Thanks for the advice everyone. Since I can't see all of the responses on this post I'll try to remember them.
We discovered it was draining into an old well because we had a clause added to the sales contract that he "must produce the permit". When he kept stalling, but assured us it was legal, we called the inspector directly (public information) and inquired about the permit. We were told it only had a holding tank permit issued in '97. Since the inspector was now aware of a problem, the owner admitted the illegal system and contracted a new system. We did not have the price reduced and install it ourselves initially, because a system could not be designed until the perc tests etc, were done and there was still a question as to whether or not a regular bed could even be installed because of the proximity to the lake, water table, soil conditions etc. To make a long story short, the system was installed, the tank was able to be reused with the addition of a divider. The contractor and the inspector both missed that it didn't have a divider in the tank and I was assured it did. Only after I stuck a digital camera into the access lid and snapped a pic with the flash on, did they admit I was correct. It's common knowledge that "holding tanks" don't need to be 2 chambered, and it wasn't. The system cost was $6000. The contractor then started to get the runaround about getting paid, and I agreed to pay for it myself at closing and the price of the cottage was reduced accordingly. This avoided having a lien registered against the property in case of a bounced cheque.The owner lives in the U.S., so suing him would be a losing battle. The installer was aware that the city water was there as well as the gas, and underground hydro service, and chose to try and miss them. The property is only 46' wide. If he missed or not, can only be decided with a pressure test. If he had of hit the live hydro cable, well
.I'm not sure how I can be "doing something I have no right to do" if I have permission to do it? The pipe entering the house is the thin stuff, we commonly refer to as utility pipe around here. It is not the thick walled municipal pipe that is commonly used for town water. All you have to do is squeeze it between your fingers when its not under pressure and its pretty simple to tell the two apart. Although I can't tell you the different colour stripe designations any more, the thin stuff is obvious compared to municipal pipe. This thin pipe is also what was dug up out front. It's not uncommon around here to tie the municipal line to the old well line to avoid punching a new hole etc, into the house. Is it a good idea, no, is it done, yes. The wires that were dug up were not supply cables for the pump, but an older underground service, maybe 1/0 AL (can't remember exactly) from a demolished building (?) on the site. As far as I know we also need locates before digging around here, but because it is a different municipality, I will confirm. If the line was damaged, it is on the "unmetered" side( meter at house) so I'm sure whoever supplies the water to there will be anxious to have it repaired. I can install a new line myself for probably under $500 including, pipe, trencher rental, etc. But why should I spend my precious time or one penny to clean up after somebody that is too lazy to use a hand shovel. For $6000 you have to expect to do a little work. As far as I could tell, he used about 1 load of filter sand, 1 load of 3/4 stone (not even washed, as required here), maybe 250' of 3" perforated pvc (capped at end of runs) and had less than 15 manhours (including a helper the first day) and his hoe ran for maybe 2-3 hours. He didn't supply a tank, and I had to help him install the homemade 3/4" plastic divider. He didn't even have to truck away the excess dirt as he had planned. If i have to legally "eat the cost" of a new line, so be it, but if I don't have to, I won't, PERIOD. As far as holding off paying the owner. He has now met all of the conditions we had stipulated in the contract, and as far as I'm concerned, it is no longer his problem. Although he has proven himself to be a liar and general PIA, he has made good on what was asked of him. The sale was basically "as is" but for a couple of clauses I added, as this is a "fixer upper". I paid according, and I am happy with my purchase. ...... I'll let you know how the pressure test goes, assuming I can get permission.