How to Find or Locate the Septic Drainfield InspectAPedia® -
How to find the septic drainfield or leach field - why we need to know
Videos here show how to find septic system components
How to use records of septic locations, whom to ask, Where to look and where not to expect to find septic system components
What visual clues tip off probable location of septic components, Tools to locate septic components precisely, How & when to dig to find septic system components, How to spot unusual or unexpected septic drainfield locations
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This article and our accompanying septic system location videos explains how to find the leach field or drainfield portion of a
septic system. We include sketches and photos that help you learn what to look for, and we
describe several methods useful for finding buried drainfield components.
Septic drain fields are also called soil absorption systems or seepage beds. Also see How to Find the Septic Tank.
The septic system video#2 at right describes walking a homesite by a lake in order to reason that the drainfield must be not only uphill from the lake but in this case uphill from the septic tank too.
A septic pumping system will be needed. More videos on septic system location & maintenance are at SEPTIC VIDEOS.
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This article and our guide to finding the septic drainfield or leach field continues in the steps outlined below - the next section is Why Look For the Drainfield?.
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Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.
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Planting Over Septic Systems: trees, shrubs, groundcover over the septic system: what can you plant over or near septic system components without causing a problem?
Pennsylvania State Fact Sheets relating to domestic wastewater treatment systems include
Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-161, Septic System Failure: Diagnosis and Treatment
Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-162, The Soil Media and the Percolation Test
Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-l64, Mound Systems for Wastewater Treatment
Pennsylvania State Wastewater Treatment Fact Sheet SW-165, Septic Tank-Soil Absorption Systems
Document Sources used for this web page include but are not limited to: Agricultural Fact Sheet #SW-161 "Septic Tank Pumping," by Paul D. Robillard and
Kelli S. Martin. Penn State College of Agriculture - Cooperative Extension, edited and annotated by
Dan Friedman (Thanks: to Bob Mackey for proofreading the original source material.)
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