Co-Owner · March 21, 2024
Rain is great for a thirsty garden or a dry lawn, but when it crashes the party in your septic system, things can get messy. Here's what too much rain does to a septic system and how to handle it.
Septic systems are built to handle a certain amount of wastewater, and too much rain can overwhelm them. When rainwater gets into the system, it throws off the bacteria and enzymes that break down waste. If you don't deal with it, you can get backups, bad smells, and even a failed system.
Watch for the signs. Soggy ground around the drain field, sewage smells after a heavy rain, and slow drains all mean your system may be overwhelmed. It helps to know the difference between ground that's just wet from rain and ground that's staying soaked.
Don't ignore it. Too much water can damage parts of the system, get into the groundwater, and leak untreated sewage, which is a health hazard. Deal with it early to keep the damage from spreading.
There are things you can do. Improve the drainage around the system, put in something to send rainwater away from the drain field, and look at landscaping and grading to keep water from pooling over it.
Keep up with maintenance, especially in a rainy stretch. Get the system inspected regularly, fix leaks and damage right away, and keep the tank pumped on schedule so it's not under extra strain.
Some of this you can handle yourself, and some of it needs a septic crew. Knowing when to call for help can save you time, money, and stress.
Heavy rain is hard on a septic system, but you can stay ahead of it. Watch the yard and fix problems early.
Sources
- https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/17/2716
- http://turnerseptic.com/understanding-the-impact-of-heavy-rain-on-septic-tanks/
- https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJEST/article-full-text-pdf/18C799761959.pdf
- https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0256606