The Spruce / Margot Cavin

If your home has aseptic system, it has leach lines or aleach field.

When the leach lines fail, the entire system fails.

That termonsiteis key because a home’s septic system and a municipal system essentially do the same thing.

Leach line blue and white pipes centered with square cement holder in ground

The Spruce / Margot Cavin

Both systems treat the liquid waste or sewageknown as effluentand render it harmless by killing its pathogens.

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Septic systems contain millions of bacteria.

The systems depend on the bacteria to break down waste.

DIY yard with small rock pebbles replacing lawn with drain materials

So, a septic system that istoo cleanwill not function properly.

Even two gallons of bleach is enough tostop or slow the bacteria from processingthe waste.

What Are Leach Lines?

Leach lines go by many names: leach field, leach bed, filter bed, or percolation bed.

Leach lines disperse septic effluent into the ground after passing through the septic tank.

Leach Field Pipes

Leach pipes are usually made of perforated PVC pipe.

Other times, the pipes may have collapsed.

Leach lines that have been very well-maintained may last as long as 50 years.

Leach Line Safety Considerations

It’s important to prevent flooding in leach line systems for safety reasons.

Properly managed and maintained leach lines are safe for both residential and commercial use.

But when the lines are not well-managed, this may cause groundwater or surface water contamination.

Greenhouse gasses may be produced, as well.

Drainfield Size & Design.University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Methane and Nutrient Cycling in Septic Leach Field Systems.

New York State Water Resources Institute (WRI)