Mobile is no stranger to torrential downpours. In the Gulf Coast, we can easily see several inches of rain in a single afternoon. While your roof handles the water just fine, your underground septic system is under immense pressure during these events. If you have ever noticed your toilets flushing slowly after a big storm, you are experiencing the direct impact of soil saturation on your wastewater infrastructure. This 1,000-word guide will teach you how to protect your system during our notorious wet season.
Your drainfield works through a process called "percolation." It relies on the soil being able to absorb the effluent from your tank. When Mobile’s heavy clay soil becomes saturated with rainwater, there is simply no room for your septic water to go. Think of your yard like a sponge; once it is full of rain, it cannot take any more water from your house. This causes water to back up into the tank, and eventually, back into your home’s lowest drains.
During and immediately after a major storm, you should strictly limit your water use. 1. Avoid doing laundry. 2. Take very short showers. 3. Do not run the dishwasher. 4. Flush only when absolutely necessary. This reduces the "hydraulic load" on an already stressed system and can prevent a sewage backup.
The biggest mistake we see in Mobile County is improper drainage. If your gutters discharge directly onto your septic tank or drainfield, you are essentially drowning your system. We recommend extending gutter downspouts at least 15 feet away from any part of the septic system. Additionally, ensure that your yard is graded so that surface water flows away from the tank area, not into it.
It sounds logical: "My tank is full of rainwater, let’s pump it out." DON’T DO IT. Pumping a tank when the surrounding soil is saturated can cause the tank to "float" or "pop" out of the ground like a cork in a bottle. The empty tank becomes buoyant, and the pressure of the wet soil can lift it, snapping your inlet and outlet pipes. Always wait until the yard has dried out before scheduling a service.
Once the water recedes, check for signs of trouble. Are there new sinkholes near the tank? Is there a persistent smell of sewage? Is the grass over the drainfield stay mushy for days after the rest of the yard is dry? If so, you may have silt or debris in your lines that needs professional jetting.
We can help you with drainage solutions and tank risers to keep your system high and dry. Stay ahead of the Alabama weather.
REQUEST A STORM-READINESS CHECK: (251) 298-8174