Things that should not be installed on top of your
You may put a driveway over “FEEDER” lines. You may NOT cover “DRAIN FIELD” lines or drive vehicles heavier than a lawnmower over the drain field to avoid compacting the earth over the piping.
While you should consider all of the factors above, many professionals believe that the maximum weight for a leach field is around 10,000 pounds. Still, it's important to be cautious of what you choose to do over your leach field to ensure it's working properly.
Yes, you can. One caveat. Provide access to the top for cleaning. It's inevitably going to need pumping out. DO NOT slab over the drain field or distribution box. The distribution box is one of the other most accessed devices in your system. The drain field need weather to operate properly.
In order to keep your septic system running properly, you should avoid building on or near your leach field. While it's important to follow state and local building codes, plan to break ground at least 10 to 20 feet from where your leach field is buried.
Things that should not be installed on top of your septic drain field include: Heavy equipment and vehicles, which can compact the soil and damage the drainfield pipes. Paving, such as asphalt or concrete, which prevents rainwater from reaching the soil in the drainfield, disrupting the natural filtration process.
In the US an accepted MINIMUM is 50 to 100 feet from any part of the SEPTIC SYSTEM. This includes most importantly, the drainfield.
In general, and if you are talking about a normal car or small truck, it is probably okay to drive over your septic drain field OCCASIONALLY. I would not, for instance, recommend placing your driveway there. Ideally, your drainfield should remain uncompacted by regular vehicle traffic.
Plant a vegetable garden on or near the drainfield. Put plastic sheets, bark, gravel or other fill over the drainfield. Reshape or fill the ground surface over the drainfield and reserve area. However, just adding topsoil is generally OK if it isn't more than a couple of inches.
Typically, the drainfield consists of three to five trenches that are 18 to 24 inches deep, up to 100 ft long, with a perforated pipe in 12 to 18 inches deep gravel covered by 12 inches of soil.
Ride-on mowers and other garden care equipment will not harm your leach field. You should, however, stay away from it with cars, pick-up trucks, and rubber tired heavy equipment like backhoe loaders.
In most cases, homeowners insurance does cover septic tank damage when it results from a sudden, unexpected event (as you might have noticed from the above list). However, home insurance is not likely to cover damage resulting from septic system problems caused by wear and tear or lack of maintenance.
Generally speaking, septic drain lines are buried between 18 and 36 inches underground, and the pipes are surrounded by gravel and sand to aid in the filtration and water treatment process.
In short, the answer is no — the generally accepted advice is that you shouldn't be building a deck on your septic tank. If this was your original plan, it's best to go back to the drawing board to see if there's another option.
What is allowed or restricted by a sewer easement? You may make use of the land over an easement if it does not result in significant interference with the easement. For example, modest landscaping and improvements such as lawns, small shrubs, driveways, and sidewalks are generally allowed.
Shield Your Field: Don't: Park or drive on your drainfield.
Household septic tanks are typically pumped every three to five years. Alternative systems with electrical float switches, pumps, or mechanical components should be inspected more often, generally once a year.
Don't Put Anything Non-Biodegradable in Your Septic System
Cigarette butts. Disposable diapers. Paper towels.
The septic tank, drain field and reserve area should remain clear of sprinkler lines, decks, patios, storage sheds, sand boxes, swing sets, paved or dirt driveways, parking areas and walkways. Adequate access to the components of the septic system is also critical for maintenance and pumping.
Avoid Putting Weight on the Drain Field
Never place, park, or store any heavy objects on your drain field; this means you should never use your drain field as an overflow parking lot. In addition, you shouldn't build any structures on your drain field. This includes building a deck or swimming pool.
For example, a truck driving over a septic supply pipe may cause it to crack causing a slow leak of waste water - something that may not even be noticed. The soil will eventually collapse around the pipe, the crack will expand and roots can infiltrate the pipes.
Similar to building a home or deck, placing a shed on your septic field is not advisable. Sheds are heavy and can compact the soil, reducing the efficiency of the drain field. Additionally, heavy foot traffic around a shed could inadvertently lead to damage.
It is never recommended to build a structure over any portion of your septic system.
When you are going to build a deck or patio, there are certain permits you will need to get and, legally, you can't put a patio over a septic system. That would leave no access for repairs and maintenance and the whole patio would have to be taken up before the septic tank could even be accessed.