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Septic drain lines (or leach lines) are typically buried between 18 and 36 inches underground, and should be at least 6 inches below the surface. These pipes are perforated and surrounded by filtering materials like sand or gravel. Burying the lines at this depth helps minimize odors and allows bacteria and other biological processes in the soil to effectively treat the wastewater. Burying lines too close to the surface can cause issues unless the soil is very compact and stable.

How deep your septic system needs to be into the ground depends on several factors. In extremely cold environments, the tank needs to rest below the maximum frost line, which can be up to six or eight feet deep. The standard burying depth for most systems is between a few inches and four feet below ground level. Depth can also depend on the slope of the landscaping and other property variables. 

You should never park or drive on top of a septic field. Vehicles can weigh upwards of two tons, and this weight can put a lot of pressure on the leach lines in the drain field. Too much pressure on your leach lines may cause them to warp, crack, or completely burst. This is an expensive and very avoidable problem.

With so much available information about the ecological effects of cesspools (and their general unpleasantness), it begs the question: Are cesspools legal? In short, sort of. Large-capacity cesspools that serve more than 20 people are completely illegal countrywide. Existing, smaller cesspools are generally allowed as long as they’re not actively polluting. However, new cesspools are illegal to build in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, and many states offer programs to help homeowners with the costs of updating cesspools to modern septic systems.