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Drain Field Repair in Fort Smith, AR

Free referral service. Fort Smith Septic Help is not a septic company. We connect homeowners in the Fort Smith area with local septic providers, who do the work and quote you directly.

The drain field (also called the absorption field or leach field) is where treated wastewater from your tank soaks into the soil. When it stops absorbing, you can get soggy ground, odors and backups. We'll connect you with a local provider who can diagnose the drain field and quote the fix.

Signs of drain field trouble

• Soft, wet or spongy ground over the drain field when it hasn't rained much
• Standing water or wastewater surfacing in the yard
• Sewage odors near the drain field
• Bright green, lush grass over the lines, even in dry weather
• Slow drains or backups in the house

Common causes

• A tank that hasn't been pumped, letting solids flow out to the lines
• Too much water at once (for example, several loads of laundry in a day)
• Soil that's wet or tight, or a high seasonal water table
• Roots, vehicles parked on the field, or crushed pipes
• An old system reaching the end of its life

The EPA recommends spreading laundry out over the week and flushing only human waste and toilet paper to help the system last.

Repair or replace?

Some problems are fixable, such as a shifted distribution box, a crushed line, or a tank that needs pumping. A field that has failed may need new absorption area. Under Arkansas rules, the absorption area is sized from the soil. Designs use soil pits in the proposed primary and secondary absorption areas, and absorption systems can't be installed in fill material. Any repair or extension needs a permit from the Arkansas Department of Health before work starts.

Check your provider's license

Arkansas licenses septic work through the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). Companies that pump or clean septic tanks need a Septic Tank Cleaner license; septic installers need an installer license; and soil tests and system designs are done by licensed Designated Representatives. ADH has a searchable database of onsite wastewater licensees, linked from its Onsite Wastewater FAQ page.

Sources: U.S. EPA, Resolving Septic System Malfunctions; 14 CAR § 21-601, Code of Arkansas Rules (soil suitability); 14 CAR § 21-301, Code of Arkansas Rules (permits).