Can You Drive Over A Septic Tank?

Driving over a septic tank is never a wise idea. If you are aware that there is a septic tank in any location, it is best to drive away from it to ensure it isn’t damaged. In case you are not aware of your septic’s location, you may not be able to avoid it, and you might drive over it and potentially damage it in the process. In this article, we will briefly discuss why driving over a septic tank is risky, how the tank gets damaged, and how negatively it can affect the functionality of the septic tank.

So, can you drive over a septic tank?, The answer is No – you should not drive over your septic tank or leach field if possible. It is never recommended to drive over a septic tank, as it may damage the tank and increase the risk of costly repairs. Any heavy vehicle movement above the septic tank can damage the distribution lines and can impact its effectiveness unless special protective measures of sewer piping are undertaken.

Keep reading to know what happens if a septic tank is right below a driveway or the kind of damage any vehicle movement can do to a septic tank and a lot more about the safety of septic tanks.

Risks of Driving Over a Septic Tank

Many people are not aware of where the septic tank is in their property. As a result, they drive over it or even park over it unknowingly. This leads to numerous problems in plumbing, such as leakages that result in a strong stench or other structural damages.

Here are some of the many risks of driving over a septic tank.

Can Lead to a Collapse – If there is an excessive weight on your septic tank, it will lead to serious damage and collapse. This is one of the reasons why septic tanks are never in the driveway. These should be ideally in any soft area right below the ground where there is little traffic.

Wet Ground is Unsafe – If the ground is wet after a rain, it tends to soak moisture. In such a situation, if there is a lot of weight on the surface, it can cause its shift. This will damage your septic tank. It can even lead to a rupture due to poor distribution.

Light Vehicles Damage Risk – A septic tank can be damaged even with the movement of a light vehicle. Light vehicles will cause undress pressure and stress on the system. It might crack, break, or damage, causing the need for extensive repairs.

What Happens if There is Septic Drainfield Below a Driveway

Ideally, a septic drainfield should never be located below any driveway. If this happens, it will can lead to long-term damage and may cause disruption in the drainfield operation. This usually happens due to soil compaction.

Besides that, there could be a loss in proper moisture evaporation from the surface, which might cause broken and crushed piping. In simple words, driving above any septic tank is bad for its health, unless it is a child’s bike.

Any type of heavy vehicle movement over septic lines compresses the soil. The continuous vehicular movement will destroy the pipes or the entire system, which eventually causes its failure. Thus, if there is any parking or driveway over a septic tank, it will get destroyed in a short time.

Which Parts of the Septic Tank Gets Damaged if You Drive Through It?

Driving on the system can lead to damages of different kinds, depending on the location of the tank and the vehicle which moved over it. This damage can happen on a one-time movement or repeated movements over the septic tank.

It can cause physical damages and even compression damage. There are majorly four areas of the septic system which are impacted if any vehicle is driven over it.

Damage to Leach Field – This area gets damaged due to compression as air present in soil operates wrongly. If a vehicle drives over a leach field, the damage may not be seen immediately. But with time, its damage will show signs and eventually lead to the collapse of the system.

Damage to the Main Drain Line – There are many homes even today which have main sewer lines made from a clay pipe. Clay pipes crack due to the weight of the car or other vehicle. If this main drain line cracks it damages the entire septic system. Compression will cause damage to other parts of the system as well.

Septic Tank – Vehicles can damage your septic tank immensely. It can develop cracks. If there is a crack, it will spill untreated sewage in the ground. It will also take some additional water when it is raining. If this happens, the drains will slow down and can back up as well.

Septic Tank Riser – This is one vulnerable spot of the septic tank. Modern lids and risers are usually made from heavy-duty plastic and not concrete. Thus, if any vehicle drives over this concrete it cracks up quickly.