Good idea to reroute washer drainage?

We live in the country with an aerobic system, which is currently down due to the concrete wall collapsing inward on the last tank(pump out), and we have a front load washer. It drains into our septic. I'm thinking we need to reroute the washer drainage to a hose that goes out to the back pasture, but hubby says no. My parents have always drained their washing machine water out the back yard to a trench. Wouldn't that save life of the septic? We have some companies coming next week to give us quotes on cost to replace the tank.

We do that all the time

the only thing i drain into my septic tank is the terlets
every thing else bypasses the tank

frodo said:

We do that all the time

the only thing i drain into my septic tank is the terlets
every thing else bypasses the tank

Click to expand...

So, you even divert your kitchen sink and showers away from the septic? Interesting!

kitchen sink, yes, as long as you do not have a disposal
if you have a disposal than it can be a health hazard, because of the food

it is called gray water, plants love it

black water is sewage and biodegradable from your disposal

gray water is every thing else

In my area, new homes in the 50's were required to have 2 tanks. A dry well for the grey water and a septic tank for the septage.
Although those 2 tank systems are no longer allowed.
Don't know why the change but I do know it was common for the dry wells, which leached around the perimeter of the tank, would often get blocked with grease.
Now the only thing that is allowed to go to dry wells(and in some cases mandatory) is storm drain.

After reading this article, I'll have to check if we are allowing separate grey water system again.
https://waterwisegroup.com/greywater-education/laws-in-your-state/

What is the best way to keep the Grey Water Dry Wells draining? I use one for my Washing Machine only, and it stops draining periodically. I usually open it up and pump it and then dig out all of the soap sludge at the bottom. Is there another solution?

Make them big, double your current size pit. Limit heavy use. Spread the use out over time.

Julie492 said:

So, you even divert your kitchen sink and showers away from the septic? Interesting!

Click to expand...

You should'nt divert your kitchen sink. Just shower and washing machine.

If you divert to the back pasture you'd be wise to distribute to water evenly instead of dumping it all in one spot all of the time.

Interesting story here... I always thought about having the washing machine drain to my back yard. I just thought the soap would be harmful to the trees.

rickwhoo said:

Interesting story here... I always thought about having the washing machine drain to my back yard. I just thought the soap would be harmful to the trees.

Click to expand...

My trees and grass love wash water.

Thanks!, If I wasn't divorcing my wife and selling my house I would do it today. I will definitely do it in my next house tho.

What can be drained as grey water depends on your State. DNR regs in MO don't allow the discharge of laundry water or sink water to a grey system. The water would be good stuff for trees or grass, and some of the other stuff that is in the grey water, but it is the rest of the other stuff that may not be good for soil or plants. Plus, the old house that came with the property had a washer discharge in a pasture (built in the 30s). It clogged with roots and debris, causing the drain to back up, and left clumps of fabric fibers at the discharge. If you can use a tank system, you may want to look for a way to screen what goes into the tank or choose a pump that can handle that, one that pulls from a position off the bottom.

It’s probably illegal here too but until they find it, which will be never, it’s staying like it is .

They should worry about the Millions of gallons of raw sewage that overflows out of their system when it rains hard.......not the wash water that’s feeding my lawn.

Do as we say, not as we do should be their motto.