[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...

[rsobin]

Taste.

[Cyber Liberty]

I knew from the instant I saw this in “Latest Posts” that this would be the kind of thread that makes FR fun.

[Ramius]

I would suggest that if it were a broken sewer line or septic system, there would be no doubt about it whatsoever. That’s not the sort of thing that happens and you have to wonder what’s going on. It’s pretty clear.

My guess is first some kind of insect problem, or maybe something toxic was spilt on the ground?

[John W]

Typical sewage line break-

[crazyhorse691]

Unless your mom dumps her meth lab waste and a couple of pounds of salt daily down her toilet I doubt that you have a sewer line break...those are usually identified by soggy ground, actual soil settlement, growth hot spot, and smell(dogs will come from miles to frolic there). It is possible that it is a bug infestation of a hot spot, so, you would do best to dig a slit trench down several feet to check the soil for foul odor and soggy soil...the easier the digging as you go down increases the chances of an actual line break. Or you can pay several hundreds of $$$ to have a camera inserted through the nearest washout. And those are as only as reliable as the operator.

[InvisibleChurch]

Do you see this guy?

[Raycpa]

I go with grubs or other infestation. They are probably more around the septic because its warmer.

[SaraJohnson]

Maybe you will find this lawn question and answer useful.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Lawns-725/spreading-circles-dead-grass.htm

The question is at the top of the page and the answer way down lower. It goes through many possibilities from grubs to fungus.

[Wings-n-Wind]

Is the home line connected to a public sewer system?
Or does the line run through a septic tank then draining into a prepared drainage field... (usually on the back of the property).

Sometimes the failure of a septic system isn't necessarily a broken line or ruptured tank.... BUT--- actually the need to recondition the drainage field.

Bro.... get a hazmat suit...

[Little Bill]

Go into the basement locate where the pipe exits the wall mark that location on the outside of the wall. Measure out from the wall to the spot, dig down. The lines are run in a straight line to the street, if the soil is wet around the pipe you have trouble.