7 Signs Your Drain Field Is Failing

What the drain field does

After wastewater leaves the septic tank, it flows into the drain field, a network of pipes or chambers buried in the soil. The soil filters and treats the water as it soaks in. When the soil clogs or becomes saturated, the water has nowhere to go.

The warning signs

• 1. Soggy ground or standing water over the drain field, especially when it hasn’t rained
• 2. Bright green grass in strips that follow the field lines
• 3. Sewage odors outdoors near the drain field or tank
• 4. Slow drains throughout the house, not just one fixture
• 5. Gurgling in toilets and drains
• 6. Backups that return soon after the tank is pumped
• 7. Algae growth or poor water quality in a nearby pond or creek, or bacteria in a nearby well

Common causes

• Skipping regular pumping, which lets solids reach the field
• Too much water entering the system at once
• Driving or parking on the field, which compacts soil and crushes pipes
• Tree and shrub roots growing into the lines
• Age: the EPA notes that drain fields older than about 25 to 30 years can lose drainage capacity as a natural biological layer thickens

What to do

Cut back on water use, avoid chemical drain cleaners, keep people and pets away from any surfacing wastewater, and have the system evaluated. In Tennessee, drain field repair or replacement requires a permit, and the right fix depends on your soil and lot.

Learn more about drain field repair and replacement.