Driveway Over Septic Drain Field

Ramblinwreck

Happy 2008 to all. I’ve got a question regarding driveway paving over/near a septic system drain field. My long time client wants me to reconfigure his entrance driveway to pass near/over a portion of the drain field of his home to create a turnaround. He wants it to be either concrete paver or stamped concrete. In total the paver area over/near the drain field will be about 1000 sf with another 1200 sf of driveway to get to the street. He doesn't have any plans showing where the field lies or its depth. The county says we don’t need a permit since the work is basic reconfiguration.
Question. Has anyone been exposed to this situation? If so, how did you handle paving over/near the drain field??
Thanks.

dirt diggler

ugh, i see alot of potential problems... I'd pass on it altogether

but ... winter time makes guys do things they normally wouldn't do ... so,

1) watch what machinery travels over the drainfield area (i.e. you certainly do not want to be driving concrete trucks over it)

2) you really need a clause in your contract that makes the client aware of possible damage that could be inccurred on the drainfield ... and that you WILL NOT accept ANY liability regarding ANY damages to the drainfield and it's appurtenances, before, during, after work.


going back to the machinery travelling over the drainfield ... does the client realize that this IS a driveway??? In other words ... all kinds of traffic will be passing thru over the course of, well, the lifetime of the driveway at least. If you ask me, it's a stupid idea ... and one that can be a pretty expensive and inconvenient problem later on.

Does he realize this??

maybe more importantly ... do YOU realize this??

__________________
Thanks in advance!!!

ruskent

Unless you live in some backwoods backwards town, no town will approve this.

If he wants to move his driveway just move the septic feild! Everything is possible!

K2

That would not be allowed in my area although I've done it years ago with no problems. Besides the potential problems already stated there is tha fact that even a trench system generally relies on some evaporatation.

Brock

Be extremely careful. We had a back hoe drop back wheels into one last month (no fatalaty thank god). These tanks are varying sizes, some about 10 feet deep 6 ft diameter with very thin (1 1/2") concrete tops. The Health Dept. told us to fill them in with dirt would be acceptable. Because the cust was no longer using septic.

Ramblinwreck

Thanks all. Appreciate the advice I'll do my best to avoid the problems you raise and consider passing altogether.

Bob Nelson

Blockages are usually the result of an accumulation of hair, soap, paper products, human wastes, grease, and other materials. Such materials are normally deposited in sewer lines, drains, and pipes, however, the design of drain systems, the quantity of materials introduced into the drain, and flow problems allow blockages. For getting rid of any sought of plumbing problem it is always advisable that call professional plumber.

mahlere

the back hoe went into the septic tank...this, if it's a working system, can't be covered since it will need to be pumped out every year or two. This is where the liquid is separated from the solid, so the liquid can flow into the leech field.....he's talking about paving over part of the leech field...this is the area where the liquid transfers into the ground...2 very different parts of the same system, not to be confused with eachother