Drain Feild in the trees?

[hejlik]

I am on the board of a small golf course in North Dakota. We are in the process of building a new drain field. We had a professional designer come out and take soil tests and design our system. His design has the drain field getting placed right in the middle of some existing trees. The area the drain field is to be constructed is full of trees and brush.

Is this ok? We were concerned with the trees roots getting into the system in time, plus the actual construction may harm the trees. We will no doubt run into some large tree roots.

We don't have many options as to where to run the drain field, but I don't want to waste a lot of money and time on something that will fail. I know this guy is supposed to know what he is doing, but this seems like a bad idea to me.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[joed]

Trees and septics do not go together. Your concerns are valid. Ask the designer what his intentions are. He may be planning to cut the trees.

[hejlik]

He plans on leaving the trees in. He said it would be good for the trees. I have no doubt about that, but will the trees be good for the drain field. The trees are mature. Maybe the roots won't grow enough to hurt. He also mentioned about using some fabric that would resist roots?

[joed]

Septic and trees is never a good mix. I don't like the idea but I am not a septic designer or expert. All trees have roots. They like water. There is water in the leach lines.

[Wgoodrich]

There seems to be a new way of looking at leech fields in trees. The newer thoughts is so much water is perked into the ground the trees are satisfied thus reducing the tree's desire to seek water. It is true that trees when thristy will reach their roots out to seek more water. However the newer thoughts is the trees are never short of water thus finding a much smaller root system having all the water they can use always available from the septic leech field. The water has neutrients also feeding the roots what they need to prosper. I know many raise an eyebrow to this newer thinking. However I have a house built in 1980. The leech field is amoung the trees within 15 feet of 100 foot trees that used to be 50 foot trees. I have about 90 trees in my yard. I have used my system for 27 years now and have seen no problem. Leads me to believe this newer thinking may have something in truth. Just my report of what the thinking is and my own experience with my home. I regularly see leech fields installed now in woods all across my county and have yet to have heard of a failure.

Best I know

Wg

[hejlik]

Thanks for the help guys.

We basically have no choice. After surveying the area again yesterday, we came to the conclusion there is no where else to put it. Every other direction puts us to close to water, or goes uphill.

We are going to clear out all the brush, and a lot of the trees, leaving only the mature and good young trees. One plus to putting it here is it makes it virtually impossible for someone to drive over the drain field.

[joed]

I guess the type of trees probably has lot to do with it as well. When we had poplar trees around the yard we didn't have too many problems. Maples have now been planted and the roots are a big problem in leach lines. Good thing they are planning to put in sewers in the next couple of years.

[Wgoodrich]

I believe soil texture has a lot to do with roots or no roots. If you have a class 1 soil quick to drain deep without retaining water I can see a tree thirsty even with a finger system nearby. However our area has brookston / crosby soil texture with clay massive often 24" deep making a nice underground swimming pool to water the trees. Trees not so thristy with water always replenished by the finger system and retained by the clay massive layer below.

Just added thoughts

Wg