Call (775) 552-5179 to talk to a local septic pro.
The leach field, also called a drain field or absorption field, is where your septic system finishes the job. Liquid from the tank flows into trenches in the soil, and the soil filters and treats it. When the field stops absorbing, wastewater has nowhere to go. Carson Valley Septic connects homeowners in Carson City, Gardnerville, Minden and across the Carson Valley with a licensed local provider who can diagnose drain field problems and repair or replace the field.
Signs of a failing leach field
- Soggy ground, standing water, or a sewage smell over the field
- Grass over the field that is much greener or lusher than the rest of the yard
- Drains that slow down again soon after the tank was pumped
- Liquid in the tank sitting above the outlet (a technician can see this)
- Backups into the lowest drains in the house
Common causes
- Solids carried over from the tank, often because the tank wasn’t pumped often enough or an outlet baffle failed.
- Too much water at once, such as several loads of laundry in a day, leaking fixtures, or roof runoff draining onto the field.
- Compaction from vehicles, trailers, livestock or equipment driving over the field.
- Roots from trees and shrubs growing into the trenches.
- Age. Over many years a biological mat builds up in the soil and can slow absorption.
- Broken or uneven distribution, so one part of the field gets overloaded.
Diagnosis first
Not every wet spot means the whole field is gone. A provider will usually:
- Pump and inspect the tank and baffles.
- Check the distribution box and lines, sometimes with a camera.
- Probe or dig to see how the trenches are performing.
- Look for outside water sources like a leaking toilet or downspout.
Sometimes the fix is a broken line, a tilted distribution box, or a clogged effluent filter. Other times the field needs to be partly or fully replaced.
Repair and replacement options
Depending on what’s found, options may include:
- Clearing or repairing lines and the distribution box
- Resting the field and reducing water use
- Adding new trenches
- Replacing the field, often in the reserve area set aside on the original plot plan
Permits and setback rules
Leach field replacement is regulated work. Under Nevada’s septic rules (NAC 444.792), a disposal field must generally be kept at least 100 feet from a water supply well sealed to 50 feet, 150 feet from a well that isn’t sealed to 50 feet, 100 feet from streams or watercourses, 10 feet from property lines and 8 feet from buildings. In Douglas County, septic plot plans must show percolation tests located within the actual area of the proposed field and the location of the replacement leach field area. In Carson City, Health and Human Services handles septic repair permits through the Building Department, and new designs use percolation tests at 2-foot and 4-foot depths to size trenches.
Those rules matter in the Carson Valley, where many rural parcels have both a private well and a septic system on the same lot. A licensed provider will handle the permit and design requirements.
Protecting a new or repaired field
- Pump the tank on schedule.
- Keep vehicles and animals off the field.
- Point downspouts and drainage away from it.
- Don’t plant trees or large shrubs nearby.
- Fix leaking toilets and faucets right away.
Areas we serve for drain field repair
Carson City, Gardnerville, Minden, Genoa, Johnson Lane, Indian Hills, Gardnerville Ranchos, Fish Springs, Ruhenstroth and Dayton.
Talk to someone about your leach field
The sooner a failing field is looked at, the more options you usually have.
Call (775) 552-5179 to talk to a local septic pro.
Carson Valley Septic connects callers with an independent, licensed local septic service provider. Work is performed by that provider, not by this website.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between a drain field and a leach field?
Nothing. They’re two names for the same part of the system. You may also hear ‘absorption field’ or ‘disposal field.’
Can a leach field be saved?
Sometimes, if the cause is a line, distribution box or water overload problem. If the soil is clogged, replacement may be needed.
Do I need a permit to replace a leach field?
Yes, replacement is permitted work in both Douglas County and Carson City. Your provider can handle it.
Will pumping fix a failing leach field?
Pumping relieves the tank for a while but doesn’t fix a field that won’t absorb.