Sunday, September 09, 2007

Plumbing Update

Problems with the parsonage septic system were discussed today at church. As if the church wasn't having money problems enough, we are facing a repair bill equal to about 3-4 weeks of offerings. And that's if we're lucky and the whole system doesn't have to be replaced; the bill could be 3 months worth of offerings.

We've been using the kitchen and toilets and sinks at church as much as possible. Given the size of our family, the repairmen expected to have to pump out our non-operational septic tank twice a week. Over Labor Day weekend, we filled it to overfull in just four days; discovering that ugly surprise on Tuesday revealed the immensity of the problem. The tank was last pumped five days ago, and it's only half full. We're doing good on curtailing water usage!! Given what the repairmen said, it'll be another two weeks of trying not to let any water slip down any drains in the house. But we've decided to loosen the reins a bit and give the kids permission to go potty at home during the night instead of making them walk next door to church.

If the repairman finds the field in bad shape too, we'll need a whole new system. Then church will need to get bids. Furthermore, the rebuilding will take longer. I'm thinking it could be mid-October before I can enjoy simple pleasures such as washing up a dirty pot and letting the water just run down the drain.

Katie, when we come to visit, I'm going to get in your shower and drain the hot-water tank!

5 comments:

  1. Do you want to come visit for a week or so? mom

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  2. Actually, Maggie was [re-]watching Anne this weekend. This evening was a scene between Anne and Matthew, and it made me want to come visit y'all so badly, just to be there with you guys. I'm looking at the calendar.

    But it's a booger. Between Paul's classes and Paul's work and my & Andrew's paper routes, I'm thinking I could only get away for 48 hours max, and that'd be without boys. We've also got APT plays this month -- pricey tickets annnnd I'm the coordinator for the fieldtrips for the group.

    A couple of dear friends have also offered their houses for us to stay in (up in the city). But I think, at this point, the inconvenience of using the water-pipes at church is a smaller inconvenience than trying to get people where they need to be if'n we weren't living here. (We may change our minds on that one, once the backyard is ripped to shreds and all mud and oock.)

    Elva told us that she's more than willing to share her bathroom if we need to shower more than the little quickie showers we're taking now. That was certainly encouraging, that someone at church would offer to share their plumbing!

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  3. Potty in the corn,
    Potty in the corn,
    hi-ho the derry-oh,
    Let's potty in the corn!

    Continuing to pray for a solution...

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  4. Hey, it's as far to the corn as it is to the flushable toilet. And the toilet paper is softer in the bathroom than those drying corn leaves would be.

    I was thinking that 200' to the nearest bathroom seemed way too far. But I guess that's what it was when Maggie was in ICU last fall, or how far the potty might be if you're at school or work. But 200' on a day when it just keeps raining and raining and raining. It seemed like a much smaller deal to wash dishes at church and brush teeth at church and potty at church, when the weather was 70-75 and clear and dry.

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  5. But 200' on a day when it just keeps raining and raining and raining. It seemed like a much smaller deal to wash dishes at church and brush teeth at church and potty at church, when the weather was 70-75 and clear and dry.
    Maybe a covered walkway would be cheaper than a new septic field. ;)

    Praying for a grand solution with a tiny price tag.

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