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DIY Leach Field

A leach field, also called a septic drain field, is used to remove impurities from liquid that comes out of the septic tank. In effect, a leach field disbands fluid from the septic system over a sector of land near the building it services. In a leach field, waste is broken down by bacteria as liquid moves through the soil. As a result, the leach field prevents water sources from becoming contaminated by sewage. If you need a leach field, you can save yourself a lot of money by doing it yourself. Be sure, however, to obtain permission from local authorities.

Things You'll Need

Straw
Gravel
Shovel
Rope or twine
Stakes
Perforated PVC pipe
Spray paint
Grass seed or sod

Instructions

- 1
  Find your distribution box, which is attached to your septic tank via a pipe. Plan for the other pipe attached to the box to lead directly to your leach field.
- 2
  Plan where you will dig the trenches for the leach field. Three 12-foot by 20-foot trenches are required, and they must be parallel to each other with about a foot in between them. Make sure you find space for them that does not interfere with property boundaries. Also make sure the trenches will not be very close to buildings or other structures. The ground in the trenches will be soft and wet, and if it is too near a building, it can cause it to rot or collapse. Do not have trees near the trenches, as roots can impinge upon the piping you will install.
- 3
  Mark your trenches using spray paint. Ensure your lines are straight by laying down a rope and tying each end of it to a stake.
- 4
  Dig your trenches 1 foot deep each. Try to make the bottoms as level as possible. Join the trenches at the ends to make a "U" shape.
- 5
  Fill the bottoms of the trenches with gravel 2 inches deep. This serves as a sieve and assists with draining.
- 6
  Place straight perforated PVC pipes inside your trenches. Join the pipes with PVC cement.
- 7
  Cover the pipes with gravel to about 2 inches from ground level.
- 8
  Lay straw over your trenches about 1 inch deep.
- 9
  Lay topsoil over the layer of straw. This can bulge over the ground slightly, as weathering will naturally compress and level it out.
- 10
  Plant grass on top of the field.

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