A septic drain field is a vital part of a septic system. The drain field is where wastewater is let out of the system to be absorbed into the soil. It is made up of a series of pipes, buried in the ground, and perforated to control how fast wastewater flows out. But how much space does a drain field need to operate effectively? Continue reading to learn more about the factors that affect the size of a drain field.
The Importance of Soil for a Septic Drain Field
Soil is a little different everywhere in the world. Even from one side of Maui to the other, you will find soil changes several times. Some parts of the island are more sandy, some have more clay, or any mix of soil types. Wastewater has to move through soil for it to safely reenter the environment.
Sandy soil will let water through quicker than other soils, so a drain field in sandy soil needs to be made bigger than it otherwise would be. Bigger in this sense means wider and longer, not deeper. The depth of a drain field doesn’t matter, because that doesn’t change the surface area the water comes into contact with. Soil full of clay resists water movement, meaning a drain field in clay soil needs to be bigger to make sure the water spreads out enough.
Consider the Size of the Home
A home with more bathrooms almost always uses more water. Showers, toilets, and sinks send gallons of water into a septic system daily. The more people using these bathrooms means that much more water needs to be treated. Logically, it follows that a bigger household needs a septic system with a bigger drain field.
A narrow strip of side yard usually can’t support a drain field. Most of the time, drain fields are buried in backyards for this very reason. Your local area may require a septic tank to be buried a certain distance from the home as well, which means the drain field begins at that point and extends further away from the home.
Have Your Drain Field Professionally Installed with Maui Pumping
A call to Maui Pumping and you can schedule a new septic tank installation, or a drain field maintenance service. You can even schedule an appointment online if you prefer that too. An installation professional can help figure out the best place to put your drain field, or identify where and how big your current drain field is.
