Signs your drain field is failing

Warning signs

• Soggy or spongy ground over the drain field, even in dry weather
• Grass over the drain field that's much greener than the rest of the yard
• Sewage smell outdoors
• Slow drains that come back soon after the tank is pumped
• Sewage surfacing in the yard

What causes drain fields to fail

The most common cause is a tank that wasn't pumped often enough, letting solids flow into the drain lines and clog the soil. Other causes include tree roots, heavy vehicles parked over the field, too much water going into the system at once, and simply age.

Repair or replace?

Sometimes a drain field can be repaired, for example by fixing a broken line or clearing a blockage. When the soil itself is clogged, the field usually needs replacing. Drain field work in Florida needs a permit, which your septic company handles.

In springs protection areas, which cover much of Marion County, some repairs or replacements may need a nitrogen-reducing system instead of a conventional one. A local septic company can tell you whether that applies to your property before you get a quote.

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