Septic Tank Advice
The ditch running around our property seems to be carrying a grey liquid with an unpleasant smell. What could be the problem?
This is sometimes caused by an improper installation, where the septic tank has been allowed to discharge directly into the ditch. For health, environmental and legal reasons, effluent must only go into a properly designed sub-surface soakaway.
Why would such an installation have been carried out in the first place? Inexpert installers could be one reason; another is during installation the soil may have been found to be insufficiently porous – for example, it may be a clay subsoil – and the decision was taken at the time to go ahead and simply discharge the untreated effluent into the nearest ditch.
Needless to say, completely unacceptable to property owners, local residents and legal authorities today!