Driveway over a septic field

[mrtone]

I'm guessing you just don't lay an approach "driveway" to the shop over a septic field but maybe someone knows an acceptable way - a concrete slab, a "bridge", etc.
If vehicle traffic was restricted to just a car (no heavy trucks, etc)?

 

[bobbyd]

I doubt your local code will allow anything. The code enforcement office would be the place to start.

 

[cw_racefan]

I seriously doubt you can put anything over it. I know in my county you can't. You really don't want to compact the soil at all, as it will reduce its capacity to leach the effluent, plus you could damage the pipes.

As stated though, your permit office is the best place to check.

 

[mleichtle]

We have a mound system, and they say we shouldn't even drive a riding lawn mower over it. But everybody does around here.

 

[mrtone]

So let me try putting the brain power of the group to work........
To get to a suitable construction site on the property I'd have to get over these fields (perpendicular). Does anyone know of a way that would be acceptable? Piers? Bridging? I'm shooting in the dark here.

 

[Tman]

Time to talk to an engineer. You might need to make some compromises.

 

[mrtone]

Tman:
You're right, this is actually a house we're looking at in SC. Our compromise might end up being - find another one. But this one has a lot of good points so I'd like to pursue all possibilities.

 

[Der Bugmeister]

How about relocating or rerouting the septic field? Obviously not an inexpensive solution, but a solution none the less.

 

[snorvet]

It may be possible to reduce the size of the septic field if you install an individual mechanical treatment system before the field. Check with the local health department or whatever department permits septic fields in that area.

 

[W-Cummins]

Is the field installed? If not the inspector may let you start and stop the trenches. ie. run them up to that area that you need to cross then use 4" sec 80 pipe to cross under the driveway then start the trench on the other side. If your not installed I would use a chambered system if your area allows them.

William...

 

[Pitalplace]

Had a friend that drove over his for 20 years. No problems except once when he was working on the approach to the garage he dropped the front end of his loader tractor in the fiberglass septic tank. Oh, did we laugh, he didn't. Check with county planner or code department, they should help.

 

[Scott Pearson]

You cannot pave over a leach field. Reason being not only does water perk through the sand and soil it also does evaporate through the fill above. The maximum fill over top of the field is no more the 18". You have very light wall perforated PVC pipe...It will crush and become uneven. This will make the field distribute the water unevenly. If it where a pressure dose system them maybe you could get away with driving over it but not paving it.

Guys...I Build these things and have seen everything that can happen to them. Just be careful.

 

[Willy Victor]

Pray for sewers.

Willy

 

[mrtone]

The house is ten years old, so the system is already there. There was some issues with perking on the other side of the house, so they put the fields on the garage side (just where my shop would go). Might be a problem even trying to alter the fields considering the perking issues. I'll be checking with the county folks as recommended.
Thanks for all the good input - even the sewer prayer idea. LOL

 

[Charles (in GA)]

If it is only ten years old, it very likely might have the chamber system. These can (I'm told by people "in the know") be placed up to six feet deep. Chamber systems lose all of their water thru the open bottom of the chamber, which then leaches into the soil.

Standard septic fields with the "french drain" indeed do lose water up, down, and sideways, you can always spot my septic field in dry weather, the green grass gives it away. The top of the gravel in my field is 30 inches down, I found this while hand digging a trench across it for underground power to my shop. Field works just fine.

Charles

 

[Scott Pearson]

The "chamber" system you are talking about are called Infiltrators. There is no stone used in this type of system. Just K-4 sand. They create a void and water in lost under them. They need to have water evaporate from above also and you CANNOT drive on them at all.

Hope this helps!

 

[mrtone]

There must be a sewer god somewhere......... my prayers will be answered.

 

[swazzie]

There must be a sewer god somewhere......... my prayers will be answered.

Show us a a layout of the property.House , lines , etc....... Some one should be able to help figure this out for ya !!!!!!

 

[BECC]

What Scott said, I used to design these for years for an engineer I worked for. They are meant to breeth and not designed for a load over top of them.

 

[Satatic]

How ever much footage you lose under a drive you can usualy just add somewhere else.

 

[Satatic]

The "chamber" system you are talking about are called Infiltrators. There is no stone used in this type of system. Just K-4 sand. They create a void and water in lost under them. They need to have water evaporate from above also and you CANNOT drive on them at all.

Hope this helps!

I can't believe they are still selling those. I wonder how much its costing infiltrator to grease state palms.

 

[W-Cummins]

I can't believe they are still selling those. I wonder how much its costing infiltrator to grease state palms.

I can't believe your not using them. What do you think is better? Or do you just not like the infiltrator brand? There are a bunch of other manufactures now.

 

[Satatic]

The traditional gravel type septic system has been proven to last 30+ years. The chamber system around here has proven to last less then 10. Unless its like pure sand. Its weird to dig them up and everythign be completely dry till you cut a 4 inch hole in them then get a 4 inch stream of water shooting out the side.