[phuz]

We've had some rain the past day and a half, some of it heavy.
I have a TED5000 power meter installed as I like to monitor the home's power consumption. Over a 12 hour period, I noticed many very small blips in a consistent manner. They occur every 10 minutes and last between 2.5 and 3 minutes and draw about 1.2kW every time. There is an inrush current that will spike show a quick spike of 1.8kW before it settles at 1.2. I had no idea what was happening, so I started flipping breakers until it dropped, and it turns out to be the septic pump.
Our septic system has a main tank and then a small 200-300 gallon holding tank before going to the drain field. I believe this is the pump that is running, but would a saturated ground be causing this level to fill up or am I more likely to have a fault float?

Thanks.

 

[AllanJ]

Is the field higher than the septic tank? Could water from the field be falling back into the holding tank when the pump has shut off? Can you open a hatch and see what is going on inside the holding tank?

 

[techpappy]

Also, surface water could be entering the top of the tank, via the clean out lid(s), if not sealed correctly.

 

[phuz]

Water is flowing back into the pump tank after the pump shuts off. The top of the drain field (which is higher than the tanks) has visibly flowing water. The water appears to be entering the tank from the pipe, though.
This only started happening within the past 48 hours.

 

[joecaption]

One of the first signs of a failed leach field is water running back into the tank.

 

[Javiles]

no running toilets ?