Homeowners facing the threat of flood waters often have little time to prepare their property against flooding. If your home relies on a septic system for waste removal needs, flooding could compromise the performance of this septic system.
Knowing how to restore your septic system following a flood will help you repair any damage and get your waste removal system functioning properly once again.
Start by inspecting the drain field.
One of the primary components of your septic system that will be affected by flooding is the drain field. The drain field is responsible for absorbing water that moves through your septic system.
Following a flood, the drain field may be too saturated to accommodate normal use. Avoid driving any heavy pieces of equipment over the drain field while cleaning up after a flood, as the saturated soil is susceptible to compaction. Allow your drain field adequate time to dry out before using your septic system again.
Have your septic tank professionally cleaned.
Although your septic tank might avoid serious damage during a flood because it is buried below the soil's surface. It's possible for the silt and debris found in flood waters to fill your tank and lift station.
The presence of silt and debris can seriously compromise the performance of your septic tank, so these contaminants must be removed before your septic system is used regularly once again. Professional servicing will help ensure that your septic tank is clean and ready for regular use following a serious flood.
Restore vegetation over your septic tank.
Soil erosion can become a serious problem for your septic tank following a flood. Flood waters have the ability to move massive amounts of soil, and you need to ensure that the soil covering your septic tank has remained intact following a flood.
Adding some topsoil and planting turf over your septic tank after flood waters have receded will help to protect your tank against potential damage by ensuring it stays fully submerged in the soil over time.
Check your tank for structural damage.
While a professional is cleaning out your septic tank, you should have the tank inspected for signs of structural damage. Flooding can result in your tank shifting within the ground, compromising its structural integrity.
Dents and dings could create the potential for leaks that will compromise the performance of your septic system in the future. You will want to ensure that your septic tank has retained its watertight qualities by completing a thorough inspection before putting your septic system to use. For more information, contact a company like Linn Septic Service.
Share26 February 2018
Hello and welcome to my blog. My name is Heather, and a few years ago, my partner and I got a very cheap property up in the mountains practically in the middle of nowhere. I knew we had to build, but there were many elements that I overlooked. I never even considered the idea that we wouldn't be connected to a town sewer system for example. However, I learned quickly as we built our septic tank. Through the process, I also researched a lot of alternatives to ensure we got the perfect septic system for our needs. If you are building on a new property and you don't have the option of sewer, this blog has everything you need to know about septic systems. I truly love to help others, and I hope these posts help you.
