Re: Clogged Septic Field Rejuvenated Inexpensively

Hey Grizz,

I've read through your struggles with your septic system and first of all I want to thank you for documenting it for everyone to read. I've learned more about septic systems in the last couple of weeks than I ever cared to know.
I had a couple of questions I would like to get your insight on.

First the situation. The system is about 19 years old.

My leach field is not draining properly. After some digging and research, I've discovered I have a somewhat uncommon leach field called porous panel block and it gets effluent via a low pressure pipe dosing system. So I have a main tank that then spills effleunt into a pump tank. In that tank is a pump with a float switch and kicks on/off based on how much effluent is in that tank and a warning alarm float switch. There are 4 lines with 11 each of these porous panel block 'buckets' for lack of a better term. I've dug down to several and the effluent is just setting there in the buckets not draining. I'm guessing I have either a biomat or hardpan issue considering I'm in NC with lots of red clay. The tank has just been pumped, I've put some septicseep down the lines but that doesn't seem to do much, which makes me think that biomat is the more likely problem.

1) you seem to think an aerator would work on a dual tank system. Does my pump tank fit that bill for the second tank of a dual tank system?

2) current plan is to get an aerator and then once installed in the pump tank put a huge dose of hydorgen peroxide down the lines. Thoughts? You've mentioned that you believe the sodium percarbonate can lead to hardpan, so with my concern that it might already be hardpan I thought the hydrogen peroxide would be the best bet. Or would it be better for the first major dose to use sodium percarbonate?

Thanks in advance.

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