cesspit worry

Davesnave

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Fascinating link Dave, though I think they are going a bit over the top and in danger of scaring the horses.

I agree.

I think it's a case of drumming-up business, but I find it a pretty comprehensive resource nonetheless.

I do live on a grassy knoll, but the people who share my drainage field pay for nothing and use incredible amounts of water. Their tank also looks totally different from mine inside; 'inert' is the best word I can use to describe it. I don't think much bio-digestion goes on.

John_Pierpoint

The dribble that comes out of mine is clear, the secret is don't play with it - I certainly don't de sludge mine every year and an interesting flocculation builds up in the surface layer.

Good point about the possibility of hydrogen sulphide turning into sulphuric acid and attacking the Portland cement though.

AdrianC

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

and an interesting flocculation builds up in the surface layer.

Any day that starts with the word "flocculation" can only be a good one.

daniel80

Thanks for all the advice, I am happier with the situation now. Like I said after not having to pay waste-water rates there is not much difference. The only other thing is when we come to sell, would this put you off. It did me but as we liked the property and after a bit of research I became a lot happier it was just something completely different to what we were used to.

Davesnave

daniel80 wrote: »

The only other thing is when we come to sell, would this put you off.

It wouldn't put me off, but I would factor in changing it to a modern bio disc system.

daniel80

I thought of that but we are not able to have a soakaway which I think the bio disc system needs.

John_Pierpoint

AdrianC wrote: »

Any day that starts with the word "flocculation" can only be a good one.

Here goes in an attempt to clarify the matter and avoid a double double - entendre:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarifying_agent

From a failing memory, prior to about 1974 sewage used to be the responsibility of the local authority and my council used to collect the dustbins and empty the cesspits of rural properties as a matter of course. Not always a pleasant experience, I can remember a summer's afternoon in the garden, when the tanker decided to go to work on a neighbour 400 yards away. About this time two things happened, sewage disposal was transferred to the water companies and there was a legal case taken all the way to the Lords (?), by a large company (Shell?), to establish that those with satisfactory private sewage treatment, did not have to pay the sewerage charges. So the charges for the rest of us shot up.
I had a pantomime trying to get included in a new sewerage scheme, that the local authority had already started, before the water company took over; but realistically without their support to get way-leaves, under neighbour's lands; that was not going to happen.
So with limited guidance from the water authority, the septic tank was constructed.

I think I would find a cesspit an off-putting factor - is the proposed purchase built on an aquifer ?

http://maps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/wiybyController?topic=groundwater&layerGroups=default&lang=_e&ep=map&scale=1&x=357682.99999999994&y=355133.99999999994

[Also a useful source of ordnance Survey map data, if planning a country ramble;)]

Road_Hog

daniel80 wrote: »

Even though its on oil we were still happy.

This would worry me more than the sewerage arrangements. I rented a house in a remote area and it used oil for heating. Even back 13 years ago, it cost £200 to fill the tank and that only lasted a quarter during the winter - we were both at work during the day, so evening and weekend use only.

I dread to think about the cost of running a house on oil these days.

daniel80

Hi John not sure about been built on an aquifer,why do you ask this. I do now that present owners have explored all options. Road Hog, I agree oil won`t be cheaper but I know quite a few people who use it and they say its not as bad as people think. Obviously oil prices can vary quite a bit but then gas and electric only go one way. Owner did say that he uses oil during the winter then switches over to economy 7 during the summer. I will have to look into that.

Davesnave

Road_Hog wrote: »

This would worry me more than the sewerage arrangements. I rented a house in a remote area and it used oil for heating. Even back 13 years ago, it cost £200 to fill the tank and that only lasted a quarter during the winter - we were both at work during the day, so evening and weekend use only.

I dread to think about the cost of running a house on oil these days.

I've just put 1000 litres in my tank, which cost £580, but the Aga will run on that until spring, especially if this mild weather keeps up, because until things turn cold, we won't light it!

The Aga and all the old gravity fed systems are inefficient; their main virtue being immunity to power outages. Once the Aga is on, it stays on, so a ridiculous situation can arise as early as February where we open the doors on sunny days to let the heat escape!:o

Modern oil boilers are much more efficient/flexible. Used with wood burners, they are not so scary, especially if you generate a decent amount of logs for the latter, as us country folk often do.;)

I had a company quote for a new oil system in my bungalow and for a wood pellet alternative. The oil came in at around £6.5k and the pellets at £11.5k. That's a lot of compensation for the RHI to make up!

By the way, as I understand it, bio-disc run off is clean enough to go into any convenient ditch, or similar. Obviously, plots vary, so there may be no easy solution like that, but I'd certainly check whether the previous occupant explored every option thoroughly.