What Is a Drain Field? What to Know About This Septic System Essential
They do a dirty job to keep your home and yard so fresh and so clean
Drain fields are home waste management systems connected to septic tanks.
They filter treated wastewater, or effluent, into a designated area in your yard.
Signs of damage in a drain field include standing water, foul odors, and strange sounds.
Maintain a drain field by removing overgrow
If you’ve ever wondered where your waste goes after you flush it down the toilet, take a look in your backyard. That’s where you’ll find septic drain fields, which are responsible for managing and treating whatever comes down the drain, and offer the added bonus of keeping your lawn green and nourished while they do their dirty work.
But what is a drain field, exactly? And why is it so important to a septic system as a whole? Whether you want to install a small septic garage or a larger system, knowing how this element works will alert you to potential damages before they’re past the point of no return.
What Is a Drain Field and How Does It Work?
Drain fields, also known as leach fields or leach drains, are home waste management systems located in a flat open on a property exterior—usually in the front or back yard of a home. They consist of a series of pipes connected to a septic tank and usher treated effluent—or waste water—into one of several gravel-lined trenches. There are many different types of septic systems, but a drain field is a key part of all of them.
These trenches allow water to trickle down under the gravel where they form a biomat that keeps the water in place and makes it easier for professionals to inspect. The treated water will also gradually evaporate into the grass above in a process known as evapotranspiration, providing plants with nutrients and creating a lush, green lawn. In fact, there are a bunch of great septic tank landscaping ideas to help you take advantage of this nutritious overflow.
"Effluent" is the term for liquid waste or sewage that has been treated in a septic tank or sewage treatment plant. You may also know it as "wastewater."
Signs of a Damage in a Drain Field
It’s not always obvious when a septic system is damaged, but watching out for these signs will help you know when to call in a pro.
Standing Water
Although treated effluent makes a home in the trenches of a drain field, that doesn’t mean you should be finding standing water in your yard at all times. In fact, an issue like this is a sign that there’s something more serious happening with your system at large, like a collapsed septic tank or a broken drain field pipe.
Strange Noises
You should only hear plumbing noises when you’re actually using a plumbing fixture, and definitely not when you’re out roaming around your yard. If any strange gurgling sounds meet your ears in such circumstances, it might be time to take a closer look at your entire septic system.
Bad Odors
Properly treated effluent isn’t safe for consumption, but it won’t have a noxious smell either. So, if you’re smelling unpleasant odors in your backyard or near plumbing fixtures in your home, that could mean that your septic tank isn’t performing correctly and is leaking untreated wastewater into the drain field. That could be because the system has collapsed, or it could stem from a less serious issue like a septic tank that’s full and needs to be pumped.
Grass Is Extra Green
Treated effluent will provide added nutrients to the greenery in your yard, but not in such large doses that the grass and flowers bloom like crazy overnight. If you wake up one morning and your drain field is alarmingly vibrant, take a look around for other warning signs to make sure you’re not dealing with an issue.
Algae Blooms in Nearby Water Bodies
Drain field runoff also has the unintended side effect of permeating nearby bodies of water, where all the extra microbes in the effluent will flourish into overwhelming algae blooms. Notice these in combination with one or two of the other signs on this list? It may be time to hire a septic tank company near you for an inspection.
4 Tips for Maintaining a Drain Field
Take these steps to keep your drain field up and running for the long haul.
1. Remove Overgrown Tree Roots
Anything that can get into drain field pipes and trenches can disrupt the delicate ecosystem. Tree roots are the most likely offenders in this regard, which is why it’s important to regularly tend to and prune back the plants in your yard before they can overgrow into your septic system.
2. Prevent and Eradicate Burrowing Pests
Burrowing pests are annoying, but they can be downright harmful if they mess with the stability of your drain field. If you’re noticing holes in your yard, and you don’t have a pet who’d be digging them, act fast with DIY pest prevention tricks or professional eradication before it’s too late.
3. Don’t Park Your Car On Top of It
Too much heavy weight on top of a drain field or septic tank can cause the whole system to come crashing down—and leave you with a stinky mess on your hands. When in doubt, never park your car or place heavy objects of any kind in these areas.
4. Keep Excess Water Away
Your drain field can handle occasional rainfall, but too much water flowing onto it can disrupt the effluent underneath. That’s why it’s a good idea to direct any and all rainwater drainage systems—like gutter downspouts and sump pump—away from this part of your yard.
Frequently Asked Questions
If a drain field and the connected septic tank are well maintained, a septic drain field will last up to 50 years. If you notice signs of damage, like strange smells and sounds, standing water, and unexpectedly lush grass, they could indicate that your system is failing sooner than expected or simply needs a checkup from a pro.
Drain fields often include three to five trenches that are 18 to 24 inches deep. The pipes connecting the drain field to the septic tank will be placed between 12 and 18 inches deep, and the field as a whole will be about 100 feet long.
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