The Hidden Danger in Your Backyard: Why Abandoned Septic Tanks Are a Growing Safety Crisis for Long Island Homeowners
Beneath the manicured lawns and pristine properties of Long Island, a silent threat lurks that could endanger your family’s safety and your property’s value. Abandoned septic tanks pose serious health and safety risks to families and communities, yet many homeowners remain completely unaware of their existence on their property.
As Long Island continues to expand its municipal sewer connections and homeowners upgrade their wastewater systems, tanks are sometimes abandoned after a property connects to a public sewer, and even though they’re no longer in use, they can still cause trouble. This growing issue affects thousands of properties across Nassau and Suffolk Counties, creating an environmental and safety crisis that demands immediate attention.
The Invisible Threat: What Makes Abandoned Septic Tanks So Dangerous
Unlike active septic systems that require regular maintenance and monitoring, abandoned tanks become forgotten hazards that deteriorate silently underground. Septic tanks contain waste that produces dangerous toxic methane gas and hydrogen sulfide, and these gases can ignite or combust, or they can make people sick when they inhale these gases.
The structural integrity of these forgotten systems presents even more immediate dangers. Steel tanks left underground for long periods, exposed to water, will rot, rust, weaken and corrode away, and if a rotten septic tank lid gives way, it can cause a sinkhole to form, creating a dangerous situation. If the tank collapses, it may cause a large opening, hurting someone or damaging the property, and these dangerous sinkholes may occur without warning, swallowing up anyone or anything that happens to be standing above them.
Environmental and Health Consequences
The environmental impact of abandoned septic tanks extends far beyond individual properties. Over time, these tanks can deteriorate and leak harmful waste into the surrounding soil and groundwater, potentially contaminating local water sources, and by abandoning your old tank properly, you minimize the risk of pollution and safeguard the environment.
For Long Island residents, this contamination risk is particularly concerning given the region’s reliance on groundwater. It is extremely easy to contract tetanus, cholera, hepatitis A, leptospirosis, dysentery, gastrointestinal disease, and other health issues if an abandoned septic tank comes into contact with an area’s water supply.
Warning Signs: How to Identify Abandoned Septic Systems
Long Island homeowners should be vigilant for several telltale signs that may indicate an abandoned septic system on their property. Excess weed growth in the lawn, or you may observe a lot of algae if you have a pond on the property, a patch of lawn will always be soggy and never seem to dry out completely, certain areas of lawns will smell unpleasant, like human waste, and a small part of the lawn may seem unstable and can sink in compared to the rest.
These warning signs shouldn’t be ignored, as they often indicate that the abandoned system is already beginning to fail or has compromised the surrounding soil structure.
The Professional Solution: Proper Decommissioning
Addressing abandoned septic tanks requires professional expertise and compliance with local regulations. Old septic tanks are such a hazard that local codes govern how they should be abandoned, as they are hazardous because curious kids may pry open the lid and fall in, and old tanks can fail and crumble when someone walks across the surface.
The decommissioning process involves several critical steps that must be performed by licensed professionals. A licensed professional can decommission your old system by clearing out the area above the tank to expose its lid, pumping out any effluent liquids and waste from the system to keep it from seeping into the ground and get rid of those dangerous gas risks, filling the tank with gravel or sand and covering it with topsoil.
Why Long Island Homeowners Need Expert Help
For Long Island residents dealing with suspected abandoned septic systems, professional assessment and remediation are essential. Companies like EZ Cesspool understand the unique challenges facing Nassau and Suffolk County properties. Since its birth as a family-run business, EZ Cesspool has serviced the local, neighboring communities in both Huntington and Greenlawn, and after years of dedication and acquired credibility within the industry, EZ Cesspool eventually expanded its clientele base by providing to both Nassau and Suffolk Counties cesspool repair and septic services, and EZ Cesspool is proud to say that we currently serve the entirety of Long Island.
When dealing with abandoned septic systems, homeowners need reliable Septic Tank Cleaning Suffolk County services that understand local regulations and safety protocols. EZ Cesspool’s belief is that no job is ever too large or small, which is why they offer reasonable, competitive prices and DO NOT sub-contract any work, and they provide a 24/7 emergency service for septic systems, which is both prompt and reliable.
Taking Action: Protecting Your Property and Family
The discovery of an abandoned septic tank on your property shouldn’t be cause for panic, but it does require immediate professional attention. Taking a wait-and-see approach with an old septic tank may be tempting, but the risks aren’t worth it, and professional septic services can help you to seal off an antiquated septic system the right way.
Long Island homeowners should also consider that proper tank abandonment could be a selling point for your property if you can verify an old septic tank was abandoned properly, and the new owners will appreciate knowing huge chunks of concrete are buried underground before they go digging to build something in the yard, keeping in mind that septic systems don’t last forever, so it’s possible you have more than one abandoned tank on your property.
The abandoned septic tank crisis on Long Island represents a significant but manageable challenge for homeowners. By understanding the risks, recognizing the warning signs, and working with experienced professionals, property owners can protect their families, preserve their property values, and contribute to environmental safety. Don’t let a hidden danger lurk beneath your Long Island home – take action today to ensure your property is safe and compliant.