Is My Drain Field Failing?
Your drain field, also called a leach field, spreads liquid from your septic system into the soil for further treatment. When the field can’t take in the water fast enough, sewage can surface in the yard or back up toward the house. A clogged filter, failed pump, or blocked pipe can cause similar symptoms, so it’s worth finding where the flow problem starts before paying for a major repair. EPA guide to septic system malfunctions
Find your county’s Environmental Health office
What to look for and what might cause it
- A soggy patch or sewage smell that persists in dry weather
- The soil may be taking in water too slowly. Solids that escaped the tank can clog the soil. The natural layer of microbes and organic material that forms where wastewater meets the soil, called a biomat, can also become thick enough to slow drainage.
- Wet ground mainly after rain or heavy water use
- Rain, runoff, or high groundwater can saturate the soil. A running toilet or several loads of laundry in a row can add more wastewater than the field can handle at that time.
- One wet strip or patch over the field
- A shifted distribution box or a blocked or damaged line may be sending too much water to one part of the field. If the problem started after driving or construction over the field, mention it. Heavy equipment can compact the soil or crush pipes.
- Several drains slow down, or a backup returns after pumping
- A blocked house sewer line, clogged outlet filter, or failed pump may be holding water back before it reaches the field. A field that can’t accept normal flow can also cause backups. Tell the assessor how soon the symptoms returned after pumping.
Check for water leaks · Learn about recurring filter clogs · See how a distribution box works
What to do next
- Sewage backing up indoors? Stop using water, keep people and pets away from the sewage, and call a septic service provider or plumber for immediate help. Slow drains and backups
- Suspect sewage is surfacing in the yard? Keep people and pets away, reduce water use, and call your septic service provider and your county’s Environmental Health office. Leave tank lids closed and keep vehicles off the field.
- Think the field may need repair or replacement? Contact your county’s Environmental Health office for assessment and permit guidance. If a contractor recommends replacement, ask where they found the flow problem and what they observed at the field itself. Ohio septic guidance for homeowners
Who to call about a leach field problem
Contact the office for the county where the property is located. Have your address handy and describe where the problem shows up, whether it persists in dry weather, and when the system was last serviced, if known.
- Fairfield County Health Department · 740-652-2800, option 3. 1550 Sheridan Drive, Suite 100, Lancaster, OH 43130. Sewage Treatment Systems
- Pickaway County Public Health · 740-477-9667, ask for Environmental Health · contact@pickawaycountypublichealth.gov. 110 Island Road, Suite C, Circleville, OH 43113. Sewage Program
- Ross County Health District, Environmental Health · 740-775-1158 · eh@rosscountyhealth.org. 150 E. Second Street, Chillicothe, OH 45601. Environmental Health contacts
- Hocking County Health Department, Environmental Health · 740-385-3030, ext. 264 · ksmith@hockinghealth.org. 350 State Route 664 North, Logan, OH 43138. Environmental Health contacts