The title, feeling slightly flushed, tells you that our septic tank problem is resolved. But it has been a real saga! It all started ten days ago when I wrote in my blog that we had discovered flooding owing to sewage back up. In that blog, I said that the workmen would be back in a couple of days to clean out the old septic tank and get the toilets back working. But, as you might expect, it became a much longer saga than anticipated!
Feeling Slightly Flushed
Delays In Getting The Septic Tank Emptied
“We will see you Monday, if not, definitely Tuesday morning” was the last thing the builder and his buddy the septic tank expert said. We got to Tuesday afternoon and no sign of them.
Wednesday I chased them again to be told that the septic tank truck had broken down and they couldn’t be with us until Friday. “Can you manage until then”. My response, slightly tongue in cheek. “Well yeah, we are peeing in a bucket overnight and we have to flush the one working loo we do have with a bucket of water…”. The builder came straight over, bless him, and fixed the flush on that toilet.
Planning For A Possible New Septic Tank
He also talked to us about a conversation he had with the septic tank guy as they left our house. They both thought we would end up having to have a new septic tank which would mean an extended period without toilets in the main part of our house.
We mentioned that we had yet another toilet in a store room in a part of the house we didn’t use. Just to explain, the house is in three parts. As the other two parts came up for sale over the years we bought them. So we inherited two extra bathrooms that we didn’t need and never use. We went to check that toilet and it wasn’t a surprise to find the cistern on that was completely seized up. Let’s face it, it hadn’t been used for about 12 years!
Again the builder came up trumps and turned up next day with a new cistern which then meant we had a working toilet within striking distance of the bedroom. A game changer when you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome let me tell you.
The Day The Septic Tank Truck Got Stuck
Friday came and the septic tank truck backed down the side of the house. This was in spite of us all saying it wasn’t a good idea to go that way because of the mud. Anyway, they emptied out the septic tank and confirmed that the whole infrastructure had broken down and we needed a new one.
Cue the fun and games when the truck then couldn’t get out because of the mud (surprise!). Imagine arm waving, shouting and everyone furiously throwing things under the back wheels to try and get traction. This was a beautiful sunny day, and I have to confess standing in the warm sunshine watching this going on was the best entertainment we have had for some time. Bear in mind we are shielding because of Covid so we don’t get out much!
Eventually they rang a mate with a tractor. But the builder had to go and find him and then bring him to the house so he could find us. The tractor made short work of pulling the lorry out thank goodness.
Off they all went, the builder said he would be back to start work on Monday.
Replacing The Septic Tank
Monday came and sure enough the builder arrived and brought with him the new septic tank. He and his mate worked really hard and yesterday afternoon they announced that by the time they went home we would have our toilets back – hooray! We had a ceremonial flushing of a toilet to celebrate, feeling slightly flushed LOL.
The work is not finished but now we have usable toilets we are happy. They are now going to replace some additional pipework and they have to fill in around the tank once they have given it a final check. Then concreting and manhole covers to be put in.
Lessons Learned
It has been an interesting experience. We really have realized how lucky we are to have working toilets. Using a bucket for over a week was quite a humbling experience. It also made us aware, although we thought we were before, of just how much water we use in flushing the toilets.
By the end of the week all the work will be finished and we will be getting back to normal. Then just a question of regular emptying of the septic tank as required. And hopefully no more feeling slightly flushed with toilet problems!
Before you go
My name is Dorothy Berry-Lound an artist and writer. You can find out more about my art and writing at https://dorothyberryloundart.com.
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Thank you for reading!
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