[denemante]

I've had some septic issues that are absolutely the result of some grading challenges I have. My system works perfectly 98% of the time, but during extreme rains - my basement toilet won't flush and stuff comes out the shower drain. It recedes a day later, and works perfectly the rest of the year.

I have very nice Bermuda grass over my backyard (I live in Atlanta) and whole property. But the ground has always felt "soft" to me. Even in my front yard, during times of heavy rain, your feet sink in what feels like a half-inch into squishy mud, summer or winter, and even if it's a wholesome, beautiful lawn.

For the backyard - even if I regrade, I have this feeling that unless it's a really steeper grade than I can afford to cut, water will still enter the ground.

So is there a product or soil type I can add on the surface that would effectively act like a bit of a "surface sealant" and cause water to run away vs. sink in?

I think some degree of surface water entry is needed to keep the system working, perhaps mixing with the effluent in the ground in a sort of recycling fashion.

The topography of my backyard is simply challenging. I've got several areas with great runoff - but others with poor runoff and pooling water. I could add fill - but it will then be higher than my patio and force a lot of water towards my house. I could cut a swale - but I'd be removing a lot of dirt that is over the fields, perhaps reducing effectiveness there. To get any decent angle, I'd have to drop by about a foot over 70 feet - then I'm halfway into the dirt above the field itself. And I still feel like water won't just run away - it's still going to soak in, leaving me exactly where I am today.

But if I could "seal" the surface to some partial degree whereby the water more readily runs off, I feel like it would be a huge help.

 

[jimn]

Sounds like a badly engineered system. How old is the tank and leaching field? Do you have it pumped regularly? Some or all of the system might need to be replaced.

Septic systems are not really good DIY projects. There is is a lot of expertise and engineering that goes into a properly designed and functioning system . If you have drainage issues you need to address that. But it sounds like you have soil issues as well. Leaching fields depend on evaporation as well as the ability to percolate water down. Even if there was a way to seal the surface you would stand a good chance of making it worse. Believe , if my septic tank was behaving like yours , I would be having it fixed.

 

[gregzoll]

Sounds like another developed area that was placed in a old Wetland or other area that is allowing for a high water table. If the ground is still saturated after a week of no rain, there are bigger issues at play here.

If you were to find anything that would harden the ground. I would be curious as to how grass and plants are supposed to survive then.

Yep, poorly designed septic systems in the area you live in, along with a natural high water table.

 

[Bondo]

So is there a product or soil type I can add on the surface that would effectively act like a bit of a "surface sealant" and cause water to run away vs. sink in?

Ayuh,.... Other than concrete or blacktop,..?? Nope,.....

 

[denemante]

Funny thing - I actually live near the crest of a hill. I can look off my deck and see my bordering neighbor's backyards - and they are down 5-7 feet from mine. But we're seperated by ditches/embankments. My property does have a huge culvert in the corner. The ditches flow to it. It's just that the grade of my hard doesn't all flow to the ditches! That's my issue. I can't raise my house/patio. If I shave the grade so it's all downhill to the ditches - then I'd be digging halfway or more down to the fields.

If I cut swales - I feel like some degree of water would still seep into the ground, and Id still have my issue.

If I put a concrete ditch/swale across the center of my backyard, I'd be in business. But tough to play football back with that.

 

[gregzoll]

No matter what trick you try. You are always going to have issues with the soil that is down in Georgia. Does not matter who is below you. The problem is that when it rains, everyone's yards are going to become soaked to the point that there is no other place for it to go. Especially if you have a septic system, along with the neighbors.

You need to put in a backflow prevention valve on the waste line that goes out to the Septic tank. That way water can go out, but nothing can come in. Also get your tank emptied and inspected, especially the Leach field.