Reverse "Septic" Drainage Field,, Do You Think It Will Work?

   / Reverse "Septic" Drainage Field,, Do You Think It Will Work? #1  

CADplans

Elite Member
Joined
May 27, 2016
Messages
3,720
Location
near Roanoke VA
Tractor
584 IH 4WD
My SIL has (HAD?) a wet weather spring near the house,,,

The worst part is when it rains, the excess water comes up,
and promptly runs to EXACTLY where they park their cars,,, :(

Our first hope was to find an abandoned water line.
The home originally had spring fed water, we were hoping to find the pipe,,, and cap it.

The area was dug 2 feet deep with the IH 584,, I can dig 4 feet deep,, but it makes a big hole.

Spring2_zpszl9tlb1z.jpg


Spring1_zpsqdng5v4d.jpg


(Actually,, I was just proving that the IH 584 is not just a "Trailer Queen"!) :D

We found nothing,,, so we decided to dig a mini drainage field,,,
and use it in reverse,, to carry the water away from the area.

I dug a hole about 4 feet deep for the infiltration chamber, then another 3+ feet under it.

Spring_zpsry0crs2f.jpg


The 18" wide deep section was refilled with old broken concrete, and rocks.

The hope is that the water will find its way into the chamber, to be carried away by the 4" pipe,,
or just go down into the soil.

We do not care which happens, as long as it stops coming to the surface.

Spring4_zps3qj3npat.jpg


Next the infiltration chamber was set in place, and covered with landscape fabric.
The ends were blocked with large rocks, broken concrete, and gravel.

Spring5_zpsfjrfa6jn.jpg


Spring6_zps0lt7asdg.jpg


My SIL backfilled the hole with the JD 855,,

Spring8_zpsqxnahxtn.jpg


now,,,
all we have to do is wait for rain,, and see if we captured the spring.

If we missed, or moved the spring, we will dig from there,
and "french drain" the water to the infiltration chamber.

I have heard that springs can be tricky,,, if you dig,,, they will move somewhere else,,,,

Hmmmmmmmmmmm,,,,,,,,,,, :confused2:

My daughter came out while we were working,,,
she said her yard looked like it was the John Deere dealer's used vehicle lot!

Spring7_zpstp1r4ve4.jpg


LOL! :laughing:

Even if the project is a total failure,, we had a LOT of fun,,, on a sunny warm day in February,,,

I have never attempted anything like this,,,
so, the question is,,
did we succeed,,, or is that wet weather spring going to elusively just "move on" ??
 
   / Reverse "Septic" Drainage Field,, Do You Think It Will Work? #2  
Only time will tell... Looks like it was a fun project!
 
   / Reverse "Septic" Drainage Field,, Do You Think It Will Work? #3  
Never heard of a spring changing location.
I have a few on my land, and they flow on the surface...dig as you want, they just keep on flowing.
If in fact there's a spring there, the 4" pipe you put in should catch and divert the flow...seems very dry to me to be a spring water location tough.
Time will tell
 
 
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