Neither had we until this poor guy shared his unfortunate experience.
The Scenario
Unbeknownst to him, there was an abandoned septic tank under his property. The septic cover rusted and disintegrated over time leaving the massive container open. The man’s swimming pool happened to be above the tank, so when the lid collapsed, everything above it fell into the tank. Fortunately, no one was in the pool when this happened, so the only things lost were the gallons of water in the pool.
Could This Have Been Prevented?
If a septic tank is no longer to be used, it should be removed or filled with dirt or gravel. Various towns have different regulations for handling an unused septic tank, but obviously, this gentleman was the victim of irresponsible neglect that occurred when the transition from septic to sewer was made. If you are looking to purchase a home and suspect it may have a septic history, you should always have a professional examine the facilities. Even if the home is now hooked up to a city sewer system, ask questions about any septic equipment especially if the home is older. Wind River Environmental is not only certified to perform septic inspections, but we can also investigate and uncover any unresolved wastewater issues such as an abandoned tank. Don’t let this or a similar scenario happen to you. Contact Us.