If your home runs on a septic system, wastewater from the house travels through the main sewer line into the septic tank. In the tank, bacteria digest organic matter and separate solid waste from the water. After that, the wastewater leaves the septic tank and is discharged to a drain field or leach field where pollutants in the wastewater are removed. The wastewater is then distributed through some perforated pipes for treatment. If the septic tank is loaded with more liquid than it can handle, sewage will flood, flow into the ground or back up in the home's plumbing.
As you can see, a drain field is an integral part of your domestic sewerage system. So as you install one in your new home, use these factors to choose the perfect placement location.
Choose a low elevation area
For water to leave the septic tank and travel to the drain field, it has to utilize gravity or pumps. Now, if you can, choose a low elevation area that's just below the septic tank so that gravity can push the wastewater to the leach field. If you select an elevated area, you'll be forced to invest in a lift station or pump to push the water towards the drain field. This option will increase the cost of septic system installation. So if you want to keep costs low, find a spot that is lower than the rest of the areas on your property.
Pick an unused area
Once a leach field is installed, you won't be able to use that part of the property for anything else. Plants growing on this drainage area can block the perforated pipes and cause the wastewater to flood in the drain field or back up in your sinks and toilets. So be ready to use that portion of land for the specific purpose of holding wastewater from the septic tank. Choosing a spot on the far end of the property can be a great option to avoid hindrances to future development projects.
Size the drain field correctly
The size of your household will be a determining factor when designing a leach field. The size of the field you need for a house of five will not be the same for one of only three occupants. Building a smaller leach field than you need will cause overloading of the system, and this will lead to flooding and plumbing problems. So if you regularly host relatives or parties at home, take this into account and choose a bigger space on your property. Alternatively, you can pump the tank regularly to maintain optimal performance.
Talk to a provider of septic services to learn more.
