Because the four main pipes of our septic system’s drainage field take up so much of our yard, I would like to build an additional room over the field. I already know that nothing can be built directly on the field, but my plan would call for an eighteen-inch gap between the ground and the bottom of the addition. Also, all of the supports would be located on either side of the field so that nothing would directly interfere with the drainage. Of course, this would block rain from directly hitting the field. Is that okay? Or is rain necessary for keeping things leeching downward? If so, could we put some misters under the addition that would drizzle enough water onto the field to mimic rain?
Septic tanks are much used in areas where there is very little rain, so I doubt that that’s a requirement. I suspect evaporation might be a factor, though. That, and cappilary action.
I don’t know if you’d want to confine the area above your field anyway.
Where do you live? Many areas now practically force you to pay to install a community sewer system.
Good luck, though.
Peace
mangeorge
terrible idea, what if the tank needs repair/replacement? you going to knock the house down to get to it? or like dig a mine tunnel down to it?
The tank will not be under the addition, the field will. All the same, I don’t think it’s a good idea. Sooner or later, you may have to replace the field, which will require trenching under the addition.
If by septic tank you mean the standard one-tank septic system, you may be able to replace it with a two tank treatment system that can use a smaller field. I think that some can be set up to just spray the treated water onto your lawn.
Speaking of sewer, have you checked to see if there’s sewer service on your street? It happens sometimes where getting on the sewer is voluntary. If you can’t get sewer, you’re probably screwed.
I assumed from the OP’s extensive leach field that he/she has a single tank. Replacing the tank would cost a bundle.
Sewer is not an option for us.
It’s possible that we may put a covered deck over the field (again, without any supports actually on or in the field) that could be removed fairly easily in sections if a new leach field had to be put in to replace the old. This would still block rain from directly hitting the top of the field. Is that bad? Does the field need some water filtering down upon it, or does it get all it needs through the system itself? If water is necessary, would a few pipes underneath the deck/addition timed to spritz water now and then be sufficient?
You should run this idea by your local building code people before putting too much thought into it.
We are unincorporated, so we have a little more freedom with regard to what we do. How much more, I’m not sure…
I think the freedom involved is that they don’t catch you making unauthorized changes (at least, that’s how is was with us). The building code people can still advise you on how best to handle it and the advice will be within code.
We added a deck and did cosmetic kitchen re-hab (cabinets, floor) and didn’t register with the county, but for septic, I think I probably would.
You may be unincorporated, but still within a county. Unless you are actually in the middle of nowhere, the county probably has a health department that would have jurisdiction. My new home is in an unincorporated area of the county, but I still needed the County health dept approval for the septic system. Part of the water pumped into your sepic system leach field is disbursed by the plants growing on the ground above the discahrge pipes.
Please contact your health department before proceeding with any plans.