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.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I'll add one more to the pile. A structure needs compacted fill for support and a leach field needs undisturbed soil to be able to percolate. 2 completely opposite desires for the ground use. I'll also echo the what if you get a backup problem? Just relocate the field even if you don't expand. Driving over it is a real bad idea.

 

[oosik]

I inspected septic systems for 18 years. Driving over/on them is an excellent way to find out how much a new one is going to cost you. Build over it and you will risk not being able to sell the build that is built over it nor the building that uses it.

 

[big bubba]

to continue this discussion. the above replies on this thread are much more educated in matters septic than myself.
am considering installing a bathroom/septic system at my hideaway cabin. the site is good for the leach field, however will be in an area where i mow with my 1100# zero turn.

so what problems can occur with the lead line, the tank itself, and lateral line using the mower? so would gravel help prevent compaction, etc. do not plan driving heavy equip or vehicles, just mower.....your thoughts? best regards, happy new year

 

[RedNeckRacin]

to continue this discussion. the above replies on this thread are much more educated in matters septic than myself.
am considering installing a bathroom/septic system at my hideaway cabin. the site is good for the leach field, however will be in an area where i mow with my 1100# zero turn.

so what problems can occur with the lead line, the tank itself, and lateral line using the mower? so would gravel help prevent compaction, etc. do not plan driving heavy equip or vehicles, just mower.....your thoughts? best regards, happy new year

I am assuming that you havery a soIL profile and a percentage test to make the previous statements so I'll only address your specific questions. Driving over the piping to the tank and to the field is ok as long as there is sufficient cover for the pipe you are using. Schedule 40 pipe is much stronger than schedule 20. If you are using a pre cast concrete septic tan you should have no problems running over it with a lawn mower but I don't recommend doing it just because of the risers are probably going to limit the access unless you bury them and at that point I wouldn't want to driver over a lid anyways. If you look online you can see how little cover there is over a correctly installed septic system and I do not suggest driving any equipment over it for any reason. The laterals in my system are 5' wide and 50' long and only take a few minutes to mow by hand. That little bit of aggravation is much less than the cost of a new system.

 

[GSVette]

Having just been through installation-you do have options that allow for driving over your laterals. I installed the drive over rated infiltrators which are rated for a much heavier ground loading than any of my equipment has-that being said, I still will avoid my drain field as much as possible in order reduce soil compaction over the Infiltrators.

 

[ch1ch2]

I do not recall anything special.
It was put in in '95.

Been driving over it with tractors and pu trucks and RV's for many years. No problems. You can see where the lines are buried in the summer by the green grass and in the dry times by the dead grass over the gravel.

 

[herm0016]

I would avoid driving over with anything heavy. my field of 8 lines 100 feet long of infiltraters is 4 feet down and the installer told me it was no problem to drive over it with my pickup. Maybe the older style pipes are more susceptible to damage of heavy weight over them. the Infiltrators are also designed to limit evaporation. I put a plastic shed over my field, but i would not put anything permanent.