A short story about famous last words and septic tanks.

“It’s probably nothing.”

The toilet has only been draining slowly for a week.

The pipes have always made that noise. Probably.

And that smell in the garden could be coming from anywhere.

It’s tempting to ignore the early signs of a problem with your septic tank or sewage treatment plant, particularly when the alternative involves thinking about what’s happening beneath your lawn.

Unfortunately, household sewage systems aren’t known for fixing themselves.

Our latest guide covers the signs that something may be wrong, including slow drains, gurgling pipes, standing water, bad smells and suspiciously healthy grass.

It also looks at warning lights and unusual noises from sewage treatment plants, what you can safely check and when professional help is needed.

It might genuinely be nothing.

But “probably nothing” is always worth checking when sewage is involved.