Woman Finds Hundreds Of Tiny Holes In Backyard — Then Expert Explains Why

Rachel returned the next morning with equipment that allowed her to inspect beneath the lawn without digging up the whole yard. Laura stayed on the patio as Rachel worked. After an hour, Rachel called her over, but stopped her before she stepped onto the grass. “You were right to call someone,” she said. “There’s an old system buried here.”

Laura learned that a forgotten septic tank and connected pipework had been left beneath the garden when the property was connected to the main sewer years earlier. It had never been removed or properly filled. Parts of the concrete structure had cracked and collapsed. Soil was slowly falling into spaces below, leaving small openings at the surface. The holes Laura had been filling were warning signs.

The smell came from the deteriorating system. Rachel also believed damaged pipework near the cavity had contaminated the outside water line, explaining the brown, foul liquid and the drop in pressure. Laura felt cold when Rachel pointed across the lawn. Areas that looked solid were sitting above weakened ground. “Could it collapse?” Laura asked. Rachel nodded. Heavy rain was forecast that night. “If we’re going to secure this,” she said, “we need to start now.”