Factors to Consider Before Drain Field Installation

Factors to Consider Before Drain Field Installation

Drain fields are used on well water septic systems to eliminate wastewater. A well-water septic system contains two major components: a tank and a drain field. The drain field is a perforated pipe buried in the land surrounding the home. The drain field allows bacteria to feed on the solid waste from the water-soluble materials, such as body fluids and solids from washing and bathing, that come from inside your home. When considering installing a new septic system, there are three critical factors for a septic company in Stockbridge. These are soil evaluation, location of the drain field, and optimal size of the drainfield. These factors ensure that your septic pump and drain field will not fail prematurely. Metro Septic Pumping has experience with an understanding of all aspects of drain field installation.

What Is the Optimal Drainfield Size

Drain fields are subsurface drainage systems that remove excess water and wastewater from septic systems. They come in various sizes and are designed to handle different volumes of wastewater.

The first step in sizing a drain field is determining how much wastewater will be routed through it. You'll need to consider how many people will be using the system at one time, how many people will be using it over several days, and how many will be using it over several months.

This will determine what size drain field you need as well as how many effluent lines should be used to transport wastewater from different parts of your house or business to this central point.

Drain fields are typically installed 4 feet below ground level, which may vary depending on local codes and regulations. In some cases, they may need to be buried deeper than 4 feet in order to comply with building codes or environmental regulations related to groundwater contamination or flooding concerns.

Soil Evaluation

Soil type is one of the most important considerations when installing a drain field. Drain fields are installed in soils with enough capacity to accept wastewater effluent without causing soil saturation or infiltration.

The soil's infiltration rate must be above 5 cm/hr (2 in./hr) under normal rainfall conditions and preferably above 10 cm/hr (4 in./hr). Soils with lower infiltration rates will require more frequent pump-down cycles or higher pump discharge rates to prevent excessive waterlogging and infiltration. Infiltration rates can be estimated using soil texture and bulk density measurements, but the best method is to conduct a field infiltration test.

Soil texture is essential because it determines how quickly wastewater will move through the soil profile. Sandy soils have high permeability but don't retain water well, while clay soils have low permeability but do hold water well. Sandy soils are better suited for drain fields than clay soils because they allow wastewater to penetrate quickly into the underlying aquifer, which reduces pump-down time.

Location of the Drain Field

The location of the drain field is an important consideration when installing one. If it is too close to your septic tank, it may introduce too much oxygen into the system, leading to anaerobic digestion of the sludge and causing clogging problems. It should also not be installed above ground level because it will increase the risk of flooding and freezing in winter. In addition, you should avoid locations where there is already a lot of groundwater flow — this can cause problems with water quality in your leach field.

Metro Septic Pumping

While installing a drain field system may appear simple, you must keep these key considerations in mind. Failure to do so can likely result in negative consequences, including high maintenance costs, lack of drainage capacity, and drainage problems. A septic company knows all aspects of installing septic systems, and you can count on the professionals at Metro Septic Pumping.