Warren Pappas - Novato, CA

The Pappas system in Novato, CA was a real challenge.  It was a home-made one, from the 60s. The tank and most of the leach field were now under a concrete patio. It had failed completely, with waste backing up through the clean-out next to the house.  It was a complete mess. 

We figured out a way to burrow under the concrete and get the air pipe down into the riser.  But with no access to air, the leach trenches might take a long time to recover. So we installed a small sump pump to move the SludgeHammer treated waste to a temporary leach pit. 

Warren’s wife was struggling with cancer. In April, after the winter rains, he called inventor Dr. Dan Wickham to ask whether the residue from chemotherapy would affect the bacteria in the system. Wickham said he would come down soon and take a look. As they were working out a time to meet, Warren said “Incidentally, the system is working again.  The pump hasn’t gone on at all over the last few weeks.”

That’s one of the happiest things we hear in this business. “You know,” Warren said, “I really didn’t think it would actually work.  Sure the water in the tank was beautifully clear, and with no smell. But fix that failed leachfield?  No way.  You said it might take 120 days and, wow, right on schedule the leachfield started taking all the load.”

Very likely, Warren’s only alternative to the SludgeHammer would have been to hook up to a sewer. That would have cost about $50,000, not to mention large monthly fees, and the destruction of his beautiful flower garden which would have been required to gain access.

Warren said he couldn’t have been happier, “Especially since every other septic contractor that looked at it said this is not going to happen. I would need a new system.”

Of course, with no room, being close to a stream, and having a backyard covered in concrete he might not even had that option.

Warren had one other thing to say. Testimony that we are proud to repeat. He said, “Thank God for SludgeHammer.”