If your home has a septic tank, you should understand how it works so you can maintain it and identify potential problems. One of the most important parts of your system is the drain field, which is responsible for allowing wastewater to filter through soil and remove harmful pathogens. Below, you can learn how the system works and how to take care of it.

What Is a Drain Field?

When wastewater is flushed from the toilet or sent down sink drains, pipes carry it to the septic tank. Here, solids settle in the system and liquid wastewater is discharged to the drain field with the use of gravity. Once the wastewater reaches the perforated pipes, it can trickle into the surrounding soil. As it percolates through the soil, the water is further treated because dirt and microbes filter it and kill any pathogens it contains. Eventually, the treated water makes its way down to the aquifer, or groundwater source.

How Can You Care for It?

Typically, a drain field is located in your property’s backyard. To care for this area, keep all heavy equipment and plants away from it. In other words, avoid parking vehicles or planting large trees over the field. The roots from trees and weight from heavy equipment can cause your pipes to crack.

In addition, minimize your water usage as much as possible. Your drain field may become oversaturated with high water usage. When this happens, the septic tank and pipes won’t drain and filter wastewater effectively before it reaches the groundwater source, leading to contamination. For the same reason, ensure water runoff from roofs and drainage ditches won’t saturate your soil.

Knowing how to care for your drain field is important to keep it running efficiently. But if the system is clogged or you need routine septic tank pumping, rely on the experts at J & J Septic & Sewer Cleaning in Waterloo, IL. The family-owned company will keep your plumbing system flowing smoothly so you don’t have to give it a second thought. To schedule an appointment, call today at (618) 939-3001. You can also find more information online.