General Discussion

Chainfire

(17,757 posts)

23. Septic tanks do push water back into a toilet, unless the toilet is lower than the septic tank.

Thu Sep 29, 2022, 10:18 AM

Sep 2022

It is basic physics.

As a master plumber, I can tell you that it is one of the four basics laws of plumbing: (#2 below)

*Hot on the left, cold on the right
* Shit don't run uphill
* Payday is on Friday
* The boss is a SOB

That said, when the tank is under water, the flush has nowhere to go and will remain where it is.

Septic tanks are no different than sewage treatment facilities, when either go underwater, they fail to function. When a treatment facility goes underwater a major environmental problem is created. Without septic tanks people in rural areas would have to depend on outhouses. Now that is something that is a hazard to the environment. I live in a rural area, I have a septic tank and a well for my water. I wish I had a municipal water supply and sewage disposal system.

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The price of Florida's unregulated and ill-planned growth: 2.6 million septic tanks [View all] 303squadron Sep 2022 OP

I've got a few ideas, but lay it on me... Captain Zero Sep 2022 #1

Imagine the opposite of flushing. eShirl Sep 2022 #2

leach field? water pressure pushes it all back up through the toilets? fucking republicans. no regul certainot Sep 2022 #5

Septic tanks do push water back into a toilet, unless the toilet is lower than the septic tank. Chainfire Sep 2022 #23

How dare you.... A HERETIC I AM Sep 2022 #33

Is it ok if I stick my tongue out while typing? Chainfire Sep 2022 #35

You forgot: Don't bite your fingernails. herding cats Sep 2022 #36

Actually I don't, could you tell me because Heather MC Sep 2022 #3

this may help regrestic Sep 2022 #8

You may have to get an exception from the local building codes. rickford66 Sep 2022 #12

I was wondering about that. Unfortunately I live in a location that is primarily septic tanks. seaglass Sep 2022 #19

I want to build a filtration system where the Gray water is reused Heather MC Sep 2022 #20

Building codes are behind the times for many new techniques. rickford66 Sep 2022 #27

I'm also hoping to enlist the people from the save the Chesapeake Bay foundation Heather MC Sep 2022 #30

Even if someone else does it, double check. rickford66 Sep 2022 #34

It really infuriates me that they decide what someone can and cannot live in. Heather MC Sep 2022 #37

There are very rational reasons for building codes. rickford66 Sep 2022 #38

EPA has a webpage on it BumRushDaShow Sep 2022 #14

Wow, 55% of households in Vermont have them. Native Sep 2022 #4

They're a perfectly reasonable waste solution in the proper circumstances sir pball Sep 2022 #15

Raw Sewage Flow regrestic Sep 2022 #6

i wonder if check valves required at the outflow end of the septic tanks. some republican developer certainot Sep 2022 #9

A "check valve" on a gravity sewer would be a blockage waiting to happen. Chainfire Sep 2022 #24

i guess i mean a one way valve of some kind designed for that purpose but you're saying there's no certainot Sep 2022 #25

Water does not run uphill without some force being applied. Chainfire Sep 2022 #26

i imagine in parts of fla there are any sceptic tanks not much lower than 3 ft below floor level and certainot Sep 2022 #28

A check valve has to be in a forced system, it does not work in a gravity septic system. Chainfire Sep 2022 #39

maybe i'm missing something but if the floodwater outside is higher than the toilet lip certainot Sep 2022 #40

That is true, but that means that the water is two feet deep outside you door and is coming in the Chainfire Sep 2022 #41

and that some shitty water certainot Sep 2022 #43

Largest thing is probably sources of fresh water will likely be unsafe to drink cstanleytech Sep 2022 #7

Everyone in the affected areas are "Jacksonville" now. Sad. Samrob Sep 2022 #31

Typhus and other sewage related problems all over the place... ananda Sep 2022 #10

Typhus...or typhoid fever? ShazzieB Sep 2022 #18

Thank you! Typhoid fever, absolutely. ananda Sep 2022 #21

Urban Sewage systems are likely at greater risk TBH JCMach1 Sep 2022 #11

On top of that, there's very little relief in Florida's topography . . . . hatrack Sep 2022 #13

Lived with septic through many Florida hurricanes... JCMach1 Sep 2022 #29

You can install septic fields on flat property Kaleva Sep 2022 #32

You got that right! Chainfire Sep 2022 #42

O.M.G. lindysalsagal Sep 2022 #16

It's a delicate balancing act defined by Urban Service Boundaries HAB911 Sep 2022 #17

Public sewer systems can't handle flooding either Kaleva Sep 2022 #22