Bonnie Trenga Posted November 18, 2007 Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 Hi. We live in an old orange grove. We still have many orange trees (around 20) in our almost one-acre property. Today we were digging up in the back of the yard in the hopes of clearing weeds and planting two new fruit trees. It appears there's a 10-foot by 10-foot concrete slab under the dirt. It's about four inches thick. Near the middle is a round area about the size of a dinner plate, and surrounding this round area are five or six long things sticking out of the concrete, what my husband thinks are threaded screws. (We were digging in the dark after the kids went to bed, hoping there would be a clear marking on the concrete. Nope.) Anyway, my husband thinks this is the foundation of a long-ago-used piece of machinery or something used for irrigation. We currently have flood irrigation but not in this area of the yard. This area is elevated by less than a foot. Below is grass and fruit trees. 1) Can anyone guess what this is? 2) How do we get it out? Thanks, Bonnie Image Insert: 142.05 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbird Posted November 18, 2007 Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 It may be the septic system tank or cover! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Trenga Posted November 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 Could be messy! But we don't have a septic tank. Hubby asks: "Does a septic tank have some kind of door or access on the top or side to clean it out?" My question: Would the city or water company have anything to do with this and would we need permission to bulldoze it out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Manor Posted November 18, 2007 Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 Might be the top of an old cistern used to store irrigation water for the grove. Just a guess. -Brad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozofprev Posted November 18, 2007 Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 Sure, a septic tank has a lid that is normally about 2' square. Once it's removed, smart people get far away while the septic guy crams a hose into the mess and sucks it out. That doesn't sound like your situation. Your hubby could be right about some machinery being attached to the threaded bolts. Were there any indications along the perimeter that walls might have been in place? Perhaps a small shed? (Got pics?) Demolition/removal isn't terrible, but it is labor intensive. If the concrete is reinforced, or if it is high-density, then the job is a little tougher. "Normal" concrete is about 150 lbs/cu. ft. and that's probably what you are looking at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted November 18, 2007 Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 Hi Bonnie, Call Chris Prickett or Scott Warga. They are inspectors in your area and they'll most-probably be familiar with what you've found. I don't have their phone numbers available, but you should be able to find them on the inspector search feature at http://www.ashi.org. Just plug in your city and submit the search and it should pull them up. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted November 18, 2007 Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 Orange trees....that sounds really nice. I'm betting a dime it was a mount for a piece of equipment; threaded concrete rods in a circular configuration sticking up out of a slab has got to be a mount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Trenga Posted November 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 Thanks. It's actually seven inches thick. Around nearby groves I've seen cylindrical cisterns so that's probably what it was. How do we get it out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozofprev Posted November 18, 2007 Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 Bonnie, Scott Warga probably needs a good workout. I'm sure he would do it for a basket of oranges next season. (Maybe two) There's no magic to it. Jackhammers, strong backs and a truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Trenga Posted November 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 We always have way too many oranges! I'd be happy to send a bunch to you all (COD of course!). Our lawn guy has a jackhammer and is coming over today. Vamos a ver que dice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted November 18, 2007 Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 Jackhammers? Nice idea, but I'd be getting the guy w/the biggest front end loader in the 'hood. That, and a cutting torch. If it's an equipment mount, which it's gotta be, you probably got multiple layers of reinforcing mesh or rebar, all tied & detailed into the mounting bolts. That complicates things. A lot. Jackhammers aren't going to do much other than make holes. Especially in a 7" slab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted November 18, 2007 Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 Originally posted by Bonnie Trenga Thanks. It's actually seven inches thick. Around nearby groves I've seen cylindrical cisterns so that's probably what it was. How do we get it out? A seven-inch-thick slab is not fun to break up and remove with a jackhammer. You might consider hiring a small backhoe and truck. - Jim Katen, Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Trenga Posted November 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 Thanks guys. You're the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozofprev Posted November 18, 2007 Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 It wasn't just a jackhammer - it was a jackhammer and Scott W! I was hoping for pictures. Wusses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Trenga Posted November 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 Hubby just spoke with a neighbor, who thinks it is the remnants of a windmill used to warm up the citrus trees when there was a frost. If it was gas or electric powered, would you think there'd still be a still-active gas or electric line? We don't want to blow up anything. What a pain!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted November 18, 2007 Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 Hi, I've uploaded the photo. It's definitely the base for a tower or piece of equipment of some sort. OT - OF!!! M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted November 18, 2007 Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 S'funny. The first thing I thought was pylon mounted fan for moving air to prevent frost damage. Technically, not a windmill. Pretty common in orange groves back in the day. I doubt there's an active gas or electric line, but I'd be looking before I was digging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted November 18, 2007 Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 Originally posted by Bonnie Trenga Hubby just spoke with a neighbor, who thinks it is the remnants of a windmill used to warm up the citrus trees when there was a frost. If it was gas or electric powered, would you think there'd still be a still-active gas or electric line? We don't want to blow up anything. What a pain!! You ought to be able to get the local utilities to do a locate for free. Call them in the morning. Frankly, though, if there were electricity or gas you ought to see an electric box cover or a gas stub near the bolts somewhere. Another thought: Rent out the slab to a cell-phone company. AT&T might pay you $30k per year to have a cell tower there. - Jim Katen, Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozofprev Posted November 18, 2007 Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 Bonnie, You described it perfectly. Heavy equipment would be nice, but when we (Habitat for Humanity) run into a concrete slab, we gather the college kids and give then sledge-hammers. I've seen 8' square slabs 4-6 inches thick go away in a week (no rebar). A jackhammer is a luxury for us.[:-banghea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Trenga Posted November 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2007 We don't see any box or anything. We'll call the utilities in the morning. It was fun shoveling with hubby but it's time to leave it to the professionals. Interesting idea about the cell tower! Thanks for your input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carle3 Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 I know the utilities will locate their own lines but I do not think they will track down lines that are not their responsibility. In my area diggers hot line will mark the service laterals but any private buried line, to like a shed, is not identified nor marked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEuriech Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 Bonnie, The concrete may be from an old windmill, however I have never seen a windmill in that area. If I was to guess, I would think it's a mount from an irrigation pump. More than likely there is an old well in the area. Some old pumps are driven by windmill, however it could be electric. You may want to call Arizona Blue Stake and have them come out and check the area first. http://www.azbluestake.com/main/main/index.html Jeff Euriech Peoria Arizona Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Trenga Posted November 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 Thanks for your input, Mr AZ. We're having srp, cox and mesa come out to examine it. My other thought is that with all the scorpions in the area (and house) it must be a scorpion den! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian G Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 Oranges, concrete, and scorpions, oh my! Oranges, concrete, and scorpions, oh my! Brian G. Don't Squeeze the Scorpions [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Trenga Posted November 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 Well, this could morph into a whole new thread about venomous house anti-guests. I can't even pee in the middle of the night because I'm afraid of what I might step on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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