Driving BX2230 over septic system?

[ByronBob]

A septic system has a tank. It collects the solids and the fluids drain into the field. This is the 10 vents you see. Being up north I'm guessing your tank is deep enough.
Pumping is a matter of how many people you have and the amount of stuff goes in the system.
FYI, I ride over my tank and field but if I'm on my little mover I use it to limit the BX from going over the system unnecessarily. If you have other means to use then use them. If not then odds are you won't do any damage.

 

[ByronBob]

A septic system has a tank. It collects the solids and the fluids drain into the field. This is the 10 vents you see. Being up north I'm guessing your tank is deep enough.
Pumping is a matter of how many people you have and the amount of stuff goes in the system.
FYI, I ride over my tank and field but if I'm on my little mover I use it to limit the BX from going over the system unnecessarily. If you have other means to use then use them. If not then odds are you won't do any damage.

 

[sonofczechgun]

Speaking of spetic tanks - anybody is using that bacteria stuff you pour into septic to help break the sediment? I do it every year, but it is hard to say if it works or not.

 

[sonofczechgun]

Speaking of spetic tanks - anybody is using that bacteria stuff you pour into septic to help break the sediment? I do it every year, but it is hard to say if it works or not.

 

[AMR]

Septic system debates are great because almost all of the information is anecdotal, as is mine.

The way I look at it is when they backfill the septic systems they do it with a dozer that usually weighs much more than a B or BX, and applies more ground pressure even if you consider the load distrubution of a tracked machine.

It is all about soils conditions, both for structural support and the effectiveness of your leach field, but I think that generally any of these mowers can go over almost any septic system. If you have concrete galleries I wouldn't hesitate, perf pipe in a trench should be fine to. Generally, these materials are strong by virtue of the backfill around them and the subgrade, a failure of that fill from a washout or wetness or of the material below could lead to a broken pipe, for example, if it is really wet and you sink in above a pipe you may have trouble.

So I think, as with most things, a little bit of judgement as to the soil conditions at the time and you'll be fine.

Regarding using bacteria stuff in the tank, I admit that I do and can't say that it works. It is the action of the bacteria in the tank and at the edge of the leach field that cleans up the water. I wouldn't do it but you should be able to drink the water just a few feet from your system once it is filtered through the bacteria and earth.

I sold a house a short while ago that had a septic tank in the ground for 11 years and we never did anything to it, the guy came out to pump for a home inspection and said that we were wasting our money pumping it out, it looked like new.

 

[AMR]

Septic system debates are great because almost all of the information is anecdotal, as is mine.

The way I look at it is when they backfill the septic systems they do it with a dozer that usually weighs much more than a B or BX, and applies more ground pressure even if you consider the load distrubution of a tracked machine.

It is all about soils conditions, both for structural support and the effectiveness of your leach field, but I think that generally any of these mowers can go over almost any septic system. If you have concrete galleries I wouldn't hesitate, perf pipe in a trench should be fine to. Generally, these materials are strong by virtue of the backfill around them and the subgrade, a failure of that fill from a washout or wetness or of the material below could lead to a broken pipe, for example, if it is really wet and you sink in above a pipe you may have trouble.

So I think, as with most things, a little bit of judgement as to the soil conditions at the time and you'll be fine.

Regarding using bacteria stuff in the tank, I admit that I do and can't say that it works. It is the action of the bacteria in the tank and at the edge of the leach field that cleans up the water. I wouldn't do it but you should be able to drink the water just a few feet from your system once it is filtered through the bacteria and earth.

I sold a house a short while ago that had a septic tank in the ground for 11 years and we never did anything to it, the guy came out to pump for a home inspection and said that we were wasting our money pumping it out, it looked like new.

 

[guyrj33]

I think you'll be fine driving over your leaching field. I drive my B7800 over ours.
Leach fields are close to the surface to allow aerobic bacteria to decompose the waste in the leachate. A deep drain field will deliver untreated leachate to the water table, and nature will take much longer to clean it up. A leach field needs air. Actaully a significant portion of the water delivered to a leach field evaporates.

 

[guyrj33]

I think you'll be fine driving over your leaching field. I drive my B7800 over ours.
Leach fields are close to the surface to allow aerobic bacteria to decompose the waste in the leachate. A deep drain field will deliver untreated leachate to the water table, and nature will take much longer to clean it up. A leach field needs air. Actaully a significant portion of the water delivered to a leach field evaporates.

 

[Tollster]

If you have a conventional system (Concrete tank usually 500 or 1000 gallons) I would say there will be no harm done. I have this type and it in my driveway, granted there is a 4 inch concrete slab that makes up my drive over this tank, which helps disperse vehicle weight. I have seen no harm done. Its been there since 68. I also have no harm in the leachfield which makes up part of my yard. The system is about 36" below the surface.
However in some areas a conventional system may not have been approve for use during construction, due to surface draining requiements or perk testing. Therefore they more than likely used a sandmound system. I am not as familiar with these as a conventional. But my understanding is these are not intended to support much weight at all. You see these more and more and typically have to be replaced over the lifespan of the home. Its ok for a small rider or push mower. They typically are very large areas in the yard, say 30' X 20' and about 3' high, and vented to the surface. However the height can vary do to topographical geometry and owers request during installation.

 

[Tollster]

If you have a conventional system (Concrete tank usually 500 or 1000 gallons) I would say there will be no harm done. I have this type and it in my driveway, granted there is a 4 inch concrete slab that makes up my drive over this tank, which helps disperse vehicle weight. I have seen no harm done. Its been there since 68. I also have no harm in the leachfield which makes up part of my yard. The system is about 36" below the surface.
However in some areas a conventional system may not have been approve for use during construction, due to surface draining requiements or perk testing. Therefore they more than likely used a sandmound system. I am not as familiar with these as a conventional. But my understanding is these are not intended to support much weight at all. You see these more and more and typically have to be replaced over the lifespan of the home. Its ok for a small rider or push mower. They typically are very large areas in the yard, say 30' X 20' and about 3' high, and vented to the surface. However the height can vary do to topographical geometry and owers request during installation.