Septic System Problems After Heavy Rain
Saturated ground cannot absorb effluent, so wet weather exposes systems that were already near their limit.
Disposal fields rely on unsaturated soil beneath them. After days of rain the water table rises, the soil is already full, and there is nowhere for effluent to go. Systems that cope all summer can back up or surface in a wet week.
If wet weather is the only time you have problems, that is diagnostic in itself: the field is at or beyond its practical capacity, and reducing load or upgrading treatment is usually part of the answer.
Why rain causes problems
- Groundwater rises into the disposal trenches
- Surface water sheets across the field area
- Roof and driveway runoff discharges near the field
- Groundwater enters cracked tanks and lids
- Pump chambers fill faster than they can discharge
Reduce the load during wet spells
- Delay laundry and other high-volume water use
- Take shorter showers and run full dishwasher loads only
- Check that downpipes discharge well away from the field
- Clear surface water paths that run over the disposal area
What not to do
- Do not dig drains through the disposal field
- Do not pump the tank out repeatedly as a permanent fix without diagnosing the field
Frequently asked questions
- Should I get the tank emptied during a storm?
- It can provide short-term relief, but in high groundwater the tank may partly refill from the ground and can even float if emptied completely. A provider will judge what is safe for your situation.
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