Cement hole in back yard is it a old septic??? - DIY Chatroom

cadet4206 · 10-29-2009, 11:31 PM

I just bought a 80 year old house and i was moving a flower pot in my back yard that was right next to cement patio. I uncovered a cement hole that was half full of junk and debris. The hole had cement walls. I dont know what to do does anyone know anything about this or have they heard of anything like this.

**Scuba_Dave** · 10-29-2009, 11:49 PM

How big is it?

Also used to be garbage pits at houses

cadet4206 · 10-29-2009, 11:53 PM

the opening it self is about 3-4 ft wide if i were to go on the hole is probably 6-8 ft wide may be 6- 10 ft tall looks like a cement cube or tank of some sort..... What should i do????

**Scuba_Dave** · 10-29-2009, 11:59 PM

Do you have a septic system ? Town sewer ?

Its not being used for drainage or dry well?

You'd need to fill it, does it smell ? Wet....dry ?

skymaster · 10-29-2009, 11:59 PM

If the "tank" appears to be made from blocks with some space between them it could very well be an old septic tank. B4 they used separate leeching fields this is how they let the liquids drain off and the solids settle to the bottom.
Best thing to do is pull the top off,clean the garbage out of the pit and fill it in

AllanJ · 10-30-2009, 09:04 AM

See if there is an inlet pipe opening and/or outlet pipe opening on the other side. These will usually be not far from the top.

A decommissioned septic tank (or dry well / cesspool) is filled in in order that what you put on top does not cave in.

A septic tank or cistern has solid sides and bottom. A cesspool / dry well has porous for example unmortared brick walls.

Garbage pits are typically less than 2x2 feet across.

cadet4206 · 11-02-2009, 11:38 PM

I found out what it was........ Water cistern