[fintstone]

For those that have septic systems with a pump, there are typically ether two tanks or a single massive tank with separate chambers. The second one (pump tank/chamber) has a pump and only relatively clear liquid comes over from the first tank. You do not have them pump out the pump tank/chamber unless your system has failed and it needs repaired. The solids remain in the first tank and the essentially clear liquids flow over to that second tank/chamber to be pumped out by your system's pump. If there is anything but relatively clear water in that one, your system has failed. The (second) pump chamber almost always has a riser and a lid at surface level and is easily accessible to service the pump. The actual tank where the solids are often does not and you have to dig that one up when you have them pump your system out. Where I live, the tank must be pumped every 5 years or whenever bought/sold (restarts the 5-year cycle).

This was my first house with a pump. The rest were gravity (one tank/no pump). The system was pumped by the previous owner when I bought the home. After 5 years was up, I called the pumping folks and they came out and pumped my tank. The guy was older and had done this work his entire life.

He went to the only visible riser/lid (concrete)and pumped that out. The water was essentially clear. I paid and they went on their way. I turned in the paperwork to the county.

A few years later, my pump failed. When I replaced it, I did some research and discovered that there was another tank (the one that you pump) before that one. The lid for that one was about 4 feet deep about 6 feet before the pump tank riser (between that and the house). I dug down to the concrete lid on that one and had that tank (the correct one) pumped. It was definitely full of crap (unlike the pump tank/chamber). While in there, I added a plastic riser for that one (so I would not have to dig it up again. The concrete rise/lid oven the pump tank had deteriorated some and was too high to suit me so while I was in there, I replaced that one with a plastic riser for a better height/color (green) as well (for aesthetics).

There were no signs of digging when I bought the home so the experts pumped the wrong tank at least twice. Although they seemed knowledgeable, I suspect that the folks who pump out effluence for a living are not exactly Menza candidates...nor was I for not understanding my own system better.

I had a similar learning curve when I had issues with my well. Living in the country keeps one busy.