How do I know soil is failing in my drainfield?
Pumpers often observe water falling back into septic tanks from the field as the level is pumped down. This is an important sign of soil failure. It is obvious that the problem does not originate in the tank, but in the drainfield. Puddles of water appearing on the surface of the drain field are a good indication that the soil is flooded and the drain field is failing. It is not always easy to diagnose the cause of backups. Slowly draining sinks and toilets, gurgling sounds in the plumbing, plumbing backups, sewage odors in the house, or tests showing the presence of bacteria in well water are signs of drainfield failure.
