When a massive storm rolls through, most homeowners worry about their roof leaking or their basement flooding. But if you rely on a septic system, your biggest concern should be buried out in your yard.
The Short Answer: Heavy rain saturates the soil in your drain field, leaving no room for wastewater to be absorbed. If the drain field floods, the water has nowhere to go but backward into your home.
Why Rain is the Enemy of Your Drain Field
Soil acts like a sponge. When heavy rain saturates it, the effluent from your tank has nowhere to go, backs up into the trenches, and either pools in your yard or reverses course into your home.
Signs Your System is Flooding
Slow drains and gurgling toilets, sewage odors, standing water over the drain field, or water backing up into bathtubs.
What to Do During a Heavy Rainstorm
1. Stop all non-essential water use.
2. Divert gutters and downspouts away from the drain field.
3. Do NOT pump the tank while the ground is saturated – it can float the tank.
How to Protect Your System Before the Storm
Maintain your pumping schedule, never drive over the drain field, and use a monthly bacterial treatment to support the ecosystem in your tank.
The Bottom Line
Heavy rain and saturated soil are a dangerous combination. Reduce water usage during storms, stay on a pumping schedule, and use monthly bacterial treatments.
