Mystery sediment in my kitchen sink

AllanJ · 01-12-2013, 05:46 PM

See reply #10 above.

Does the sulphur and iron treatment system flush waste water down the drain every so often, entering at a point near the sink drain? Could there be a partial clog there so when the treatment system cycles, its outflow backs up into the sink because it can't go down the drain fast enough?

I would not expect this to be voluminous enough or often enough to overload a septic tank.

bernie963 · 01-12-2013, 09:48 PM

I think Alan is the winner. the water conditioning equipment is back washing into the drain at a higher rate than the drain is capable of handling. then it backs up and exits the drain at the first available spot, the kitchen. plug both drains and watch it bubble up at another sink, unless it has enough pipe to hold it.

call back the water conditioning people for an inspection.

bernie

Bob999 · 01-13-2013, 02:15 PM

To check if backup from the backwashing cycle of the water treatment equipment is causing the problem initiate a manual backwash of the equipment and watch the sink during the cycle. The backwash cycle will probably take 15-20 minutes.

momof2labs · 01-17-2013, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fa_f3_20

Why would the backwash from the filter be draining into the septic system? Does code require that? There doesn't seem to be any point, and all it does is add to the burden on the leach field.

I don't know if this helps but my neighbor said she has the same thing in her bathtub periodically. It has something to do with the water table and sediment getting into the well. The well is higher than the house. She was told the sediment is so fine the water treatment system can't filter it.

Since I posted this query, on Friday and again on Tuesday at night the water came into the sink. I had filled a zero water pitcher the night before and left it in the sink but the water coming into the sink from the drain turned the pitcher over in the sink. (That's a fairly large pitcher). But why does it only happen at night?

momof2labs · 01-28-2013, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momof2labs

Good Morning, Bernie:
Thanks for your reply.

Yes, the elevation of the septic field is, I'm guessing, 20ft higher. I saw the sediment again this morning. There are no signs of the sink filling up. I only see the sediment on the bottom of the sink. It is dry when I go in around 3:30am (yes, I'm an early riser) and like a dry black powder. There's no smell to it. I'm wondering if it could be some kind of pipe sediment.

I have not had much rain here. Now here's something that may or may not figure in .... I am very close to the water (I'm on a 2 acre pond) - about 20ft.

I will keep a record of the back up days. Who should I call? Well and Septic pro? And, yes, thanks for correctly me about the gravity pump really being a "anti-gravity pump".

Bernie:
It seems my mystery sediment is showing up every 3 days. My new water treatment system is in a separate room outside.

This morning (after 2 days of mild snow and light rain), the backup from the overflowed double sinks ran over my counter and puddled onto the floor.

I know I need to call someone but should I call the people who installed the new water treatment system or the person who installed the new anti-gravity pump? Or maybe just a plumber?

Thanks again.

**oh'mike** · 01-28-2013, 07:20 AM

Your filter installer is not involved with your problem---call the lift pump guy--chances are he's also a plumber---ask his advice---

momof2labs · 02-01-2013, 06:25 AM

Hello all:
I had a plumber take a look at the pipe connections. Sure enough, the first thing he suspected was accurate. The water treatment system was piped directly into the kitchen sink to drain. The anti-gravity pump couldn't handle the water dumped into it OR the sink for that matter.

So, now the drain lines from the water treatment system will be plumbed to go outside. Now why didn't that occur to me? My previous house had the waste water being pumped outside as well. No need to have the waste water from backwashing going into the septic system.

AllanJ · 02-01-2013, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momof2labs

So, now the drain lines from the water treatment system will be plumbed to go outside. Now why didn't that occur to me? My previous house had the waste water being pumped outside as well. No need to have the waste water from backwashing going into the septic system.

The backwash from a water softener can go directly to the outside or to a dry well, although the further from the house the better.

The backwash could kill grass or plants or shrubs especially when it drains onto the ground in the same place.

01-12-2013, 05:46 PM	#16
AllanJ Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Nashua, NH, USA Posts: 6,775	Mystery sediment in my kitchen sink See reply #10 above. Does the sulphur and iron treatment system flush waste water down the drain every so often, entering at a point near the sink drain? Could there be a partial clog there so when the treatment system cycles, its outflow backs up into the sink because it can't go down the drain fast enough? I would not expect this to be voluminous enough or often enough to overload a septic tank. __________________ The average homeowner who lost his house in the Oklahoma tornadoes should move for good and not rebuild. Too much complexity watchdogging the contractor. Too much a chance to be defrauded. Last edited by AllanJ; 01-12-2013 at 11:11 PM.

01-12-2013, 09:48 PM	#17
bernie963 Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: southeastern mass. Posts: 131	Mystery sediment in my kitchen sink I think Alan is the winner. the water conditioning equipment is back washing into the drain at a higher rate than the drain is capable of handling. then it backs up and exits the drain at the first available spot, the kitchen. plug both drains and watch it bubble up at another sink, unless it has enough pipe to hold it. call back the water conditioning people for an inspection. bernie

01-13-2013, 02:15 PM	#18
Bob999 Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 268	Mystery sediment in my kitchen sink To check if backup from the backwashing cycle of the water treatment equipment is causing the problem initiate a manual backwash of the equipment and watch the sink during the cycle. The backwash cycle will probably take 15-20 minutes.

01-28-2013, 07:20 AM	#21
oh'mike Super Moderator Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kane county,Illinois Posts: 16,762	Mystery sediment in my kitchen sink Your filter installer is not involved with your problem---call the lift pump guy--chances are he's also a plumber---ask his advice--- __________________ New members: Adding your location to your profile helps in many ways.--M--

02-01-2013, 06:25 AM	#22
momof2labs Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 104	Mystery sediment in my kitchen sink Hello all: I had a plumber take a look at the pipe connections. Sure enough, the first thing he suspected was accurate. The water treatment system was piped directly into the kitchen sink to drain. The anti-gravity pump couldn't handle the water dumped into it OR the sink for that matter. So, now the drain lines from the water treatment system will be plumbed to go outside. Now why didn't that occur to me? My previous house had the waste water being pumped outside as well. No need to have the waste water from backwashing going into the septic system.

Mystery sediment in my kitchen sink