Septic Tank Problem

Hi,

Jim Entwistle in Calle Rambla, Urcal had problems with his, as did others. If.you can find a post by chevyrecyclar maybe you could pm him for comment.

Hope you get it sorted,

Bob and Sandra

Mojacar Playa and Puerto Lumbreras

Hi there, 

I have had a septic tank in Italy for 30 years and have never had to have it emptied! The problem often lies with house owners or guests on antibiotics which kill off all the natural bacteria which work on the sewage to break it down. So if you are having a course of antibiotics or the like, you need to eat lots of yoghurt to reinstate and stabilise the correct environment for making the septic tank work. 

Even if you don’t like yoghurt, buy some and throw it down the loo!!

I swear it works! However, check out that neighbours’ sewage doesn’t go through to your pipe work or septic tank. Years ago, in a previous property I found a whole chicken and a doormat in the pipework!!

Good luck,

Janice

Thank you Janice. After reading about these tanks I am trying to rejuvenate the system by adding cultures. Quite honestly we thought we were on a mains system as many of our neighbours did but it appears that although much of the pipework is in place none of the houses were connected up and tanks were fitted. I am on a learning curve as to how these things operate as when contacting drainage companies they immediately suggest fitting a new tank.

Yes, well most people will want to turn your situation to their advantage. I am certainly not an expert but have had over 30 experience of properties with septic tanks and luckily I’ve managed to sort out any problems so far. 

It is really the same for all things that are new to us in a different country, a bit hit and miss with trying different solutions.

However, the people on this forum give the most detailed and expert advice I have ever seen so don’t give up and post any queries you may have on here as everyone is so helpful.

Good luck,

Janice

Hi, vinny, we are the couple mentioned in Bob's first response. "Chevyrecycler34"

Partner bought the villa and was told by the solicitor that the seller hadnt had to have the septic emptied in the previous ten years !!.

The property was a holiday home and as such was only used once in a while, hence not much use inbetween visits, most probably by just two persons at any one time, and for short periods as well, everything goes into the tank, washing machine, dishwasher, showers, toilets etc, initially we coped but within around a month to 5 weeks we were witnessing popping and banging noises from the family bathroom bidet. Not much use when, in case you're having guests you need one eye on use and the other on tank contents lol.

Upon opening the tank lid we were confronted by a full tank, that is the sewage level just over the top of the inlet pipe.

Three tank empties later and various solutions offered she had a local builder install a new "pozo", fed via a macerator pump in what became the "feeder" tank, ie the old septic, round to the front of the property, by the car port. We/she hasn't had any problems since and we were guardedly informed that she wouldnt/shouldnt have any problems in about 10 years. Fingers crossed.

It's partly the contents and how the tank filterscaway what gets put in there, you can put whatever enzymes or assorted chemical mixtures in youre tank, if the ground cant/wont absorb what the system is trying to filter out youre screwed, problems can arise with tree roots or saturated land mass, from experience of septic tank and pipework in the USA, tree roots can and will sense water and go for it and block pipes, tanks and whatever.

The only thing you can do in most cases is do as partner did and have a new installation. From what I've seen/read, new septic's come in three compartment systems and are quite a bit bigger than any old systems. Unless you're in town It's highly unlikely you'll find a villa in rural countryside connected to any kind of town sewerage system, dont pay any heed to the grid lids in the roadways, they are for anything but city sewage as you'll see in the UK.

Partners system is unobtrusive and unless you'd seen it installed you wouldn't know where it was. If you'd like to chat about it by all means pop around and we can show you what I mean.

Ann jim

Ps, we're in Urcal too.