Leach Field

[exeter_acres]

We may need a new leach field soon and was curious if anyone knows anything about the Infiltrator System?
http://www.infiltratorsystems.com/overview.htm
Would love to do the project ourselves.

Thanks in advance

 

[MrP]

How do you know when you need a new leachfield? I have one and know very little about it.

 

[exeter_acres]

We had it inspedted, but also if your drains are slow.. ours are not as the leach field is down hill from the house. Also if you always have standing water over the leach field. And the telltale odor around the area. We also have....shall we say.... very well fertilized grass in the area that grows 3 or 4 times faster than everywhere else....

Hope that helps a bit...

 

[Mike_Dumond]

The ground around your leach field will, over time, become saturated with solids that find their way into them. usually take 20 or so years. But if it's not emptied often enough, the time gets much shorter. If it's bad, you can try to have it pressure washed, might add a few years or so. Ask whoever pumps tanks in your area.

If you do your research, and follow local codes, anyone can put in a leach field. Just remember to follow codes, and have the inspector check it before you cover it up.

With that said, some communities have passed ordinances allowing only licensed installers. Usually, if you get someone licensed to sign off on it, they'll accept it. Varies from area to area.

 

[Inspector507]

You might try this...........I did and the leach field works like new. Hope to get many years out of this fix. I had black water in the front lawn before, now it's just grass. Green as can be but it's still grass instead of black water.

 

[MarkV]

Exeter Acres,
We had an Infiltrator system put in at our weekend home 3 or 4 years ago. The length of the run or runs depends on your local code but in my area they allow a shorter run with Infiltrator that with a conventional field. The installation required a 3’x 3’ x (in my case) 88’ run. We did 2-44’ runs. The trench has to be dead level and the inspector used a laser level to check it. The Infiltrator sections just snap together and have end caps for the start and finish of each run. After inspection it gets backfilled with regular soil, no stone is used.

MarkV

 

[PaulT]

What is "this" solution that worked so well for you? I'm dying to know. Or are you referring to the infiltrator system in the first post?

 

[exeter_acres]

I was wondering the same thing.....

Now, to find someone with a back hoe.. I'm sure noone around these parts has one or knows where to find one!!!

 

[exeter_acres]

Here's the two part question to add on... what to do with the spoils of the old field? I have a few acres of meadow. Is it feasible to spread it out there to let it soak in then turn it in later, or would we have to have it trucked out?

thanks
Curtis

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I believe that the Infiltrator system would require the proper soil conditions, probably a very gravelly soil in order to work. I would be sure that your soil was suitable for this. With all the technology in the world, the liquid still has to be absorbed away from the leaching area. It would seem to be a very good system for lower use areas, such as a vacation home, where the liquid would have a great deal of time to drain away from the chambers.