Leach fields and Tractors

[orlo]

7-10 years isn't long. Around here there are many 40 year old fields and 20-30 years is the normal expectancy. Many systems have pump up systems like mine. I have a holding tank, then a pumping chamber that pumps up to the field.

I too however don't want to reduce the life span any on my field. Ironically, the soil (at least the grass) over the leach field (The whole mound) is the hardest in my lot as the lower parts of my lot stay soft due to a fairly high water table.

 

[AKfish]

Whooee! Forty years! Twenty to thirty years for a leach field. Man, those soil microbes must be havin' a sauna down there!

We've got cold ground up here and during some winter's the frost line will plunge! Some houses in this area lost their wells and their septic systems this Spring with the frost line going below 9 feet. The city of Soldotna (14 miles North) had to thaw more fire hydrants this year than during the past 10 years.

Our first septic failed after 12 years and we were pretty attentive and had it pumped at least every 2 years. Very little biological activity and poor breakdown of the leached material. The soil begins to seal off and finally there is no permeability and the system fails.

So, any compaction will tend to aggrevate or lessen the permeability of the soils adjacent to your leach field.

We mow our yard with a push mower...

 

[gary_dsc]

Whatever happened to global warming?

 

[AKfish]

Yah, this past winter was colder, for a longer period, than what has been the rule during the past 10 years or so. It wasn't the coldest temperatures that have occured in the past 10-20 years but we had a longer period of consecutive days of below zero temps.

Daily temps below zero sometime during the 24 hr period for nearly 6 weeks straight! Last part of Jan. - all of Feb. and into March.

It was beginning to wear on me more than just a little bit....

 

[megotatractor]

I don't think I would try it, a mound is expensive and full of PLASTIC pipe. I am not worried about the weight of my 2210 however. Here in Minnesota in Steele county it is required that "inspection pipes" be installed. These are installed vertically and -because I cut them off at ground level- capped where a tire might run over it cause damage deep down.

 

[orlo]

Hi:

Thanks for all the responses. I talked to a septic guy and a lot depends on how the leach field is built but he didn't see a problem with maybe a 2300lb tractor (My 2305 fitted for mowing - Loaded tires, Loader but no bucket, etc.) mowing.

But I have another question. If it's a question of soil compaction, does the area of the tires (PSI the tractor puts down) become the biggest factor? In other words not the total weight, but the way it's distributed?

If so does anyone have figures on 'footprints' of the various tires on tractors at average PSI's?

I'm asking since I'm betting that my 2305 with R4's put's down (due to the lugs and the small diameter tires) a much higher PSI than would say a 5000lb (900lbs of loaded tires + a FEL) 3320 with Much larger Turf tires. (or even if the 2305 had R3's for arguments sake).

Am I crazy or does this make sense?

 

[Nuru]

y builder told me that it would not be an issue even with a 4500lb tractor, if you are mowing, and will be passing over it - the septic tank.

 

[AKfish]

The tank would be affected much less (likely not at all) by any kind of compaction problems than say, the leach field.

That said, if you have porous soil, loamy -- maybe a touch of sand, you won't likely have enough compaction problems (especially with a small tractor) in warmer, temperate locations to be overly concerned about occasionally mowing the grass.

But, if you've got a wetter location for your septic and have an expensive mound-type leach field system (they're about $25,000 and higher up here) or heavy clay soils that don't "perc" worth beans even on a good day --- well, I'd probably stay off my leach field.

My $2.57 cent's worth.

AKfish

 

[LBrown59]

AK- My God- We pump our tanks maybe every 6-7 years, our tile beds last until we plug them up, our present one is about 40yrs old. This one is in gravel soil but down around Lake Ontario they are in clay soil. The one I grew up on was about 25yrs old and still OK when I left.
Each year they pass new regs regarding septic systems here in Ontario. Getting very pricey to install a new one the way they want it, plus the new ones aren't as good as many of the oldies. At one point by BIL had to place 3' of sand on what was going to be his front lawn so he could install the weepers there. The soil underneath was also sand, but that didn't matter, could have been bedrock according to the inspector. He had to truck in the extra sand, then raise his house plans 3' to match to get the required fall to the tank....
Our lawn is mostly pit-run with 1" of topsoil. I don't mow with my 4300(R4s) but I am driving over it at least once a week, across the tile bed.

Leach fields are the worst thing they ever did to septic systems.

 

[LBrown59]

The tank would be affected much less (likely not at all) by any kind of compaction problems than say, the leach field.



AKfish

The reason you should not drive over the tank is because they can cave in.

Happened to a guy in my neighborhood and all he was using was a lawn or garden tractor.