Columns Just 1' Away From Well and Septic Tank.

Only time will tell.

Any building codes where you live?

Anybody follow those codes when they built your structure?

Anybody inspect the building after it was built?

hi friend,

no building code. not followed any building code. built by conventions (practice and experience of local contractor)only.

nobdy inspected sofar.

for the past 5 years nothing happened. the structure is strong and safe.

I'd worry more about someone falling into "the existing 4' dia open well."

The columns probably won't cause any problems, if they didn't when first constructed.

hi friend,

thanks.

well is well covered by mesh and nothing to worry about on this count.only the columns so close to it!!!

Well, suppose I told you that you had to move either the columns or the well and septic tank.

What would you do?

It seems a little late, after 5 years, to worry about something which will cost you a lot of money and time to fix.

Don't worry, unless there is something you haven't told us you should not have any problems.

My worry is your septic system being so close to your well.

Redfred, That is what I was concerned about. In my area, a septic system has to be a minimum of 200' from a well.

Yep that's righto - they will soon have sewer from the soakpit (Septic Tank) into the well as well! Hope its nothing to worry and that they'd close this well.

Is the well in use?

It all depends on what the well water will be used for, flower garden hydration, lawn hydration, grey water, food, etc.

The only dimension I would worry about would be the distance from the well to the septic. There are fairly good reasons for having distances specified in building codes.

We deal with this sort of thing frequently. Building foundations near sewer mains, water mains and other underground structures.

If the building foundations extend to a point where the directed forces are below the "zone of influence" onto the sides of the well/septic. In this case, if the columns extend below the floor of the septic, then no problem there. For the well, the columns need to extend to a level below the bottom of the well so that there is no lateral pressure on the well walls.

Remember that 99.99% of the movement observed in catastrophic failure happens in less that the last 0.00001% of elapsed time.

Obviously the issues raised with wells and septic handling systems are valid as a separate challenge that must also be competantly handled.

Most authorities recommend at least 50 feet between well and septic tank....You should be testing your drinking water for contamination on a regular basis....

http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water_quality/quality2/j8-08-private-water-wells-sited-from-septic-tanks-fieldlines-page2.htm

is that a well or a cistern?

As well as the septic,.... was any of these incorporated into the column foundation?

Not know what soil conditions you have, as others have pointed out, anything can happen,..... or nothing.

You could Concrete the well in and re-bore it somewhere else, if it's still in use....

Preferably further from the structure and septic system...

The concrete should prevent side-forces from caving in the well and allowing the structure to fail at that point.

Ahhhh yeah, this will end "Well". Pun intended.

Is it me, or does his description (incl. dimensions) make no sense?

This certainly sounds like one of your typical "Haji Bob" house specials, where everything goes (eventually down the Whabbitt Hole)....