vanity: possible sewage line break in my Mom's yard: how do I tell?

self | 05/19/2010 | Racebannon

[RaceBannon]

My Mom's yard has a spot where grass is dying.

I noticed birds feeding there a lot in the last month, it is a mostly round patch, 10 feet across

I tried to use a gerden weasel on it today and huge hunks of soil came up with the grass, easily broken up, stillmoist, odorless

no apparent moles, voles, or grubs at this spot

[RaceBannon]

Question: Since it is in the vicinity of the sewage line I saw dug up 40 years ago to be redone, how do I determine if this die-off is that sewage line rupturing again?

I just spent money to replant seed to test if it grows again, seed and that blue mulch/seed patch stuff. I had to try before I dig it up...

[RaceBannon]

All advice appreciated! :)

[KarlInOhio]

A good plumber can run a camera down the sewer line and see if it is broken at that point.

[library user]

gerden weasel

Bump.

[cripplecreek]

Taste it.

[wbill]

Remember that the grass is always greener over the septic tank.

[Revelation 911]

if the turf is pulling up it might be the grub damage was significant and now theyve grown into junebugs which is why you arent seeing them

just guessin

[dynachrome]

Camera down the line. It wil cost a couple of bucks, but might as well be sure.

[raybbr]

Is this septic or utility?

[raybbr]

Isn’t it too early for grubs? I have always been told they hatch in early June.

[Grunthor]

“possible sewage line break in my Mom’s yard: how do I tell?”

Do you possess a sense of smell?

[mnehring]

Like this? Possibly grubs.

[skr]

The grass around our septic tank is usually the greenest; odorless doesn’t sound like a sewer line break, but I’m no expert.

[Star Traveler]

Well, the best way I know how to do it and pretty cheap, too ... is to get your shovel out “dig it up” in that spot. It shouldn’t be too hard. I had to do that myself a few months ago and found the broken spot, right where it was apparently real moist.

Just consider it exercise and it’s for free ... Otherwise, if money is no object, just call the plumber... :-)

[raybbr]

Also, we have had a lot of water lately. Is it a low spot? Could be it’s not draining and the soil is too soft to hold the roots.

[Responsibility2nd]

All advice appreciated! :)

__________________________________

Now you ought to know better than that.

[RaceBannon]

thats almost exactly it, the last grubs we had came out like a circle, like an arc, not a patch!

HMMM, it’s been two years, is there a cycle of life here??

[RaceBannon]

hey, those who know me, know I give Lazamataz a run for his money in the crazy department!

[OldDeckHand]

I'm going with lawn fungus, brown patch in particular. You had an exceptionally wet winter in CT, which can lead to brown patch.

I'm not sure the a broken sewage pipe would cause a brown out.

[mnehring]

I don’t know about how the cycle is, I just know we had an issue with June bugs this year. The couple of patches we lost are starting to come back pretty strong now.