Can someone indefinitely use broken sewer pipes without backups?

Question

There has been leakage from my uphill neighbors' sewer pipes for many years. But where is the sewage (plus roof water going into it) going? Their plumber has not been able to find out where their sewer connects to the sewer system.

Could it just be a big septic leaching system in their back yard, with the earth acting a sponge, bring all that diluted fecal coliform water down through my property? Is that where all the water, etc. is going?

Answer 1

people do not commonly connect roof drains to a septic system.  Too much water that doesn't need treatment.

if the people have a septic system and do not know it, that is very odd, because septic systems require routine maintenance or they become useless.

It is generally illegal to dump untreated household sewage into the natural environment, no matter what the cause.  There is usually an obligation on the owner to act to correct the problem as soon as is practicable once a problem is identified.  Check your local and state or province laws.

If your are downslope from a faulty sewage treatment system, it is very likely that the polluted water is making its way onto your land.  If you get unusual wet areas on your property, or if your rely on a well for drinking water, I would advise you to act quickly to prevent any potential health problems.

By acting, I mean verify that your water source is not compromised and that the surface water is not contaminated by sewage, and get the local authorities involved in verifying compliance of the neighbour's system to local or other laws and regulations.

the situation you describe is not good in most circumstances.

Answer 2

That is something like when the liquid water tries to find it's way down and seldom by nature that it can be stopped. Water is affected by the law of gravity unless it's volume is containable. In your case that is worth investigating. Good luck.