Parking over septic leach field
Parking over septic leach field
(OP)
I'm involved with a project where it appears the gravel parking lot has been constructed over the septic leach field.
My question - is it ever "okay" to park over leach fields? Even if the leach lines were designed to a depth and strength to prevent crushing, it seems that the continuous loads of vehicles would cause compaction, altering the permeability characteristics of the soil. What other issues are there to consider?
The site is extremely limited on space, so to move the parking lot off of the drainfield would significantly effect the owners development plans (which clearly is not ideal!)
I am a civil, not environmental engineer with limited experience in septic systems. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
THANK YOU!!!
My question - is it ever "okay" to park over leach fields? Even if the leach lines were designed to a depth and strength to prevent crushing, it seems that the continuous loads of vehicles would cause compaction, altering the permeability characteristics of the soil. What other issues are there to consider?
The site is extremely limited on space, so to move the parking lot off of the drainfield would significantly effect the owners development plans (which clearly is not ideal!)
I am a civil, not environmental engineer with limited experience in septic systems. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
THANK YOU!!!





RE: Parking over septic leach field
From an engineering standpoint, there is no reason why you couldn't design and construct such a system that would handle the traffic load. From a regulatory standpoint, this is almost never allowed (in my experience).
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tsgrue: site engineering, stormwater
management, landscape design, ecosystem
rehabilitation, mathematical simulation
http://hhwq.blogspot.com
RE: Parking over septic leach field
Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.
WWW.amlinereast.com
RE: Parking over septic leach field
RE: Parking over septic leach field
The piping may be able to be designed to handle the load but the soil treatment capabilities are based on oxygen delivery to the soil/WW interface, hydraulic capacity of the soils, and other environmental factors which may be detrimentally affected by compaction, paving etc.
RE: Parking over septic leach field
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