Sewage Drainage Problems After Rain

Septic Tank Distribution Field

• Septic tanks are large tanks buried in your lawn. Water and waste leaves your house and dumps into the tank, where the water is allowed to drain off and distribute in the area immediately surrounding the tank. These drain lines do not work properly when the soil is saturated, as after a heavy rain. If the water in the tank cannot drain off, the tank overflows, and you will have drainage issues in your home. The solution is to call a septic tank maintenance company and have it drain the tank and install additional drain lines to better distribute waste water.

Other Septic Tank Issues

• A septic tank can crack and have its lid dislodged, allowing groundwater to leach into the tank and cause overflows. This leads to the need to frequently have the tank emptied, and is a problem that needs to be remedied immediately. Contact a local septic tank maintenance company, as removing or replacing a septic tank is not a do-it-yourself task.

Improperly Plumbed Sump Pump

• Sump pumps are pumps used to keep basements and crawlspaces dry. They are placed in pits designed to monitor groundwater levels. When the water level rises to a given point, the pump kicks on and pumps water out of the pit. This prevents the water level from rising to the level of the basement or crawlspace. In most municipalities, connecting a sump pump to a municipal sewer system is illegal, and for good reason. When it rains, the sump pump dumps large amounts of water into the sewer system and can cause overflows. If you have a sump pump that is tied into your sewer line, you have found the source of your drainage issues. Remove the sump pump drain line and properly plumb according to your municipality's code.

Backwater Check Valves

• If you are on a municipal sewer system and having problems with drainage after rain, you may want to take a proactive approach to preventing further problems. Backwater check valves can be installed on sanitary sewer lines to prevent water in the sewer system from backing into the drain line in your house. This can prevent the sewer line from overflowing into your home during periods of heavy rain. These valves can only be installed by a licensed plumber, and permits from your municipality generally are required for their installation.