Leach field question.

[ch1ch2]

I have a metal building with a leach field in front of the entrance. I drive over the leach field to enter the building. (not often)
The ground is mostly red clay and sand. It packs really hard in the summer.

I have been thinking of adding on to the building and I am thinking about building over the leach field. Years ago I asked the septic contractor if I could build over a leach field and he said yes.
I some times wonder if he left out the part "but you will have problems with the leach field or the building"

I know my soil is different the other parts of the country but what are some of your thoughts?

 

[mrmikey]

Not something I'd even consider, I don't even like driving the mower over mine, I especially don't go near it in the winter so I don't pack down the snow. My next door neighbours got a load of firewood delivered this fall and had it dumped on top of their field, I cringed big time..........Mike

 

[Paystar]

I've installed septics and I would not. If you are going to add on to the building move your field. Trying to save money now will cost you later.

Even my own field. It is built so I could drive over it, I used a lot of stone around my runs, but I don't. I use my push mower on it and the tractor everywhere else. I just don't want headaches down the road.

Not to mention if you build over it, then you do have a problem, now what? How do you get into it?

 

[Paystar]

You're lucky you are in a warm climate also. Because driving over them anywhere that gets frost in the ground, even with a snow mobile will freeze and destroy your runs.

That's one of the biggest things here why we replace systems.....people think because there is a layer of snow on the ground they can ride their snow mobiles over them. It just drives the frost into them.

 

[EddieWalker]

Don't do it. Your leach field is where the water/moisture from your septic tank goes to absorb into the soil. Depending on time of the year, usage and the amount of rain that you are getting, you could be creating a swamp under your building. Nothing ever good comes from moisture and buildings. The ultimate goal for every building is to remain as dry as possible, and that is especially true for under the building.

Leach fields are not very complicated. Why not relocate it?

 

[jfh28]

for starters a leach field has been trenched, pipes installed, and gravel/sand/select fill put back around the pipes.......so it will not have the same soil bearing capacity as undisturbed soil which means you run the risk of having structural problems with your new building.......not to mention the obvious problem........if the field has a problem your building will smell like :shocked: (surprisingly TBN doesn't have a turd emoji :laughing: ) .......just don't do it as nothing good will come from it.......Jack

 

[ch1ch2]

Well everyone seems to agree. Don't do it on an active leach field.

If I do decide to build over it. I will move the leach field, and I will poor some big beams in the slab.

 

[ch1ch2]

I guess I should mention the leach field is only servicing the building/garage. It only get about 100 gals a month unless there is heavy rain and then it get water from the surface rain water before the surface water can run off.

 

[Thomas]

If the leach field should fail last thing you want another problem to deal with...I won't do it.

 

[cycle_gator]

If the leach field should fail last thing you want another problem to deal with...I won't do it.

I will add that about 60% of the water leaves through evaporation. Even at that low a rate, it will either make your building damp, or ruin the leach field. In most places in the country you cannot legally build on top of a leach field.