As leaves fall and the weather cools, your yard starts to look like the classic November scene.

 Crunchy leaves, damp soil, and the occasional frost hint that winter is around the corner. 

Wrapped in the beauty of an Arkansas fall, it’s not easy for one’s mind to go to the changes that may be occurring around your drain field and septic system.

But that’s what we’re for at BBB Septic. 

What is a Drain Field?

Your drain field is the part of your system responsible for taking liquid effluent from the tank and safely dispersing it into the ground. 

The processes of a Septic tank are easy to overlook, but healthy drain field performance is crucial to avoiding backups and costly repairs.

Fall Challenges for Drain Fields

Fall brings its own set of challenges. Leaves, pine needles, and other debris can pile up in your drain field, creating barriers that slow water absorption.

 Over time, this can lead to soggy spots in the yard or uneven drainage.

 Heavy rainfall in late fall can further the problem, saturating the soil and making it less effective at filtering wastewater. 

Even something as simple as compacting the soil by walking, driving, or stacking firewood over the area can affect the system’s ability to work efficiently.

Cold Nights Cause a Drainfield Fuss:

Cold nights and early frosts also play a role. While a frost layer may seem harmless, freezing and thawing cycles can shift soil and create minor disruptions in how water flows. 

Over time, these small changes can affect how evenly effluent disperses, increasing the likelihood of localized wet spots or slow drainage.

How to Mitigate: 

Maintaining a healthy drain field doesn’t require a full overhaul, but a few simple fall habits can go a long way. 

Raking leaves away from the area instead of letting them sit in thick layers, limiting heavy foot traffic, and keeping parked vehicles or stored items off the field will help protect the soil structure. 

Planning ahead for winter by keeping gutters and runoff away from the area also reduces the risk of oversaturation.

Regular Inspections help Mitigate

Regular inspections in the fall can help identify early signs of trouble. BBB Septic’s Maintenance Program allows for this in an effective way! 

No more soft, spongy soil, persistent puddles, or unusually lush patches of grass; which typically prove that your drain field isn’t draining as efficiently as it should. 

Catching issues before the ground freezes can prevent larger problems down the line and keep your system running smoothly through winter.

Conclusion

Fall is a natural time for preparation. 

Just as you winterize your outdoor faucets and check heating systems, take a few moments to care for your drain field: Done properly, all you’ll have to worry about is what coat you should wear when temperatures drop.

By paying attention to the seasonal changes, keeping debris clear, and observing the field for signs of stress, you ensure your septic system remains reliable and effective year-round.

This Halloween Season, it’s easy to focus on scary skeletons, ghouls, and wraiths.  

But if literature has taught humanity anything… it’s that not *all* monsters are bad! Just  misunderstood.  

Take Frankenstein’s Monster as an example. Sure, he’s a scary mash-up created by a  mad scientist, but the story explores his positive traits in a meaningful way.  

Bacteria are a lot like this.  

When we first learn about bacteria, it’s a *bad* thing.  

It makes us feel gross, infect wounds, and in some cases, can result in hospitalizations  and death.  

These lessons of our childhood were always punctuated with ‘wash your hands!’  But, later on in education, we learn there are good bacteria, too.  

This October, in the midst of all these villainous themes, let's go against the grain  together and explore the unsung heroes of your septic system.  

Anaerobic Bacteria, the Workhorse  

When you think of a septic system, there are several different types within that perform  different functions.  

Anaerobic Bacteria is the workhorse of the colony nested under your yard. Thriving very  well in environments that do not have much oxygen.  

They convert all waste in layers of sludge, which sinks to the bottom, while producing  gases like methane.  

This kickstarts the natural process of converting your home’s output into something the  ground can absorb and filter naturally.  

Facultative Bacteria, the Shape Shifters:  

If Anaerobic Bacteria had a family, Facultative Bacteria is the more successful older  sister that grandparents tend to dote on when they’re at bacteria church.  

They can survive in places without much oxygen, like Anaerobic Bacteria… But also can  work in environments that *are* oxygen rich, like leech fields.  

Allowing them to break down waste no matter the case. They tend to be present  throughout the entire process. 

Setting the Scene: Stages of the ‘Haunted House’ that is a septic journey.  

Considering what septic tanks are used for… It’s no secret that the journey waste goes  through is far from pleasant from the perspective of us humans.  

But what *are* the stages of the septic journey?  

While the process may sound scary, it’s perfectly suited for filtering our water back into  our environment in a way that is not terrifying (Implying you’re upkeeping your systems).  

Stage One: The Flush  

Food waste, grey water, and the ever-pleasant blackwater begins their journey through a  series of pipes that lead to your system.  

This part is pretty self explanatory, and you don't tend to think about it unless something  backs up… (Eeek!)  

Stage Two: The Settling  

Wastewater is allowed to settle when it enters the tank.  

Meaning: heavier solids sink to the bottom, while lighter materials, like grease and oils  stay on the top, creating a scum layer.  

Stage Three: Decomposition  

Everything decays, and waste is no different! The anaerobic bacteria we mentioned  earlier gets to work instantly on the sludge at the bottom of the tank.  

This reduces the amount of waste at the bottom, converting it to simpler substances to  be further broken down and filtered out, like methane.  

Stage Four: Scum Treating  

Much like a heroic cop throws criminal scum into jail after foiling their plans, so does the  humble bacteria in your tank.  

Tossing the materials that shouldn’t be there into a metaphorical jail of its own, breaking  the criminal networks that hold the grease and fat together.  

If I lost you during the metaphor… Bacteria break down the bonds that hold these fats  together, converting them into smaller and smaller bits.  

Side note: If there’s too much grease in a system, it overwhelms it, causing buildups. 

Stage 5: The Release  

Once the waste has been adequately treated, and the pressure and water level is just  right…  

The remaining liquid wastewater flows out of the tank and into the leach field.  

If we follow the metaphor from stage 4, the ‘reformed robbers’ are released into a drain  field.  

Stage 6: Bacterial Probation  

Because the ‘cops and robbers’ costume on this process is fun: Consider the leach (or  drain) field ‘probation’ for the released bacteria.  

The final step for the wastewater until it can ‘integrate back into society.’  

This is the end of the septic journey!  

Don’t Slay *These* Monsters: How to Protect your Septic System Bacteria. 

To protect these microbial guardians, remember a few important tips!  

● Avoid antibacterial products: These kill the good bacteria along with the bad.  

● Don’t dump harsh chemicals: Bleach, ammonia, and drain cleaners can wipe out your  microbial workforce.  

● Use septic-safe cleaners: Choose products that are labeled “septic safe” or  biodegradable. (See our Suggestions)  

Conclusion: Looks Can Be Deceiving, Not All Monsters Are Bad.  

This Halloween season, while you're dodging jump scares and watching creature  features, Remember: Not *all* monsters are out to get you!  

In fact, the beasts lurking in your systems are actively working to protect your home from  real horrors: system backups, sludge overflows, and costly repairs.  

So this October, remember to give a little thanks to the misunderstood creatures down  below.