Septic Leach Field

The leachfield is the most important and the most sensitive part of your septic system. It is also the most expensive to repair. The leachfield consists of a perforated pipe set into a gravel-filled trench that is usually about two feet wide and two to ten feet deep.

Wastewater is distributed through the trench and is absorbed by the soil. As the water percolates downward through the soil it is filtered and cleansed.

Driving over the leach field in any vehicle larger than a child's bicycle is a bad idea. Heavy vehicles may actually crush buried leach field lines, or they may compress the soils around the leach field, either of which leads to failure.