Afloat on a Sewage Sea

For some reason problems with household sewage systems have followed us from house to house regardless of the location. Remote homes we've had  would often have septic tanks and soak-aways and require regular maintenance. Often things would go wrong with unpleasant and unhealthy but sometimes humerous results. So despite moving back into a more urban area we are still prone to foul water problems it seems. The thrill is of course very much in the hunt. Trying to solve the problem by running taps, forcing unblocker chemicals into the drains, using a plunger and fiddling with rodding points and pipes. Then the downwards bump as you understand the futility of such ham-fisted efforts.

Now the desperate realisation dawns that professional help is needed and the search for that becomes far more important than just tinkering in the margins of the problem. The primarily male based illusion that complex problems can be fixed with some homemade tweak is attractive but it seldom works. You need somebody who "knows what they are doing and has the correct equipment".  Any delay in getting them involved is usually costly. So now we are adrift and frustrated. Facilities are diminished somewhat compared to normal. We await rescue, drifting slowly over the horizon on our makeshift vessel, afloat (only just) on this stagnant syrupy sea of effluent. Ho hum.