Can You Plant About a Mechanical Septic?

An improperly functioning septic system is just a nightmare, as they are expensive to repair, cause unpleasant odors and present health hazards. This is particularly true if you’ve got a mechanical septic system, which is determined by moving parts to function. There are many dos and don’ts to keep your mechanical system in functioning order. One of the biggest things to avoid is planting around any part of a mechanical septic system.

Avoid Plantings

Never plant trees, shrubs or anything apart from grass around a mechanical septic system. Plants with deep root systems have the potential to interfere with mechanical parts, like pumps, pumps and agitators. Plant roots have also the potential to grow into and split other significant areas of the system, like the tank, supply lines and drainage area. Never plant edible plants in these regions. When there is an issue with the system, this can be an extremely unsanitary and dangerous place to grow herbs, fruits or vegetables.

Potential Problems

A breakdown in a mechanical septic as a result of plant roots leads to clogs, backup, leaking, overload, seepage and worst of all , a saturated leach area. A failed system creates foul scents and contamination of ground and drinking water. This poses health hazards and negatively impacts the value of your property. Plantings in these regions also form a barrier that prevents you from easily accessing a variety of parts of your system for repair or routine maintenance.

Fragile Soil

The dirt around a mechanical septic system must be viewed as fragile. Digging into the soil for planting across the tank or in the leach area is dangerous, since is rolling over these regions with wheelbarrows, machinery or other heavy lawn gear. Compacted or uneven dirt grading causes problems in the leach area, and digging may hurt pipes, the tank or other mechanical parts. Compacted soil in the leach fields additionally leads to improper drainage, which may result in accumulation and possible hydraulic overload for the system.

Costly Repairs

A compromised septic system could cost thousands to repair, depending on which part failed. Mechanical systems are more expensive to fix and maintain compared to traditional gravity systems. They need additional maintenance to make sure that all pumps, timers, agitators, relays and recorders are functioning properly. Mechanical systems must also meet U.S. Health Department laws and standards. The ideal way to avoid costly repairs is to keep up on maintenance, cleaning and stick to the rules for septic system care. This usually means keeping plants, trees and shrubs away from the tank and all mechanical parts, and out of the leach area.

See related