In article ,
says...

"Charlie Pridham" wrote in message
T...
In article ,
says...

"Malcolm" wrote in message
...




I've lived with septic tanks (if you get my meaning!) for the last 35
years. At our last house, we had it emptied about every three years,
which
seemed to be adequate until the day it started overflowing following a
torrential downpour, which just happened to coincide with higher than
normal use of baths, etc. The clear-up was not pleasant and involved
some
expensive alterations. I've gone for annual emptying ever since, which
has
been well worth the cost, in my view. I now have a standing order with
the
local council and don't even have to remember to ask for it to be
emptied.

A daughter lives on a Welsh mountain with a septic tank, they've been
there
for at least twelve years and have never had the tank emptied. I thought
the
system developed bacteria which dealt with solids and they drained away
harmlessly.

Hers is an organic farm and she is scrupulous about not allowing anything
which would be hostile to the bacteria down the drain. She uses special
dishwasher tablets, laundry and other preparations. There are two adults
and
a small child so baths are frequent and laundry is too - she only uses
washable nappies.

When we go we live in our tiny caravan and have to use similar
bacteria-friendly products if we empty into the tank - which we do. When
I
use conventional washing up liquid for dishes the waste is poured into a
ditch.

I daren't do anything else!

Mary

No sadly we had to use a high pressure water jet to cut it up and a
sludge pump to remove it, I tried to dig it by hand but the spade would
not penetrate the matted synthetic fibres, just bounced off.
We felt quite pleased with ourselves finding it as various owners since
1915 had looked, but no one had been able to find it. not surprising
really I had to go down 15' before I got there! It was dating the rubbish
and infill on the top of it that gave us the approx date it was last
looked at.
Most people I know with modern ones have a yearly contract.
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea