Get matched with top septic tank pros in Webster, SD

The size of your septic tank plays a role in determining the proper size of the drain or leach field. As a general rule, you should have 1 square foot of drain field size per gallon of septic tank capacity. However, you could install a leach field that’s as much as 2.5 square feet per gallon of septic tank capacity. Most professionals determine the right septic tank size and drain field size by the number of bedrooms in the house. A three-bedroom house needs a minimum 1,000-gallon septic tank, for example.

There are a few signs that you might notice if your drain field is bad. For starters, if you see standing water or soggy grass above your drain field, it could mean that it isn’t working correctly. Or, if your yard smells like sewage, it could also indicate that there’s a problem with your drain field. Repairing a drain field costs an average of $2,000 to $15,000.

With regular testing, treatment, and maintenance, water from a community well should be safe to drink. Unfortunately, the EPA does not regulate private wells, and contamination can happen. 

If you have doubts about the quality and safety of your drinking water, you have options for testing. You can pick up kits from your local home supply store or harvest samples and send them to a local testing facility. To get the most complete water quality testing and system diagnosis, seek a local well professional. They know what to test for and can recommend and implement a longer-lasting solution.

A mound septic system, when properly maintained, can last between 20 and 25 years on average—though some last longer or malfunction sooner than that. The most important part of maintenance is getting an annual inspection of the vital parts of the system to ensure they’re in proper working order and not too backed up with sewage.