Thankfully, homeowners with a septic sewer system no longer have a cess pool, but instead have a modern, safe way to leach the liquid wastes into the ground. This is known as the drain field or leach field, and it surrounds the septic system providing for drainage of liquids.
The leach field starts with the discharge pipe from the septic tank itself. This discharge pipe leads to a network of perforated pipes (imagine many different straws with holes in them leaving the septic tank). These perforated pipes are elevated in a way to optimize the work of the bacteria. In this way, the solid waste materials are digested in the most efficient manner.
Occasionally problems arise with the leach field. These are usually caused from the soil becoming clogged and not allowing fluids to seep out into the surrounding area. Deep roots are often the cause of these problems. When the leach field is not working properly, sewage will back up in the home, and sinks and toilets will not drain properly.
Caution should be taken about planting any large trees or shrubbery around the septic tank or field. These root beds often break the perforated pipes, or clog them completely. Chemicals sold to ‘clean out’ septic tank lines generally are not effective. When backed up toilets are occurring in a septic sewer system, the best bet is to call a certified septic professional to determine the cause of the problem.
