Always Empty the Septic Tank Before Unclogging

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ILLUSTRATION: BRIAN ORR
Don't forget to empty the septic tank before unclogging it.

A reader shares his experience of forgetting to empty the septic tank before trying to unclog it.

Well it was finally time. Year after year, when the snow turned to slush and the ground became good and saturated, the plumbing would slow down and then stop. We’d dealt with it before — pumping, plunging, rodding, cleaning, even enzymes — but there could be no other explanation now. The septic field was clogged. I found out the hard way you shouldn forget to empty the septic tank before unclogging it.

I’d noticed the approximate location of the drainage field before, where the grass was greener. So on a pleasant summer’s day, I took a shovel and dug. Finally, I hit pay dirt . . . or rather, drain tile. It was a shallow field — 3 to 4 feet — probably dug about 1946. The tiles were jammed tightly together, with no openings, overlapping coverings or gravel. And sure enough, they were absolutely full of dirt and bone dry. So I moved upstream (toward the house) and tried again. And again. And again.

Finally, I found a moist one, full of a rich, black paste, reminiscent of uncooked brownie batter. Thinking there might be something plugging the route, I got down on my stomach, reached way down with my hand and pushed a twig into the hole. I poked and prodded, twisted and flicked, until it started moving.

The brownie batter began to ooze forth, curling and coiling over on itself like the dark, wicked sister of some evil toothpaste. The thick, shiny goo now undulated of its own accord, sensuously uncoiling from its tight girdle of confinement.

  • Published on Jun 1, 2002
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