The drain field is one of the main parts of a septic system. It’s responsible for treating effluent, filtering it through the soil and releasing it back into the environment. To keep your septic system working properly, as well as protect public health and the environment, it’s important to be careful around your drain field.
Here are four tips to protect your drain field from damage.
- Be careful about what you flush – The same as you would if your property were attached to a municipal sewer system, you need to avoid flushing certain items. Don’t flush wipes, feminine hygiene products, band-aids, floss, cotton products, grease, or harsh chemicals. These can clog your drain field and cause sewage backups.
- Keep heavy vehicles & structures off – Know where your drain field is located so that you don’t drive over it with heavy machinery or build on top of it. These actions can damage the pipes and cause soil compaction, which affects the drain field’s ability to treat the effluent.
- Divert water away from the drain field – Poor drainage can cause the soil around your drain field to become oversaturated, which means it won’t be able to treat the wastewater properly.
- Don’t plant trees or shrubs near it – If trees or other plants are located too close to the drain field, their roots can damage the underground pipes.
If you need drain field services in Wilmington, North Carolina, or the surrounding area, you can count on our team at Sewer & Drain Medic. Contact us today to learn more.