Every time we get a heavy rain I get water coming from the leach bed back into the septic tank. Is there a check valve that can be installed to prevent this from happening or any other suggestions? I have been told that a curtain drain would help, but that is costly.

doug238

you got a hard pan that is holding water or a saturated field. you can install a 4" backwater valve as the pipe exits the tank but i have never heard of anyone doing this. is the leech field large enough?

cfurber

After we moved in the neighbor said that his land is labeled "swamp land" down at the couthouse. My first call was to the Health Department to see if a drain curtain was required. They said no and the contractor that put the leach bed in actually went 1000' instead of the required 900'. I will tell you that the ground is mostly clay and does not drain very well. Is a backwater valve the same thing as a check valve? I am thinking that the only solution may be the curtain drain. I know they make checkvalves but the problem I see is that there is not a whole lot of pressure from either side to activate the valve.

doug238

you are going to have to develop a higher leech field with a sump pump system and lots and lots of fill brought in. swamp land will always be a problem. i am surprised it was even allowed to be installed