along the outside walls around my concrete septic tank.
I can see the dug out and erroded burrow entrances like a mini mole condominium complex. it appears they like the warmth and stability.

I plan to dig the earth out at an wedge angle all around. probably about 12~18in down and then back fill to the tank with stone dust or some other impervious to rodents material.

I'll probably get it pumped then as it hasn't been done in our 16yrs ownership. and I was actually considering laying brick pavers over it to form a small 'garden' patio for asthetics (and to keep the dang voles away.

anyone seen burrow warrens like this? and can they do any damage to the tank or it's operation.. for which I do plan to address them in the spring anyways.

thanks,

Dan in Syracuse

Small rodents like moles, voles, or chipmunks won't hurt the system by burrowing around it. The only problem I could se is if they cut through the fingers of the tank which are really no more than the corrugated, perforated, black tile you see everywhere. But the likelihood of that happening is slim. If you do decide to build around your tank, you have to make sure that there is access to the lids. I have one lid that is buried and one that is exposed, but when I get them pumped, I know exactly where they are at and will uncover them. Some septic people will try and tell you that a riser is needed. They did that on mine when I bought the house. Nothing looks worse than (2) 2' diameter stacks sticking up 2' out of the ground. And yes, I took my risers back off and haven't had any gruff from any other septic person pumping it.

Also a well balanced system can go for years without pumping it. Some will recommend every 10, some will recommend RidX, and others will say RidX is a waste of money. Myself, I have it pumped about every 5 years. And next Spring I have to have it pumped again and have the baffle replaced that is broke off. The baffle keeps the ******* paper from going into the leach field.

 

[danfromsyr]

yeah I plan to use stone patio pavers over it, and I'll use larger 18in squares at the lid cap so it's easy to find etc..

it just looks bad with the mole condo holes around it. but it's in a unseen and often over/underlooked portion of the yard..

 

[Diesel Dan]

if you don't have room for a new inground septic, they may replace it with a mound system. Cost is as different as day and night. It's around $5-$6000 for a new inground system. For the new mound system it runs around $20,000.

If you don't room for a leach field you more than likely won't have room for a mound system either. My mound "field" spec'd out at just over 160' long. The soil test(perk is not used around here anymore) will determine if you can have a leach field or mound. If it is a lack of area then you will need to go with an off lot discharge system.

 

[El Barto]

Size of the tank is big factor. The tank in our house we lived in when I was a kid was only a couple of hundred gallon; yes that is HUNDRED. That thing got pumped out all the time. Also, the leechfield consisted of 2 clay pipes running into the dirt, no rock fill around at all.

When I was 13, we finally redid everything and put in a tank that was a couple of thousand and new leechfileds. We didn't pump it again until the house was sold 8 years later

 

[RiceVFR]

I call the septic company once every two years to check whether it needs pumping. It is one price just to check and another to actually pump if required.
I wouldn't consider this (checking) to be a DIY job just because I don't want to "go there" if I have a choice.

 

[Kevin54]

]If you don't room for a leach field you more than likely won't have room for a mound system either.[/B] My mound "field" spec'd out at just over 160' long. The soil test(perk is not used around here anymore) will determine if you can have a leach field or mound. If it is a lack of area then you will need to go with an off lot discharge system.

Size of the tank is big factor. The tank in our house we lived in when I was a kid was only a couple of hundred gallon; yes that is HUNDRED. That thing got pumped out all the time. Also, the leechfield consisted of 2 clay pipes running into the dirt, no rock fill around at all.

When I was 13, we finally redid everything and put in a tank that was a couple of thousand and new leechfileds. We didn't pump it again until the house was sold 8 years later

As far as Mound vs. Standard, the three down the street from me goes across their backyard. I don't know if they are 160' or not. The reason they had to put the mound system in was that the ground used to set in a swampy area. and there is a natural wetlands between the properties. I'm fairly certain someone got a little money under the table for even allowing houses to be built there. They may be close to 160' because they are sort of horseshoe shaped, but maybe about 5' tall.

The Septic tank itself that we have, and what most have around here, 2500 gallon is the norm for the concrete tanks.

Our house is running on borrowed time as far as the original septic. The developer put in the tank, then he ran three fingers off of it running beside the house and each finger is 100' long. Then the guy that buys this house when it was finished, went to an auction of a nursery going out of business. He bought a number of trees, and close to 300 evergreens of various types. I never had a septic system before so I really wasn't aware of the particulars of one. So when I go to build my garage, I went to the Health District and got a copy of where my leach tiles were ran. When our County person came out to give me my permit, we briefly discussed the leach bed. I showed him the paper of where the tiles were ran, showed him where I had marked out for the garage, and he told me that as long as I am 10' off the property line, and I have the same amount of area where the current leach bed is, then all was good. He looked at where I had paint lines on the ground for the garage, and said good luck and have fun building.

Back to the original owner and the trees, there were three shade maples, and three or four blue Spruce on top of the leach bed. After the garage was built, signed off on, and all done, a few friends were over and we were discussing me having to cut a tree down and remove some blue spruce because they would be in the way of a new leach bed if I ever need one. That's when you start finding out the information that should have been told by the guys in office. I'm not allowed to abandon a leach bed and put one "right beside it". So instead of having 24' of space between the old leach bed and where a new one SHOULD go, I now have a garage sitting in that space. And I have a pond that took up the complete backyard. Almost 3/4's of an acre of a 12' deep hole with water in it. The pond was a manmade pond with no natural runoff to sustain it, which when I start talking to others about, all I hear is "You are the one that bought the house with the pond" and then they just shake their head. We put up with the pond for a number of years, but it was more of a pain in the *** instead of something enjoyable. So over the period of about 10 years, we filled it all in, and just finished it up last year. So now, if I ever have to put a new leach system in, I have room. The area behind my garage, where it will have to go, has been filled in for maybe 9 years now. I'm lucky, as my property is twice the size of all the other neighbors. My property is 1.6 acres, and the lots or homes beside me are 0.88 acres. The two immediate properties beside me already have problems. My neighbor and I were talking and he said that if his goes bad, he will have to put in a mound system above the old system. Also, his crawlspace, and the next house down....their crawlspaces fill up with water. The one down from the immediate neighbors crawlspace got so bad that the floor joist would set in water and rotted out. I'm glad I don't have that problem. The neighbor is also running illegal as far as septic goes as he put a sump pump in the crawlspace and just tied into a finger for a drain, then at the ends of the fingers, he dug a huge hole, maybe 10'x20'x10' deep, filled it all in with gravel, then tossed some dirt, and some Lombardy Poplar trees on top. By all rights, he should have put in a new system which would be a mound system, but he's flying under the radar as far as with what he's got being legal. What do you call it...a "dry well" maybe as to what he did?

 

[EOC_Jason]

I plan to dig the earth out at an wedge angle all around. probably about 12~18in down and then back fill to the tank with stone dust or some other impervious to rodents material.

I'll probably get it pumped then as it hasn't been done in our 16yrs ownership. and I was actually considering laying brick pavers over it to form a small 'garden' patio for asthetics (and to keep the dang voles away.

If you are going to get it pumped, I would do it before you dig all that up around your tank. After getting the tank pump fill it with at least 1/3-1/2 water. I would hate for you to dig all that around your tank and have it "pop up" because it's empty (which can happen in wet soil conditions and also if water seeps under your tank it basically creates hydraulic pressure). *Probably* nothing will happen, but adding the water in the tank to give it weight will give you that safety and piece of mind that you *are sure* that nothing will shift.

 

[Diesel Dan]

We put up with the pond for a number of years, but it was more of a pain in the *** instead of something enjoyable. So over the period of about 10 years, we filled it all in, and just finished it up last year. So now, if I ever have to put a new leach system in, I have room. The area behind my garage, where it will have to go, has been filled in for maybe 9 years now.

Kevin,
What county are you in?
Reason I ask is when I was talking with the soil engineer he mentioned that the HD(health department) would not pass filled property for a leach or mound system. In one case it was 100yr old fill from the rail road days. If it is not virgin, native soil it won't work in Trumbull county, yet.

For those interested in a little light reading:
Trumbull septic

In our area you would need an off lot discharge system with sand filters. Many have not passed annual inspection since they were installed.

 

[Kevin54]

Kevin,
What county are you in?
Reason I ask is when I was talking with the soil engineer he mentioned that the HD(health department) would not pass filled property for a leach or mound system. In one case it was 100yr old fill from the rail road days. If it is not virgin, native soil it won't work in Trumbull county, yet.

For those interested in a little light reading:
Trumbull septic

In our area you would need an off lot discharge system with sand filters. Many have not passed annual inspection since they were installed.

I'm in Champaign County. The fill where we would probably have to go is native soil and only a small area of where it would have to go was where the pond was. Most of the area was the area between the neighbor and us, and it wasn't filled in, but it was knocked down. Other than that, my driveway would have to come out that goes to my garage.

I wish I had known back at the time when we bought the house, or I wish that the so called permit experts would have informed me that having the same amount of area does not mean the same amount right beside where it is now. But, it's too late for that to do anything about it. If I have to go with a Mound System, it's only money Hopefully by that time, everything will be paid off so I can take out a loan and pay to **** for the rest of my life

 

[Diesel Dan]

You are not far from where I had to take my mound design course.
Just off of US70/38 near the fair grounds.

 

[Kevin54]

You are not far from where I had to take my mound design course.
Just off of US70/38 near the fair grounds.

Not too far away. Maybe 30 minutes.

Hopefully I won't have to discuss a mound system with you

 

[Diesel Dan]

Hopefully I won't have to discuss a mound system with you

Yeah, if we are having that discussion it will be an expensive one.
The local HD doesn't want to talk to me anymore I think. They didn't think I'd drive down to Columbus for the course so I can do a owner install on my septic system.

 

[Kevin54]

Yeah, if we are having that discussion it will be an expensive one.
The local HD doesn't want to talk to me anymore I think. They didn't think I'd drive down to Columbus for the course so I can do a owner install on my septic system.

the local HD here in Champaign County was going to start making every new home in the country go to a Mound System, and any standard septic system that had to be replaced would have to replaced with a Mound System. It went back and forth for a long while then they finally caved and said that the standard systems could still be installed as long as the testing of the ground was adequate to support the standard system. I also think another reason was that most people can't afford to shell out $20g's for a system. At the time the decision was made, a lot of our local businesses were shutting the doors. We had Cornnuts, Drackett, Siemans, W.B.Marvins, Rothchilds, and so on that employed a vast amount of people in our county, and that was just in our town area.

Now the new houses down the road, one side has 5 new homes and they have the standard septic system, directly across the road, three new homes are on the mound system. Actually the county shouldn't have even let them build home there. I don't know how many acres is actually involved. It's like a large triangle between roads, but the whole area had to be tiled. Then there are low spots that when it rains it will flood the road, there is a natural swamp in the area also. My neighbor directly across from me has a pipe coming out of her concrete porch. The first time I saw it, water was shooting out into her year. I thought she had left her hose on. So one day she was out and I asked her if that pipe is tied into a sump pump and sure enough it is. Her crawlspace fills with water. Another person on down the road, even in a drought season, his sump pump in his basement runs 24/7. He thinks it's an underground spring. We are lucky as are house sits a little higher than others. I've never had the first drop of water in our crawlspace.