90%
of septic system failures are caused by
Drain Field Failure
Failure
Of The Drain Field, Absorption Field, Leachfield
Many factors can contribute to drainfield failure.
Structural problems such as clogged or broken pipes
can lead to visible failures. Pipes can be broken
or clogged by tree roots, by construction activities,
or by cars driven over drainfields. However, a system
need not be physically broken to fail. Septic
solids remain in the septic tank and must be pumped
on a regular schedule. If a tank is not pumped,
sludge accumulation can cause solid organic materials
to be transmitted to the drainfield where they can
clog soil passages and cause over growth of the biomat.
Additionally, grease and fats that form a floating
layer in the septic tank can be emulsified by soaps
and detergents. These tiny particles of fat and grease
can then flow to the drainfield where, over time,
they will clog soil pores.
The
drainfield, also known as the leachfield, absorption
bed, disposal field or seepage field performs the
task of accepting and processing wastewater, or effluent,
from the septic tank before it returns to natural
aquifers below the earth's surface. All systems rely
on the ability of the drainfield soil to absorb water.
A
typical drainfield is gravity fed.
It usually consists of several gravel-filled trenches
with perforated drainpipe buried just below the surface
of the gravel running the length of the trenches.
The effluent is distributed, usually through a distribution
box, to the various lateral drainpipes exiting through
the perforations into the surrounding gravel bed.
Secondary processing begins in these beds as the effluent
fills the trench then seeps through the biomat and
into the surrounding soil. There are many other configurations
commonly in use.
Infiltrator®
systems are more recent technology. Infiltrator
chambers are hollow structures that attach end-to-end.
They are installed in trenches or beds without gravel
(except where local codes require the use of gravel).
The entire bottom of the
trench is open for unobstructed infiltration of water.
The large storage volume within the hollow chambers
accommodates peak flows of effluent from the home.
Infiltrator chambers also feature patented sidewall
louvers that allow lateral leaching of effluent into
the soil.
Mound
Systems
On problem sites, mound systems may be an alternative.
In a mound system, septic tank effluent is delivered
to the mound through the use of a pump in a dosing
tank placed after the septic tank. The mound itself
is carefully constructed above ground using specially
selected sand placed on top of the natural soil to
help treat and dispose of septic tank effluent. The
depth of sand is determined by the depth of the natural
soil above a limiting layer. A limiting layer can
be bedrock, a soil layer with a very low percolation
rate, or seasonally high groundwater. The depth of
sand added to the depth of the natural soil must equal
the minimum treatment depth prescribed by local authority.
The
biomat is a naturally occurring tar-like
substance that forms on the bottoms and sides of the
drainfield trenches. It is made up of living anaerobic
(without oxygen) organisms, which feed on organic
matter in the wastewater. As the biomat matures it
grows thicker slowing down the flow of wastewater
to the surrounding soil. As the wastewater passes
through the biomat pathogenic organisms and viruses
are removed. On the outside of the trench, beyond
the biomat where the soil is not saturated, are living
colonies of aerobic (with oxygen) bacteria. These
aerobic bacteria colonies feed on the biomat and keep
it from becoming so thick that wastewater will no
longer pass through.
When
soil floods these aerobic bacteria colonies will die
off and no longer keep the biomat in check. The biomat
will grow too thick and drainage will stop. Further,
as these colonies die off they leave behind sulfides,
which over time will clog soil passages stopping the
flow of water. When the biomat grows too thick a waterproof
barrier develops and absorption stops.
Another common problem develops in soils containing
clay. Sodium in ordinary detergents, soaps,
household cleaners, and water softeners causes clay
particles in the soils to chemically bond.
When
soil absorption stops, soils flood. Standing water
may be seen on the surface of the drain field. Water
may back up into the tank and even into household
plumbing. This is often the first sign of soil failure
in your septic system. Drain field soils begin failing
at the beginning of the field. As areas of soil clog
the effluent moves to the next available area down
the line, when water reaches the end of the field,
and can no longer be absorbed, it surfaces. This is
a sign of total drainfield failure.
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MEGA-BIO™
is a mega dose industrial-strength bacteria formulation
designed specifically for drainfield remediation.
It digests fat, oil and grease and other organic
solids that block soil absorption, and restores
balance to the biomat. |
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SEPTIC
SEEP™ is a chemical soil conditioner
used to treat septic systems with overgrown biomat
layers and is the only product that can treat
hardpan conditions caused by high clay content
in drain field soil. |
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