A serious flood can interfere with the operations and efficiency of your septic system. Below are some of the specific problems you might experience with the septic system if it floods.
Slow Drains
If your area is flooded, some of the water may end up in the septic drain field. If the drain field gets flooded, wastewater won't flow out of the tank into the drain field. With the tank constantly full, wastewater coming out of the house won't have a palace to flow into. As a result, your drains will appear as if they are blocked; they will be utterly slow.
Septic Back Up
If the flooding continues, then it will just be a matter of time before the septic tank can't receive any wastewater at all. In such a case, continued use of the plumbing systems in your house may see wastewater backing into the house.
Floating Tank
Your septic tank can float out of the ground if you pump the tank while the ground is still saturated with floodwater. The same thing can happen if you pump your tank and the area floods a day or two later. In such a case, the tank will be lighter than the surrounding soil (since the tank will be mostly filled with air). Pressure from the surrounding soil can push the tank out of the ground, causing extensive and costly damages.
Soil Compaction
The septic drain field should be porous enough to allow wastewater to seep into the ground not long after the wastes leave the septic tank. If the soil gets compacted, wastewater will stay on the ground surface for longer than necessary, and it will contaminate the environment.
Soil compaction is not a direct consequence of flooding. However, the risk of compaction increases if you operate heavy machinery, such as a car, on the septic drain field while it is flooded. This is because the ground gets soft if it is wet, and soft ground easily compacts.
Silt Contamination
Lastly, there is also a risk that silt will contaminate your septic system during the flooding. Silt might contaminate the pump chambers or even get into the tank. The risk is especially high if you open the tank or if the tank's cover is damaged.
As you can see, your septic system is susceptible to various damages during flooding. That is why a septic technician should inspect the system after the flood. The technician will fix any problems that the flood might have kicked up.
For more information, contact a company like Autry's Backhoe & Septic Service.
