Is Biomat Harming Your Septic Drain Field?

December 2nd, 2015 Posted in Drain Field
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To function correctly, your septic tank and drain field need to maintain a delicate bacterial balance. For your drain field to be able to drain and filter the wastewater coming from the septic tank, the water must be able to freely flow through the soil. When the delicate bacteria balance is interrupted, a biomat can grow over the top of the drain field, leading to septic failure.

What is Biomat?

To put it simply, biomat is an organic substance that grows from the solid waste and bacteria that are allowed to leave your septic tank. This layer of organic material begins to grow from the edges of your drain field, eventually covering the entire field with a thick, organic mass that prevents waste from penetrating through into the soil. As more septic waste comes onto the biomat, it feeds it, causing it to grow. This layer has a foul odor and can often be visible as a slimy, dark film over the drain field.

How Biomat can Harm Your Septic System

Once a biomat has formed, it can begin backing up your septic waste and cause a complete septic failure. If allowed to progress, it can result in needing a new septic system installed, which can be very expensive. To prevent biomat formation in the drain field, you need to focus on caring for your septic tank bacteria balance.

If your septic tank is breaking down solids correctly, the wastewater going into the drain field should be the right bacterial balance. This allows wastewater to drain properly and will not result in a biomat. To keep your septic system and drain field running smoothly, schedule annual maintenance service and inspections for your septic system with your local septic service.

Posted on behalf of:
Septic Service Pro, LLC
Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30334
(678) 292-8728

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Leach Field Biomat

May 22nd, 2012 Posted in Septic System Maintenance
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The leach field is a very important component of your septic system.  A leach field is made from a series of perforated pipes (called leach lines) buried in shallow trenches full of gravel and covered by dirt.  The leach field’s job is to dispose of the liquid waste water (called effluent) after most of the solids and oily or greasy material has been collected in the septic tank.

The effluent flows from the septic tank into the leach field where it percolates or filters into the gravel and soil underneath the leach lines.  Natural bacterial action in the soil treats the wastewater as it percolates through the soil.

Over time, a layer of black, sticky substance builds up in the leach field trench under the leach lines.  The biomat is made of microorganisms and bacteria and helps to filter and treat the wastewater as it flows through the trench.  The microorganisms feed on the organic matter in the wastewater.

Biomat growth under the leach lines is a normal occurrence and is expected in any leach field. However, in some cases biomat growth can become too thick which slows the rate that the wastewater can seep into the soil.  Infrequent septic tank pumping or abusing the septic system by overloading it or flushing chemicals or other materials down the drain can cause the drain field to clog and increase the thickness on the biomat.

When the drain field becomes too clogged to allow the wastewater to percolate into the soil fast enough, the septic system is on the verge of failure.  Your sewer septic professional may be able salvage a failing leach field, but in many cases it will be necessary to expand the drain field or abandon a failed drain field and install a new drain field.

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