Septic Tank Paranoia Is Over

[RWey56]

I posted this question a while back about driving a BX23S over a septic tank with just the mower deck. Lots of recommendations, suggestions, cautions, but difficult to find a definitive answer.

Well, back in mid to early June, I inadvertently drove over my tank with both the FEL and backhoe, and the sky didn't fall, nor did the septic cover. Remove both the FEL and BH and you're 1000 lbs lighter. Further, I found looking at many spec's that the tank tops are typically 6" thick reinforced concrete.

Thus, for me anyway, my tanks can apparently handle the tractor and mower deck without a problem. But ... I'm only speaking for myself and I can't advise anyone on the matter

 

[mbu]

But.................................. what about the next time? Were you just lucky the first time?

 

[twomany]

I've been driving over mine with the E27n ( two tons) for 30 years.

I wouldn't let the tree service crane over it however. ;-)

 

[johnjk]

mine has plastic covers..... I'm staying well away

 

[D2Cat]

I wish I has some picture of when our tank lid collapsed. It had never had anything heavier than a human walk on it. Never even mowed with a push mower.

Ya, you hear about how they are built, all the steel in them... on and on. When my wife went out and said it smelled like the neighbor dairy barn was cleaning the lot, I didn't think anything about it. The next day when I heard a blood cudling scream, I had not idea what the alarm was for. Well, the entire 3 pieces had fall in!!

 

[sheepfarmer]

Yes and then there was the time when I was a kid and was grazing the horse on the extra grass in the area closer to the house and she kind of jumped, one hind leg had disappeared into the ground, hoof sized hole went down a loooong way I think they made the lids out of wood in those days. Not sure what my current one is made out of.

 

[RWey56]

I agree about the lids/access cap. Those are about 3 or 4 inches thick, and I straddle where I know it to be. My lift station (2nd tank) has a visible screw on plastic lid that's flush with the ground and is easy to avoid. Going to have the tank pump service put one on the primary tank next time they're out.

If you think about it, there's no more than about 500 lbs on each wheel, and there's never more than 2 wheels over the tank at a time. Now, I certainly wouldn't park on it and jump up and down, but a quick pass over is nothing.

 

[dirtydeed]

agreed. It's the tank lids that you need to be careful with. If they are exposed or have little ground cover over them, you can easily go thru them. The concrete tanks themselves are pretty rugged.

Went thru a lid once with my old BX23 while I was installing a blue-stone walkway at a customers place. New lid cost me about $125.

 

[mcfarmall]

I inspect the condition of the tank lid when I have mine pumped every 3 years. I have noticed the concrete is crumbling at the outlet baffle and the edges of the access hole in the lid.

From my research, it appears that the sewer gases react with the chemicals in concrete which results in deterioration. Likely a change in the concrete mix over the years as manufacturers seek to reduce input costs so they put in less portland cement or whatever to save money.

When I say lid, I'm referring to the cast concrete slab that covers the tank, not the green plastic lid that covers the tank riser.

 

[shootem604]

My tanks are 4" reinforced concrete on the top, and I wouldn't drive over them. Mine are nearly 40 years old too, so recently had some leftover concrete from another project and formed and poured a new 4" lid for one tank, overtop the old, as it does appear the sewer gases have eroded it somewhat.

 

[mcfarmall]

That's a good idea, shootem604!

 

[greenacresnorth]

I worked for a company as a welder helper in Highschool that made septic tanks and other concrete boxes and stuff, I wouldnt let a dog walk across a septic tank or drain box within a 200 mile radius of central Florida after seeing how poorly they where made.

 

[D2Cat]

Now that's a testimony to be aware of!! They sell you a tank and give locate flags for it.

 

[NewtoOrange]

My 2 cents, or rather 7,500 dollars. I have a 1 year old septic with aeration. Tank is fiberglass and pump and clean out sit well above ground so no problem there since could not use tractor on it anyway. However, the laterals are open trenches with plastic domes over them and covered by only 9 inches of soil. I am even nervous about letting the 190 lb dog run on them let alone driving a small riding mower over them so I stay way far away from them when tractor is in the yard (L2501 w/fel).