Connecting to Main Drain's

[sunnyd]

Our septic tank here has not been emptied at all since I have lived in this house, that's 10 years.

[Jacqui Harvey]

If I were you Nikkie I would be brave and take a peep under the lid.

[sunnyd]

We did when we had the garden done 2 years ago and it was fine  

[mercury]

We had our tank emptied for the first time this year after 5 years. It had started to overflow into the garden. My neighbours across the road came out here to 3 inches of effluent in their ground floor apartment. Not a pretty sight. We got a firm to empty it who quoted 75 TL to out Turkish friend and then quoted us a 100 when he found out we were all English in our block. We were told that it is best to have it done every 5 years and every 3 after that. We also had dozens of cockroaches around the apartments which disappeared soon after the tank was emptied...These were the first cockroaches we have have ever had around here. So not sure if it was coincedence.

[Ian]

Anne - that is a coincidence we saw our first cockroach at the end of this season - mmmmm - more than a coincidence methinks

Many thanks for all your replies - Ian

[cinders]

We had a sceptic Tank in UK and used eco friendly cleaners, (bleach and disinfectants destroys bacteria needed to break down the solid matter )
 We had the tank emptied once in tweny years definately no problems, and once emptied we threw in a dead chicken to start the process the (bacteria ) again
Not had to do anything yet here in Turkey !!!!
3.....2......1...

[Connor]

We were "Canalised" about five years ago - but our previous system is still buried somewhere?  The works were not a total success; the downstairs loo & sink still connected to the tank / cess pit.  The neighbour whose land the tank / pit jutted into has tried to get us to pay for its removal.=>  We had our loo converted into a cupboard & had the sink etc. taken away.
It only encroached about a foot onto waste ground so over to him.  Never had it emptied yet. Just sealed.

[Ian]

Oh dear that does sound like a thoroughly professional job by Thames Water or the Turkish equivalent