ardillacid Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 So I moved into a new apartment two weeks ago. Yesterday the sewage/septic backed up in my basement. Truth be told, I don't know if it is a septic system or the complex is hooked up to 'city' sewer. I don't know poo about sewage/septic systems. Is it somehow possible that this backup would affect the tap water? Or is the funny smelling water unrelated to the poo in my basement? I will buy a case of beer for whoever knows what they are talking about and helps ignorant ardill out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xTrishaxLynnx Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 If it's a complex of any considerable size, it's likely hooked up to city sewer. A backup can, but does not necessarily, affect drinking water. I don't know how to tell if it has or not, but I'd avoid contact with any water in the place until the landlord / property manager gets it fixed. I can't believe they haven't yet... if you get sick they could be in trouble if you decided to press charges. Just being exposed to the water can make you sick, even if you don't drink it or bathe in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagle_eye222001 Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 [quote name='ardillacid' timestamp='1339471507' post='2443746'] So I moved into a new apartment two weeks ago. Yesterday the sewage/septic backed up in my basement. Truth be told, I don't know if it is a septic system or the complex is hooked up to 'city' sewer. I don't know poo about sewage/septic systems. Is it somehow possible that this backup would affect the tap water? Or is the funny smelling water unrelated to the poo in my basement? I will buy a case of beer for whoever knows what they are talking about and helps ignorant ardill out. [/quote] *Chance to win beer..... Jesus? Did I win Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anomaly Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 (edited) It absolutely not connected to a potable (drinking) water system. However, if it is sewage, it he sewage gases are a health concern plus the fact it's sewage in your basement. There is no feasible "septic tank with drain field" system that would handle an apartment building or complex. You need to contact the land lord or management office immediately Funny smelling water is iron or sulphur. Where did the sewage come from? A pipe/drain/toilet or a cack in basement floor or wall? Edited June 12, 2012 by Anomaly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xTrishaxLynnx Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Just some information you should have, in case you don't already know... If your experience in this situation makes you second guess your choice of apartments, you should be able to get all or at least most of your money back and break lease (if any) with no consequence to you. You'll have to check to see if there's a clause in the lease that gives a specific time-frame for them to fix issues which might pose a health risk. In my experience, by law it's supposed to be attended to pretty much immediately (obviously that's not the technical legal wording...) I had an issue like this when I found black and all kinds of other types of mold growing in an apartment I moved into and as a result did a TON of research on laws regarding conditions that pose health risks in rental properties. I got all but $15 back of what I had paid them, even though technically the apartment was "mine" for several days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luigi Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 [quote name='ardillacid' timestamp='1339471507' post='2443746'] I will buy a case of beer for whoever knows what they are talking about and helps ignorant ardill out. [/quote] Maybe you should buy [i]yourself[/i] some beer - drink [b]that [/b]until you know the water is drinkable! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papist Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 If it is an apartment, I doubt if your water is anything other than city water. Sewage backup in the basement should not contaminate your tap water. The water supply and sewage are separated. The pressure from the water supply intake would prevent such contamination. You'd basically have to intentionally sabotage this configuration to have sewage water contaminate your tap water. That said. I still go with Luigi's recommendation. Ardill, any IPA would be sufficient. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixpence Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 I just had some major backup in my plumbing this morning gross water all over the basement too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papist Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 [size=6]TMI[/size] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fides' Jack Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Often, to save costs, tap water is connected to drain water. If the drain backs up enough, it could potentially come out of your faucet. I suggest that you buy bottled water from now on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ardillacid Posted June 12, 2012 Author Share Posted June 12, 2012 [quote name='fides' Jack' timestamp='1339533643' post='2444032'] Often, to save costs, tap water is connected to drain water. If the drain backs up enough, it could potentially come out of your faucet. I suggest that you buy bottled water from now on. [/quote] [quote name='Anomaly' timestamp='1339474437' post='2443779'] It absolutely not connected to a potable (drinking) water system. Where did the sewage come from? A pipe/drain/toilet or a cack in basement floor or wall? [/quote] I'm getting mixed messages here.[quote name='Anomaly' timestamp='1339474437' post='2443779'] Where did the sewage come from? A pipe/drain/toilet or a cack in basement floor or wall? [/quote] There's a drain in the basement floor that it came up through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anomaly Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Fides was joking. Papist explained it correctly. Sewer would have to have a higher pressure to infiltrate potable water. It can happen in certain instances but not likely near a building. Odor, color, or taste is iron or sulphur. Being as its your basement drain, it's probably sewage. A septic -drain field system isn't practical for apartments or soil conditions that allow basements. I could easily bore you with why, LOL. There are a number of reasons why a drain would back up, but there are a dozen factors, age size soil weather erc etc etc. Did you notify the landlord? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ardillacid Posted August 12, 2012 Author Share Posted August 12, 2012 Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, backed up for the third time. I'm sensing a pattern here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4588686 Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 (edited) [color=#282828][font='Segoe UI', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]If it is an apartment, I doubt if your water is anything other than city water. Sewage backup in the basement should not contaminate your tap water. The water supply and sewage are separated. The pressure from the water supply intake would prevent such contamination. You'd basically have to intentionally sabotage this configuration to have sewage water contaminate your tap water.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font='Segoe UI', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]That said. I still go with Luigi's recommendation. [/font][/color] Also Fides was joking. Sewer would have to have a higher pressure to infiltrate potable water. It can happen in certain instances but not likely near a building. Odor, color, or taste is iron or sulphur. Being as its your basement drain, it's probably sewage. A septic -drain field system isn't practical for apartments or soil conditions that allow basements. I could easily bore you with why, LOL. There are a number of reasons why a drain would back up, but there are a dozen factors, age size soil weather erc etc etc. Did you notify the landlord? Also, I drink Guinness or Old Rasputin. Or Pa's Blue Ribbon. Or really anything. Actually whatever gets the most beer at the highest alcohol content is best. Edited August 12, 2012 by Hasan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixpence Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 this week i went into my house and plumbers were tracking dirt all over and tearing a hole in the kitchen ceiling/ wall and covering all the kitchen in plaster dust, including all my food on the table. AND they have to come back (who knows when!) to fix the giant hole in the kitchen. I refuse to clean it until they are done!! * end rant * Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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