u/rnnrboy1

We are under contract, and the septic inspection found a broken pipe between the septic tank and the leach field. We requested, among other things, that the seller replace the pipe and we get it reinspected to ensure the leach field is also in ok shape. They agreed, and we found out today they the seller is digging up the pipe themselves, but according to the seller’s realtor they are having someone else replace the pipe and bury it again.

The pipe runs under the gravel driveway between the tank and leach field, and was almost definitely broken in the first place because of settling/improper burial. We requested that the seller have the pipe replaced by a professional, but it is unclear if that is happening. Would you push harder for information about who is doing the work or photos of the excavation being backfilled and compacted?

If this pipe breaks in the future, do we have any way of holding the seller accountable for doing an improper job?

I have looked into my state regulations about septic design requirements and I believe this pipe constitutes a minor repair, so does not need to be signed off by a PE.

At a site right now documenting some emergency asbestos abatement because some small pieces of a known asbestos pipe insulation material fell on the ground (again). It’s been sitting there for at least two days since the client noticed, and since they already cleaned up the same spot two months ago, the refs required pulling a permit this time. The abatement crew needed to build a containment around the spot (10’x10’) with negative air, before they could vacuum the floor.

There was one new spot in a different room, where they didn’t need to build a containment, but just picked up the pieces, vacuumed the floor, and called it a day.

Almost every time I’m asked to help with an asbestos abatement project, I find myself thinking wow this is a huge waste of everybody’s time and money.