Managing Water around the Drain Field Runoff from roofs and gutters should be directed away from the drain field, and irrigation systems should not be aimed at or installed in these areas.
away from your system. Your septic system is designed to handle only the water coming from your home. Additional water from down spouts, heavy hand watering, sprinklers or ponds overloads the soil and can lead to septic system failure.
Grass is the ideal cover for drainfields. Grasses can be ornamental, mowed in a traditional lawn, or in an unmowed meadow. Or, you can try groundcovers and fems. The key to planting over the drainfield is to select shallow-rooted, low-maintenance, low-water-use plants.
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.
In general, the EPA discourages building on septic drainfields, but there are a few things you can do that are generally considered safe. These can include open-air kennels for pets, lightweight swing sets, or small volleyball or badminton nets.
Plant grass or keep existing native vegetation. These are the best covers for your drainfield. Direct all surface drainage away from the septic system. Use shallow-rooted plants (see plant list above).
Your pool should be far enough away that it doesn't interfere with septic cover access or block the truck from reaching your cover. In-ground pools can't be built over the pipes leading to your septic tank, which makes this process crucial for avoiding disasters.
A properly designed, installed and maintained field will need to be replaced once every 15 to 30 years. If the field is not designed and constructed adequately or receives poor maintenance, it may need to be replaced before the 15 years.
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.
You might wonder if occasional driving or parking would be okay. Unfortunately, even infrequent use can harm your drainfield. Unlike driveways or streets that are built for vehicles, your drainfield isn't designed to handle any kind of traffic at all. It's always better to play it safe and keep vehicles off.
In addition to the potential contamination from pathogens, crops grown above your drainfield may also be exposed to household chemicals that are still present in effluent before it filters through the drainfield. Many of these are not safe for your septic system, let alone safe for human consumption.
Never add additional soil over the drain field unless it is a minimal amount used to restore an area that may have been eroded or pulled up by removing another plant. Try not to be overly zealous when tilling the soil for planting. Remember that the drain lines may be as close as 6 inches from the soil surface.
Keeping trees at least 50 feet away from septic systems is ideal, but if you plan on growing plants like willows, shoot for 100 feet. Give your leach field a wide berth when planning out your landscape. Grasses, or even wildflowers, over your septic area make a better alternative.
Sprinkler lines should be buried below the grass roots, and deep enough the sprinkler heads sit flush with the soil surface or slightly above grade. The depth varies depending on factors but typically ranges from eight to 12 inches.
Are Septic Sprinkler Systems Safe? Some people naturally have concerns about using wastewater to irrigate their lawns, but thanks to the heavy treatment in the septic system, septic sprinklers are perfectly safe.
You can pretty much do anything above a septic tank, as long as you aren't going to be doing major landscaping that requires tractors, heavy equipment, etc.. The one thing you do want to be aware of is the location of any inspection pipes, or manholes that might have a negative effect on mower blades.
People can stand on a kept-up drain field just fine. You could even set up lawn chairs and a folding table or two without fearing damage to your drainage system, but no structures or vehicles should be built or parked on or near a septic drain field.
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. A service contract is important since alternative systems have mechanized parts.
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.
Septic systems can last up to three decades with the proper maintenance. Like all home appliances, however, they do have a shelf life. Even with routine maintenance of your septic system, it can't last forever. Even before it needs a replacement, it might need some repairs over the years.
If designed, constructed, and maintained correctly septic drainage trenches will provide years of effective wastewater removal. However, occasionally septic trenches fail, collapsing, blocking, or becoming compressed requiring immediate repairs, trench rehabilitation, or the creation of new trenches.
In general: Your septic tank and leach field should be 100% within your property line, so putting a fence on the outside edge of your property won't be a problem as you won't hit either the leach field or the septic tank. If you want to run a fence through the leach field, beware!
Plants over a septic field can help to prevent erosion and suck up excess moisture from the drain field. 1 The best types of plants are grasses, groundcovers, and some shallow-rooted shrubs and trees.
You need access to the tank -you might have to pump it out every 30 years or so. You do not want to drive over it - it is not very strong. Paving or even driving over your drainfield is a very bad idea.