Constant Drainage into Septic Tank

[MSebas]

We recently had our septic tank pumped and now that it's empty, I've noticed that there's a constant flow into it. Is this normal? It's not a drip, more of a trickle and this happens at times when we know nobody is using any water.

We can't hear water running from any toilet or sink. We have noticed, though, that our water pump runs (maybe about once an hour) for about 20 seconds even when there's no water usage. We have a water softener that we've left turned off until we can figure out what's going on. We've got a sump with no pump. There's no water in the hole and we've never had any water in there. There are a couple of drainage pipes coming into the hole (one on either side). Are these in some way connected to our septic? I don't see how since they're about 8 feet under ground and the tank lid is only about 8 inches below ground.

We have had a fair amount of rain and some snow that has all melted. Is it possible some drainage from outside is connected to the septic? We know we don't have anything from our downspouts connected to the septic.

Any ideas on where the water is coming from?

[joed]

The fact that your water pumps starts up every hour tell me you have leak somewhere. Turn off the shut off valve on the ouput of the pressure tank and see if the pump still starts up. If it doesn't then you have leak in the house somewhere.
The water flowing into the septic tank could be from the leak. Was it coming in from the house side or the leach feild side? It could have just been water draining back from the leach field, especially if there has been a lot of rain.

[MSebas]

I haven't tried the shut off valve yet, but I know the water is coming from the house - I can see the pipe inside the tank. Also, we have 2 tanks and both have been pumped, so there's no way water is getting in the 1st tank (which is where the water is coming in) from the 2nd tank.

[Pilot Dane]

Since your well pump is cycling on/off it I agree with everyone else that you have a leak or something is using water. Do you have a reverse ozmosis water filter? They use water for a long time after you've used filtered water.

Back to the water trickeling into your septic tank. Many tanks have leaks where the pips attach or the seams where the tank sections were cemented together which lets ground water leak in. While it is not good, since it is increasing the load on your system, it is not really bad since it's just water. Inspectors look for water infiltration more often with new construction and want it fixed in new systems but nobody ever does much about it in existing systems.

[Mike Swearingen]

Yep, we all agree. If you have a steady trickle flowing into the septic tank and your pump is intermittently cycling, there is definitely water leaking into the house drainage system somewhere.
If it isn't a toilet flapper leaking (the most likely suspect), do you have any automatic valves for feeding floor drain traps (garage? utility room?) to keep them from going dry and allowing sewer gas back in? If you do, that auto-valve may be leaking, and needs to be replaced.
If not, drop a little food coloring in the toilet tanks to see if water is leaking into the bowl. If so, replace the flapper.
You would see all faucet leaks. Process of elimination.
Good luck!
Mike

[drflush]

also drop a drop of food coloring in the tank on the toilet ,see if the water in the bowl turns that color without flushing,you dont always hear the toilet refilling