Hi, I have a problem in my yard I hope someone here might be able to help me diagnose and provide me some advise on how to deal with it. I have a dead zone in my front yard that nothing can grow in. Over the weekend I was digging a new irrigation line that passes right over this area and the shovel could not penetrate it at all. I had to find a spot outside the area and leverage out the soil hunk by hunk, and when I turn it over it is sludgy and covered in a milky spore. It seems to be directly over the sewer lateral, so wondering is this from a long-term leak in the terra-cotta sewer lateral? The area appears to be about 16 to 20 feet square(actually, cubed). I was hoping to create a vegetable garden in this part of my front yard, so also interesting in comments on remediation. Should I excavate and replace the soil if I need to replace the lateral? The soil looks and feels incredibly toxic. Not sure the pics completely tell the story, but attaching anyway. Thanks Brian

Just over a year ago I installed a new sillcock and connected a 2-way adapter. I needed to remove it a few days ago but had a heck of a time. Tried some penetrating spray, no luck. The nut was round, so I thought the best thing to use was vice-grips. With them locked down (I think) as tight as possible, still slipped. I was finally successful with a heat gun. I have a blow torch, but thought I may do some damage. A few years ago a kid at the hardware store suggested the heat gun for heating and removing an old vinyl floor. Worked great for that, and heat shrink tubing. A good tool to have on hand. When I simply unscrewed the 2nd adapter by hand the thread broke off inside it. I have just the hose connector on now. If I were to get another 2-way, should I spray the threads with WD-40, something else, or use teflon tape?