One of the biggest issues any homeowner worries about in regards to their septic system is the prospect of standing effluent in their backyard. When wastewater is no longer being absorbed properly into your drainfield and conditions are saturated, this nasty issue becomes a daunting prospect.
But what causes your drainfield to saturate and what can be done to reverse standing wastewater conditions? Read on below to learn more about this frequent condition and what can be done in the way of proper septic maintenance in Prior Lake, MN to prevent and reverse it.
What causes drainfield saturation?
Visible effluent on your drainfield is primarily caused by saturated conditions: meaning the soil in the drainfield doesn’t have the capacity to absorb anymore moisture. That, or the soil has reached a state that’s not permeable—such as clay. Saturation is almost inevitably the issue, however, and it will occur for a few different reasons, including:
- If your drainfield lines are blocked by impermeable barriers, such as settling rocks or clay, it’s going to divert water into particular areas—areas that are likely to become overly saturated as effluent quickly builds up.
- If the season has brought monsoon-like conditions and rainfalls are frequent and heavy, natural saturation can occur, which forces effluent and rainwater alike to the surface as they become standing water.
- A volatile septic environment within the tank itself or a lack of proper pumping can mean frequent effluent overflow, which will put stress on your drainfield and lead to saturation of the drainfield. This is why proper septic maintenance in Prior Lake, MN is so critical!
What can be done to stop or reverse it?
If standing wastewater on your drainfield is a problem you’re familiar with or are encountering for the first time, don’t fret: there’s a surefire way to help alleviate this problem. The answer is drainfield aeration.
Drainfield aeration is the act of punching holes into your drainfield, to allow moisture in and paving the way for new drainage paths. Generally, a rod is stuck into your drainfield at various intervals, with pressurized air being pumping through it. As the air is pumped in, ground expansion occurs, breaking up impermeable barriers and inviting saturated wastewater to flow away from where it has begun to stand.
Drainfield aeration can be a quick fix to a nasty problem, but it’s also one that has lasting benefits. You’ll be able to retain the function of your current septic drainage system, meaning no invasive excavation. You’ll also improve the overall distribution of effluent throughout your drainfield by exposing new drainage paths that will become natural paths over time.
Don’t fall victim to standing effluent or avoid your drainfield because you’re never sure if conditions are sanitary. Instead, consult with a septic professional about drainfield aeration and other forms of proper septic maintenance in Prior Lake, MN and see what you can do to literally breathe new life back into your drainfield!