If you own a septic system, you’ve probably experienced rainwater flooding over your drain field. This is especially common during the rainy season, where rainfall is heavy and unforgiving.
In this article, we’ll discuss what you need to do with a septic tank full of water when it rains, including septic system preparation tips for the upcoming rainy season.
What Are the Signs of a Flooded Drain Field?
Flooding occurs when heavy rainfall oversaturates the soil around your septic tank. This would therefore limit the drain field’s capacity to release effluents, or liquids, into the soil, thus resulting in dangerously high levels of liquid filling the tank.
It’s sometimes difficult to tell if the flooding around the septic tank is caused by the rain or by a tank that needs pumping. Regardless, a flooded drain field is an issue that needs to be immediately looked at by a professional.
Some of the biggest signs of a flooded drain field include the following:
- Slower-than-usual drainage from the home’s toilets, sinks, tubs, etc
- Sluggish or slow flushing toilets
- Standing water or mushy, spongy ground around the septic tank
- Water back-ups in the home’s basement and/or floor drains
- Constant gurgling sounds coming from the drains and/or toilets
- Noticeable sewage or toilet odors near the septic tank and drain field
- Drain and toilet backups
Apart from the flooding caused by heavy rain, flooding occurs when homeowners fail to pump or clean the septic tank regularly or if the drain field’s piping had collapsed or broken.
It also happens when there’s a lack of oxygen in the tank due to excessive grease and if the soil around the tank is heavily compacted from cars or heavy equipment.
How to Fix a Flooded Tank Before, During, and After It Rains
As rainfall can quickly flood the ground around the septic system’s drain field, all homeowners must know how to fix a flooded tank before, during, and after it rains. First, let’s discuss how to maintain a septic system before it rains:
Septic Tank Maintenance Before Heavy Rain
We hear it time and time again: prevention is better than cure! In this case, preparing your drain field several days before the expected rainfall prevents you from having to deal with messy situations during and after the rain.
Here are some tips to protect and maintain your septic tank before the rainy season comes:
- Products such as baby wipes, dental floors, paper towels, etc, may cause clogging and backups, so be mindful of what you pour down or flush down the drain.
- Don’t use bleach and other harsh chemicals to clean your tubs, sinks, and toilets as they may kill your septic tank’s good bacteria. Only use biodegradable cleaners.
- Avoid driving cars and other heavy vehicles and equipment close to the drain field as they may compact the soil around it, thus decreasing absorbability.
- Plant grass above the drain field to increase water absorption during rainfall.
- Direct gutters and runoff water away from the field to prevent surrounding soils from getting soggy.
- Have your septic system inspected by a professional to make sure it can handle heavy rainfall.
- Empty your septic system several weeks before the rainy season, especially if it’s due to be cleaned out. Remember that your tank needs to be pumped at least once every three to five years.
- Seal any possible points of entry into the septic system. You can do so by installing septic tank risers and lids between 1-3 inches below the surface so rainwater won’t collect inside the tank.
- Switch the water pump off at the circuit box several hours before the heavy rain starts. If you have one, cut off the lift station power supply of your mound system.
Apart from the mentioned above, it might also be a good idea to prepare your household for a limited water consumption day.
For instance, prepare no-cook meals like sandwiches several hours before the expected rainfall. You might also want to do your laundry, take showers, or deep clean your house before the rainfall so you won’t have to worry about using water as much when it’s raining. Prepare paper plates, paper cups, and disposable flatware as well so you don’t have to wash the dishes.
Septic Tank Maintenance During Heavy Rain
Preparation is merely half the battle. Even if you’ve done all the mentioned above, flooding still might occur. Here’s what you should do during heavy rainfall:
- Limit water use during heavy rain. Don’t flush, shower, or do the dishes or laundry unless absolutely necessary.
- If you decide to wash your plates, save the water you used for rinsing on plants instead of draining it away.
- Don’t work around the septic tank during flooded conditions.
- If water begins backing up in your home’s basement and/or floor drains, consider calling emergency septic services for temporary relief.
Septic Tank Maintenance After Heavy Rain
If you suspect any damage to your septic system or if the water doesn’t recede over the drain field after the rain has stopped, you might want to call your septic cleaning services.
Don’t have your septic tank pumped before the flood rescinds as this could cause the tank to float out of the ground and damage the entire system.
Here’s what you should do after the heavy rain:
- Reroute rainwater from the roof gutters away from the drain field
- Reduce your water usage for several days. If possible, wash your clothes at a laundromat and take sponge baths instead of full showers or baths.
- A clogged-up drain field may require shock treatment, a common septic tank treatment that reactivates the digestion process of bacteria to their original condition.
Final Thoughts
Septic tanks are extremely susceptible to flooding when it rains. Luckily, there are several ways to prepare yourself before the rain comes to prevent or at least maintain the flooding, including sealing possible septic tank entry points and emptying the drain field.
It’s also a good idea to limit your water usage when it’s raining. Once the rainy season ends, you can go back to your normal water usage. Good luck!